History of the Pathans

HISTORY OF THE PATHANS 27/05/2003
A Book Review by the great Pukhtun Intellectual Dr. Sher Zaman Taizi
(with thanks to Dr. Taizi for posting his valuable review)



Book Review "History of the Pathans" Title: History of the Pathans: The Sarabani Pathans Volume I Author: Brigadier(R) Haroon Rashid, SI (M) Pub: Brig(R) Haroon Rashid, SI(M), 5 St.26, F6/2, Islamabad First Edition 2002 Pp: 475 Reviewed by great Pukhtun Intellectual Dr. Sher Zaman Taizi[1] The most difficult task for me is writing comment on a book, because it needs reading and understanding, which, of course, needs some background knowledge of the theme. More so, if the comment on a work that has taken more than eleven years of the author is required to be written in eleven days. However, it is a great privilege for me to write something on a book that has already been introduced by Dr. A. Q. Khan, NI & Bar, HI. When I started reading the book titled, "History of the Pathans", compiled by Brigadier (R) Haroon Rashid, SI(M), I felt my weakness in the field that I had already abandoned due to its intricate nature. A number of reputed scholars have tried to demonstrate their skills in this field, as discussed at length by Brigadier Haroon, but the more it is discussed the more it is complicated. So far, at least five theories related to the origin of Pakhtuns have taken shape: i.e. Pukhtuns are (a) Aryan, (b) Bani Israel, (c) Copts from Egypt, (d) original population of the area now called Afghanistan and (d) mixed breed. Almost every scholar has discussed the topic with utmost devotion but to prove his own idea. The first two theories - Pukhtuns' relation to Aryan or Bani Israel - are much debated. Most of the scholars in favour of the theory related to Bani Israel are somewhat confused in their studies, but the common reader, particularly the sentimental Pakhtun poet, has taken it for granted that he is the descendant of Qais Abdur Rashid or Khalid Bin Waleed. Brigadier Haroon has discussed this theory in great detail, having compressed the outcome of his scholarly but winding discussion in two sentences under sub-heading Presumption and Pretension of the "Introduction" as: "Besides their illustrious history, they (Pukhtuns) are remarkable in other respects. Amongst which is their pretended origin from the Jews, and the multitude tribes and clans, which, according to historians, number about three hundred and fifty-nine; some of which bear a great resemblance to the ancient Indians and afford much matter for reflection." (p.5) The other camp refers to the migration in waves of the Aryan tribes from the Central Asia until the last wave of migration of the Saka tribe around 1500 BC. Some groups of Aryans moved west-ward and some south-ward. The Saka gained universal importance for compilation of four collections of Vedas (knowledge in Sanskrit). These collections are called the Rig-Veda, the Sama-Veda, the Yajur-Veda and the Atharva-Veda. The Rig-Veda contains more than 1000 hymns (rigs in Sanskrit), composed in various poetic meters and arranged in ten books.[i] Researchers refer to some of these hymns that narrate encounters with ten native tribes the Saka had experienced. With regard to this theory, Brigadier Haroon says: "At the turn of the eleventh and twelfth century BC, according to the records of the Rig Veda, the country inhabited by the Aryans was called 'Saptasindhu', the country of seven rivers. This country can be identified and localised by the names of the rivers referred to in the Rig Veda, the 'Kubha' (Kabul), the 'Suwastu' (Swat), the 'Kurmu' (Kurram), the 'Gomati' (Gomal), the 'Sindhu' (Indus), the 'Vipas" (Beas) and the 'Ganga' (Ganges)'. With reference to Irtiqa by Dr. Khudaidad (April 1990), the author has added the following note (No. 2) at the foot (p.9): A battle was fought between the Aryans already settled in 'Saptasindhu' and the new arriving Aryan clans. Ten clans, namely Alniya, Pakhat, Bhalona, Shiva, Vishanian, Anviya, Huya, Torvasa, Yadu and Poro took part in the Dard battle. Out of these clans, Alniya are the present Kalash, Bhalana were then settled in the Bolan Pass, Shiva in and around Kabul city and Poru on the banks of the Indus and in Gandhara. The Pakhat (Paktues) occupied Ariana (Eastern Afghanistan) and major portion of Gandhara. Their area was then known as Pactica. The clan was further sub-divided into Gandhari, Aparytae, Satragydae and Dadicae sub-clans. As regard the Saka, the author says: "Sakas have been identified as Iranian tribes of the north-eastern group that began to penetrate into Indus Valley by about one thousand years BC" (p.9). "The history of the land", covering a period of over six thousand years, has been condensed in Chapter 1 and 2 on sixteen pages only before the "Appearance of the Afghans in the area" (Chapter 3), which covers hardly two pages. Chapter 4 turns to the "Genealogy of the Pathans" starting with definition of the term "Pathan". In this chapter, the author has discussed various terms, i.e. Afghan, al-Afghaniatu, Avgan, Aghvana or Aghvai, Suleimani, Bani Asif, Bani Israel, Bani Afaghena, Pathans. Pakhtun, Rohilla applied to the target group of people. I think that the term Pathan is neither Pashto nor Persian but Hindi and, as the author puts in, is popularly applied to the members of any tribe hailing from Afghanistan and the NWFP of Pakistan (p.29). Another point of consideration is that all these names and terms had been coined and used by alien writers. Chapter 5 and 6 discuss "The Afghans" and "The Pathans" respectively. Chapter 7, captioned "Analysis", opens up as: "It is now time, to pause for a moment and, in the background explained in the previous chapters, ponder whether the theories propounded by various scholars and genealogists about the derivation of the name 'Afghan' and of their genealogy are viable or otherwise. All historians who have studied them have felt the difficulty about this point." In this chapter, the author has extended discussion to some other theories, linking the origin of Pukhtuns to Copts, Jews, Klaproth, Turk or Mughal, Clairant etc. Chapter 8 revisits the "Legendary Lineage of the Pathans" with particular reference to Makhzan-e-Afghani, "which is regarded an authority on the Pathan genealogy." In fact, most of the anomalies in this regard have emanated from this book. The author of Makhzan-e-Afghani, Khwaja Niamatullah son of Habibullah Heravi, lived obscure life before he came to limelight as the Chief Conservator of the library of Sipah Salar Abdul Rahim Khan-e-Khanan (993-1006 H). Then, he joined the retinue of Prince Saleem. In 1014 H, when the prince ascended the throne and adopted the title of Jehangir, he appointed Niamat as the court-chronicler. In 1017 H, Emperor Jehangir removed him from the service for some misdemeanour. Then he joined the service of an Afghan Amir Mian Pir Khan alias Khan Jehan Lodhi. Encouraged by his master, Niamat commenced compilation of the book at Malakpur (Deccan) on 20 Zilhaj 1020 and concluded it at Burhanpur on 10 Zilhaj 1021 H. It is presumed that the events, after his death, were added to his work by someone(s) else. Makhzan-e-Afghani carries genealogy of the mankind from Adam to Jacob, also giving ages of some Prophets in the line. Haroon Rashid has noted: "According to Majmu-ul-Ansab as quoted by H. W. Bellew, Qais in lineal descent was thirty-seventh from Malik Talut, or Saul, forty-fifth from Hazrat Ibrahim or Abraham and sixty-third from Hazrat Adam" (p.70). This lineage can cover not more than ten thousand years, whereas a large number of fossil bones and teeth have been found at various places throughout Africa, Europe and Asia. Tools of stone, bone, and wood, as well as fire hearths, campsites and burials, also, have been discovered and excavated. These discoveries draw a picture of human evolution during the past 4 to 5 million years.[ii] Niamat Heravi extended this genealogy to Qais Abdur Rashid and his descendants, but there is no mention of any other person of that age and his descendants. It may be noted that Pukhtuns claiming descent from Qais Abdur Rashid have crossed the twenty million mark in number around the world. The total populations of descendants from other people of that age would naturally exceed several times the population of the world. Most of the scholars took similar line and still a number of writers rely on that theory. They have given little attention to primary sources to find the fact. This genealogy has been taken from the Old Testament, which was compiled by Jews' rabbis and scholars after 586 BC, when Nebuchadnezzar II conquered and destroyed Jerusalem, consigning its inhabitants to captivity.[iii] He tried to destroy the whole structure of their culture, having burnt their literatures including the original Torah. Haroon Rashid has repudiated this theory by the end of the 9th Chapter in these words: "In fact, nothing but the ancient traditions - exaggerated and, with the lapse of ages, adulterated and distorted by fiction, but nevertheless, all telling the same table and pointing to the same source, is the ground on which the Pathans claim Israelite descent." (p.74) Volume One of the work, which is this volume, discusses at length evolution of tribal structure, the Sarbani tribes and clans, their division in political factions, religion , language and the history. The tribesmen still maintain genealogies of their tribes and clans, but the nation can't. The nation is now defined as: (a) a community of people or peoples who live in a defined territory and are organized under a single government, (b) a community of people who share a common ethnic origin, culture, historical tradition, and, frequently, language, whether or not they live together in one territory or have their own government [iv] Pukhtuns now form a nation that shares a common ethnic origin. Ahmad Shah Abdali founded the Afghan Empire in 1747, which was the second great power to the Turkish Empire of the time[v]. Ahmad Shah had appointed Mahmood-ul-Hussain Herati as a munshi (secretary) to write annals of the time. He compiled Tareekh-e-Ahmad Shahi in Persian. Its copy in two volumes is in the library of the Area Study Centre, Peshawar University. Encouraged by Ahmad Shah, Hafiz of Marghuz composed Shahnama-e-Ahmadia in masnavi form (couplet-poem). It is available in the library of Pushto Academy, Peshawar University. The poet has not used his name anywhere in the Shahnama. The history of Mahmood-ul-Hussain al-Munshi shows that after the assassination of Nadir Shah, Ahmad Shah assimilated the scattered Pakhtun soldiers under his command and marched to Kandahar. On the way, he had repulsed at least four attacks up to Grishik. From there, he sent a few emissaries to Kandahar to broach the news of the assassination of Nadir Shah and his march to Kandahar as the victor. The Shahnama has also not mentioned any Jirgah to elect Ahmad Shah as the ruler. At the end, I may say that the author never finds faults in his work, but tamashbeen da nakhe meanz oolee - the bystander hits the target. There are certain things to which I do not agree but some readers may not agree with me. This, however, does not depreciate the tremendous and highly admirable contribution of Brigadier Haroon Rashid to the "History of the Pathans." [i] "Veda," Microsoft (R) Encarta, Copyright (c) 1994 Microsoft Corporation, Copyright (c) 1994 Funk & Wagnall's Corporation. [ii] "Human Evolution," Microsoft (R) Encarta, Copyright (c) 1994 Microsoft Corporation, Copyright (c) 1994 Funk & Wagnall's Corporation. [iii]Encarta� World English Dictionary � & (P) 1999 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Developed for Microsoft by Bloomsbury Publishing Plc. [iv]Encarta� World English Dictionary � & (P) 1999 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Developed for Microsoft by Bloomsbury Publishing Plc. [v] 1996, Encyclopaedia Britannica, CD-Rome, Afghanistan (History of Durrani dynasty)