Understanding the Language of Khoshal’s Poetry

Khushal Khan Khattak was a multifaceted personality—an eminent poet, philosopher, physician, hunter, politician, and freedom fighter. He is credited with authoring more than 300 books in both prose and poetry, though only around 20 are currently available. His writings reflect a life lived through both the sword and the pen, deeply engaged in the sociopolitical dynamics of his time. Initially an ally of the Mughal Empire, his imprisonment by the Mughals marked a turning point, transforming him into a fierce critic and resistor of their rule. This paper explores a lesser-known dimension of Khushal Khan’s literary work: the language of his poetry, particularly its raw, erotic, and aggressive undertones that are often overlooked due to cultural sensitivities. The language he employed is considered by many scholars to be too explicit or informal, leading to its marginalization in academic discourse. This study aims to reveal this neglected aspect of Khushal Khan’s poetic legacy and argue for its importance in understanding his full literary and ideological contributions.