Sudhan
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Sudhun tribe members are found in Poonch District of Azad Kashmir, Poonch area in Jammu and Kashmir,dera ismail khan, swabi, swat ,hazara' Dera Ghazi Khan ,peshawar in the North West Frontier Province, Quetta in the Baluchistan Province Lahore, Multan, Kahuta, Murree, Kotli Sattian and Rawalpindi in the Punjab and Karachi in Sindh Province of Pakistan.
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 be of Afghan origin and claim to be part of the lost tribes of the Jewish diaspora, this has yet to be ascertained by historical or genealogical proof. The only credence given to this theory is through oral traditions.
Some members of the Sudhun tribe claim to be descended from the Sadozai or Durrani tribe which is a branch of the Popalzai tribe of Afghanistan.
A research project comprising DNA lineage study has been commenced to determine the ancestry of the Sudhans.
Education
Sudhuns are a tightly knit community. Sudhuns have the literacy rate with over 60% of the population being literate. (United Nations Statistics). 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.
Language
Sudhan residents of Azad Kashmir generally speak the Pahari language; a variant of the Punjabi language. Those in Rawalpindi, Multan and Lahore districts of Punjab speak the Punjabi language, those that settled in NWFP province speak the Pushtu tongue. Sudhans living in Karachi and other elite classes have become accustomed to using the English and Urdu language's; the lingua franca. Sudhans abroad have again learnt to speak the languages of their host communities i.e. Arabic in Middle East and English in USA and UK.
Traditions
The Sudhans have the same beliefs and traditions as the Hindu inhabitants of the area (Hindu mythology). Sudhuns language and customs are similar or indentical to those of Kashmiri Brahmins[the upper cast]. As they live in the Pir Panjal area they still hold onto their their past belief's of PANJPIR (Five Saints) and they are greatly influenced by the teachings of Sufi Saint's in particular Mian Mohammad Buksh commonly known as Saifulmuluk.
Sudans use Naswar, commonly known as chewing tobbacco. Some Sudhans had tradition of bridal money known as Rum. Their dress is the same as others in Pakistan; Shalwar Kameez, known to the Sudhans as Suthn.
In the past they were of a ego-centered, arrogant nature with enemity, jealousy,and self centeredness regularly indulging in family feuds. One of their forefathers was Nawab JASSI KHAN who settle in Tehsil Rawalakot area in around 1760. They used to live in smaller domains in the villages of Sudhnoti, Rawalakot and Bagh before they were crushed and dominated by the forces of Ranjit Singh in 1832. There was a time in the 18th century when they use to live in their domains with self-styled govt but this didn't last long due to the invasion by Ranjit Singh and later the British Raj. During the time of Colonialism they were taken into various lower class jobs like subedars, bearers, guards, footsoldiers, and as mercenaries in the British Raj.
Tribal Members
Some of the members of the tribe are:A British soldier Capt: Hussain Khan [shaheed]and a reformer Khan Mohammad Khan of Pallandri. 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 former chief of general staff[pak 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 Div:commander 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 known as Azad Kashmir.In those days they were suppressed by the maharaja of kashmir .In 1832 they were crushed by the RANJIT SINGH forces',many women were taken as captives and 12tribal heads were hanged for their rebellion.Later during the english era they were taken in 'British army .a very few were allied to the maharaja of kashmir,most of them were rebels...in1947 CAPT:HUSSAIN KHAN and his followers put up a strong resistance and eventually succeeded in overthrowing the poonch govt:Sardar mohammad ibrahim khan was there political and tribal chief in 1947. Sudhuns are fiercely independent people, where every individual considers himself as the leader as such Sudhans do not have a hereditary chief,but in the past they used to have tribal leaders like [khan mohammad khan]of pallandri and later sardar mohammad ibrahim khan as their leader and representative.....he remained a leader for 50years .In their society.... As a democratic society, every individual has a right to lead and voice his or her independent opinion.
Religion
Sudhuns are Sunni Muslims of the Hannafi brand of Islam. There are different sects like deobandis, brelvis,ahle -hadith,jammat e islami,tauheedis,seculars
Employment
Poonch district:the area is (850sqkm)...[1000persons/sqkm].[Area of sudhnuti 550sqkm] .Current population figures are approx:[more than [half a million] sudhan tribe].Having a 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. The history of POONCH tribes written by Mohammad din fok: 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 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).
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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Sudhan's around the world
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