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Mansehra District

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File:Batgram.jpg
Batgram, Mansehra

Mansehra District (Urdu: مانسہرہ) is in the North-West Frontier Province of Pakistan, which contains the town of Mansehra and the Kaghan Valley area (a popular tourist destination in Pakistan). The Karakoram Highway passes through the district.

History

Alexander the Great & Ashoka

Location of Mansehra District (highlighted in yellow) within the North West Frontier Province.
Bust of Alexander III in the British Museum.

Alexander the Great, after conquering parts of Punjab, established his rule over a large part of Mansehra District. In 327 B.C., Alexander handed this area over to Abisaras (Αβισαρης), the Raja of the Poonch state. Mansehra remained a part of Taxila during the rule of the Maurya dynasty. Ashoka was the Governor of this area when he was a prince, after the death of Ashoka’s father, Bindusara, Ashoka inherited the throne and ruled this area as well as Gandhara. Today, the famous edicts of Ashoka, inscribed on three rocks near Bareri Hill, serve as evidence of his rule. These edicts also show that this area was a famous religious centre for pilgrims. The name Mansehra is a modified form of the name Maan Singh, who once ruled over this area.

Hindu Shahi dynasty & Kashmiris

In the 2nd century CE, a mythical Hindu king Raja Risalu, son of Raja Salbahan of Sialkot, brought the area under his control. The local people consider him as their hero and, even today, parents tell their children the stories of Raja Risalu and his wife Rani Konklan on winter nights. When a Chinese pilgrim, Hiun-Tsang, visited this area, it was under the control of Durlabhavardhana, the ruler of Kashmir.

The Turkish Shahi and Hindu Shahi Dynasties ruled Mansehra one after another. Among the Hindu Shahi dynasty rulers, Raja Jayapala is the best known. Mehmood of Ghazni defeated Raja Jayapala during his first Indian campaign. However, there is no historical evidence that Mehmood of Ghazni ever visited or passed through Mansehra. After the fall of Hindu Shahi dynasty, in the 11th century, the Kashmiris took control of this area under the leadership of Kalashan (1063 to 1089). From 1112 to 1120, King Susala ruled this area. In the 12th century, Asalat Khan captured this area but soon after Mohammad of Ghor's death the Kashmiris once again regained control of Mansehra.

Turkish rule

In 1399, the great Muslim warrior Timur, on his return to Kabul, stationed his Turk soldiers in Manshera to protect the important route between Kabul and Kashmir. By 1472, Prince Shahab-ud-Din came from Kabul and established his rule over the region. Prince Shahab-ud-Din, a Turk of central Asian origin, founded the state and named it Pakhli Sarkar and chose Village Gulibagh as his capital. During the Mughal rule, these local Turkish chiefs acknowledged Mughal authority. In fact, Mansehra (Pakhli) provided the main route to Kashmir and was the most commonly used route for Emperor Akbar to travel to Kashmir. During the last days of Emperor Akbar's rule, the Turkish Chief Sultan Hussain Khan revolted against the Mughals. He claimed that the Mughals were interfering with his internal affairs. After this complaint, he was exiled by the Mughals, but later was pardoned and given back his land. Now, descendants of these Turkish rulers live in village Behali and some other villages of Mansehra, Abbottabad, and Haripur districts.

Akbar as a boy around 1557

Sikh rule

Turkish rule came to an end due to the increased aggression of the Pashtuns and their allied forces. In 1703, the Turks came under attack by the Swatis under the leadership of Syed Jalal Baba, who was son in law of last Turkish ruler of Hazara, (Sultan Memud Khurd) took benefit of absence of his father in law and with the help of Swaties succeded to overthrow the Turks from the throne of Pakhli Sarkar.The Turks were pushed towards the mountainous areas of Tanawel (Behali) and other parts of Hazara, including Haripur (Manakrai). The Turks remained in control of certain small areas, assuming the title of Raja. Raja Amanulla of Manakrai, Haripur, one of the descendants of the Turkish rulers of Hazara, rose to prominence during post-independence era, when he became the Speaker of the NWFP assembly in 1985.

When Ahmad Shah Durrani expanded his kingdom to Punjab, Mansehra also came under his control. Durrani considered it wise to rule the area through local tribal chiefs, like Saadat Khan of Garhi Habibullah. Saadat Khan was such an authoritative man amongst Swatis, even disputed matters of Jadoons and Tanolis had been sent to him for rectification through jirgas. The Durranis ruled ended abruptly in the beginning of the 18th century.

The fall of the Durranis led way for the Sikhs to rise to power under Ranjit Singh. The Sikhs gained control of Mansehra in 1818, after stiff resistance from its inhabitants. When Mansehra fell under Sikh control, it was annexed to Punjab. Syed Ahmad Shaheed, with the help of the Mujahadeen, led many revolts and attacks against the Sikhs. At last, in 1831 during a fierce battle at Balakot, Syed Ahmad Shaheed was killed. This allowed the Sikhs to consolidate their control of Mansehra. After Rajit Singh's death, the Sikh empire began to disintegrate. At this time, the British gained control of Punjab, and, through this, gained control of Mansehra.

In the meantime the remnants of the Mujahidin of Balakot Seyeds, Mughals and Tanaolis attacked the Sikh forts and slew a large number of Sikhs. On 19th March, 1846, 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 75,00,000 rupees. 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.

British rule & Pashtun resistance

By 1849, the British had gained control of all of Mansehra. However, the western Pashtun tribes remained rebellious. These tribes included the clans of Allai, Batagram in the Nandhiar valley, and the tribes inhabiting both slopes of the Black Mountain of Hazara.

In 1852, after three years of relative peace, 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.

However, the British sent many expeditions against the Pashtun tribes to crush the rebellion between 1852 and 1892, especially against the Black Mountains.

To maintain peace in the area the British also took preventive measures by co-opting the local rulers.

The British divided Hazara District into three Tehsils (administrative subdivisions) : Mansehra, Abbottabad, andHaripur; and decided to annex it to the Punjab. In 1901, when the North-West Frontier Province (NWFP) was formed, Hazara was separated from Punjab and made a part of NWFP. Throughout their rule in Mansehra, the British met fierce resistance from the local Pashtun tribes and declared martial law. Meanwhile, the people of Mansehra's many villages largely governed themselves. Many of Mansehra's citizens joined the Khilafat movement.

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. During Bhutto's regime, Mansehra was upgraded to a district, containing two subdivisions: Mansehra and Batagram. Later, the Mansehra district had the Balakot subdivision added to it. Swatis were given places by Turks in Hazara so that they can protect the valley from the foreign attacks. There was no fight fought between Turks and Swatis, Turks remained popular.

Geography

Mansehra is located at the eastern border of the North-West Frontier Province, two hours away from Peshawar and three hours away from Islamabad. The district is located at 34º - 12' and 35º - 50' and 47º - 07' longitude. It is closely linked to Afghanistan in the west, which has increased the number of Afghan refugees in Mansehra over the past years.

The district of Mansehra has been blessed with wonderful scenery. Some of Mansehra's main features are mountain ranges, plains, valleys, and numerous lakes and rivers.

Bordering districts

Mansehra shares its borders with numerous other districts: the Kohistan and Diamir districts to the north, Abbottabad District to the south, the Muzaffarabad District of Azad Jammu and Kashmir to the west, and the Swat district to the east. It sits adjacent to the Haripur District to the southwest, the Shangla District to the northwest, the Batagram District to the north-northwest, and the Gilgit District to the northeast.


Lakes

There are three lakes in the district: Lulusar Lake, Dudipatsar Lake and Saiful Muluk Lake. All three are located in the beautiful Kaghan Valley and act as a mirror reflecting the snow-clad mountains surrounding them.

Lulusar Lake is approximately 48 kilometres away from Naran and has an altitude of 3325 meters. Surrounded by wildflowers in almost all colors imaginable, this lake is the main source for the Kunhar River. Lake Lulusar is said to be one of the most tranquil spots on the Kaghan Valley, the lake is fenced by snowcapped mountains whose image is reflected on the standstill blue-green waters of the lake.

Dudipat Lake is enclosed with beautiful, high, snow-drizzled peaks. The Dudipat is one of the hardest places to reach, requiring a tough hike lasting four to seven hours. The hike is rewarding, as tourists are greeted with green pastures and the lake's blue-green waters.

The most famous of the district's many lakes is Lake Saiful Muluk, named in a folktale—the Qissa Saiful Muluk—about a romance between a Persian prince and a fairy princess. In the folktale, the lake was the meeting site for the two lovers. Lake Saiful Muluk is located at the northern end of the Kaghan valley. At an altitude of 10,578 feet above sea level, it is one of the highest lakes in Pakistan. The water is spectacularly clear with a slight green tone. It is accessible by a jeep road during the summer months or can be hiked up from the village below in four to six hours. The clarity of the water comes from the multiple glaciers all around the high basin feeding the lake.

Education

Mansehra is considered a good place for education because of its natural beauty and climate. It has many good schools like: Mansehra International Public School and College Two Campuses,providing Quality Education and promote Inclusive Education, and more etc. The First primary school in the district was established in 1872 in the village Behali. Almost at the same time in Baffa and in 1892 in Mansehra city.

Schools

Mansehra International Public School or MIPS, is a school in Mansehra, Pakistan. It was founded in 1995 by Engr Sher Afzal Khan Swati, who served as a Member Advisory Committee to Governor of NWFP. He later hired some of the teachers from different areas in his school. The school is now administrated by Engr Sher Afzal Khan Swati and Faisal Khan Swati. MIPS, like many others in Mansehra, is divided into separate sections for boys and girls. Both the school and the college provide boarding. Currently, there are over 750 students studying in the school from all across Pakistan. The college enrols roughly 400 students.

Colleges

Mansehra International Public School and College Mansehra.

Rivers

The largest river is the Kunhar River, also known as the Kunar (not to be confused with the Kunar River of the Chitral District). The river is the gateway to the Kaghan Valley and runs through Balakot.

Administration

Subdivisions

Administrative subdivisions of Mansehra District.

The district consists of three tehsils, which are divided into 58 Union Councils[1], and one PATA (Provincially Administered Tribal Area):

  1. Balakot
  2. Mansehra
  3. Oghi
  4. Kala Dhaka (PATA)

Balakot

Balakot Tehsil consists of 16 Union Councils:

Mansehra

Mansehra Tehsil consists of 42 Union Councils:

Oghi

Oghi Tehsil consists of 1 Union Council: Oghi

Constituencies

The district is represented in the provincial assembly by six elected MPAs who represent the following constituencies: [2]

  • PF-53 (Mansehra-1)
  • PF-54 (Mansehra-2)
  • PF-55 (Mansehra-3)
  • PF-56 (Mansehra-4)
  • PF-57 (Mansehra-5)
  • PF-58 (Mansehra-6)

Demographics

Mansehra is home to a diverse group of people, including Afghan refugees, Pashtuns, Turks, Hazaras, Kashmiris, Hindko, Tanolis, Rajputs, Arians, among many other ethnic groups. Its population in 1998 was 1,152,839[3].

References

  1. ^ Tehsils & Unions in the District of Mansehra - Government of Pakistan
  2. ^ Constituencies and MPAs - Website of the Provincial Assembly of the NWFP
  3. ^ 1998 Census of Pakistan

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