A Technical and Intellectual Analysis of “Takal” in Watan Magazine

Abstract

This research article focuses on the technical and ideological aspects of the “Takal” (a type of essay) genre published in Watan magazine, and its literary and intellectual contributions to Pashto literature. Watan was a Pashto bi-monthly magazine published from Mardan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. It was started in 2007 and closed in 2010. The data for this article is collected from different issues of Watan magazine and analyzed in detail. The article mainly examines six ‘takalona’ written by different authors. It begins with a discussion on Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, its literature, and the history of magazines in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. It then introduces Watan magazine, its editorial board, and its purpose in fostering cultural, educational, and literary awareness among Pashtuns. The article also explores the definition and stylistic boundaries of Takal, tracing its historical development from French and Arabic literary traditions, and explains how this form was adopted into Pashto literature. The analysis shows that Takals were written in simple, fluent, and literary language, appealing to a broad readership and nurturing national consciousness, literary appreciation, and cultural pride among Pashtuns. Through these Takals, Watan magazine played an important role in discussing social issues, traditions, values, and critiques of modernity. The analysis also suggests that the Takal genre in Watan magazine had great significance in Pashto literature and in constructing a collective cultural consciousness of Pashtuns. The article concludes that Watan magazine enriched Pashto prose literature, especially by shaping and promoting the Takal genre, and by providing a valuable platform for Pashto writers to creatively engage with contemporary societal issues.