Mansehra
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| Mansehra مانسہرہ |
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| — Town and Union council — | |
  Mansehra
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| Coordinates: 34°20′N 73°12′E / 34.333°N 73.2°E | |
| Country |  Pakistan |
| Region | North-West Frontier Province |
| District | Mansehra District |
| Tehsil | |
| Time zone | PST (UTC+5) |
Mansehra (Urdu: مانسہرہ) city is located at 34°20′N 73°12′E / 34.333°N 73.2°ECoordinates: 34°20′N 73°12′E / 34.333°N 73.2°E [1] in Mansehra District, North-West Frontier Province, Pakistan. It is very near to Abbottabad city. It is a major stop for tourists on the Karakoram Highway which leads to China. It is also a major transit point to the northern areas and locations such as the Kaghan Valley, Naran, Shogran, Lake Saiful Mulook and Babusar Top.
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[edit] History
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The Tanoli territory of Amb State has also been part of Mansehra District, since the State was abolished by the Government of Pakistan in 1969. Amb and its surrounding areas of Hazara have a long history which can be traced to Alexander the Great's invasion of India. Arrian, Alexander's historian, did not indicate the exact location of Embolina, but since it is known that Aoronos was on the right bank of the River Indus, the town chosen to serve as Alexander's base of supplies may with good reason be also looked for there. The mention in Ptolemy's Geography of Embolima as a town of Indo-Scythia situated on the Indus supports this theory.
Mansehra (formerly part Pakhli Sarkar) has a very old history, its geographical boundaries has constantly been changed in the times of various Rajas, Maharajahs and Kings in the past. Alexander the Great after conquering northern India, established his rule over a large part of it. Different historians are of the opinion that in the year 327 B.C. Alexander handed over this area to Abisares, the Raja of Poonch state.
During the Maurya dynasty Mansehra remained a part of Taxila. The Great Ashoka was the Governor of this area when the was a prince. After the death of his father, Bidusara, Ashoka ascended the throne and made this area along with Gandhara ball valley major seats of his government. The famous edicts of Ashoka inscribed on three rocks near Bareri hill, beside Mansehra town, are the evidence of his rule here. These edicts prove that this area was a famous religious centre where pilgrims used to come to perform pilgrimage. From ages the devout Hindus after climbing up the Bareri Peak performed religious obligations to "Sheva".
In second century CE, a mythical Hindu king Raja Risalu, son of Raja Salbahan of Sialkot, brought this area under his sway. The local people consider him as their hero and even today parents narrate to their children the stories of Raja Risalu and his wife Rani Konklan in the winter nights.
At this time, the British gained control of Punjab, and, through this, gained control of Mansehra.
Painda Khan Tanoli was the tribal chief of the Tanolis at the time of the invasion of Hazara by the Sikhs. Painda Khan is famed for his staunch rebellion against Maharaja Ranjit Singh's Governors of Hazara. From about 1813, he spent a life long rebellion against the Sikhs. Painda Khan's relentless rebellion against the Sikh empire, cost him a major portion of his Kingdom, leaving only his twin capitals Amb and Darband. However, this deterred him less and appeared to increase his resistance against the Sikh government.
Painda Khan son Jehandad Khan also followed the footsteps of his famed father. "Of all the tribal chiefs of Hazara, the most powerful said to be Jehandad Khan of the Tanoli, whose land straddled both banks of the Indus and whose fellow-tribesmen were 'brave and hardy and accounted for the best swordsmen in Hazara'.[2]
When Sikh power was on the fall in 1845 Jehandad Khan blockaded the garrisons of no less than 22 Sikh posts in Upper Tanawal ; and when they surrendered at discretion, he spared their lives, as the servants of a fallen Empire.[3]
In the meantime other Chiefs of Hazara rushed to arms to exterminate the Sikhs who were in their country. They invited Syud Akbur, of Sitana (after wards king of Swat), to come over and be King of Hazara, and make a holy war with them. Nawab Khan of Thingri, became Syad Akbur's "Wazir", Pir Khan came down to join with the Jaduns, Khan i Zeman brought the Tarkheylies; the Swatis of Publi, and the Mushwanis, swelled the tumult. For two months they besieged Diwan Mulraj, the Kardar, in the fort of Hurkishengarh; and at last, after several gallant repulses, reduced the garrison to evacuate by cutting off the water.[4]
When Sikh power was on the fall in 1845 Jehandad Khan blockaded the garrisons of no less than 22 Sikh posts in Upper Tanawal ; and when they surrendered at discretion, he spared their lives, as the servants of a fallen Empire.[3]
When a Chinese pilgrim Hiuen-Tsang visited South Asia this area was under the control of Durlabhavardhana, the ruler of Kashmir. It is also said that Turk Shahi and Hindu Shahi dynasties ruled Pakhli one after another. Among the rulers of Hindu Shahi dynasty Raja Jaipala was the most prominent. Mahmud Ghaznavi defeated him during his (Mehmood) first Indian campaign. Mehmood paid no attention to Mansehra for establishing a Muslim rule over here except using it as his approach to Kashmir.
Again in the 11th century CE after the fall of Hindu Shahi dynasty, the Kashmiris occupied this area under the leadership of Kalashan (1063 to 1089 CE), from 1112 to 1120 CE King Susala ruled this area. In the last quarter of the 12th century CE. Asalat Khan, a General of Mohammad Ghuri, captured this area but soon after Mohammad Ghuri's death the Kashmiris once again occupied it.
Thereafter the history of Mansehra is obscure up to 1399 CE when the great Muslim warrior Taimurlane, on his return to Kabul, left here some soldiers for the protection of this important route between Kabul and Kashmir. By this time, The Muslims ousted the Hindus from power and established their authority. In the beginning Mansehra remained under the direct control of Kabul. But in 1472 CE Prince Shahab-ud-Din came from Kabul and established his rule here. He founded the state namely Pakhli Sarkar and chose Village Gulibagh as his capital.
During the Mughal period the local Turk Chiefs acknowledged the authority of the Mughals. Since Mansehra (Pakhli) provided the main route of Kashmir, therefore, Emperor Akbar went to Kashmir via Mansehra. During the last days of Akbar the Turki Chief Sultan Hussain Khan revolted against the Mughals. His complaint was that the Mughals were interfering into his internal affairs. The Mughals exiled him after crushing thes revolt but later on they pardoned him and handed over his country back to him. In 1619-20 Emperor Jahangeer stayed with Hussain Khan when he was going to Kashmir.
The first quarter of the 18th century CE became miserable for the Turks because their rule came to an end due to the decay of their vitality, and the increasing aggression of the Pukhtoons and their allied forces. the most crucial attack was that of the Swatis under the command of Syed Jalal Baba & Pir Imam in 1703 CE. They ousted the Turks and captured this area.
When Ahmad Shah Durrani extended his kingdom to Punjab and Kashmir, Mansehra also came under the control of this new invader. the durranis controlled Mansehra through the local Khans among whom the Khans of Amb State and Ghari Habibullah were prominent. In the beginning of the 19th century CE their power weakened which opened the way of revolt against them. they sent many detachments of troops to maintain law and order but rather their control decreased day by day. When the Sikhs arose in power under Ranjit Singh (1777 - 1838 CE ) they asserted themselves independent of the Durranis. Ranjeet Singh organized his "Khalsa" Army on modern lines and then started to extend his regime over vast area.
The Sikhs got hold of Mansehra in 1818 CE after a stiff resistance from its inhabitants. soon after the Sikh's annexation of Mansehra to Punjab, Syed Ahmad Shaheed along with the Mujahidin appeared on the soil of Mansehra. He, with the cooperation of local people, fought many battles against the Sikhs. At last in 1831 CE a fierce battle look place between the Sikhs and the Mujahidin at Balakot. the Sikhs got the upper hand and martyred Syed Ahmad along with his number of friends. Thus the Sikhs hold strengthened in Mansehra.
After the death of Ranjit Singh, disintegration of the Sikh state started due to which the British annexed Punjab to their dominion. In the meantime the remnants of the Mujahidin of Balakot and Tanaolis attacked the Sikh forts and slew a large number of Sikhs.
On 19 March, 1846 CE a peace treaty was signed between the Sikhs and the British according to which Raja Gulab Singh took Kashmir and Hazara from the British for rupees 75,00,000. But due to widespread civil disorder and resistance movement Raja asked the British government to take over Hazara in exchange of the Jamu-Jehlum belt. The British accepted this offer and took over Hazara from him. They deputed James Abbot to Hazara to restore peace. He defeated Chuttar Singh, a Sikh general, after coming to Hazara and thus completely ousted the Sikhs from power. In 1849 CE this area came under the direct control of the British. At first the British faced no resistance here, but after three years Zaman Shah of Kaghan turned against the British. James Abbot sent an expedition to Kaghan which deprived Zaman Shah of his territory and he was exiled to Pakhli plain. After four years the British forgave him and he was permitted to get back his lost territory.
Unlike the people of the settled areas, the Pukhtoon tribes that lived on the western outskirts of Mansehra, remained a constant source of trouble for the British for four decades (1852-92). The British sent more than four expeditions against them and ravaged Black Mountain (The pukhtoons abode) many times. To maintain peace in the area the British also took preventive measures having conferred titles on the leading persons.
After their advent the British declared Hazara as a district, divided into three tehsils i.e. Mansehra, Abbottabad & Haripur, and annexed it with the Punjab. In 1901 when NWFP province was formed, Hazara was separated from the Punjab and made a part of NWFP.
During the British period Mansehra remained in the forefront of various religio-political movements in the South Asia. The people of this area joined the ranks of those Muslims freedom fighters who wanted to strengthen the cause of Islam. The people of Mansehra joined the Khilafat Movement zealously. Consequently Mansehra became quiet unruly. The people refused to acknowledge the British rule having selected their own functionaries in different Villages. The British took strict measures to bring them under their control. Even they imposed Martial Law in Mansehra to crush this resistance.
When the Muslim League started its movement for a separate homeland, the local people joined it and struggled for liberation from the alien rules under the leadership of Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah and got triumphant victory against them, culminating in the creation of Pakistan, an independent state for the Muslims of the South Asia. Mansehra's many villages largely governed themselves. Many of Mansehra's citizens joined the Khilafat movement.
The British accepted the Independence of the Nawab of Amb; within his own territory and thus no writ of the British Government, civil or criminal, was ever enacted within the Tanoli State of Amb. The smaller Tanoli State of Phulra, which was granted by Painda Khan to his brother Madad Khan, was also ackhnowledged by the Britishers as a semi-independent Princely State. Thus the British Government agreed not to meddle with the affairs of the Tanoli territory of Hazara, with the mutual understanding that the Tanolis would not attack the British controlled territories.
When the Muslim League in Pakistan started its movement for a separate land, the local people joined and struggled for liberation under the leadership of Quaid-i-Azam[citation needed]. Their eventual victory culminated in the creation of Pakistan, an independent state for the Muslims of the sub-continent.
Nawab Sir Muhammad Farid Khan (K.B.E) of the Amb State had very good relations with The Quaid e Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah and Nawabzada Liaqat Ali Khan. His contributions to the Pakistan movement have been acknowledged by letters from The Quaid e Azam[5][6]. In 1947 the Nawab of Amb, Mohammad Farid Khan, acceded to Pakistan by signing the Instrument of Accession of his State, in favour of Pakistan. In 1969, the State was incorporated into the North-West Frontier Province and in 1971 the royal status of the Nawab was abolished by the Government of Pakistan.
During the elder Bhutto's regime Mansehra was upgraded to a district level comprising two tehsils namely; Mansehra and Batagram. In 1983 Balakot town, a gateway to the Kaghan valley, was also upgraded to the level a tehsil of Mansehra District. Today Mansehra is a place of scenic beauty. During the summer, people come here for recreation from far flung areas of Pakistan as well as rest of the world. They feel here peace and tranquillity.
[edit] Literacy
Mansehra is located in a province with a literacy rate of 35.41%. In comparison, Pakistan as a whole has literacy rate of 43.92%, while Islamabad leads the nation with a 72.4% literacy rate[2]. Hindko and Pashto are the predominant languages.
[edit] Subdivisions
The city of Mansehra is administratively divided into four Union Councils these are:[3]
- Mansehra City No 1
- Mansehra City No 2
- Mansehra City No 3
- Mansehra(Rural)
Each union council is divided into Mohallas, Mansehra is a rural city that is known for its raw natural beauty and temperate climate.
[edit] Economy
The main crops cultivated in this locality are maze, wheat and rice also in few areas. There are numerous fruits also grown here. Wooden handicrafts of Kaghan valley are also sold in domestic and international markets.
[edit] References
[edit] External links
- Mansehra International School & College (Main & City Campus)
- Mansehra International College
- Mansehra Valley
- Hazara University Mansehra
- Sarhad Tourism Corporation, Government of NWFP, Pakistan
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