History of the Pashtun people
Pashto was spoken in Rampur region of Uttar Pradesh as late as 1815 AD. This was reported by Mountsuart Elphinstone in his book “the account of kingdom of Cabul” which was published in 1815. Elphinstone had visited Afghanistan in 1808 as ambassdor of British East India Company and met Shah Shuja Durrani in Peshawar. He … Read more
The rulers of Maler Kotla (now in Punjab state of India) were descendants of a Pashtun saint belonging to Sarwani tribe who migrated to and settled in India during the times of Sultan Bahlul Lodi. Shaikh Sadruddin is said to have received a gift of 68 villages near Ludhiana in 1454 AD when he married … Read more
A 1911 Census report described Pashtun or Afghan traders in Sri lanka as follows:Â “They are well-known figures in the streets of Colombo and Kandy and in estate bazaars. They are tall and well formed. Their strongly marked features and heavy eyebrows usually give their faces a somewhat savage expression. Their complexion is ruddy; the … Read more
The Miyana tribe belongs to the Saraban division of Pashtuns. They are found in Baluchistan province of Pakistan. Most of its branches have become extinct or have lost their identity. Their en-mass migration to India greatly weakened them and they fell easy prey to their Baloch neighbours. Luni, Jafar, Zamari and Gharshin tribes are remnants … Read more
Karrani Sultanate, which comprised of Bengal, Bihar, Orissa and Jharkhand at its peak, was founded by Taj Khan Karrani. The latter was succeeded by his brother Suleiman Karrani. Both were previously high-ranking nobles of Sher Shah Sur and Islam Shah Sur. Karranis (the proper word is Karlanri (کرلاڼي) in Pashto) are a group of Pashtun tribes … Read more
According to the Persian inscription on the site, South or Humayun gate of Purana Qila in Delhi was completed in the year 950 Hijri (1543) during the reign of Sher Shah Sur by the order of Ghazi Khan Lohani (Pashtun). Translation of the partially faded inscription: (1) ” The gate of the peaceful valley was completed … Read more
During the reign of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb, a family of Pashtuns rose to prominence in the Ghazipur region of modern Uttar Pradesh (India). Four brothers (Niazi Pashtuns) Ghous, Hatim, Pahar and Inayat were in the service of the army of viceroy of the province. The wife of the Viceroy accompanied him on one of his … Read more
Mausoleum of Khwaja Khizr Sarwani (Sonipat, Haryana, India) Khwaja Khizr Khan Sarwani was a Pashtun of saintly reputation who was governor of Sonipat (Haryana state, India) during the during the reign of Sultan Ibrahim Lodi (1517-1526 AD). He is buried in Sonipat in a magnificent Mausoleum which was constructed during the reign of Sultan … Read more
H.G.Raverty saw Nawab Taffazul Hussain Khan in 1857 and gives the following description of him; ” Little did I imagine, whilst stationed in the Punjab a few years since, that I should behold the last of the Nawabs of Farrukhabad, escorted by a party of my own regiment, conducted, on foot, with fetters on his … Read more
Nawab Zahid Khan Afghan (Saddozai) seated on a terrace with an attendant , circa 1740-45. He served as governor of Multan province of the Mughal empire from 1738 to 1748. He was a Maudud Khel Saddozai. In 1748 Ahmad Shah Durrani wrote a letter to Nawab Zahid Khan, asking him to forget the old rivalry … Read more