Sudhan

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Typical Sudhan Tribal Member

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Sudhan Annual meeting NE Chapter USA

Background

New Jersey, Sudhans

Sudhun tribe members are found in Poonch District of Azad Kashmir(Pakistan occupied Kashmir), Poonch area in Jammu and Kashmir, Jammu and Rajouri, Dera Ghazi Khan and Peshawar in the North West Frontier Province, Quetta in the Baluchistan Province, Lahore and Rawalpindi in the Punjab and in Karachi in Sindh Province of Pakistan. Rawalakot is the headquarters of the Sudhan tribe.

Internationally Sudhuns have a large community in New York, New Jersey, Texas, and Utah in the United States, Toronto and Calgary in Canada, and London and Manchester in Great Britain. Sudhuns settlers moved to the various cities from Poonch in search of jobs. Sudhan means perfect people in Sanskit

Majority of the Sudhun tribe claim to belong to the Bani Israel. But this has to be ascertained by historical proof. They certainly do not belong to the aboriginal people of India as their characteristics are quite similar to those of Iranians and Europeans. More credence is given to this theory due to the fact that they are residing in a particular area and some oral traditions are still extant where the inter-relationship of the tribe is easily verified.

A very small minority of Muslim Sudhuns claim to be descended from the Sadozai tribe of Afghanistan, however, there is no evidence to support this claim.

A research project comprising DNA lineage study has been commenced to determine the ancestry of the Sudhans.

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Rawalakot Valley home of the Sudhans

Education

Sudhuns are a tightly knit community. Sudhuns have the highest literacy rate of any region or tribe in Kashmir or Pakistan, with over 90% of the population being literate. (United Nations Statistics). Literacy rate among Hindu and Sikh Sudhans in Jammu and Poonch is close to 95%. Sudhans in Azad Kashmir have politically split, thereby losing their clout in the Government of Azad Kashmir.

During the elections held during 2006, Sudhans were not able to win more than a few seats in the legislative assembly.

Majority of Sudhans believe that Pakistan Military stuffed ballot boxes and elected their own stooges. General Anwar former President of Azad Kashmir confirmed on Geo Television that GHQ of Pakistan had violated the rights of the people of Azad Kashmir.

Languange

Sudhuns speak Pahri languange, which is a dialect of Dogri and closely resembles Pothohari & Hindko.

Traditions

Sudhun's believed in Massan (evil spirits), Churrail (Femail evil spirits) & Bhoot (Ghosts). These are the same beliefs as with Hindu inhabitants of the area. (Hindu mythology). Sudhuns language and customs are similar or indentical to those of Kashmiri Brahmins.

Tribal Members

Some of the members of the tribe are:

The founder and First President of (Free) Azad Kashmir, Sardar Ibrahim Khan is a member of the Sudhun tribe.

Col Sher Ahmad Khan, Maj General M. Hayat Khan, and former President General Anwar Khan are also from Sudhun tribe.

General Muhammad Aziz Khan the former Chief of Pakistan Army is a member of the Sudhun Tribe, he was intrumental in the coup that brought dictatorship and led to the appointment of Pervez Musharaff as President of Pakistan.

General (Retd) M. Rahim Khan, the former Chief of Pakistan Army in East Pakistan, Chairman Pakistan International Airlines, former Chairman Pakistan Chrome Mines Ltd and Secretary General Ministry of Defense.

M. Rashid Khan Chairman Pakistan Banking Council. Financial Consultant

Lt. Col. Tassadaq Hussain Khan former Chief of the Military of the Sultanate of Oman

Uprising against Maharajah of Kashmir

Sudhun's contributed greatly in the uprsing against the Maharajah of Kashmir during 1947-1948 and created the administrative area known as Azad Kashmir. Sudhuns are fiercely independent people, where every individual considers himself as the leader as such Sudhans do not have a Tribal Chief or a hereditary chief, rather, as a democratic society, every individual has a right to lead and voice his or her independent opinion.

Sudhan Rebellion against Pakistan Army

Sudhans rebelled against the Pakistan Army, as they were rebels, they against the government of Pakistan led by Prime Minister Liaquat Ali Khan, which was for the liberation of Indian held Kashmir because they thought that the ceasefieline was not acceptable to them, as the Govt. of Pakistan had betrayed them, this remained a dillemma for a long time, The Punjab constabulary along with a Brigade of Pakistan Army was sent to crush the rebellion. The Pakistan Army surrendered and never ventured again to the Sudan territories. The rebellion damaged the carreers of some sudhans.

Sudhans were not given security clearance until 1972, and were not accepted in the Pakistan Military Academy regular course until 1965. Sudhans have sufferred by the oppression of Pakistan occupation.

Religion

Sudhuns are Sunni Muslims of the Hannafi brand of Islam. However, Wahabihism has found some converts in the Sudhun tribe as Sudhans having worked in Saudi Arabia have brought Wahabism back to Kashmir.

Majority of the Sudhun tribe claim to belong to the Bani Israel. But this has to be ascertained by historical proof. They certainly do not belong to the aboriginal people of India as their characteristics are quite similar to those of Iranians and Europeans. More credence is given to this theory due to the fact that they are residing in a particular area and some oral traditions are still extant where the inter-relationship of the tribe is easily verified.

The Sudhan tribe also consist of Hindu Brahmins and Sikhs who lived in Poonch but migrated to Jammu and Rajouri during the unrest in 1947. Despite Religious differences Sudhans on both sides of the border are firecely proud of their heritage and view themselves as one community.

Employment

Poonch district having few natural resources, resulted in Sudhuns joining the military, initially joining the British Indian Army during the First World War and later during the Second World War. After the Second World War the veterans of the war revolted against the Maharajah of Kashmir which resulted in the formation of Azad Kashmir.

References

Under the main heading of Brahmas of Khatris, Sudhan is shown as one of the 12 tribes in Hazara during the Vedic age. Sodhan is described as a Rajput tribe. Sud race is settled in East Punjab.

A Glossary of the Tribes & Castes of Punjab & North West Frontier Province by Ebbetson.

Sudhan are a tribe of Sud Brahmans converted to Islam by Aurangzab.

Reigning Family of Lahore by Carmichael Smyth.

Sud were orignally called suwdik, one of the nomadic tribes who settled in Iran in 900 BC. The name changed to Sogdian-Sulik-Sud due to dialects of Chines, Sogdian & Punjabi writers. Sudrakas (sud race in South Punjab) fought battle with Alexander the Great and gave Alexander a tough time in Sogdian (Summarkand).

Political & Social Movements in Ancient Punjab by Buddha Prakash

Sogdiana (Summarkand & Bokara) and Sogdae (Thar), Sogda (Rohri). The resemblance of names of the places shows that the Sogdian people lived in Sind.

Alexander the Great by Hammond

Sogdiana was Iranian province. Iranian tribes were present in Punjab & Summerkand.

Alexander the Great by Robin Lane

Darius conquered Sogdiana (521 BC), Punjab & Sind (512 BC)

History of Persia by Percy Sykes.

Chibhal. An important and high caste is Sudhan

Jammu & Kashmir. Territories by Frederic

Migrated from Ghazni to the present location in 14th century.

The Sudhan Revolt (The News 19 October 1997.) By Sardar M. Saleem Khan.

Sudhan, and important and high caste of Chihalis-Rajputs (Aryans).

Gazetteer of Kashmir & Ladakh (1890)

Lehr Muni (ancestor of Sudhan) s/o Bawa Muna (chief of Katas Tirath) migrated from Katas to Poonch in 11th century. One of his descendants Sudh Sain/Pal is the patriach of Sudhan. Sudhan Chander Bansi dynasty ruled from the capital of Sudhnuti. Sudhan are Muslims as well as Hindus

Rajgan J&K and Rajputan Punjab by Tahakar Kahan Singh.

Mohammedan Rajas of Poonch losely resemble Khakhas.

Ancient Geography of Kashmir by Cunnigham.

Sulikas were present in North & Northwest of India in Vedic age.

Alberunis' India by Sachu.

History of Sudhuns. by:

Colonel Retired Dr. Muhammad Khalil 10-C St 1, New Lalazar Rawalpindi Cantt. Rawalpindi, Pakistan.

External links

Official

• Azad Jammu & Kashmir rawalakot
• Official website of the Government of Azad Kashmir
• [http://www.tourism.gov.pk/d_kashmir.html Official Azad Kashmir tourism site

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Typical Sudhan Family

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