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Sherwan

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For the historical region in the eastern Caucasus, see Shirvan.
Sherwan
Union council
Sherwan is located in Abbottabad District
Sherwan is located in Abbottabad District
Map
CountryPakistan
ProvinceKhyber-Pakhtunkhwa
DistrictAbbottabad
TehsilAbbottabad
Population
 (2017)[1]
 • Total
9,614

Sherwan is a Tehsil in the Abbottabad District of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan,[2] situated 35 km west of Abbottabad. The area is composed of two adjacent villages: Sherwan Kalan to the north and Sherwan Khurd to the south. Positioned on a ridge of 5,000 feet in the heart of Lower Tanawal[3] Sherwan is surrounded by large, forested mountains on three sides, creating a scenic valley landscape.

These forests are home to diverse wildlife, including jackals, wolves, wild boars, porcupines, foxes, and occasionally leopards. Sherwan Kalan covering a larger area, contrasts with the smaller Sherwan Khurd. To the northeast of Sherwan Union Council lies the village of Patheel, while to the west is the village of Bacha Kalan. A stream called Mangal flows to the south of the valley, providing habitat for various fish species such as trout, Eels, and soles.

Location and demographics

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Sherwan is 5,000 ft high in the centre of Tanawal. The population of the main Sherwan village, or villages complex, is over 25,000.[citation needed] The local language is Hindko; the local people also understand and speak Urdu. The Tanawal was divided into two parts, Upper Tanawal and Lower Tanawal.[4] Sherwan is located in Lower Tanawal. The main tribe of Sherwan is the Tanoli;[5] other tribes include the Gujjars, the Awans, the Syeds, and the Mughals.

Subdivisions

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Education and literacy

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The literacy rate of Sherwan is high compared to other villages in the area.

There are many government schools and colleges in Sherwan:

  • Sherwan Government College for Boys
  • Sherwan Government College for Girls
  • Sherwan Government High School (Boys)
  • Sherwan Government High School (Girls)
  • Sherwan Government Primary School (Boys)
  • Sherwan Government Primary School (Girls)

Sherwan also has a police station.

History

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Under Turkish rule

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Tanawal was a part of Pakhli, which was ruled by Turks for centuries.[6] Sherwan was the capital of Lower Tanawal under the Turks. The last Turkish Wali (governor) of the area was Qias-ud-din during the third quarter of 18th century.[citation needed]

Under the rule of the Sikhs

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After doing away with Sardar Muhammad Khan Tarin, Bostan Khan Tarin, and others in lower Hazara, the Sikhs tormented and persecuted the population.[7] The Mashwanis of Srikot were forced to migrate from their homelands, and because of this, they were refugees in nearby localities for six to seven years. Many of them crossed the Indus and moved to Swabi. The Sikhs also forcefully conscripted several Mashwani youths in their army. After the death of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, the Sikh empire fell prey to disorder and their rule weakened.[8]

In 1849, the Sikhs were finally defeated by the British and the area came under the British jurisdiction in the Hazara district.[9]

Under British rule

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The British ruled the region mostly through the local chiefs.[10] Nawab Khan Tanaoli and his allies conquered Sherwan Fort, Sherwan and nearby villages and continued ruling Sherwan.[11]

Fort of Sherwan

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Sherwan Fort was built by the Sikhs in 1822 A.D.[12][13] It was stormed and conquered by Nawab Khan Tanoli.[14] Later, Major James Abbott constructed the interior in a Victorian style. It was auctioned on May 24, 2007. The fort was mentioned by Sir General James Abbott, one of the builders of the British Empire, in his diaries.[citation needed]

Economy

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Locals grow seasonal grain crops such as maize and wheat. The area of Sherwan has plenty of water and soil rich with nutrients, allowing producers to grow cherries, plums, apples, pears, and apricots. The mountains of Sherwan are full of minerals like soapstone.[15] The largest soapstone deposits of the country are located near Sherwan in Hazara.[16] A huge deposit of soapstone[17] is found in the mountains of a nearby village.[18] A large number of people are also engaged in soapstone mining. The most extensive steatite deposits in Pakistan are found in the Sherwan area of the Hazara District.[19][20][21] Iron ore, lead, and magnesite ore are also found in these mountains.[citation needed]

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ "POPULATION AND HOUSEHOLD DETAIL FROM BLOCK TO DISTRICT LEVEL: KHYBER PAKHTUNKHWA (ABBOTTABAD DISTRICT)" (PDF). Pakistan Bureau of Statistics. 3 January 2018. Retrieved 17 April 2018.
  2. ^ Administrative Units of District Abbottabad Archived 2007-04-03 at the Wayback Machine
  3. ^ "Sherwan is 5,000 ft high, Gazetteer of the Hazara district,1907 By Hubert Digby Watson Sarhad Urdu Academy, 1992, Pg145"[1]
  4. ^ "Tanawal occupies the centre of the District, Abbottabad, Gazetteer of the Hazara District 1883-4, Sang-e-Meel Publications, 2000 "
  5. ^ "Tanolis"Gazetteer of the Hazara District 1883-4, Sang-e-Meel Publications, 2000 - Hazāra District Pakistan - 213 page
  6. ^ Raja Qayasuddin, also ruled Tanawal
  7. ^ Dr SB Panni, 'Tarikh i Hazara' (Urdu: History of Hazara), pub 1969, pp 102-114
  8. ^ Panni, p 109
  9. ^ Hazara gazetteer 1883-84, pub Peshawar, 1884, p. 67
  10. ^ Hazara gazetteer p 67
  11. ^ "Nawab Khan Tanaoli continued from the Sikh rule, given annexation", Report of the land revenue settlement of the Hazara district of the Punjab,E G.Wace 1872 page clxxx[2]
  12. ^ Shewan Fort, General Hari Singh Nalwa: Builder of the Sikh Empire, Autar Singh Sandhu Uppal Publishing House, 1987 - Generals - 140 pages, Pg 124, [3]
  13. ^ History of the Pathans, Volume 1, P. 469
  14. ^ Sherwan Villages, Gazetteer of the Hazara district, 1907, Hubert Digby Watson Sarhad Urdu Academy, 1992 - Hazara (Pakistan: District) - 363 pages, Pg 360 [4]
  15. ^ "Soap Stone" Annual Report, Geological Survey Of Pakistan, 1969 Pg156"
  16. ^ "The largest soapstone deposits of the country are located near Sherwan in Hazara, Memoirs of the Geological Survey of Pakistan, Volume 12, The Survey, 1977, Pg119", [5]
  17. ^ "Soap Stone Deposits Of Sherwan In Hazara District", Science and Industry, Volumes 1-2 Pakistan Council of Scientific and Industrial Research., 1963 - Science,[6]
  18. ^ Resource base and economic progress of the Peshawar Valley, University of Peshawar. Dept. of Economics 1970 - History - 284 pages
  19. ^ "The most extensive steatite deposits in Pakistan are found in the Sherwan area of the Hazara District, NWFP, Inter-regional Interaction and Urbanism in the Ancient Indus Valley: A ... By Randall William Law (II.)Pg 325, [7]
  20. ^ Pakistan Journal of Scientific Research, Volume 23 Pakistan Association for the Advancement of Science., 1971 - Research,[8]
  21. ^ Pakistan Journal of Science, Volume 43 Pakistan Association for the Advancement of Science., 1991 - Science [9]
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