The Pathans

by Ghani Khan

A sketch of the Pathan people. "It aims to increase our understanding and appreciation - of these very complex people who are simple and big-hearted to a fault and yet have a custom of deciding everything by a fight."
This is the author´s words - he is a Pathan himself and a well-known poet, "he has a genial humour and a convincing literary style."
"Being a Pathan himself and in love with his people he gives a vivid and glowing picture of their mode of living, of their history, customs, superstitions, folk-songs and politics.
He wants to introduce the Pathan to us and make him tell us "of his struggle and his dreams, of his love and his feuds, his field and his watch-tower, his new rifle and his old wife".
For as the author says,"his violent nature, strong body and tender heart make a very unstable combination for living, but an ideal one for poetry and colour".

Genres: Nonfiction

51 pages, Paperback

First published March 15, 15

About the author

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Reviews

[Anne Michelsen · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is a great book by a great poet, I will recommend it to everyone -and I think everybody should read it.
It gives an understanding and appreciation of this very complex people, who most people don´t really know much about (yet have an opinion about).
The book has a genial humour and a simple and very convincing literary style. Read it!!

[Sundus · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Pathans have no written history but they have thousands of ruins where the hungry stones tell their story to anyone who would care to listen
A Beautiful narration by Ghani Khan (A Great Pathan poet)

[Aimal Khan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Written by Abdul Ghani Khan, One of the greatest Pathan poets and philosophers of the 20th century. This crafty little book does well to showcase the pathans contradictory nature and exposes some of the major inconsistencies in their culture and their struggle for trying to strike a balance between their culture and religion. Although published in 1947, much of it still holds true to this day. Its a must read for anyone trying to understanding the most complicated simplicity of all; The Pathans.

[Ammar Alam · Rating 5 out of 5]

A short but beautifully written book that perfectly encapsulates the mentality of Pathans. This is something I always struggled with describing, as a Pathan myself. The fact that the author recognizes the bias in his writing despite listing down and describing a string of vices in the Pathan, is a curious self-awareness that serves to elucidate his words even better.

I am ashamed to admit that I was surprised at how well-written the book was. I was not surprised that was written by Ghani Khan, the late and great son of the late and great Pashtun leader Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan, otherwise known as Badshah Khan.

I recommend this for anyone wishing to understand Pathan culture and mentality. It feels like a conversation with an elder of the race who is always the treasure trove of information.

[Matthew · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very amusing, colorful and playful little book.

[Aqsa · Rating 5 out of 5]

The way Ghani Khan has portrait a very brief picture of a Pathan is truly amazing. Bing a Pathan myself I find it a book which describes me perfectly. I think it definitely should be given a read to know about Pathans.

[Hamad Khan · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author of this book claimed that's he's prejudiced sketching pathan in the book and only a pathan can relate that what ever he has described in this book is relevant and authentic. It depicts the nature and way of living of pathans. He has written what he saw and observed of his people (pathans).
Hats off to one of the greatest Poets of pukhtons Ghani Khan, The lewany falsafi(mad philosopher).

[Adnan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ghani khan, Son of Baba Abdul Ghafar Khan. A great spiritual leader..
Author has mentioned a perfect sketched of A Pashtoon People. Their simplicity, their hospitality, their way of living, their ancestors, their cultures, their love for Literature and many more. I recommend this book for a person who's interested to know about Pashtoon or Pathan.

[Rural Soul · Rating 5 out of 5]

Only a poet can emotionally glorify and own ethnic hostile stubbornness but at the same time sadly rant about it.
At first I thought it will be another pashtun supremacist monologue but it's more than that.

[Muhammad Shahab · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ghani gives the history of my people as subtle as he could. This sums up the history od the "most complicated but simple" people on the planet, that is, the Pathans.

[Idrees Khan · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's great.

[m. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wai kna zaar de sham

[Malak Wajid · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun to read. Interesting, Good poetry, a great sketch.

[Salar Khan · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Pathan is not a race, its a state of mind." Ghani Khan.

[Zain]

i want to read

[Suliiman khan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Being pathan, I could relate to the book and also it’s written by one of the great philosophers and poets of Pashto, so is based on reality.

[Mehra Khan]

Good book for pushtoon

[Riaz Ujjan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ghani Khan, writing in excellent prose, has explained about the Pathans in a short but comprehensive manner in this small booklet.

[Amjad Ali · Rating 5 out of 5]

In my opinion, The Pathan is more than a book; it is a window into the soul of a people. Abdul Ghani Khan’s masterful storytelling and philosophical depth make it a timeless work, one that deserves a place on the shelf of anyone interested in culture, identity, and human nature. It is a tribute to the resilience, beauty, and contradictions of the Pathan spirit, and a testament to Ghani Khan's literary genius.

[Bilal Kakar]

Pashtoon afghan youngester should read this historical book , 📚
The Pathans

[F K · Rating 5 out of 5]

اې د مينې فرشتې, اې د نور او رنګ کيسې!
ښاپېرۍ! ته چا بندي کړې د غمونو د کوڅې؟
(غني خان)

[Salal Amjad]

GHANI KHAN is always soothing!