Few quick points.
1. James Darmesteter, the famous french Iranist, compiled more than 100 popular #Pashto songs in 1888-90 in his Chants populaires des Afghans. It also narrates accounts of various wars/battles using Charbeta (چاربیته) the story telling form of Pashto poetry...
...including that of Ahmad Shah Abdali, Dost M. Khan, Syed Ahmed , and the following wars including 2nd Anglo-Afghan war. It names many other people, which are unknown to us today, who showed bravery in the war, but it doesn't mention any Malalai or any woman for that matter.
Remember the book was compiled about 10 years after the battle of Maiwand and one would expect that local native accounts, told via folklore, may mention it but this one at least doesn't. Does any other Pashto/Afghan account of that time mention her? It is to investigate!
2. Important to trace exactly when & who mentioned Malalai and her story first to be able to fully establish if it was actually a real woman or if it was a fictional character invented for some reason.
3. Pashto literature enjoyed immense support, good for Pashto, from the Afghan state in 20th century. Many books were written, authors & scholars encouraged in various ways under the state patronage to carry our their work. It won't be out of place to mention that
some controversial literary "discoveries" were also made in that period that kind of aligned with and supported the Pashtun national discourse. One has to see if Malalai was also result of such a campaign.
4. Colonial literature, however, can't be used as an authentic reference to (in)validate Afghan version of the events of the war and many battles. Those accounts really tell stories from their perspectives.
Lastly, it is disappointing to see non-Pashtun ethnicities celebrating "busting" of the myth of Malalai. They are obviously influenced by the ethnic politics of today. Also, those Pashtuns need to calm down who feel offended by the thread quoted above. Why feel proud of something
that was not a reality in the first place? But if you believe in it then please counter with evidence. It will help us all improve on our understanding and knowledge of history.
There is so much more in Pashtun history to feel good about anyways ;-)
Share this Scrolly Tale with your friends.
A Scrolly Tale is a new way to read Twitter threads with a more visually immersive experience.
Discover more beautiful Scrolly Tales like this.