Khowar Literature Poetry, History, Authors, & Books

Khowar is one of the most unique languages having vibrant literature with different genres. I am an occasional blogger, and I share news about any culture that I find interesting.  Most of the time I prefer to write on the element being eliminated from any indigenous culture or tradition. This time you are going to read about it, its origin, and its literature.   

Khowar is commonly known as Chitrali. It is spoken natively by the residents of Chitral Ghizer and a Matiltan a small village of Swat. This old language falls in the Dardic branch of the languages known as Indo-Aryans. Due to such a distinct linguistic feature coupled with its cultural importance, this language has some significant ties with the rich cultural and historical pasts of Hindukush.

Origin and Nourishment of Khowar

It is native to Chitral, and the Gilgit-Baltistan region, in which there are over 700,000 speakers with different dialects. The term “Khowar” means “language of the Khow people” in meaning, hence the culture and identity. There are around 16 languages spoken in Chitral however, it is a central language to communicate within the region. It also has equal importance outside Chitral and Ghizer because of the attachment of speakers to it. In Preserved Cultures Literature Festival 2024 at Quaid-i-Azam University, Khowar received distinguished consideration and attention.

Khowar Literature

Just like every other literature this language also depicts a complete image of Khow society. The essence of Chitrali life, traditions, and values is well-captured in Khowar literature. Some poems glorify all the four seasons of Chitral. It is shown through poetry, folk songs, and oral storytelling. Many Khowar poets and writers have contributed significantly over centuries toward the culture and history of this region. Some of the young Khow writers are equally contributing rather more efficiently than pre-21st century Khow writers. The story doesn’t stop here because there is a vital role of Female Khowar writers in the sustenance of its literature. They have contributed in the form of poems with great recognition in the society. Although they are not highlighted in patriarchal Chitral, Preserved Cultures is eager to conduct research and provide them honor. 

Traditional Khowar Poetry

Khowar poetry is rooted deeply in Chitrali tradition and is related to love, nature, and spirituality. The popular forms of poetry are Khowar Ghazals, Khowar Qasidas, and Khowar Marsiyas.
1. The ghazals are romantic as well as philosophical expressions.
2. Qasidas are somehow similar to ghazals according to the structure of writing but the themes are different. People used to write it in praise of heroes or religious personalities. In Chitral upper Ismailis have documented several Qasidas to praise the personality of their Imams. Also, they have translated many verses from the Persian language written by Amir Khusrow.
3. Marsiya is a poem of the same structure having two lines of elegies and sometimes four lines that mourn heavy losses. The most famous marsiya in Khowar are Nano Begal, Nano Zhan Nan Gherum, and many others.

We have some talented poets who are currently contributing to the literature of Khowar such as; Zareef Munawar Uz Zaman, Abdullah Shahab, Wasi Hussain Ilhan, and Saifullah Humraaz.

Khowar Folk and Oral Tradition

In previous times, there wasn’t any trend of writing and documentation for archival sake. That’s why Chitrali culture lives in stories, tales, and practices. Before the start of the 21st century, there were very little preservations of Khowar Literature as compared to others in the periphery. What the Khow people possess are folktales, stories, and proverbs, moving from generation to generation. In most of these stories, writers draw lessons of morality and the way life runs in the mountains of Chitral.

Preserving Khowar

While it has this rich heritage, globalization along with Urdu and English is threatening it. However, here are some steps going on to preserve this culture:
• Education: Some institutions teach the Khowar language in schools in Chitral.
• Media: Khowar radio programs and publications help promote the language. Several YouTube channels and Facebook pages are collecting data and saving it thus they have a huge amount of data on the Khowar language.
• Digitalization: Linguists are working on Khowar dictionaries and translation tools. Multiple organizations are working to promote the Khowar language.

Conclusion

The culture and literature of Khowar are an important part of the identity of Chitral. The language stands like a bridge that has led this cultural heritage to link both past and present traditions among the Khow people. With its increase in popularity through promoting its literature, Khowar will continue to have generations for its rich heritage to grow.

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