Pashto Language The role of Curriculum in the promotion of Pashto language

Abstract

ABSTRACT

Pashto is an ancient language of a huge population of Pashtoon nation of the subcontinent.But, unfortunately, it could neither remain the language of power at any stage and era, nor,anyone monarch had paid considerable heed to the promotion of Pashto language at officialstage as well in curricula.Notwithstanding, an official status was conferred to Pashto language in the constitution ofmodern Afghanistan along with Persian language. While, similarly, it was officially used asstate language in the Swat State for a short period.When it comes to the British era, the colonists had too plummeted Pashto language in theirpower sway except for some contribution made by their officers.However, some candid efforts were made at personal level by a few eminent nationalists andscholars, particularly by Khan Abdul Ghafar Khan, Abdul Khaliq Khaleeq and Amir HamzaShinwari. While, at the same time some efforts at official level were also spearheaded bySahibzada Abdul Qayum and his companions for Pashto language on various stages ofeducation in the aforementioned region.When Bacha Khan established Azad Schools in the region by his personal efforts, Pashto wasthe medium of instruction in these schools. After the partition, Pashto had partially remaineda part of curriculum at different levels of government educational institutions, but still up tounsatisfactory level. This article represents the mentioned chronological scenario of Pashto language, educationand curriculum along with an analytical approach to show the real status of the language atvarious stages in British India and post-partition era.