Bangash
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Bangash (Pashto: بنګښ, Urdu: بنگش) is the name of a Pashtun(pathan) tribe. The Bangash tribe inhabit Kurram Agency, FATA, Miranzai Valley(Hangu) bordering the Samana Range, Tirah, Kohat and Peshawar of Sarhad province. Some Bangashes also inhabit India, most notable of whom were the Nawabs of Farrukhabad; where they established their own Afghan colony. Some Bangashes also inhabit Khorasan and Mazandaran in Iran.
History
Bangash, a pashtun tribe who inhabit the Miranzai valley (Hangu), the Kohat defile in British territory (now North West Pakistan), and also the valley of Kurram river in Afghanistan. They (especially the Samilzai Bangashes) are noted for their bravery and could turn 3000 plus fighting men[1].They are said to be the descended from a person named Ismail, who was surnamed Bankash or Bangash (meaning "root-destroyer"). Their subdivisions are the Gar, with the sections Amir Janshidi, and Miranzai; and the Samilzai, with the sections Tuzi, Namani and Alizai. The Bangash inhabited Kurram for a few hundred years. The emperor Babur (A.D. 1504) found them located in Kuram, which formerly divided into Bangash-i-Bala and Bangash Pain, Upper and Lower Bangash. The emperor Babur enumerates Bangash as one of the fourteen provinces then dependent on Kabul, so that the settlement of the Bangash tribe is of very ancient date. They had been estimated to number 5600 in Kurram. The three main divisions of the clan are the Miranzai, with three clans; Baizais and Samilzai, with five sections. The Miranzai; the Baizai inhabit the Kohat valley proper, and the Samilzai are in the wild jungle district of the same name. They are very hospitable and of good physique.
The Kohat Gazetteer of 1883-84 records
'The Orakzai tribes are said to have been converted by the Tirah Syeds about the beginning of the present century . The Bangashes of Samizai were probably converted a little earlier ,[2]
Kohat Bangash attacked by Babur
He then narrates that in the year AD 1505 ,when at Peshawar he was induced by Baki Cheghaniani to visit Kohat on the false hope of obtaining rich booty Babar had never heard even the name of Kohat He reached the town through the Kohat pass in two marches and fell on it in luncheon time . After plundering it he sent foraging parties as far as Indus . Bulocks buffaloes and grain wee the only plunder . He released his Afghan prisoners .After two days he marched up the valley towards "Bangash". when he reached a narrow part of the valley , the hillmen of Kohat and that quarter crowded the hills on both flanks , raised the war shout and made a loud clamour . At last they foolishly occupied a detached hill .Now was Babar's opportunity . He sent a force to cut them off from the hills . About a hundred and fifty were killed . Many prisioners were taken . These put grass in their mouths in token of submission , being as much as to say "I am your ox" , a custom which Babar first noticed here . Nothwithstanding he had them beheaded atonce . A minaret of their heads was erected at the next camping place. The next day he reached Hangu . Here again he met with resistance . The Afghans held a fortified Sangar , which was stormed by Babur's troops , who cut off the heads of one or two huindred of them for another minaret .,[3]
Babur founder of the Mughal Dynasty, in his biography where he mentions the names of the local tribes (of Pashtuns). He wished to master them all, but Babur could not master the territory bounded on the north by the Koh-i-Sufaid down as far as Bannu, where Bangash, Turis, Wazirs live, as is clear from his comments: "Bangash is another tuman [of Kabul]. The area round about is full of Afghan highway robbers such as the Khugiani, Khirilchi, Turi and Landar. Since it is isolated they do not pay the desired revenue. As greater tasks such as the conquest of Qandahar, Balkh, Badakhshan and Hindustan occupied me, there has been no opportunity to subjugate the Bangash"[4]. He writes in a similar tone about Wazirs, but his hope of dominating them was never fulfilled.
The Bangash Tribe
| Main Bangash Lineages | Genealogical Descen | Political Affiliation | Religion | ||
| Baizai | Gar | Gar | Sunni | ||
| Miranzai | Gar | Gar + Samel Minority | Sunni + Shia | ||
| Samelzai | Samel | Gar + Samel Minorty | Shia + Sunni Minority |
Clans
| Tribe | Division | Subdivision | Section of subdivision(Khel) | |
| Bangash | Gaar | Baizai | Alisher, Gulshah, Landi, Shingi, Biland, Hasan, Mandar, Tapi, Dang, Isa, Mastu, Daulat, Shamshedi, Musa, Darsamand, Kamal, Mysaro, Doda, Kati, Shadi etc. | |
| Miranzai | Aba, Alisher, Azi, Badda, Hasan, Isap, Khoja, Labi, Lodhi, Mandar, Mardo, Shahu etc. | |||
| Samil | Ali, Darbi, Kalesar, Kasi, Khadi, Khadir, Khoti, Landi, Mama, Mari, Mastori, Mozu, Musa, Naso, Pae, Tana, Tazi, Ustari etc. |
Physical Characteristics
Bangash
The Bangashes of Kohat are a tall, good-looking set of men. They shave their heads and clip short their beards like the people of Peshawar. This is especially the case with the young men who are smart and well set up. Among the older men handsome well-grown beards are common, especially among the Mian Khels. Like all the Sunnis of the district they clip short the middle of the moustache for the space of two or three fingers. They are neat in their dress, which is generally white. They have not much character for courage, and have more than once shown the white feather when brought in contact with the neighbouring Afridis.
Shia Bangash
The Shia Bangashes of Samilzai considered a very brave warrior race, especially those of Marai, who, though few in number, defy their hill neighbors. The people of Lodhikhel, Kachai and Ustarzai also hold their own. A good many of them are enlisted for the native army, and they also have historically taken service in the British Raj army largely in Bhopal and the Deccan. The men of Muhammadzai, Alizai and Khadizai, Sherkot, Usterzai ,like the men of Kohat, courageous. The Samilzai men dress in white with colored lungis and turbans of a peculiar pattern, which are extensively woven in these parts. Many of the Usterzai are remarkably fair skinned and very good looking. The Shia Bangashes do not clip the mustache.
Marai Bala
A beautiful village located on the border of Orakzai Agency. The people Of Marai are brave and hardworking. Now the village is run by the mashraan S.Wajid Ali Shah, Moulana S.Hussain Shah, S.Sikandar Ali Shah and Tirawal mashraan. Other places In Marai are Marai Payan, Bala, Kaizar, Kachkina, Sangher, Thana, and Gari. An old fort probably built during the British Era, is also there, where some of the local people live. S.Muhammad Ali Shah a great personality also lived there.
Upper Miranzai Bangash
The Bangashes of Upper Miranzai dress in dark blue turbans and shirts, with a grey sheet by way of lungi. They are rather below the middle height with spare figures, and lean hungry faces like the neighbouring hill men. They are a cruel treacherous race, but are said to be hospitable, and at one time had a character for simplicity and veracity, which now they hardly deserve. They shave their heads and generally eradicate the hair of the greater part of the chin and cheeks with the aid of tweezers (ucha). The object is to leave nothing except the ends of the moustache and a Newgate fringe about an inch wide all round the face; but many of them stop short of this pitch of excellence.
Language
The Bangashes speak the hard Kabuli Pashto, as do the Afridis and Orakzais. A Bangash says Pekhaur; a Khattak pronounces it Peshawar. The Barak Khattaks have a very broad pronunciation, changing the a's into o'e and au's. The word razi;mould in their dialect be pronounced rozi or rauzi. The languages of the Bangashes is not as clear as the Yusafzai Pashto, and that of the hill tribes is much worse.
Religion
Bangashes follow the religion of Islam. Although the majority of Bangashes follow the Shia school of thought, some Bangashes also follow the Sunni school of thought.Bangashes are found rushing to Masjid at the time of prayers. Bangashes observe many religious rituals such as Eid Milad-ul-Nabi (the Holy Prophet's birthday), Ashura (Moharm the Holy Prophet's grandson's martyrdom) and other religious rituals.
Notable Bangashes
- Nawab Mohammad Khan Bangash, 1714, founded the city of Farrukhabad.
- Khan Sahib Mohammad Roshan Din Khan Bangash, given title of Khan Sahib for excellent service in the North Western Railways.
- Prof. MYH Bangash, is a professor of nuclear/aerospace structures. He has published over 75 research papers and 24 books. He is also a designer of nuclear power. He has been President of the Council of Muslim Education at the Islamic Cultural Centre at Regent's Park in London.
- Ali Haidar Bangash,of village Lodhi Khel Distt: Hangu, the only pashtun to receive the Victoria Cross during WWII for his bravery.
- Hafiz Ali Khan Bangash, an iconic figure in twentieth-century sarod music, scion of the Bangash Gharana.
- CAPT Qazi Naqib ullah Bangash sitara-i-jurrat who belonged to a renowned family of DISTT Hangu.He sacrificed his life in 1971's Indo-Pak war and in recognition of his matchless bravery.
- Major Khadim Hussain Bangash Shaheed of Usterzai Bala Distt: Kohat who sacrificed his life in 1965 and was awarded Sitara-i-Jurrat posthumously which is one of the highest military awards of Pak Army.
- Muhammad Afzal khan Bangash , learder of mazdoor kissan part famous for land reforms in NWFP.
- Lt. Gen (R) Muhammad Arif Bangash, Governor N.W.F.P (1998)
- Lt. Gen (R) Humayun Bangash, former Pakistan Ambassador to Turkey
- Major General Ulfat Hussain Bangash, serving in PAK ARMY of Lodhi Khel, Hangu
- Ahmed Rasool Bangash Accountant General of N.W.F.P
- Rukhsana Bangash, Political Secretary to President Asif Ali Zardari
- Shaheed D.I.G. Police Malik Saad Bangash of Behzadi ChikarKot Kohat
- Present I.G. Ploice Malik Naveed Khan Bangash of Behzadi Chikarkot Kohat
- Late Professor Muhammad Jan Bangash of Usterzai Payan, Ex-Chairman Dept. of Physics, Peshawar University, Ex-Principal Islamia College Peshawar
- Maj. Doctor Qais Bangash, Sitara-e-jurrat 1965 indo pak war. The only doctor in pakistan army history to have been awarded with the medal.
- Haji Ahmed Raza Bangash of Usterzai, who established [Al-Asar Acdemy Usterzia kohat] which is proving a blessing in thefiled of education to Bangash Community from Kohat to Parachinar.
- M Qasim Naz Bangash of BiliTang-Manager Operations ComNet Communications(R ), Creating International level job opportunities for youth in Pakistan.Also playing major role in promoting BPO industry in Pakistan, that could bring Millions of Dollars into Pakistan.
External links
Mohamad Afzal khan Bangash.he was the leader of Mazdor kissan party and played a major role in land reforms in the north west province.