About 2,000 new Pashto titles were published in the year 2014, according to booksellers. Most of the writers of these books focus on issues related to militancy, sufferings of people and restoration of lasting peace in the region.
The unusual trend noticed in 2014 was publication of equal number of books in prose unlike the previous years. However, the trend of self-publication continues as usual. Pervaiz Shiekh, a retired schoolteacher and prolific fiction writer, brought out four novels in Pashto.
Mohib Wazir’s ‘Effects of 9/11 on Pashto fiction’ hit bookstands while Dr Zubair Hasrat’s title ‘Tamashay’ published in 2014 carries contents of 12 Pashto plays staged from 1930 to 1970.
Pashto books published in Peshawar, Quetta, Karachi and Afghanistan reinforced issues relating to terrorism, bloodshed and unspeakable sufferings of Pakhtuns. Not a single Pashto poet or writer has glorified jihadi culture in his writings as some Afghan poets did in early 80s.
Pashto poets and writers have openly condemned militant activities in the country in general and in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Fata in particular.
Despite poor readership and slump market trend, Pashto poets and writers continue publishing their books without government support. They are educating public on various issues and also provide creative thoughts.
