Every nation in the world has some way and code of life through which they are living their lives and are identified, like the Arabs and the Englishmen have their own code of life. However, these people have made some reforms to their way of life because of the need of the times and due to the changing world. The Pashtuns living in Afghanistan, Pakistan or anywhere in the world have a code of life called ‘Pashtunwali’, which is strictly practiced by every proud Pashtun.
Pashtunwali literally means ‘the way of the Pashtuns’, and is a tribal honour code that has governed the Pashtun way of life for centuries. It is an unwritten code of conduct, like the UK constitution, but every Pashtun practices it very proudly. However, due to the emergence of Taliban, people throughout the world came to understand Pashtunwali in the negative sense. The reason was that the majority of Taliban are Pashtu-speaking. This code of life and conduct dates back to the pre-Islamic era, and that’s why nowadays every proud Pashtun in Pakistan says, “I have been a Pashtun for 5,000 years, a Muslim for 1,400 years and a patriotic Pakistani since 1947”.
The Pashtun culture and traditions have many components and some of the key components of Pashtunwali are as follows:
1) “Melmastia”, or hospitality, is an important component of Pashtunwali. It entails the protection of guests, but not in the Western sense. The Pashtun will never allow anybody to harm their guest in the company of the host;
2) “Badal”, or revenge, is the second key code of Pashtunwali. Badal means seeking justice or taking revenge against the wrongdoer. There is no time limit to when the injustice can be avenged. If badal is not exercised, the offended and their family will be considered stripped of their honour. However, this practice has led to much bloodshed;
3) “Nanawatai”, or sanctuary, is also an important component of Pashtunwali and is still followed by every proud Pashtun today. It entails a person looking for refuge in the house of another, seeking asylum against his enemies. The host Pashtun is honour-bound to offer that protection, even if it may be at the cost of his own family;
4) “Ghairat” (courage/honour); at all times a Pashtun must display courage. If he has no ghairat or honour, he fails to make the grade as a Pathan
5) “Tureh” (bravery) that is another component of the Pashtunwali. Other tenets include “Sabat” (loyalty) which is towards one friends and family and members of the tribe; and “Imandari” (righteousness) which implies striving for goodness in word and in deed, and respect towards all.
Pashtunwali literally means ‘the way of the Pashtuns’, and is a tribal honour code that has governed the Pashtun way of life for centuries. It is an unwritten code of conduct, like the UK constitution, but every Pashtun practices it very proudly
However, some of these components need some radical reforms because codes such as ‘Badal’ (revenge) sometimes have led to too much bloodshed, and this hostility sometimes goes on from generation to generation. We are living in the 21st century and the whole world is going towards development and progress: but we Pashtuns are still living in the era of darkness.
Same is the case with ‘Melmastia’, or hospitality; this code entails the protection of guests. However, this code has also led to protection for many foreigner militants in Afghanistan and also in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) of Pakistan. It would not be wrong that this code also became the very cause of more than four million internally displaced people, who are living in camps in different parts of the country.
‘Imandari’ (righteousness) is also a key component of Pashtunwali. The non-Pashtuns also used this code in a very wrong way; the Pashtuns also stand by his word and deed, but the non-Pashtun gets benefit from this code, such as the case of foreign militants in the tribal areas of Pakistan.
Similarly the other components of Pashtunwali need some reforms and have been used by non-Pashtuns in wrong way. Pakistan came into being on 1947 and after passing more than 70 years of our independence. The whole country is going towards progress and development and enjoying the facilities of the modern technology; however, the second largest majority ethnic group (Pashtuns) is still in the dark ages of the modern world.
Although, according to Marcus Garve, “A people without the knowledge of their past history, origin and culture is like a tree without roots”, no Pashtun – particularly tribal elders in FATA – ever wishes to change because of their tribal tradition, customs and values. However, it is also true that change and compromise is the name of survival. They need to scrutinize their thoughts, culture, taboos, traditions, customs, values, or Pashtunwali and religious beliefs; and it is also the need of the hour that Pashtun society made some reforms in their culture, tradition and customs; particularly in Pashtunwali, so that they can maintain their existence in the modern world of science and technology.
Rafi uddin Mehsud hails from South Waziristan Agency, FATA and has graduated in social sciences from GC University, Lahore
Published in Daily Times, September 17th 2017.