A letter to Khyber TV
The following
letter has been sent to Khyber TV________________________________________________________
Dear
Khyber TV Salamoona:
Hope you are all doing well. First of all, I wanted
to extend my thanks and appreciation for the various programs presented on Khyber TV. The programs and
shows are informative and creative.
I live in the United States and have two beautiful
children. Given that they live in an English-speaking environment, they also more often than not speak
English instead of Pakhto at home. However, after a long awaited period, we have recently discovered Khyber
TV. We have been watching the programs as best we can, given work responsibilities, children's schools
as well as the time zone difference.
I want my children to be better versed in Pakhto and their culture and
strongly believe that Khyber TV is an influential means to that end. Using my family as an example, I believe
I represent a large segment of Pakhtoons and would like to give some constructive criticism and hope it is taken as such.
I would like to see lesser usage of the English/Urdu languages and much more usage of our mother
tongue Pakhto. I would also like to see lesser usage of western attire (suits/pants/shirts) and more usage
of Pakhtoon clothing. Language and clothing are powerful means to cultural development and communication.
They also play great role in keeping the Pakhtoon culture alive and curtail or reduce the extinction of Pakhto as the
language of Khyber Pakhtoonkhwa and Afghanistan.
Even my children that
are 4 and 8 criticize the usage of English and Urdu in your programs. If English and Urdu are mixed with
Paktho, we may as well watch American, Indian or Urdu programs. In addition, if Deewa Radio uses pure Paktho
in their programs, I am not sure why a Channel that represents the Pakhtoon culture and language would not use pure Pakhto.
From time to time a flavor of other cultures provides a nice feel, but should not represent the channel that aims to
serve the Pakhtoon community both at home and abroad. It may be warranted to present informative programs
to your audience regarding other cultures; instead of presenting Pakhto programs in other languages. With
the continued use of other languages, Khyber TV will lose its original aim to serve a dying language and in the process its
credibility.
I disagree with Zaki who stated after being criticized by a brother from Lahore by the name of
Nadeem for wearing suit instead of Pakhtoon clothing and using English instead of pure Pakhto, that people's culture should
be apparent from their hearts rather than appearance. In my opinion this comment is completely inaccurate.
Clothing has a major influence on culture and I think many Pakhtoon scholars will agree that language serves as the
basis of communication for any culture.
In my opinion and many others echo my thoughts that Khyber TV should put in place a policy that
represents the pure Pakhtoon culture and should strictly adhere to that policy and enforce it in all its broadcasts.
Khyber TV can be a source of income for some, but a source of cultural
development for others and therefore needs to pay closer attention to its original objective, to serve “Da Nangialo
Nangiali”.
Best Regards,
Dr. Yousefzai
Chicago
