Tanoli

The Tanolis (Urdu: تنولی ) are a prominent and famous Muslim Mughal Barlas tribe residing mainly in the Amb, Hazara Division of the North-West Frontier Province Pakistan. This statement of descent has been recorded in the "Gazetteer of the Hazara District", Sangmeel Publication, 1990 p38.

Tanolis are the largest tribe of Hazara in terms of land ownership and population.The homeland of the Tanolis is Tanawal, which is divided into two parts; Upper Tanawal and Lower Tanawal which cover a great part of Hazara have been ruled by Tanolis for centuries. They have ruled the state of Amb of Hazara since the beginning of 18th century. Many Khans and princes of their dynasty have gained mass popularity as heroes. [Amb may refer to Amb (princely state)] Charles Allen referred to them in his book Men who made the North-West Frontier as the extremely hostile and powerful Tanolis of the Tanawal Mountains, brave and hardy and accounted for the best swordsmen in Hazara.

They were also the last ruling dynasty of the Princely State of Amb.

Origins and History

The most prominent theory is of the Barlas Mugal origin, which has been recorded officially by the Tanolis themselves (Hazara Gazzetter, 1990, p38, "the Herald interview of Nawabzada Salahuddin Saeed Khan Tanoli"). It is said that they were settled in the region of Tanawal and established their tribes and evicted tribes that were already settled there. Over time they intermarried with other Pashtun and Turkic tribes hence and settled in the region. Many other historians suggest a Pakhtun origin for example in The Golden Book of India Sir Roper Lethbridge on page 328 states about Nawab Muhammad Akram Khan, Sir, K.C.S.I The Nawab Bahadur is Chief of Amb, on the right bank of the Indus, where he and his ancestors have long been independent. Belongs to a Pathan (Muhammadan) family.... The Pathan Origin theory has been mentioned in other works of literature such as Across the Border: Pathan and Bilochi by Edward Emmerson Oliver, p313.Afghan and Pathan: A Sketch by George Batley Scott (1928), p71.A Handbook of Fighting Races of India by P D Bonarjee, p37 to name a few.

Syed Murad Ali Shah, the writer of "Tarikh-i-tanaolian", supports their claim saying that the forefathers of the Tanaolis lived in the Tanal Pass, the then famous pass in Afghanistan. He further says that Sultan Sabuktageen, after defeating a Hindu Mahraja Jaipala conquering the area up to Attock, brought five thousand people from the Tanal Pass who were a mixture of the Mughals, Syeds and Afghans and settled them in Swat where Anawar Din Khan Mughal was appointed the ruler. For a long time they ruled Swat and gradually settled in Mahaban. The ancestor of Tanaolis was Amir Khan Beerdewa who had six sons namely Pall Khan, Hind Khan, Thakar Khan, Arjin Khan and Kul Khan. After the names of Beerdewa's sons there are six main clans of the Tanaolis. They are also split up into numerous smaller sections, whose names all end in 'al'.

According to the same source The Tanaolis finally under the command of Maulvi Mohammad Ibrahim, Crossed the river Indus into Hazara and after defeating the Turks's lashkar settled there. Their settlement took place in 1472 when Chara and Mamara were their prominent leaders. The whole of the territory ruled by the chief of Amb was known as Mulk-e-Tanawal (Settlement Report of Hazara District, 1872 pages 682 & 684). The voluminous Urdu copy of the settlement report of Hazara compiled by Major Wace in 1872 contains many passages in its historical resume of the area. In a number of maps drawn at the time and enclosed in the report, showing Hazara under the Mughals and under the Durranis, the Amb state has been shown as Mulk-i-Tanawal. (Country of Tanawal). The original existence of that Mulk is as old as the middle period of the great Afghan invasions of India. The principality ruled by the Nawabs of Amb was spread over 30 miles in tne Indus valley and 200 miles in the upper Tanawal area comprising more than 500 villages. Originally (Syed Murad Ali Shah argues), the area had been divided amongst the two brothers Chara and Mamara - the Upper and the Lower Tanawal. The former occupied by Hindwal and latter by Palal. Haibat Khan and Suba Khan, after eleven generations, became prominent Khans of whom former founded Amb state. His grandson, Painda Khan, became independent master of the area and he not only fought with Sikhs but also with Mujahidin who were under Syed Ahmad Shaheed's command.

Sardar Zabardast Khan/ Suba Khan Tanoli

In AD 1752 the Tanoli Chief Sardaar Zabardast Khan allied with fellow Afghan, and King of AfghnistanAhmed Shah Abdali, in his conquest of India. His renown was such, that he gained the title of Suba Khan from Ahmed Shah Abdali for his bravery in the historical battle against the Marathas at Panipat, where two hundred and fifty thousand strong army of Marathas were famously defeated by just sixty thousand of Abdali's soldiers and allied Muslim tribes. Later his brother Haibat Khan's grandson, Mir Nawab Khan saw the Durrani empire crumbling and defeated the Durranis, thus freeing his kingdom of their control, however, in this battle he was killed by Sardaar Azim Khan.

Mir Painda Khan

Mir Painda Khan is famed for his staunch rebellion against Maharaja Ranjit Singh's Governors of Hazara. He was the son of Mir Nawab Khan, who defeated the Durranis and freed his kingdom from their influence. [Maharaja Ranjit Singh was a Sikh ruler of the Punjab. The Hazara region is located in NWFP, Pakistan.] From about 1813, he spent a life long rebellion against the Sikhs, who, realising the potential of his rebellion, set up forts at strategic locations to keep him in check. Hari Singh Nalwa took this initiative during his governorship. [A Sikh man wearing a turban The adherents of Sikhism are called Sikhs. ... Fortifications (Latin fortis, strong, and facere, to make) are military constructions designed for defensive warfare. Hari Singh Nalwa (1791-1837?), an Uppal Khatri born at Gujranwala, was the Commander-in-chief of Maharaja Ranjit Singh.] 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. [Amb was a princely state in what is today the North-West Frontier Province of Pakistan.] The District Gazetteer of the North-West Frontier Province (p138) confirms, "Painda Khan, played a considerable part in the history of his time and vigorously opposed the Sikhs."Mir Painda Khan set the tone for the regional resistance against Sikh rule. In 1828 Mir Painda Khan gifted the State of Phulra to his brother Mir Madad Khan.

Eventually, realising that the Heroic Tanoli Khan would not be subdued by force, General Dhaurikal Singh, commanding officer of the Sikh troops in Hazara, had Painda Khan poisoned to death in September 1844. He is still revered in Hazara today as a Heroic Warrior King of the People.

Mir Jehandad Khan

This Tanoli chief deserves special mention as the son of a famous Tanoli hero of Amb Darband Hazara, Mir Painda Khan. It is mentioned in 'Men who made the North-West Frontier' (Charles Allen, Abacus 2001, p139) that "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'. There was a long history of conflict between Jehandad Khan's family and the Sikhs, and the name of his father Painda Khan, was said to be 'magic to the ears of the people of Hazara' because of the struggles he fought on behalf of his 'poor circumscribed and rugged principality' against the Sikhs. Abbot was aware that before his death Painda Khan had made his son (Jehandad Khan) swear never to trust his safety to any ruler." This was a strong testament to the physical, political power and heroic background of the House of Tanoli which continued throughout the history of the tribes ancestry.

Mir Jehandad Khan is further mentioned in the same source as, "Jehandad Khan - a good looking young man of 26 years, tall and slender, with remarkably large and fine eyes - rode into Abbott's encampment surrounded by an escort of horsemen clad in shirts of mail and steel skull caps, handsomely mounted and equipped, who made a most picturesque display....the bystanders, who regarded the Chief with great awe, were thunderstruck.."

In 1852, Jehandad Khan was summoned by the President of the Board of Administration (who travelled to Hazara to see the Khan) in relation to a murder enquiry of two British civilians in his lands. It is mentioned in the above source (p203,p204) that "Jehan Dad Khan, the head of the Clan, and his minister Boostan Khan...knowing himself charged for his life, with the air of a prince sat down....answered all questions in an easy off hand way that looked very much like innocence. I was glad when the examination was over and the men let go, for they had a following of five or six hundred men, all stalwart fellows who had accompanied their Chief..." The President ended the talk by threatening him that, "If you refuse to give up the murderers...I will come with an army to burn your villages and give your country to another." It is said that the Khan replied, folding hands and with some fun replied with his elders, "We should consider your presence (in our kingdom) an honor, but our country is a 'rather difficult one' for your army." This famed statement was the talk of the day and remembered by many locals of Hazara even to this day as a heroic answer to a staunch threat from a powerful official.His son, Nawab Bahadur Sir Muhammed Akram Khan was conferred the title Nawab Bahadur by the British Raj.

Nawab Sir Muhammad Akram Khan The next chief of the Tanolis and son of Mir Jahandad Khan was Nawab Sir Akram Khan (K.C.S.I)(1868 - 1907). He was a popular chief and it was during his tenure that the fort at Shergarh was constructed, along with Dogah and Shahkot Forts. His rule was a peaceful time for Tanawal with no major conflicts.

Nawab Sir Muhammad Khanizaman Khan Nawab Khanizaman Khan succeeded his father in taking over the reins of power in Tanawal in Amb. He helped the British in carrying out the Black Mountain (Kala Dhaka/Tur Ghar)expeditions.

Nawab Sir Muhammad Farid Khan Nawab Sir Muhammad Farid Khan (K.B.E) succeeded his father Nawab Khanizaman Khan. He had had a very good relation 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. In 1947 the Nawab of Amb, Mohammad Farid Khan, acceded to Pakistan. In 1969, the state was incorporated into the North-West Frontier Province. He died in 1969 and in 1971 the royal status of the Nawab was abolished by the Government of Pakistan.

Malik Nawab Khan Tanoli

Malik Nawab Khan was a great personality of Lower Tanawal. Major Abbot mentioned him as a "Brave man" in his book written on Abbottabad. Malik Nawab Khan was a learned man and an able soldier. He was a strong religious man. He was the last chief of Tanoli Jirga. Malik Nawab Khan was among the fellow tribesmen of famous Mir Jehandad Khan.

Tanolis Today

The majority of Tanolis reside in the former state of Amb in the Hazara Division of the North-West Frontier Province of Pakistan. A branch of the Tanoli tribe also resides in Kashmir mainly in Muzaffarabad. The famous ancestral forefather of this Kashmiri branch was Amir Mir-ullah. Tanolis have a big area of territory called Upper Tanawal and Lower Tanawal. Upper Tanawal is considered as backward area and has its quota in Govt of Pakistan. Tanolis have their majority throughout Hazara Division Abbottabad, Haripur, Mansehra, Battagram, Kohistan. Tanolis are also living in some areas of Swabi, Nowshera, Rawalpindi, Gujar Khan and Sultanpur. A large number of Tanolis are also living in Karachi.

Their main language is Hindko. Tanolis living in Pashtun dominated areas speak Pushtu and those living in Punjab speak Punjabi and others living in others countries speak dominant language of those states e.g. English as this is a natural phenomenon.

Some Tanolis migrated to UK after the 2nd World War to help rebuild the war ravaged country.

Famous Tanoli Personalities Today:

Nawabzada Salahuddin Saeed Khan Tanoli (Present Nawab Amb)(Former Federal Minister Pakistan)(Five Times Member National Assembly 1985-1999)

Habib-ur-Rehman Tanoli (Former Minister for Local Government NWFP)

Ayub Khan Tanoli (Former Minister of Law, Education and Health)

Ashraf Khan Tanoli (Former Advocate-General Balochistan)

Muhammad Younis Tanoli (Advocate-General NWFP)

Malik Rabnawaz Khan Tanoli (President Kashmir Council UK)

References

• Gazetteer of the Hazara District, 1883-4 (p38).

• Glossary of the Tribes and Castes of the Punjab and North West Frontier Province H.A Rose, p255 & p256

• Chiefs and Families of Note in Punjab by Lepel H. Griffin (1910, ii, p254)

• Gazetteer of the North-Western Frontier Province p138.

• Gazeteer of Hazara District (1883/4). (p.61)

• History of the Sikhs by J.D. Cunningham, (1849).

• Panjab Castes by Denzil Ibbetson, Delhi, p93.

• The Jaduns by Sultan Khan Jadun (2001).

• Tarikh-ul-Afghan ka Tehqiqi Jahiza by Sultan Khan Jadun (1979).

• Tairikh-e-Hazara by Dr Sher Bahadur Khan Panni.

• Al Afghan Tanoli by Ghulam Nabi Khan.

• Journal of Central Asia Vol XII, (July 1990), Prof. Ahmed Hasan Dani, July, 1990 p79.

• Soldier Sahibs: The Men who made the North-Western Frontier by Charles Allen, Abacus 2001.

Further Reading

• The Golden Book of India: A Genealogical and Biographical Dictionary of the of the ruling princes, chiefs, nobles, and other personages, titled or decorated, of the Indian empire, with an appendix for Ceylon by Sir Roper Lethbridge, Elibron Classics, p328.

• A Handbook of Fighting Races of India by P D Bonarjee, p37.

• Afghan and Pathan: A Sketch by George Batley Scott (1928), p71.

• Plain Tales of the Afghan Border By John Charles Edward Bowen, Mohammed Zarif, p94-95.

• Sir George Cunningham: A Memoir By Norval Mitchell Published 1968 Blackwood pg 32, 88, 111.

• Journal of Comparative Legislation and International Law By Society of Comparative Legislation, London (1901) pg 318.

• The Pathan Borderland By James William Spain, Published 1963 Mouton, pg 154, 222.

• The Illustrated Who's Who in Reigning Royalty: A History of Contemporary by William G. Valko, p253.

• The Book of Precedence By John Bernard Burke (Harrison, 1881)( Original from Oxford University) pg 39, 59, 74.

• A record of the expeditions undertaken against the North-west frontier tribes. Compiled from the military and political despatches, Lieut.-Colonel McGregor's gazetteer, and other official sources by William Henry Paget (Calcutta, Office of Supt. of Govt. Printing, 1874.) pg 25-28.

• Moslem Nationalism in India and Pakistan by Hafeez Malik (1963), p178.

• Hazell’s Annual edited by Watson and Viney (London : Hazell, Watson and Viney) Pg 354.

• Across the Border: Or Pathan and Biloch by Edward Emmerson Oliver, London : Chapman and Hall, 1890. p313.

• The Native States of India by Jabad Chandra Chakarabarti, p10.

• General Hari Singh Nalwa: Builder of the Sikh Empire By Autar Singh Sandhu, p14, p34-36.

• Sir Jadunath Sarkar Commemoration: Volume S By Jadunath Sarkar, p150.

• Frontier and overseas expeditions from India By India Army. Intelligence Branch (Quetta : Nisa Traders : Sole distributors, Gosha-e-Adab, 1979.) pg 114-119.

• Punjab on the eve of first Sikh War: a documentary study of the political, social, and economic conditions of the Panjab as depicted in the daily letters written chiefly from Lahore by British intelligencers ... during the period from 30 December 1843 to 31 October 1844 By Hari Ram Gupta, p 84, 103, 132, 148, 389.

• Gulabnama of Diwan Kirpa Ram: A History of Maharaja Gulab Singh of Jammu and Kashmir by Kirpa Ram(1977), p224.

• Encyclopaedic Asiatic, Comprising Indian Subcontinent, Eastern and Southern Asia by Edward Balfour (1976 Cosmo Publications)( First Published in 1858), p215.