Read this term ‘Sindhan’ in one of Banu Qudsia’s novel and that was first when I read a Sindhi lady being referred like this.
May be Banu Qudsia is not aware of the terminology Sindhi use while referring to Sindhi lady. Its not Sindhan. Its Sindhyani. Probably, she coined the term seeing term "Punjaban’ used to refer a Punjabi lady.
I’m not sure how Bengalis refer to a Bengali lady, but the term ‘Bangalan’ also seems to be inspired by Punjaban.
I just remember all this, as in a Sindhi book I just read a Sikh lady being referred as ‘Sikhyani’, which is otherwise ‘Sikhni’ in Urdu and Punjabi Literature.
Balochan is Balochiyani in Sindhi, don’t know how Baloch refers to Balch lady.
Pathani is also used in Sindh and there is alteranate use of terms ‘Pathan’ or ‘Pathani’ in Sindhi and that is a handsome / beautiful person.
In saraiki region, Pathani is same like their Malook (beautiful) and there is this famous song from Saraiki region whih refers to Bride as ‘Rani Pathani’ and equally popular in Sindh.
Is is the literal meaning of the term 'Pathani' or the original word carries really positive connotations?
Not literal but some connotations. Native people of Sindh are dark-skin or sanwla, so Pathan with fair skin got their attention to describe someone with fair skin.
You might remember Zulfiqar Mirza chanting in a press conference against MQM 'uss neeli aankhon wale Pathan bache ka kiya qasoor, jo Karachi main kachra chunte goli ka shikar ho jata hai'. This is not something poetic that was coming from a person like ZM, but its quite appreciated and established folklore to refer someone beautiful as Pathan / Pathani in Sindh. This is same like they refer to someone with an attitude as 'BaRa angrez / sahab banta hai'.
Not literal but some connotations. Native people of Sindh are dark-skin or sanwla, so Pathan with fair skin got their attention to describe someone with fair skin.
You might remember Zulfiqar Mirza chanting in a press conference against MQM 'uss neeli aankhon wale Pathan bache ka kiya qasoor, jo Karachi main kachra chunte goli ka shikar ho jata hai'. This is not something poetic that was coming from a person like ZM, but its quite appreciated and established folklore to refer someone beautiful as Pathan / Pathani in Sindh. This is same like they refer to someone with an attitude as 'BaRa angrez / sahab banta hai'.
It's exactly the same in Punjabi culture as well. It's pretty common to compliment a good looking person with fair skin, light eyes and sharp nose by calling him/her Pathan/Pathani. I was going to open a thread on this question. Very interesting phenomena indeed.
It's exactly the same in Punjabi culture as well. It's pretty common to compliment a good looking person with fair skin, light eyes and sharp nose by calling him/her Pathan/Pathani. I was going to open a thread on this question.
On a side note, Pathan rulers of Sindh never got positive feedback in Sindh. Arghoon, Tarkhan all are portrayed in bad light in History Books. But strangely, There is a community in Sindh, which by caste refer them as Pathan, but don't know Pashto and speak Sindhi at their homes.
^In my experience, Ali_Syed is correct. We use Pashtun/Pakhtun rather than pathan. I don't think I've ever heard anyone refer to themselves as pathan/pathani.
So, who uses term Pathan then? I think English writers who wrote books on the region, also refer them as Pathan. Term Pakhtun and Pashtun are rarely used in Sindh
So, who uses term Pathan then? I think English writers who wrote books on the region, also refer them as Pathan. Term Pakhtun and Pashtun are rarely used in Sindh
Pathans of Subcontinent use the Pathan to describe themselves when speaking to non Pakhtoon people.
