Origin of Term
Further information: Name of Afghanistan and Afghan (name)The name used for the region during the middle ages and up until the 20th century was Afghanistan, which has been mentioned by the 6th century Indian astronomer & mathematician Varahamihira, 7th century Chinese pilgrim Hiven Tsiang, 14th century Moroccan scholar Ibn Batutta, Mughal Emperor Babur, 16th century historian Firishta and many others.
The men of Kábul and Khilj also went home; and whenever they were questioned about the Musulmáns of the Kohistán (the mountains), and how matters stood there, they said, "Don't call it Kohistán, but Afghánistán; for there is nothing there but Afgháns and disturbances." Thus it is clear that for this reason the people of the country call their home in their own language Afghánistán, and themselves Afgháns. The people of India call them Patán; but the reason for this is not known. But it occurs to me, that when, under the rule of Muhammadan sovereigns, Musulmáns first came to the city of Patná, and dwelt there, the people of India (for that reason) called them Patáns—but God knows! —Ferishta, 1560-1620The name Pakhtunistan (Pashto: پښتونستان ), or in the soft Pashto dialect, Pashtunistan, evolved originally from the Indian word "Pathanistan" (Hindustani: پٹھانستان, पठानिस्तान ). The very concept of Pashtunistan was taken from the old word "Pakhtunkhwa." Like other Hindustani terms, "Pathanistan" entered the Pashto lexicon. The British Indian leaders and even the Khudai Khidmatgars started using the word "Pathanistan" to refer to the region, and later on the word "Pashtunistan" became more popular.
Read more about this topic: Pashtunistan
Famous quotes containing the words origin of, origin and/or term:
“The real, then, is that which, sooner or later, information and reasoning would finally result in, and which is therefore independent of the vagaries of me and you. Thus, the very origin of the conception of reality shows that this conception essentially involves the notion of a COMMUNITY, without definite limits, and capable of a definite increase of knowledge.”
—Charles Sanders Peirce (1839–1914)
“Good resolutions are useless attempts to interfere with scientific laws. Their origin is pure vanity. Their result is absolutely nil. They give us, now and then, some of those luxurious sterile emotions that have a certain charm for the weak.... They are simply cheques that men draw on a bank where they have no account.”
—Oscar Wilde (1854–1900)
“There’s no term to the work of a scientist.”
—Walter Reisch (1903–1963)