Pashto Nasram: A Structural and Historical Investigation

Abstract

This paper examines Nasram (prose poem) as a modern literary genre in Pashto literature, highlighting its distinctive features, historical origins and development۔ Unlike traditional poetry, Nasram is free from the constraints of balance, rhyme and fixed forms, relying instead on internal rhythm, poetic language, thematic freedom and structural unity۔ The study traces the evolution of prose poetry from its formal emergence in nineteenth-century France through writers such as Aloysius Bertrand, Charles Baudelaire, and Arthur Rimbaud, before its spread into various world languages۔ In Pashto, while earlier individual experiments existed, the genre gained significant recognition after the 2019 “Nawkhatgar” literary movement, which promoted innovative poetic expression and stimulated critical discussion۔ Through the contributions of contemporary writers and critics, Nasram has established itself as an independent and increasingly popular genre, playing an important role in the ongoing modernization of Pashto literature.