First Book on Khowar Grammer: Introduction and Analysis

قواعدِ کھوار پر اولین کتاب: تعارف وتجزیہ

Abstract

The present study offers the first comprehensive analytical examination of Qawaid-e-Khowar by Maulana Naqibullah Razi, a pioneering grammatical work on the Khowar language spoken in the remote Chitral Valley of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. Despite the linguistic and cultural significance of Khowar, scholarly literature—particularly in the field of grammar—remains extremely limited. This study situates Qawaid-e-Khowar within the historical tradition of Khowar grammar writing, tracing earlier documentation efforts initiated in the nineteenth century by British ethnographers and linguists such as G. W. Leitner, John Biddulph, and Captain O’Brien. It further acknowledges the substantial contributions of native Khowar scholars in the twentieth century, including Sir Nasir Ul Mulk, Hisam Ul Mulk, Bacha Khan Huma, Maulana Wazir Khan, Samsam Ul Mulk, and Dr. Inayat Ullah Faizi. While these earlier works were foundational, a systematic and comprehensive grammatical account of Khowar was notably absent. Qawaid-e-Khowar effectively fills this critical gap. The book presents a structured introduction to the Khowar alphabet, morphology, numerals, and parts of speech, supported by original Khowar examples alongside Urdu translations, making it accessible to both native and non-native learners. The study concludes that Qawaid-e-Khowar represents a seminal contribution to Khowar linguistics, playing a vital role in the documentation, preservation, and promotion of the language.