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Tanoli

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The Tanoli are a tribe of the Tanawal valley region in the Hazara region of Pakistan's North-West Frontier Province.

Although "not usually acknowledged as Pathans, the Tanoli have by long association become assimilated with them in manners, customs, and character."[1] Tribally allied with the Pathans,[2][3][4] the Tanoli participated in the frontier wars with the British and in Charles Allen's analysis of those wars, the Tanoli are described as being "extremely hostile" and "brave and hardy and accounted for the best swordsmen in Hazara."[5]

Names

The Tanoli are also known as Tanawal, for the name of the river. The British Census included several variant forms of the name:[6] Tanaoli, Tanol, Tol, Tholi, Tahoa, Tarnoli.

Homelands

The Tanoli were first encountered by Westerners around 1700 "in the trans Indus basin of the Mahaban from which they were driven across the Indus by the Yusufzai" tribe.[1] By the late 19th century the Tanaoli had settled the Tanawal tract in the west center of the district between Abbottabad and the Indus,[1] and in the extensive hill country between the river and the Urash plains.[1]

The Tanoli are divided into two major sub-tribes: the Hindwal and the Pallal. The latter occupies the northern portion of the Tanawal tract, and, until the dissolution of the princely states in 1968, constituted the semi-independent principality of Amb.[1]

According to Tanoli tradition (preserved in a commentary based on an 1881/1891 census report[7]) they are named after a place in "Afghanistan" (not to be confused with the present-day state of Afghanistan[n 1])

Apical ancestor

As is also the case for all other ethnic groups of the region, tracing their lineage to an apical ancestor is crucial to the Tanoli's sense of identity.

The Tanoli consider themselves to descend from one Amir Khan, a Barlas Mughal who (so says their tradition) arrived in the Tanawal valley with his sons around 1500, having crossed the Indus river to get there.[1]

The details of this tradition—as preserved in the Tarikh-i-Tanaolian ("Story of the Tanoli")—runs as follows: Upon defeating a Hindu king Jaipala, one Sultan Sabuktagin conquered the region up to Attock on the Indus. The victor then resettled[n 1] five thousand Mughals, Syeds and Afghans in Swat where Din Khan Mughal, an Anawar, was appointed the ruler. The ancestors of the Tanoli eventually settled in Mahaban. Some time later, in search of land, they crossed the Indus river under the command of Maulvi Mohammad Ibrahim, and captured territory from the Turkic peoples settled there. Among the new settlers was Amir Khan Beerdewa and his six[clarification needed] sons (Pall Khan, Hind Khan, Thakar Khan, Arjin Khan and Kul Khan) who settled the Tanawal region; the six clans or sub-tribes are allegedly named after the six sons of Beerdewa.

The commentary to the 1881/1891 census observes that "there can be little doubt that they are of [Indo-Iranian or Indo-European origin][n 2] and probably of Indian stock."[1]

History

Sardar Zabardast Khan/ Suba Khan Tanoli

In AD 1752 the Tanoli tribal chief Sardaar Zabardast Khan allied with the King of Afghanistan Ahmed Shah Abdali in the latter's conquest of India. Zabardast subsequently gained the title of Suba Khan from Ahmed Shah Abdali for his bravery in the battle against the Marathas at Panipat, where two hundred and fifty thousand strong army of Marathas were defeated by sixty thousand of Abdali's soldiers and allied Muslim tribes. Later his[clarification needed] brother Haibat Khan's[clarification needed] grandson, Mir Nawab Khan defeated the Durranis, but was killed in the battle by Sardaar Azim Khan.[clarification needed]

Mir Painda Khan

Mir Painda Khan, son of Mir Nawab Khan (who defeated the Durranis), is famed for his rebellion against Maharaja Ranjit Singh's governors of Hazara. Painda Khan "played a considerable part in the history of his time and vigorously opposed the Sikhs."[8]

From about 1813, Mir Painda Khan spent a life long rebellion against the Sikhs, who set up forts at strategic locations to keep him in check. Hari Singh Nalwa[clarification needed] took this initiative[clarification needed] during his governorship.

Painda Khan's rebellion against the Sikh empire cost him a major portion of his kingdom, leaving only his twin capitals Amb and Darband. This increased his resistance against the Sikh government.

In 1828 Mir Painda Khan gifted the State of Phulra to his brother Mir Madad Khan.[clarification needed]

General Dhaurikal Singh, commanding officer of the Sikh troops in Hazara, had Painda Khan poisoned to death in September 1844. Painda Khan is still revered in Hazara as a hero.

Mir Jehandad Khan

"Of all the tribal chiefs of Hazara, the most powerful [was] said to be Jehandad Khan of the Tanoli."[5] His territories laid on both banks of the Indus, and, as the son of Painda Khan, Jehandad Khan was particularly well respected among his peoples.[5]

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. When the president threatened the Khan to give up the murderers or suffer the consequences (of burning down the villages and giving the region to another), the Khan is said to have replied "We should consider your presence (in our kingdom) an honour, but our country is a 'rather difficult one' for your army."[9]

This response was the talk of the day and it is remembered by many locals of Hazara even to this day as a heroic answer.

Nawab Sir Muhammad Akram Khan

During the tenure Nawab Sir Akram Khan (K.C.S.I)(1868 - 1907) the fort at Shergarh was constructed, along with Dogah and Shahkot Forts. His rule was a peaceful time for Tanawal with no major conflicts. He was later conferred the title Nawab Bahadur by the British Raj.

Nawab Sir Muhammad Khanizaman Khan

Nawab Khanizaman Khan 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 relationship 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,[clarification needed] of Lower Tanawal, is commended by Major Abbot[clarification needed] 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. Malik Nawab Khan was among the fellow tribesmen of famous Mir Jehandad Khan.

Tanolis Today

Most members of the Tanoli tribe reside in the former state of Amb in the Hazara Division of the North-West Frontier Province of Pakistan, in the cities of Abbottabad, Haripur and its district, Mansehra, Battagram and Kohistan districts. A branch of the Tanoli tribe also resides in Kashmir, mainly in Muzaffarabad. Tanolis are also living in some areas of Swabi, Nowshera, Rawalpindi, Gujar Khan and Sultanpur. A significant number of Tanolis also living in Karachi.

The principal language of the Tanoli is Hindko. Tanolis living in Pashtun dominated areas speak Pashto.

Notable Tanolis

Notable Tanolis include:

Notes

  1. ^ a b In a historical and ethnic context, "Afghanistan" has a different meaning and geography than the present-day borders indicate. Tanal Pass—which in the Tarikh-i-Tanaolian is mentioned as the place they migrated from—is only a short journey from the area that the same source says they migrated to. Today, they are even in the same administrative district (Swat).
  2. ^ Rose uses the term "Aryan", which in the 1880s context refers to either "Indo-Iranian" or "Indo-European", and speakers of those language groups.

References and bibliography

  1. ^ a b c d e f g Rose 1911, p. 256.
  2. ^ Oliver 1890, p. 313.
  3. ^ Scott 1928, p. 71.
  4. ^ Bonarjee 1899, p. 37.
  5. ^ a b c Allen 2001, p. 139.
  6. ^ Rose 1911, p. 455.
  7. ^ Rose 1911, pp. 1ff.
  8. ^ Burns 1908, p. 219.
  9. ^ Allen 2001, pp. 203–204.
  • Allen, Charles (2001), Soldier Sahibs: The Men Who Made the North-west Frontier, New York: Abacus, ISBN 0-349-11456-0.
  • Bonarjee, P. D. (1899), A Handbook of Fighting Races of India, Calcutta: Thacker Spink (fasc. 1975, New Delhi: Asian Publication Services).
  • Burns, Richard, ed. (1908), Imperial Gazetteer of India, vol. 23 (new ed.), Oxford: Clarendon, p. 219.
  • Lethbridge, Roper (1893), The Golden Book of India: A Genealogical and Biographical Dictionary of the Ruling Princes, Chiefs, Nobles, and Other Personages, Titled or Decorated, of the Indian Empire, London: Macmillan (fasc. 2001 New York: Elibron/Adamant).
  • Oliver, Edward Emerson (1890), Across the Border: Pathan and Bilochi, ???????: ????????.
  • Scott, George Batley (1928), Afghan and Pathan: A Sketch, ???????: ???????.
  • Rose, Horace Arthur (1911), A Glossary of the Tribes and Castes of the Punjab and North-West Frontier Province: Based on the Census Report for the Punjab, 1883, by the late Sir Denzil Ibbetson, K.C.S.I., and the Census Report for the Punjab, 1892, by Sir Edward Maclagan, K.C.I.F, C.S.I., vol. 3 (L-Z), Lahore: Government Printing House (fasc. 1990 New Delhi: Asian Educational Services) (online version of facsimil, pages 216 256, 454)
  • Watson, H. D., ed. (1883/4), Gazeteer of Hazara District, London: Chatto & Windus {{citation}}: Check date values in: |year= (help)CS1 maint: year (link).
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