Photos of Pashtuns from Waziristan and Kurram (1959)
Photos of Pashtuns belonging to various tribes. From the London Illustrated News (11th February, 1959). Photographs taken by Wilfred Theisger. Photos courtesy: Pashtun_archives
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Akhund Salak; a Pashtun who converted Kohsitanis (Dardic people) to Islam
In 1908, Stuart Hill Godfrey (the British Political agent for Dir, Swat and Chitral since 1902) toured Dir-Kohistan. The local Kohistanis (who are Dardic people) shared with him their oral traditions and legends. They informed him that eight generations ago their ancestors were converted to Islam by Akhund Salak, whose descendants for many years took … Read more
Umra Khan of Jandul and fairies of the Kumrat valley
Umra Khan of Jandul and fairies of the Kumrat valley In the last quarter of 19th century, Umra Khan of Jandul, a Pashtun chieftain, garnered fame in the northern districts of Pakhtunkhwa, who had the ability and talent to found a sizable kingdom. He belonged to the Jandul area of present-day Lower Dir district of … Read more
Lawiks of Ghazni and Turk Shahis of Kabul spoke Pashto?
In 1950s Abdul Hai Habibi ‘discovered’ a rare document in Pakistan from Ghaznavid or Ghorid period on the basis of which he claimed that the Lawiks of Ghazni and the Turk Shahi rulers of Kabul in 8th century were Pashto-speakers ! In 1957, while he was in exile in Pakistan, he ‘discovered’ a small Persian … Read more
Pashtun tribal flags
Pashtun tribal flags In the past, each section or a sub-tribe of a Pashtun tribe used to have its own unique flag or standard (‘bairagh’ بیرغ in Pashto). For example each of the eight sections of the Afridi tribe had their own particular flags representing them. The Pashtun tribal flags were triangular in shape. They … Read more
Palay Shah Khosti (Palay Khan)
Palay Shah Palay Shah, popular as Palay Khan, fought against British and Zhob Militia in 1930s. The story of Palay Shah is shrouded in legends and is not documented well. His exploits against British are preserved in local folk poetry known as ‘Kakarai ghara’ (کاکړۍ غاړه). He and his men are said to have taken … Read more
Who were Tipu Sultan ancestors?
Who were Tipu Sultan ancestors?. According to Haider-nama (completed in 1784 and commissioned by Tipu Sultan himself), Haider Ali’s ancestors were “Navayats”. The term Navayat (نویات) referred to the descendants of Arab settlers in the coastal regions of South India. Thus Haider-nama alludes to the Arab origin of the family. The author of Haider-nama, a … Read more
Faqir Kala Khan Marri Baloch
In October 1896 a Marri Baloch by name of Haji Kala Khan declared Jihad against British. He was popularly known as ‘Mast Faqir’. On October 14, 1896, Kala Khan and five of his followers attacked Nari Bhag Railway station in Bolan and hacked to pieces all the fifteen men working there with their swords. One … Read more
Did Ranjit Singh rule present-day Afghanistan and Khyber Pass?
There is a common but incorrect notion among Indians and Pakistani-Punjabis that Maharaja Ranjit Singh ruled Khyber Pass (extending from Jamrud to Torkham) as well as Jalalabad city (in Nangarhar province of Afghanistan) and the Kabul city. Ranjit Singh and his successors neither ruled Khyber Pass nor the cities of Jalalabad and Kabul.
Mollie Ellis and her Pashtun rescuers
Pashtun rescuers of Mollie Ellis Mollie Ellis (the young girl sitting in front) along with Pashtun men who played key role in negotiating her release from Ajab Khan Afridi (who had kidnapped her from Kohat). British government sought the services of following men (and a woman) for her recovery: 1- Kuli Khan Khattak (a Khan … Read more