A Hindkowan of Peshawar, 1808

 

A Hindki in the winter dress of Peshawar, 1808 (c). The painting was made by a Delhi artist who accompanied Mountstuart Elphinstone (ambassador of British East India Company) to Afghanistan in 1808.

Clothing in Afghanistan

Clothing in Afghanistan. Based on paintings made around 1810 (c) and published in the 'Account of the Kingdom of Cabul' (published in 1815). 

From left to right: A Durrani villager, a Hindki of Peshawar in winter dress, a Pashtun of Daman, a Durrani shepherd, a Kohistani Tajik.

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Atma Ram, the Hindu Prime Minister of the ruler of Kunduz, 1840 (c)

Atma Ram, the Hindu Prime Minister of the ruler of Kunduz, 1840 (c). Painting by James Atkisnon.

James Atkinson writes : "Atmaram, a Hindoo, and native of Peshawur, is the Dewan Begee, or Prime Minister of Meer Moorad Beg, the celebrated Chief of Koodooz in Toorkistan, so justly styled by travellers the first hussar in Asia. To his sinister counsels, much of the ill treatment experienced by Mr. Moorcroft, at the hands of this Chieftain, is ascribed; it being well known how largely he profited by the sums of money extorted from that unfortunate gentleman. He was in power when Sir Alex. Burnes visited Koondooy in 1832; and after the surrender of Dost Mahomed in 1840, was sent by his master on a mission to the British authorities in Kabul. He has risen form the meanest origin to his present high estate; and although Hindoos are generally despised by the Uzbeks, nor even permitted to wear turbans, he has not only secured that privilege for himself and his servants, but numbers no less than four hundred slavs in his household. Sir A. Burnes, in his travels, speaks in warm terms of his merits, for to him the merchant is indebted for the protection of his property from plunder, and his person form bondage. The peculiarly folded turban is the only part of his dress which marks him as an idolater, the rest of his costume being that of an Uzbek Chieftains."

Morning meal in preparation, Bazaar, Peshawar, NWFP, 1912 (c)

 

Morning meal in preparation, Bazaar, Peshawar, NWFP, 1912 (c) .

Bollywood Khans - Are they related to Pashtuns?

Shahrukh Khan claims that his ancestors were from Afghanistan who settled in Peshawar. But his relatives in Peshawar are reported to have said that they are Hindkowans of Kashmiri descent. Yusuf Khan or Dilip Kumar is not a Pashtun but a Hindko-speaking Awan from Peshawar. Salman Khan's family is from Indore (Madihya Pradesh). Exact details about the roots of Salman Khan's family are unknown but Salman Khan has said in his interviews that his grandfather was from Afghanistan.

Saif Ali Khan belongs to a Nawabi family of Pataudi, their history is recorded. They are descendants of an Indo-Afghan mercenary Faiz Talib Khan whose great-grandfather migrated from Shorawak district of Kandahar to India during the reign of Mughal emperor Muhammad Shah (r.1719 – 1748). The pargana of Pataudi was granted to Faiz Talib Khan in perpetual jagir by the British for his loyal services during the second Anglo-Maratha War (1803). In an interview the late father of Saif Ali Khan  made a false claim that his ancestors were in possession of these lands since the 15th century and that their ancestors were nobles of Lodi Sultans.

Irfan Khan is from Tonk (Rajasthan). The ruling family of Tonk (Rajasthan, India) were descendants of Salarzai Bunerwals. Interestingly Irfan Khan played the role of Najib Khan Yousafzai in the TV series "the Great Marathas" produced by Sanjay Khan in the 90s.

Shahrukh Khan

Irfan Khan

Saif Ali Khan

Salman Khan