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Sudhan

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Typical Sudhan Member

Sudhans are one of the major tribes from the districts of Poonch, Sudhanoti, Bagh and Kolti in Kashmir.

Rawalakot, in the Poonch District and Pallandri, in the Sudhanoti Districts of Azad Kashmir are major Sudhan strongholds. Internationally Sudhans are settled all over the world and have large communities in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom. A significant Sudhan diaspora is now present in Australia, Denmark, Norway, Germany and Belgium. Sudhans are also found in large numbers in Middle East and South Africa.

Major G. Carmichael Smyth in his book A History of the Reigning Family of Lahore states: "About the year 1832, several independent hill-tribes inhabiting the north western regions of the Punjaub [Punjab] were reduced into subjection to the Lahore state. These were the Doondh, Soodhun (Sudhan), Suthee, Hoteels(Muhgals) and Murdiall(Mughals) tribes. The Doondh tribe lived chiefly on the banks of the Jhelum...was in number about fifty or sixty thousand... The Soodhun tribe inhabited a large tract on the eastern bank of the same river opposite the country of the Doondhs, and numbered about forty thousand souls."[full citation needed]

Theories of origins

The name Sudhan also occurs in the Mahabharata mythology, as a descendant of the vedic rishi Angiras.[citation needed] Horace Arthur Rose says that:

By origin the Mohyals are certainly Saraswat and still take wives from that group in Gujarat, while in Rawalpindi the five superior sections (Sudhan, Sikhan, Bhaklal, Bhog and Kali) of the Bunjahi Sarsuts used to give daughters Bhimwal(Bhibhal) Mohyal Sarsuts and occasionally to other Mohyal sections.[1]

There are Hindu Sudhans, mostly living in India-controlled Kashmir, and Sikh Sudhans in Indian Punjab and Kashmir.[2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11]

Castes and Tribes of Poonch by Muhammad Din Folk “Sudhan is shown as one of the 12 communities in Hazara during the Vedic age. Sodhan is described as a Rajput tribe. Sud race is settled in East Punjab”.[full citation needed]

Reigning Family of Lahore by Major G. Carmichael Smyth “Sud were originally 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)”.[full citation needed]

Gazetteer of Kashmir & Ladakh (1890) "Lehr Muni (ancestor of Sudhan) son of Bawa Muna (Chief of Katas Tirath) migrated from Katas to Poonch in 11th century. One of his descendants Sudh Sain/Pal is the patriarch of Sudhan. Sudhan Chander Bansi dynasty ruled from the capital of Sudhnuti. Sudhan are Muslims as well as Hindus".[full citation needed]

Language

The Sudhan mother tongue is the Pahari language. Sudhans generally learn and speak the language of the area of settlement but take pride in speaking Pahari. Sudhans living in Karachi and other elite classes have become accustomed to using English and Urdu.

Sudhan Rebellion against Pakistan Army

Sudhans rebelled against the Pakistan Army. Pakistan sent the Punjab constabulary along with a Brigade of Pakistan Army, to crush the rebellion. This rebellion damaged the careers of some Sudhans, however, Sudhans supported the rebellion against the Pakistan military.[citation needed]

Sudhans were not given security clearance until 1972, and were not accepted in the Pakistan Military Academy regular course until 1965.[12]

Sudhans in Army

File:Lt Col Mehboob Ali Khan.jpg
Lt Col Mehboob Ali Khan - Baral, a typical Sudhan Army Officer

The Sudhans have long history of service in the Armed Forces. This was because in Poonch district, opportunities for employment were few and far between, thus joining the Indian Army was necessary for survival. They joined the British Indian Army during the First World War and later during the Second World War.

During the Second World War Sudhans fought in Burma, North Africa and participated in the liberation of Europe. Some Sudhans who participated in the War are receiving war compensation from the Government of Japan.

Sudhans fought against the British Occupation of India with the Indian National Army. One prominent being Colonel Hidayat Khan, Colonel Feroz Khan And others. They later fought in the war against Dogra rule.

After independence of India and Pakistan, Sudhans continued the tradition of joining the Armed Forces of Pakistan.

Sudhans won many gallantry awards in 1948, 1965 and 1971 wars against India.

Religion

Sudhans are found among Muslim, Hindu & Sikh religious communities. Muslim Sudhans are mostly Sunni of the Hannafi branch of Islam. With mushrooming of religious madrassas all sects of Sunni Islam have crept into the sudhan belt. There is lately, Wahabi influence, that has crept into Sudhans communities being brought by Saudi Arabian authorities. Traditionally they believed in and revered saints/holy men and visited holy places with enthusiasm as most Sudhans were converted to Islam by Sufi saints.

Notable members

  • Sardar Muhammad Ibrahim Khan, founder & first President of AJK.[13]
  • Baba-e-Poonch Khansahib Col. Khan Muhammad Khan, member of the Jammu & Kashmir Assembly from 1934 to 1946. Chairman War Council of Azad Jammu & Kashmir in 1947 and then member Defence Council. Founder of Sudhan Educational Conference.
  • Col. Sardar Sher Ahmed Khan, 4th President of Azad Kashmir.[13]
  • Major General (Retd.) Muhammad Hayyat Khan, 14th President of Azad Kashmir.[13]
  • Major General (Retd.) Sardar Muhammad Anwar Khan, 25th President of Azad Kashmir.[13]
  • General (Retd.) Aziz Khan, former Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (JCSC) Pakistan Army.[14]
  • Sardar Muhammad Aslam, former Justice Supreme Court of Pakistan.

Earthquake of 2005

2005 Earthquake Relief Rawalakot. Cuban Field Hospital

On Saturday, October 8, 2005 a 7.6 magnitude earthquake killed more than 30,000 people and left up to three million homeless in AJK alone. The city of Rawalakot, the capital of the Sudhan tribe, suffered significant damage from the 2005 Kashmir earthquake; although most of the buildings were left standing, many of them were rendered uninhabitable, and some of the population was left homeless. Most of the buildings have been reconstructed, though without the help of the Governments of Pakistan or Azad Kashmir.

In District Rawalakot the Press for Peace team in the supervision of divisional coordinator, Sardar Abid Siddique started rescue and relief work soon after the disaster.

Cuba along with the Czech Republic and Jordan provided medical assistance to the population of Rawalakot.

Typical Sudhan members around the world

See also

References

  1. ^ A glossary of the tribes and castes of the Punjab and north-west provinces, compiled by H A Rose, vol II Page 121
  2. ^ The history of POONCH tribes by Mohammad din fok. Under the main heading of Brahmans or Khatris, Sudhan is shown as one of the 12 communities in Hazara during the Vedic age. Sud race is settled in East Punjab.
  3. ^ Reigning Family of Lahore by Carmichael Smyth. Sud were originally 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).
  4. ^ 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.
  5. ^ Alexander the Great by Hammond Sogdiana was Iranian province. Iranian tribes were present in Punjab & Summerkand
  6. ^ Alexander the Great by Robin Lane Darius conquered Sogdiana (521 BC), Punjab & Sind (512 BC)
  7. ^ The Sudhan Revolt (The News 19 October 1997.) By Sardar M. Saleem Khan. Sudhan, and important and high caste of Chihalis-Rajputs (Aryans).
  8. ^ 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 patriarch of Sudhan. Sudhan Chander Bansi dynasty ruled from the capital of Sudhnuti. Sudhan are Muslims as well as Hindus
  9. ^ Rajgan J&K and Rajputan Punjab by Tahakar Kahan Singh. Mohammedan Rajas of Poonch loosely resemble Khakhas.
  10. ^ Ancient Geography of Kashmir by Cunnigham. Sulikas were present in North & Northwest of India in Vedic age
  11. ^ Modern academic studies that mention the Sudhans include Alexander Evans's 2005 article in Asian Affairs: http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/routledg/raaf/2005/00000036/00000001/art00003
  12. ^ The Sudhan Revolt (The News 19 October 1997.) By Sardar M. Saleem Khan.
  13. ^ a b c d http://www.ajk.gov.pk/site/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2875&Itemid=114
  14. ^ Pakistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs
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