An old Waziri Pashtun woman, Bannu, 1897 (c)

 

An old Waziri Pashtun woman; a patient in Bannu Hospital, 1897 (c).

Caption: "She had tramped many weary miles to come to the Bannu Hospital. She is exceedingly poor, as is seen from her rags. On the journey she has lost one of her grass shoes, that cost a penny a pair. She was suffering from cataract. She left the hospital able to see."

Source: Pennell of the Afghan frontier; the life of Theodore Leighton Pennell.

A Wazir Pashtun in the Afghan Medical Mission at Bannu in the consulting room, 1897.

"George", a Tori-Khel Wazir, Waziristan, 1946

"George", a Tori-Khel Wazir, Waziristan, 1946. 

 Original caption: "George, a smiling Pathan giant, bears a British nickname. He is an army runner. When a convoy drives into ambush, when officers fall and telegraph wires dangle - then George goes for reinforcements. This brave has been under fire scores of times, often by members of his own tribe, the Tori-Khel. Years ago an officer hailed him as "George". The name stuck." 

 From 'National Geographic' magazine

Pashtun soldiers of British-Indian army

Pashtun and Hazara soldiers of the British-Indian Army, 1898. From left to right: Khattak (Jamedar), Ghilzai (Havaldar), Mahsud (Sepoy), Hazara (Sepoy) and Kakar (Sepoy).

Pashtun and Baloch soldiers of British-Indian army, 1897. Photo by Fred Bremner. From left to right: Durrani Pashtun, Wazir Pashtun and Brahui-Baloch. The Durrani in the Photo is referred to as "Afghan"; in 1890s and early 20th century many British officials began to use the term Afghan exclusively for the subjects of Amir Abdur Rahman, Amir Habibullah, King Amanullah etc. of Afghanistan. Pashtuns from present-day Afghanistan (Durranis, Ghilzais etc.) also enlisted themselves in the British-Indian army. While those British officials used the word "Pathan" for Pashtun subjects of British-Indian government. This was obviously done so to create distance between Pashtuns on both sides of Durand line and to integrate Pashtuns under their rule with India.

A Wazir tribesman, Waziristan, 1937

Source

Jirga of Wazirs with British, Waziristan, 1937. Source

Supply column of British army (operating against Faqir of Ipi), Waziristan, 1936/1937. British deployed more than 50 thousand troops against Faqir of Ipi in 1937.

Photos of British officers discussing terms with the Wazirs of Waziristan, 1919

 

Photo showing G.O.C (General Officer Commanding) and Political officer discussing terms with the Wazirs after the Shahur Tangi gorge was passed, Waziristan, 1919. Source

British soldiers standing near old watch tower of demolished Wazir village in Waziristan, 1919. The village was destroyed by British as "punitive measure".

Wazir jirga, Sarwekai

Wazirs paying fines in cattle

Recommended Books

A jirga of anti-British Wazir tribesmen, Waziristan, 1937

A jirga of anti-British Wazir tribesmen (supporters of Faqir of Ipi), Waziristan, 1937.
Source: 'The Razmak Album' by Maj. Gen. U.C. Dubey & Aditya Arya Archive

Source: Antiquarian Auctions

Fight at Wana (South Waziristan) : Wazir tribesmen rush on the British camp, 1895

Fight at Wana (South Waziristan) : Wazir tribesmen rush on the British camp, 1895. 

From "London Illustrated News", February 2, 1895. 

Artist: Richard Caton Woodville junior 

Source: https://www.meisterdrucke.uk/fine-art-prints/Richard-Caton-Woodville-junior/159377/The-Campaign-in-Waziristan-.html

Pashtun volunteers for the India-Pakistan War of 1965

" A group of tribesmen from Waziristan, who have taken up arms to fight Indian forces in the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965. The conflict centres on the disputed region of Kashmir".  Hulton Archive. Source

September 9, 1965:  A group of Pashtun tribesmen raise their rifles as they assemble in Rawalpindi prior to moving up to the fighting front. Reference

Malik Ensal, a Wazir Pashtun, 1861

 

Caption: "Mullik Ensal. The Yaga Kheyl, to which the subject of the photograph belongs, is a clan of the Wuzeerees, a frontier tribe of the Derajat, a province lying south of Kohat. They are for the most part a pastoral people. In the hot summer months they retire with their cattle to the mountains, inhabiting tracts varying from 4,000 to 10,000 feet above the sea. In the winter they descend into the Derajat, and the plains become dotted with their herds and flocks, and with their black blanket tеnts pitched in groups like villages, and moved from place to place according to their necessities for forage and water."

Wazir leaders and fighters, Waziristan, 1891

 

Wazir boy, aged 12, Waziristan, 1930.

 

Mahsud and Wazir tribesmen, 1920 (c)

 

Mahsud and Wazir tribesmen, 1920 (c). Photo by Randolph Bezzant Holmes.

"Kippat Khan, Mahomed Khel Waziri", 1897

"Kippat Khan, Mahomed Khel Waziri", 1897. Watercolour painting by Robert Gosset Woodthorpe. Source

Kippat Khan Bora Khel was the leading Malik of the Mohmit Khel division of the Utmanzai clan of the Darwesh Khel Wazirs.

"A dictionary of the Pathan tribes in the north-west frontier of India", published in 1899, p-155.

The Bora Khel Mohmit Khels reside in the Sheratala, Palosin, Dande plain and the high ground to the south of Darweshta hill, north-east of Miranshah. In the summer they used to move to Razmak and higher up in the Dande plain. ["History of the Pathans", Vol-5, p-21]

Census of Wazir and Mahsud tribes in 18th century

Screenshot from "A concise history of Afghanistan" by Wahid Hamid Alikuzai, p-291

Its a local myth that Ahmad Shah Abdali conducted census of Wazir and Mahsud tribes. They were not part of his empire so number of their fighting men did not need to be estimated. Syed Ghulam Muhammad surveyed Waziristan during the reign of Timur Shah Durrani and reported: "This great tribe is wholly independent , and they have neither tax nor tribute to pay , and own allegiance to no one " [1]. Moreover Mahsuds had not yet branched off from the parent tribe of Wazirs in 18th century and were referred to as Wazirs as late as 1897 [2]. So its odd that in 1760s Mahsuds would be recognized as a distinct tribe and were censused separately from Wazirs.

Akbar S. Ahmed writes, "Two population indexes, rather than actual figures, are part of Waziristan demographic mythology and are said to date back to Ahmed Shah Abdali, the founder of the Durrani dynasty in Kabul in the eighteenth century. It is not clear whether the numbers refer to the entire population, the males, or the warriors, but probably they include only the male fighting population. It is also not clear to what exact dates in history the numbers refer. The Wazirs suggest that they encompass a broad period in the late eighteenth century, whereas the Mahsuds say that their figures refer to the late nineteenth century. Both tribes have a tendency to quote these figures as current and contemporary." ["Religion and Politics in Muslim Society: Order and Conflict in Pakistan", Akbar S. Ahmed, pp.17-18]

Pashtun fighters of Waziristan (most probably khassadars) pose with their weapons, 1919 (c).

British commanders speak with tribesmen of Waziristan following the end of the conflict of 1919-1920.

A group of Wazir prisoners, North West Frontier, 1897

A group of Wazir prisoners, North West Frontier, 1897. From "Battles of the Nineteenth Century" by Archibald Forbes.

Waziristan in 1919 (Photographs by Randolph Beezant Holmes)

Wazir tribesmen

Waziri tribesmen

Mas'ud tribesmen

Mahsud tribesmen

Indian Army picquet at Rogha Kot, Waziristan

A group of Mahsud tribesmen

A group of Mahsuds

Afghan caravan types", Waziristan.

Exit of the Shahur Tangi, South Waziristan

Bangash, Turi, Waziri, 1827-1843

Bangash, Turi, Waziri, 1827-1843. By Imam Bakhsh Lahori, Illustrations des Mémoires du général Claude-Auguste Court, Lahore. Courtesy : catherine

Ormur tribe

The Ormur (Aor-marr اورمړ ) or War-mur, also known as Baraki, is an ancient tribe of Afghans. The name Ormuṛ literally means “fire extinguished” in Pashto. 'According to the genealogies, the Urmar Afghans are descended from Amar-ud-Din or Amar Din, son of Sharkabun, and are near kinsmen of the Duranis. Raverty cites the Afghan tradition as follow :

"The derivation of the name Aor-Mar is as follows, for it is but a by-name. His mother, who was his father's first wife, was the daughter of a blacksmith, or, rather, one who worked in iron; and his step-mother sometimes, in anger, when he did not do something or other to her satisfaction, would say, by way of reproach, “The blacksmith’s “fire (اور—aor) is gone out ( مړ شه — mar shah)”; and by degrees the name of “Aor-Mar clung to him.” [1]

According to Khulasatul-Ansab of Hafiz Rahmat Khan (1710-1774) ;

"Amerdin had one son, called Ormar : from Ormar, Amerdin's son, numerous issue sprang, which they call Ormar. The name of Amerdin, Ormar's father, has fallen into oblivion.'The Ormars have also khails among them ; but they have not been mentioned, because they are but little known. They all reside in the town of Kanigoram, contiguous to the Lohanis. Both the Bokies and Ziracks are descendants from him." [2]

Although Karni-Gram (South Waziristan) is within the Mahsud territory, it is inhabited by Ormur Afghans, who formerly possessed the country round, were ousted from all else besides by the Waziris. Kani-guram still contains representatives of five Ormur branches, viz., the Khaikani, Kharin Jani, Malatani, Bekani and Jerani. The remainder of the Ormurs, pressed by want and the encroachments of Mahsuds, left their early homes centuries ago and settled in Logar, 80 km south of Kabul, where they still hold the village of Burki-Barak, and elsewhere [3]. They also have their three villages named after them in Peshawar district near Nowhsera and Budbair.

The earliest information about Ormur or Baraki people comes from Babur (1483-1530). In his memoirs he writes ;

"There are many different tribes in Kabul country ; in its dales and plains are Turks and clansmen and Arabs ; in its towns and in many villages, Sarts ; out in the districts and also in the villages are the Pashai, Parachi, Tajik, Baraki and Afghan tribes." [4]

The author of Hayat-i-Afghani (completed in 1865) remarks ;

"Being widely scattered and without cohesion, they are lightly esteemed in Afghanistan, where their peaceableness and orderly industrious habits, win for them only contempt. Those of Logar are wholly engaged in tillage, to which those of Peshawar add trade. The Ormurs of Kani-guram are both agriculturalists and artisans (chiefly spearmakers), but are very poor and much down-trodden by the Wazirs (i.e Mahsuds) among whom they live."  [5]

Mountstuart Elphinstone who visited kingdom of Kabul in 1808, erroneously identified Barakis of Logar as Tajiks. He writes :

"The next class of Taujiks are the Burrukees, who inhabit Logur and part of Boot-Khauk. Though mixed with the Ghiljees, they differ from the other Taujiks, in as much as they form a tribe under chiefs of their own, and have a high reputation as soldiers. They have separate lands and castles of their own, furnish a good many troops to government, closely resemble the Afghauns in their manners, and are more respected than any other Taujiks. Their numbers are now about eight thousand families." [6]

In 1837 Agha Mahmud of Sheraz visited Kaniguram and described it as follow :-

"26th Shawal— Arrived at Kaneeguram, which is the capital of the Wuzeeree country. The cultivation is carried on running streams. The inhabitants are Sayads (i.e Ormurs), who are the spiritual fathers of the Wuzeerees. The houses are upper storied, and amount to four hundred. There are two large towers for the protection of the town. There are thirty-two shops, as follow; viz. sixteen of Hindoos, seven blacksmiths and cutlers, three goldsmiths, two scabbard makers, and four dyers. The headmen are Durvesh Khan, Sarwar Khan, Mulook Khan, Abdukahman Khan, Raim Khan, and Noor Khan. The amount of fighting men is five hundred. The Sayads are farmers; the Wazeerees are independent, and are mostly herdsmen." [7]

Ormuri is also known as Baraki, the endonym of its speakers. The native designation Bargista seems no longer used for the language [8]. Muhammad Hayat Khan described their language as "a peculiar Pashto which is mixture of Persian, Pashto and Hindi"[9]. Ormuṛi together with Parachi constitutes the Southeast Iranian language group [10]. The Ormur men of Kanigram are all bilingual or trilingual, speaking Ormuri, Pashto, and Hindko [11].


See also

1- History of Pir Roshan and his successor

2- "The approaching end of the relict southeast Iranian language Ormuri and Paraci in Afghanistan" by Charles Kieffer


References

1- "Notes on Afghanistan", Raverty, p-383
2- "History of Afghans", B.Dorn, Vol-II, p-122
3- "Afghanistan and its inhabitants", p-82
4- "Babur-nama", English translation by A.S.Beveridge, p-207
5- Ibid, p-82
6- "An account of the kingdom of Caubul", p-315
7- "Journal of a tour through parts of the Panjab and Affghanistan", translated by Major.R.Leech
8-  Ormuri — Encyclopædia Iranica

9- "Afghanistan and its inhabitants", p-82

10-  Baraki Barak— Encyclopædia Iranica

11- "Sociolinguistic Survey of Northern Pakistan: Pashto, Waneci, Ormuri", p-59

Jirgah of Mahsuds and British , Kaniguram, Waziristan, 1919 (c). Photo by R.B.Holmes

Mullah Powindah of Waziristan

Mullah Powindah was a Pashtun freedom fighter from Waziristan who resisted British imperialism in 1890s and early 20th century. His real Mullah real name was Mohiuddin and he belonged to the Shabi Khel section of the Mahsuds. He was a disciple of Maulana Hamzullah Khan. He was a contemporary of Haji Sahib of Turangzai who resisted the British in Bajaur, Mohmand and Khyber ; while Mullah Powindah fought bravely against the British in Waziristan and Kurram.

During 1886-87, an incident occurred in Bannu jail in which two associated of Mullah Powindah were involved. On learning about it, he went to Idak, a place in Lower Dawar, and stayed with an influential Malik named Nazarband. Later he became popular as Badshah-i-Taliban. There he met Muallh Gulabdin, the well-known religious scholar. Since the death of Mullah Gulabdin, Muallah Powindah came into prominence in the area. At the beginning of 1894, Mullah Powindah sought permission from the D.C Bannu to be allowed to pass through the British territory to visit the Mullah of Manki. He was permitted. On his return, 1894, he alongwith other tribesmen attacked the Wana camp and inflicted heavy casualties on British. The British launched an expedition against him and his supporters and they compelled Mullah Powindah to leave the area.

In February 1900, a meeting took place between the Political Officer, Mr.Watson and the Mullah Powindah and the British government recognized him as the chief of tribes, but Mullah Powindah did not accept any allowances. He presented some grievances of the Mahsuds and of his own section, the Shabi Khel in particular. Mullah Powindah kept crossing over into Afghanistan and obtaining funds from Afghan rulers. Eventually British managed to contain his activities by cultivating his rivals among his own Mahsuds, and also the other local tribes. He himself was given an allowance of Rs.100 per month. On sanctioning the allowance, Lord Curzon, the viceroy, commented on the pecuniary sanction, "......... with considerable hesitation, since it is a first-class scoundrel that we are taking under our wings". By 1905, the secret allowance was withdrawn as the Mullah Powindah continued with his anti-British activities.

Mullah Powindah put a stubborn resistance to the British encroachments in Waziristan and continued to lead the armed opposition to the British (Frontie and Overseas Expeditions from India, 1908, II, pp-416-437). This great freedom fighter died in 1913, a year before the outbreak of First World War.

Evelyn Howell in his monograph on the Mahsuds, "Mizh", pays grudging tribute to the archenemy:

"...he cannot be denied some tribute of admiration as a determined and astute  though not altogether single-minded patriot and champion of his tribe's independence. All officers who ever actually met him will agree that his forceful character, striking appearance and persuasive eloquence made a deep impression on those with whom he came into personal contact. A man who without any inherited advantages and without education, could make so large an instalment of frontier history in effect..."(p-60)

Excerpt from "Some Major Pakhtoon Tribes Along The PakAfghan Border" (Islamabad: Area Study Centre, University of Peshawar, 2000), by Syed.Iftikhar Hussain,  pp.150-151).

A Pashtun of Waziristan, 1930s. Source

An eighteenth century account of the Wazir tribe

An early notice of the Wazirs in an original Muslim source comes from the times of Timur Shah Durrani about the year 1780. The author of the surveys, Syed Ghulam Muhammad, describe the Wazirs in the following manner ;

"The Waziri Afghans are a great and powerful tribe numbering nearly 100,000 families; and they dwell in an extensive tract of difficult mountainous country, with few exceptions, after the manner of ilats or nomads. They are not much better than the brute beasts; for, save eating and drinking, moving about among their hills and dales like cattle, thieving, and plundering on the highways, and dying, they know nought besides.

Their chief wealth consists of numerous flocks and vast number of cattle of different kinds, including numerous cows and oxen. They pass their lives under tents and cultivate the available patches of land called kats on the banks of various streams and watercourses which run through their country, and in the defiles with which it abounds, but of the usages of agriculture generally they are ignorant.