Sunday 25 January 2015

Jadun or Gadun tribe

Jadoon or Gadoon tribe is said to be descended from Zhadun, son of parnaey, and brother of Kakar, the two latter being sons of Danaey, son of Ghurghast, son of Qais Abdul Rashid. Jadoon was one of the 18 sons of Parnaey.

According to Khulasat al-Ansab of Hafiz Rahmat Khan (written in 1770 AD):

"Panni whose descendants reside in the country of Sangan Mandai, contiguous to Shikarpur : the Safis and Gadoons are descended from him "

The original name of the tribe was Zhadoon ږدون (or ژدون as spelled in Farsi or Urdu). It changed to Gadoon in the hard dialect of Pashto. The tribes of Peshawar valley also sometimes change ژ into ج , so the Jadoon variant also appeared.  

In the census of 1901, the Jadoons of Hazara numbered 11,590.

It is said that initially Jadoons were settled near the Spin-Ghar or Sufed Koh range. They affiliated themselves with the Khasi tribes and accompanied the latter to Peshawar valley in late 15th century. After the battle of Katlang (in which Yousafzais and the allied clans defeated Dilazaks), the Jadoons were assigned the territory in the eastern part of the Yousafzai 'Samma' near the Indus, presently occupied by them. In early 18th century, Jadoons crossed the river Indus and conquered their present holdings in the Abbotabad district.

Classification of the tribe

The Jadoon tribe is made up of three major divisions, the Salar, Mansur and Hasanzai, have multiplied into many sub-clans. The whole territory of the Salar, Hasanzai and much of that of the Mansur is in the Hazara mountains, being situated on both banks of the Dor stream as far as the Urash valley. A portion of the tribe is settled in trans-Indus territory on the southern and and western slopes of the Mahaban mountains. They are bounded in the east by the Utmanzai Mandanrs, in the north by Amazai Mandanrs and in the west by Khadu Khel Mandanrs. The Mansur and Salar divisions maintained some connection with their trans-Indus kinsmen and some of them still speak Pashto, however, the Hasanzai have since long lost all links with the latter and have entirely forgotten their Pashto language.

Jadoons during the Durrani period

During the reign of Timur Shah Durrani, Azad Khan Durrani, who was governor of Kashmir and son-in-law of the Saadat Khan Swati of Garhi, rebelled against the Durrani king. Jadoons aided the king Timur Shah Durrani. Initially Azad Khan succeeded in warding off the royal force from Kabul and the Jadoons suffered heavily at his hands. Azad Khan made minarets of the severed heads of the Jadoons who were led by Inayat Khan Hasanzai Jadoon. The latter was later recognized as the 'Khan' of the Jadoons. They then occupied the Urash valley and Gadoon-Amazai tract though Hasanzai were not represented in the latter tract. Subsequently, the Jadoon area was divided into three 'tappas' ; the Rajoia 'tappa' was given to the Salar clan, Dhamtaur and half of the Mangal tract to the Hasanzai and Nawanshahr remained with rest of the Mansur clan. They used to pay Rs.2,000/, and provided a horse and a falcon to the Durranis as a revenue of the area. [1]

Jadoons and Hari Singh Nalwa

In December 1821 Ranjit Singh removed Hari Singh Nalwa from the governorship of Kashmir and recalled him to Lahore. Hari Singh left Kashmir via Muzaffarabad and entered Pakhli with 8,000 troops. He was accompanied by Amin Khan Swati (the 'Khan' of Garhi Habibullah) who had thrown in his lot with Sikhs. At Mangal (مانگل), the passage was blocked by a large number of Jadoons, Tanolis and other Hazarewals (estimated to be around 25,000 by Mehtab Singh who was in the service of Hari Singh Nalwa) who were gathered by the efforts of Muhammad Khan Tarin. Hari Singh parleyed with them, asking for a free passage but they demanded toll on all the Kashmiri goods and treasure he was taking with him. Hari Singh sent Najibullah Khan Swati (uncle of Amin Khan Swat) to sow seeds of discord among the allied tribes. As a result, Tanolis and others abandoned Jadoons, leaving the latter in the lurch. 

Hari Singh was now feeling confident to finish off the thinned out enemy. He stormed the Mangal town where Jadoons had entrenched themselves. Sikh soldiers managed to climb the outer walls of the town and fighting with Jadoons ensued on the rooftops of the houses. Sikh soldiers began to set houses on fire and soon the entire town was engulfed in flames. In that fiery commotion, around 2,000 Jadoons were rumoured to have been burnt to death or killed in fighting. After this affair Hari Singh imposed a fine of eight rupees upon every house in the parts inhabited by the tribes who had thus gathered against him, and sent out his people to collect it. They succeeded in collecting between five and six rupees from each. Hari Singh then built a fort at Nawanshahr and garrisoned it. 

After Hari Singh Nalwa left Hazara, the Jadoons reorganized themselves. Under the leadership of Inayat Khan and Hasan Ali Khan of Dhamtor, they carried out a night raid on the Sikh outposts in Nawanshahr. Sikhs were caught unprepared and were defeated. During that fighting, Najibullah Khan Swati (fighting on behalf of Sikhs) got wounded and subsequently died of his wounds. Jadoons placed the body of Najibullah Khan on the bank of a dry pond near Ilyasi Masjid, just in front of Salar Baba's shrine and beat the body with shoes. Then it was stoned till it got buried under the stones. Later Hari Singh sent a force under Mahan Singh which defeated the Jadoons and took the fort at Nawanshahr.

Hasan Ali Khan Jadoon made a name for himself by carrying out bold raids on the Sikh garrisons. Once he was captured by the Sikhs by deceit and was kept in Muzaffarabad fort. His son supplied him a piece of sandstone with which he cut his shackles and jumped from the fort wall, and succeeded in escape. He, along with his uncle Pir Khan of Banda Pir Khan, continued harassing Sikh garrisons.

Jadoons and James Abbot

James Abbot (after whom Abbottabad is named) was appointed by East India Company as military advisor to Charat Singh Attariwala, the Sikh governor of Hazara. During the second Anglo-Sikh war, he exploited the anti-Sikh sentiments feelings of Hazarewals and raised a force of the locals at Khalabat. Abbot fought a few skirmishes against the Sikhs. In one of these the Jadoons supported him when he defeated a Sikh contingent at Do Tar near Rajoia. However, he was not happy with the Jadoon's performance and when he was appointed Deputy Commissioner of the Hazara, he gave the jagir of three 'tappas' to Pir Khan and ignored the other Jadoon 'Khans' namely Faizullah Khan of Dhamtaur, Khudadad Khan of Mangal and Amriullah Khan of Bandi Atai. Later, he realized their importance and befriended them, thereby increasing their influence. Initially he chose Nawanshahr as his headquarters, however, because of the hygenic problems, he changed it to the site of the present Abbottabad town.

Role of Gadoons in the 'Mujahideen' movement

In the battle of Naranji in 1858, British artillery inflicted crippling losses on the Hindustani Mujahideen (who were the remnants of Syed Ahmad Bareilvi's followers). The few survivors withdrew into the Gadoon territory at Malka, on the north side of Mahaban. The Gadoons provided a base for re-organization of the small band of the Mujahideen. Maulvi Nasrullah and Mir Takki, the Mujahideen leaders, moved to Malka. A secret agency for the conveyance of money to 'Mujahideen' in the Gadoon hills was also organized.

Prior to that, the British had signed an agreement with Gadoons that they would not admit the Hindustani Mujahideen into their area and would resist any tribe that might reinstate them in Sithana or in Fort Mandi. Therefore the British came down hard on the Gadoons for allowing passage to the Indian Mujahideen through their territory for raiding the British territory. British placed Utmanzais and Gadoons under a blockade. On 2nd October 1861, they succumbed to the pressure and entered into a fresh agreement to expel the Indian Mujahideen from their area. However, with the active connivance of some Gadoon and Utmanzai Maliks, the Mujahideen re-occupied Sithana on 5th July 1863. Therefore the British re-imposed the blockade.

On 23rd September 1863, the 'Mujahideen' led by their leader Maulvi Abdullah and accompanied by Malik Easu Gadoon attacked the camp of Guides Cavalry of British that formed the blockading force at Topi (in Swabi district). On 18th October 1863, a British force comprising 5,000 men and 13 guns, under the command of of Major General Neville Chamberlain, left for the Ambela Pass. On 19th October, the British Commissioner wrote a proclamation to the Maliks of the Chamla clans, including the Gadoon and Utmanzai, reminding them that they had earlier entered into a written agreement not to permit the return of the Hindustani Mujahideen to their former position at Sithana. He also assured them that the expedition was against the Indian Mujahideen and not against the local tribes. Nevertheless the local Pashtun tribes supported the Indian Mujahideen and opposed the British troops tooth and nail, inflicting heavy losses on them including the killing of Major General Nevile Chamberlain. However later the British succeeded in breaking the tribal unity through diplomacy. The Bunerwals agreed to destroy the Malka village in the presence of British officers. 

The Gadoon jirga surrendered , however Malik Isa (Essu) Khan of Mansur section, did not submit. He was supported by Jahangir Khan of Salar section in his anti-British activities. The British government harassed the Gadoon villages of Bisak, Gandap and Khabal, however the Gadoons pinpricks continued. In 1870, Mir Baz Khan Gadoon also joined the Jahangir Khan's group and they kept harassing the locals who supported the British. With the collapse of the Indian Mujahideen movement, the anti-British activities of Gadoons also died down.

References

1- Haroon Rashid, "History of the Pathans, Vol-III
1- Hazara Gazetteer, 1907
2- History of the Pathans', Vol-3, by Haroon Rashid
3- 'Tarikh-i-Hazara' by Sher Bahadur Khan Panni
4- Report of the Land Revenue Settlement of the Hazara District of the Punjab, 1868-74

"Jadoons, Afghan frontier tribe, Soonee Mussulmans, Hazara", 1861. From "People of India" by Watson and Kaye.


"Jadoons, Afghan frontier tribe, Soonee Mussulmans, Hazara", 1861. From "People of India" by Watson and Kaye.

Saturday 24 January 2015

History of the Marwat tribe of Pashtuns



The Marwat are a branch of the Lohani tribe of Lodi section, being descended from Nuh and his first wife Mashirah alias Shiri. It has four sub-sections of Musa Khel, Tapi, Nuna Khel and Salar. According to Makhzan-i-Afghani (composed in 1613 AD) :-
"Lohani's original name was Nuh. He had two wives ; the one, Toori ; the second, Shiri. From the first wife he had five sons, Mamya, Mia, Tatur, Patakh, Hud. Sheeri, the second wife of Lohani, had one son, whom she called Marwat : his descendants are denominated Marwatkhail" [1]
Initially, the Marwats and other Lohani tribes nomadized between Ghazni Plataea and Derajat and also had permanent settlements in Katawaz, Wana and Mahsud land of Waziristan during fifteenth century. The Marwats who were the aborigines of what is now South Waziristan , also appear to be engaged in agriculture. Evelyn Howell writes:-
"Nothing is more remarkable throughout Waziristan than the traces of terraced fields which remain to show that once men grew corn where there is no tillage. In Waziristan anyhow local tradition is unanimous that it was in the days of the Marwats or the Urmars that, these lands were cultivated and mainly all the water channels of any size or length which still survive were cut. " [2]
Around mid-fifteenth century, Marwats lost Katawaz to Suleiman Khel Ghilzais. A dispute arose between the Marwats and Suleiman Khel Ghilzais over return of a Suleiman Khel boy who had abducted a girl of his clan and taken refuge with the Marwats. On refusal by the latter, the Suleiman Khels, with the help of other Ghilzai clans, expelled the Marwats from Katawaz. [3]

In the time of Babur, Daulat Khel branch of Lohanis got involved in a feud with the Prangis who were settled in the fertile tract of Tank. Shahbaz Khan alias Khan Zaman Khan Daulat Khel sought help from his kinsmen, the other Lohani tribes in the area. The Marwats supported the Daulat Khels. So fierce was the battle that Prangis were almost decimated and the survivors joined their kinsmen in Hind. Khan Zaman Khan divided the acquired territory of Tank tract into four equal shares amongst the four Lohani tribes who had taken part in the battle against Prangis. Lohani clans are said to have afterwards quarreled among themselves about the lands taken from the Prangis, but eventually they all settled down in the countries which they now occupy : the Marwats in the Lakki Marwat district; the Daulat Khel and Tators in Tank ; and the Mian Khels at Draban and Musahzai in the Kulachi tahsil of Dera Ismail Khan district.

Miscellaneous information

1- Lakki is a town of Lakki Marwat district. The word Laka'i, in Pushto, signifies, “tail,” “termination,” “extremity,” “after-part,” “rear,” and the like. This place was formerly in the possession of the Sarang clan of the Niazi tribe of Afghans. When Khushal Khan Khattak, held the Chautarah district, under his father, Shahbaz Khan, he made a raid from thence on the Sarangs of Laka'i. [4]

2- Syed Ghulam Muhamamd, an Indian surveyor, passed through Marwat region in 1780 and gave the following account of the Marwat country and its people :-
“The Marwat Afghans are a section or sub-tribe of the great tribe of Nuharni. The Marwat section consists of about 40,000 families, the greater number of whom follow a nomadic life, but many of them have taken to fixed abodes, and the cultivation of the soil. There are at present two Sardars or Chiefs in this tribe: one, Nur Khan of the Pahar Khel, before referred to as being the rightful chief, and the other, Gul-rang Khan of the Khafiz Khel, who has been lately set up by some sections of the tribe. Nur Khan dwells at Pahar Khel, and Gul-rang Khan, the rival chief, at Pathan-Kot; and between these rival chiefs there is no accord. Both pay allegiance to Timir Shah Sadozi, Badshah of Kabul, each pay into his treasury 5,000 rupis as a tenth, and each furnishes a contingent of 200 horsemen to the Badshah's army. Their principal wealth is in cattle; and they likewise possess numerous flocks of sheep, and herds of camels. In the winter time they come into the garam-sir or hot parts, in the tracts east of the mountains towards the great river, but, in the summer months, they resort to the sard-sir or cool tracts in the mountains.
“Their country, which, previous to their arrival in it, was known by the Hindi name of “Thal,” extends, from east to west, for about fifty kuroh in length, and forty kuroh in breadth from north to south. The chief place, and seat of government, is styled Laka’i, which is a town of considerable size, but the houses are merely constructed of reeds, and thatched with grass laid on the branches of trees." As this tract of country consists chiefly of sandy tracts and desert, as its name indicates, and is surrounded on all sides by mountains at greater or lesser distances, it is exceedingly dry and hot; and, as large trees and long grass do not grow hereabouts, its inhabitants have no other stations or dwelling-places save such like unsubstantial abodes. The river Gambila'h and river of Kurma'h flow through the middle of the Marwat territory; and on both sides of these rivers the land is exceedingly fruitful, and produces fine crops. The Gamila'h, as before mentioned, comes down from the hilly country of Karni-Gram, and, passing on the north side of the town of Laka'i, unites with the river of Kurma'h and its many minor tributaries three or four kuroh farther east. The united streams then flow through the lower part of the country of the 'Isa Khel, receiving some minor streams from the hills of that part, and finally unite with the Abae Sin. Like some other Afghan tribes, the Marwat Nuharnis re-distribute the lands of their villages every ten or twelve years, sometimes after longer periods; and each member of the community, even to the infant in arms, has a share  allowed. This re-distribution is, however, restricted within certain customary regulations.
“The lalmi lands, or lands dependent on rain for irrigation, are chiefly unproductive. In the cold season, however, much rain falls, and snow likewise, but, in the hot season, the heat is very great. It is not the custom in this country to sink wells, and the people use the river water for drinking purposes. The chief produce consists of wheat, barley, jowor, bajra'h, and muthh, in great plenty, but of sugar-cane, rice, and cotton, the produce is scanty. Traders have to pay a tax.
“Laka'i lies about equidistant from the several mountain ranges surrounding it, being about twenty kuroh from each, save those in the direction of Bunnu and Tak, which lie farther off. 
“The language of the people of the Marwat country is Pushto only, save in a few instances where the Baluchi and Panjabi languages are also spoken, but by persons of a different race.” [5]

3- Agha Abbas of Shiraz passed through Marwat region in 1837 and gave following account of the tribe :-
"3rd Zeehijah.—Proceeded to Marwat to the village of Lakki. The cultivation depends on the rain. This is the principal town of Marwat. A small portion of the Kurram river is applied to cultivation. There are three tribes of Marwats. 
Bahram, under Feroz Khan and Muhablat Khan, resident of Ghuzni khel; amount of fighting men two thousand. 
Dreplarah, under Noora Khan and Allaiyar Khan, resident of Sangookhel and Asakkhel; amount of fighting men two thousand. 
Musakhel, under Hyder Khan, resident of Adamzai, and Kashmir Khan, resident of Wali; amount of fighting men one thousand and five hundred. 
The former amount of the revenue of Murwat, in the time of the Sadozais, was 18,000 rupees, and in the time of the Nawabs of Dera, 50,000 rupees. 
The town of Lakki is situated in the division of Bahram; but the whole three divisions dispute about their claims to it. The Maliks of Lakki are four in number; viz. Deewana Khan, Gouhar Khan, Jahan Khan, and Alam Khan. The town of Lakki is composed of four hundred houses and twenty shops, three dyers, and two black smiths. They are now subjects of Runjeet Singh, but compulsory ones, and their revenue is only collected by detachments of Sikh troops. They are friends of the Bannuwals, and enemies of the Waziris. [6]


References:

1- "History of Afghans" by B.Dorn, Vol-II-, p-51
2- "Mizh", by Evelyn Howell, p-97
3- "History of the Pathans" by Haroon Rashid, p-408
4-  "Notes on Afghanistan and part of Baluchistan", by H.G.raverty, p-322
5-  Ibid, pp.322-323
6-  Journal of a tour through parts of Panjab and Affghanistan in year 1837 ; translated by Major R.Leech.




Old man belonging to Marwat tribe
Type of Marwat, c.1909. Source: "Among the wild tribes of the Afghan frontier " by T.L. Pennell

Bacha Khan and Subhash Chandra Bose


Friday 23 January 2015

Shaikh Michan Niazi مچن نيکه | Michan Khel tribe

Ziarat of Mechan Nika (مچن نيکه) , Wana, South Waziristan.


Shaikh Michan Niazi was a medieval Pashtun saint . His real name was Muhsin and he is generally said to have been 6th in descent from Khako, son of Niazi. He was given the title of Michan (meaning handmill in Pashto) when one day, while on hunt in wilderness, he started rotating like a hand-mill in religious ecstasy. A brief account of him is given in Makhzan-i-Afghani (composed in 1612 AD) as follow ;
"Shaikh Mechan, is related, in the prime of youth, to have been addicted to hunting and sporting. One day, while hunting, the divine attraction entered him, and the breeze of the Almighty's grace breathed into him, so that he became affected with with ecstasy and contrition , and, by excessive love , was subjected to periodical rotation. In consequence of which , they called him Mechan , which in the Afghan language, signifies a 'mill' ; that is to say , he turned around like a mill. His descendants, among the Mati tribe, enjoy great authority ; and his threshold is a place of pilgrimage to high and low." [B.Dorn translation]

The descendants of Michan Baba are reputed to posses charms against Snake bites and hydrophobia. They are known to catch living snakes with no fear or danger. Michan Baba is buried at Wana in thr hills of Waziristan. Haji Murad, a descendant of Michan, is a saint of great repute, and his tomb is on the bank of Kurram near Lakki.  ["A Glossary of the Tribes and Castes of the Punjab and North-West", Vol-3, p-101]




Sunday 18 January 2015

Hukm by Azad Khan Afghan

Date Ramazan 1167 / 22.6.1754 - 21.7.1754         
Content   Azad Khan Afghan appoints Abdal Khan governor of Pusht Kuh, a post formerly held by Abdal Khan's father 'Ali Salih Khan. 
Type hukm  
 Category Imperial and Royal Decrees
Script nasta'liq
 
    

Babar hunting rhinoceros near Bigram (Peshawar) - Mughal miniature.

Babar hunting rhinoceros near Bigram (Peshawar) - Mughal miniature.
Mughal Emperor Babar in the beginning of his memoir, Babarnama, recorded: “On Friday, the 1st Sefer in the year 932, when the sun was in Sagittarius (1525 AD, November 17th), I set out on my march to invade Hindustan.” On reaching Peshawar, Babar went on a hunting trip in the marshes surrounding Peshawar in the areas irrigated by the Kabul River.

(Note: Indian rhinoceros - Rhinoceros unicornis - is now regionally extinct in Pakistan)



Baitani Pashtuns in medieval India



Initially Baitanis ot Batanis were settled on the western side of the Suleiman mountains. During the reign of Sikandar Lodi the tribe , en-mass, moved through Gomal pass to their present location, east of the Suleiman mountains. Most of the families went over to Hind and joined the Pashtun rulers and 'jagirdars' armies. The clans that remained in Gomal valley gradually increased their influence in the area and reached the outskirts of Kaniguram. However, in a fierce battle , the Wazirs/Mahsuds pushed them back and as a consequence some more families moved out and joined their kinsmen in Hind.

Following are the some of the notable Baitanis


Haji Khan Baitani

Haji Khan Baitani played an important role in the Afghan-Mughal conflict. He was one of those generals whom Sher Shah Suri had deployed along with Prince Jalal Khan at the defile of Garhi against the Mughals so that he could get time to transfer the wealth of Bengal to the fort of Rohtas.

After the battle of Chausa, Sher Shah had sent Haji Khan Baitani along with Jalal bin Jalu on the Bengal expedition. They, by defeating the Mughal governor Jahangir Quli Khan who held the Bengal with 6,000 cavalry , re-established Sher Shah's rule in Bengal.

Sher Shah before leaving Delhi for Lahore in persuit of Humayun, had entrusted the administration of Mewat to Haji Khan Bettani.


Fateh Khan Baitani

He was one of the governor of  Bengal during the reign of Islam Shah. He was killed by Taj Khan Karrani and Imad Khan Karrani during the reign of Adil Shah.


Hasan Khan Baitani

He was a commander in Emperor Akbar's army and was killed in the Karakar pass in Buner in 1585 AD while fighting the Yousafzais.



Ibrahim Khan Baitani

He was among the elite of Emperor Jahangir's court and did excellent work in supplying the deficiencies noticed in the copies of Maghza-i-Afghani' from the original of Naimatullah harvi and other histories.


 



Shaikh Kabir Baitani

He wrote "Afsana-i-Shahan" in the beginning of the the reign of  Mughal Emperor Jahangir. Kabir Batani's grandfather, Shaikh Ali, was in the service of Sher Shah Suri.



Books consulted

1-  Tuhfa-i-Akbar Shahi or Tarikh-i-Sher Shahi 

2- Makhzan-i-Afghani

3- History of the Pathans: The Ghurghushti, Beitani and Matti tribes of Pathans by Haroon Rashid

4- Afghan nobility and the Mughals 

5- Critique on Afsana-i-Shahan (article)

 

 



Saturday 17 January 2015

Karrani Sultanate


Babur's Tomb in Babur's Garden, Kabul

Kos Minars

Kos Minars : a series of milepost markers built during the reigns of Sher Shah Suri and later Mughal emperors. The Kos Minar is a solid round pillar,around 30 feet in height that stands on a masonry platform built with bricks and plastered over with lime. Though not architecturally very impressive, being milestones, they were an important part of communication and travel in a large empire.

Kos Minar in Delhi

Kos Minar on GT Road, Delhi - Karnal-Panipat, Haryana


Kos Minar in Lahore







Talaqi Darwaza of Old Fort Delhi


Sher Shah Suri left from this gate and never returned. Hence, its called Talaqi Darwaza of Old Fort

Purana Qila of Delhi


Purana Qila is the oldest fort among all forts in Delhi, the oldest known structure of any type in Delhi. It was rebuilt by the Afghan king Sher Shah Suri on the same site, named it Shergarh. Sher Shah raised the citadel of Purana-Qal'a with an extensive city-area sprawling around it.
 Purana Qila or Old Fort Ramparts, and Lake, Delhi


 This gate, opposite Old Fort is 1 of 2 surviving gates from Delhi built by Sher Shah Suri. 

 Lal Darwaza or Sher Shah Suri Gate, now stands opposite Purana Qila.

The single-domed Qila-i-Kuna Mosque, built by Sher Shah in 1541 is an excellent example of a pre-Mughal design

The original portion of G.T road

The original portion of G.T road near Taxila which was constructed by Sher Shah Suri during his reign (1539-45)


The role of Panni Pashtuns in Indian history


A great number of the Pashtuns belonging to Panni tribe from present-day Baluchistan [1] migrated at an early period to India, where from time to time, they have made themselves conspicuous under various dynasties and rulers. Farid-ud-Din Ahmad furnishes more information on the Pannis in "Risalat-ul-Ansab Afghaniah", wherein he writes;

"This is the account of Ghurghushtis. Of them, the Panni nation do not inhabit their own country, on account of some fault, they were expelled from their country upon which they moved to the mountains of Jaipur, Ahir, Jodhpur; others, whom they call Dhondhar, settled here. At present, which is the year 1217 of the hijra (1803 AD), they inhabit a hundred large villages, each containing from 1,000 to 5,000 men. They mostly occupy themselves with traffic and many of them are rich: they carry merchandise to Deccan: others subsist on various employments. They all dwell in Dhondhar."

A big number of them migrated to India during the reign of Sultan Bahlol Lodi. The Pannis of Marwar, under the leadership of Mian Buthan Panni helped Haji Khan when he was attacked and surrounded by Rana Odae Singh and defeated him.[2]

During the Mughal rule, they followed the footprints of the Mianas, and moved southwards to seek their fortunes in the service of the independent sovereigns of Deccan. [4]

In the time of Sultan Sher Shah Sur, the fortress of Rohtas in Bihar, one of the strongest places probably in India, and where Sher Shah kept his treasures, was held by garrison of 10,000 matchlock men or troops armed with firearms, and the command over them was entrusted to Ikhtiyar Khan Panni, one of his Amirs.[5]


Pannis in Bengal

Kalika Ranjan Qanungo in his book ''Sher Shah and his times" writes that Afghan settlers in Bengal in the time of Sher Shah were drawn from the tribes of Kakars, Panni, Bettani, Ustarni (an allied tribe of Sherani), Tarin, Mahmud Khail kinsmen of Musakhail Panins and Kakars). [6]

Jahan Khan Panni and Jamal Khan Panni were the two generals of Sultan Daud Karrani known to us. [7] 

According to an inscription, the Atia Mosque was built in 1609 by Sayyid Khan Panni, son of Bayazid Khan Panni, in honour of Pir Ali Shahanshah Baba Kashmiri. [8]




Atia mosque built by Sayyid Khan Panni


Wajid Ali Khan Panni also known as 'Atiyar Chand', 'Chand Mian' and 'Bengal's second Muhsin', was descendant of Sayyid Khan Panni. He was an educationist, philanthropist, and social activist, who belonged to the national elite. He was a zamindar (landlord) who was credited with establishing a number of educational institutions, small hospitals and dispensaries, and with building roads and canals. Among educational institutions is Karotia college in Tangail district. He participated in non-cooperation movement against British rule and was jailed for 15 months. His sons Khurram Khan Panni and Humayun Khan Panni were legislators and ambassadors.; [9][10]


Panni nobility under Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb

Panni Mansabdars who held or reached the rank of 1,000 zat and above, during the period, 1658 to 1707.

1- Ranmast Khan Panni, 5000 zats
2- Daud Khan Panni, 4000 zats, 4000 sawars
3- Sar Andaaz Khan panni, 2000 zats, 1000 sawars
4- Shabbir panni, 1500 zats, 900 sawars
5- Malik Jewan Panni , titled Bakhtiar Khan, 1000 zats, 400 sawars  [11]


Daud Khan Panni

Daud Khan Panni held the highest rank of 7000 zat of the Mughal nobility at the time of his death in 1715. He served as Nawab of the Carnatic and later Viceroy of Deccan. According to Raverty, he belonged to Barozai branch of Pannis  In 1703, Daud Khan was appointed as the Nawab of the Carnatic. Before he was made Nawab, the Emperor Aurangazeb appointed him as a leading commander of the Mughal Army in 1701. According to The History of India by J. Murray 1841, , Volume 2, p-573), Daud Khan Panni was renowned throughout India for his reckless courage and whose memory still survives in the tales and proverbs of Deccan.


The Panni rulers of Kurnool

The Panni officers of Mughal established an independent principality at Kurnool (Andhra Pradesh, South India) after decline of Mughal empire.  [12]

Panni Nawabs of Kurool ;

1- Khizr Khan Panni (.....1674)
2- Daud Khan Panni (1674-1712)
3- Ali Khan Panni   (1712-1717)
4- Ibrahim Khan Panni (1717-1731)
5- Alif Khan Panni (1731-1744)
6- Bahadur Khan Panni or Himmat Bahadur (1744-1751)
7- Munawar Khan Panni (1751-1792)
8- Alif Khan (1792..)
9- Munawar Khan (....1816)
10- Ghulam Rasool Khan (1823-1838)   [13][14]



Delhi Gate at Arcot Fort (Tamil Nadu, India), built by Daud Khan Panni .




   
Notes and References
:
1. Pannis are Ghurghusti Pashtuns

2. Haroon Rashid,"History of the Pathans", VOL.III, p-92

3- H.G.Raverty, Notes on Afghanistan and part of Baluchistan, p-640

4. Haroon Rashid, "History of the Pathans", VOL.III, p-92

5- H.G.Raverty, Notes on Afghanistan and part of Baluchistan, p-640

6. Kalika Ranjan Qanungo, "Sher Shah and his times", p-320

7. Baharistan-i-Ghaibi, I, p-147,Bengal-Arakan relations, 1430-1666 A.D

8. The Islamic heritage of Bengal - Page 49 - Page 40

9. Historical Dictionary of Bangladesh By Syedur Rahman, page-229

10. The Muslim Heritage of Bengal: By Muhammad Mojlum Khan, page-321

11.  The Mughal Nobility Under Aurangzeb: M. Athar Ali

12- H.G.Raverty. Notes on Afghanistan and part of baluchistan, p-647

13- Select letters of Tippoo Sultan to various public functionaries: including ...




Thursday 15 January 2015

Niazi chiefs in the service of Mughals

Muhammad Khan Niazi was a most respected noble of Emperor Akbar's court. He had joined the royal service around 1589 A.D, when Emperor Akbar was busy fighting the Afghan rebels in Bengal. He accompanied Shehbaz Khan Kambo in operations and performed feats of gallantry and leadership in various actions. Soon, he earned the favour of the imperial commanders who preferred to have him in their contingents while taking to the field. In 1591-2 A.D, he fought in Sindh against Mirza Jani Baig, the ruler of Sindh. The imperialists were almost routed; however, it was Muhammad khan Niazi, with 1200 men, who engaged 5,000 strong enemy from the rear and inflicted heavy damage, converting defeat into victory.

During Emperor Jahangir's rule, Muhammad Khan Niazi, was known for gallant and valiant deeds and judgement for making the best use of topography in a battle. Quite a number of times, he earned the emperor's appreciations. The emperor desired to honour him with a title, but he refused. He said,"My name is Muhammad and there could be no greater name or title than Muhammad which i should attach with my name."

Samsam-ud-Daula Shah Nawaz Khan refers to his irritable temperament. At the same time, he praises his principles, which he, till his death, didnt violate. He was religious and spent his leisure time in the study of the religious books and his nights in prayers. His contingent mostly consisted of Niazis, he looked after them during their service with him and after the death of a soldier, he used to support the deceased's dependents.  He died in 1627-8 A.D at the age of eighty-five years. his jagir in Ashti 'pargana' was located on the bank of verda river in Deccan. he declared ashti 'pargana' as his native place and worked for its development and prosperity. He is buried in the Ashti settlement. According to Wardha District Gazetteer, 
When Jahangir succeeded his father, he gave Ashti, Amner, Pavnar, and Talegaon (Berar) paraganas in jagir to Muhammad Khan Niazi, an Afghan nobleman of high rank. The credit of restoring Ashti and bringing large tracts of the surrounding land under cultivation goes to this nobleman. He died at Ashti in A.D. 1627, a handsome mausoleum in the Moghal style being erected over the spot where he was laid to rest.
Ahmad Khan, son of Muhammad Khan Niazi, rose to prominence during Emperor Jahangir's reign. When rahim khan Dakkani raided the town of Elichpur and occupied it, Ahmad khan Niazi, with a handful of men, counter-attacked Rahim khan, defeated him and appointed him the commander of the imperial forces in Deccan. Once he, along with Bihar Singh Bundela, was located in Zafar Nagar when he fell sick. Khan Zaman, another imperial chief, was to escort a supply convoy to Daulatabad. The latter requested for some reinforcements from Ahmad Khan who provided him with his whole force except for a small contingent. Yaqut Habshi, an ally of the Adilshahis, on his way to ambush khan Zaman, came to know about Ahmad khan's sickness and absence of troops for the defense of Zafar Nagar. He changed his mind and attacked Ahmad Khan Niazi. The latter, along with Bihar Singh Bundela, intercepted the attackers near Anberkor and soon made them flee, leaving a large number of dead and wounded. Mohabat khan, a favorite court noble of the emperor, was greatly impressed by Ahmad Khan's courage and gallantry and used to address him as "Khanzada" by way of respect and reverence.

Emperor Shahjahan raised his rank and appointed him commander of 2500 infantry and 2,000 cavalry. He subdued the refractory Rajput rulers in Deccan. Later, the emperor made him commander of 3,000 infantry and 3,000 cavalry and appointed him as ruler of Ahmadnagar. He died in 1651 A.D. He was known for his generosity, bravery and chivalry. He was a thorough gentleman and followed the religious injunctions in letter and spirit. Like his father, he worked for the betterment of Ashi 'pargana'. He planted beautiful gardens, constructed a splendid mosque and a mausoleum for his father.

Mubark Khan Niazi was the son of Muzaffar Khan, son of Muhammad khan Niazi. His father didnt rise to prominence. Mubark khan Niazi joined service during emperor Jahangir's reign, however, it was during the time of Emperor Shahjahan that he was made the commander of 1,000 infantry and 700 cavalry and sent to Rajputana under the command of Rao Ratan. Like his ancestors, bravery and chivalry was in his blood and soon he made his presence felt. He played an important role in the capture of Deccan fort. His command was increased to 2,000 infantry and 2,000 cavalry. Subsequently, he was sent to kabul where he remained busy in fighting the rebels. He was appointed 'Thanedar' of both Bangashat (Kohat and Kurram valleys), however he couldnt control the region and was replaced, though he remained in the same pargana. Later, emperor Aurangzeb re-appointed him ruler of Bangashat.

Mubbark Khan Niazi died in the later part of 17th century. He was the last of the Niazis mentioned in the history of Hind. Like his grandfather, he is buried in Ashti, which was remembered for quite some time as the stronghold of the Niazis, particularly, the descendents of Muhammad Khan Niazi.


                                                    References
1- Mughal Archives: Durbar papers and a miscellany of singular documents  
2- The Afghan nobility and the Mughals: 1526-1707
3- History of the Pathans: The Ghurghashti, Beitani and Mati Pathans
4- Wardha District Gazetteer p-634