:THE SHINWARIS OF THE KHYBER
GENERAL
The study about the origin and history of the Afghans or Pakhtuns is interesting as well as fascinating. Their march through a history of about five and a half thousand years has attracted many historians and researchers during the last about one thousand years. These scholars have volumes in many languages about the origin, history, and ways of life of various tribes. Largely, their works are available today in printed from. The availability of such an abundance books and literature about the Pakhtuns, influences one to deduce that this must be a unique tribal society in the world. Though bound by the same code of conduct or Pakhtun Wali, each major tribe has different characteristics developed due to the influence of the area where they have settled. This makes the Pakhtun culture all the more fascinating and colourful.
After their exile from Palestine, the Bani-Israel or Pakhtuns roamed about in various parts of the world for centuries. At the time of their ancestor, Kais Abdur Rashid (RA), embracing Islam and meeting with the Holy Prophet (PBUH), the majority were living in and around Ghor. In broader terms, the whole area was known as Khorasan. With the adventures of Mahmud of Ghazni (RA) and Shahabuddin Ghori, the Pakhtuns also started moving towards the Indus River and beyond. By 14th and 15th centuries (AD) they had spread beyond Koh-e-Suleman Range or Kasighar and Koh-e-Sufaid into Dera Jat, Bannu and Kohat. The Dilazaks had occupied Peshawar where as the Ghoria Khels (Yusufzais, Mohmands and allied tribes) had occupied Nangrahar by displacing Gigianis, Tarkanris and Mohammadzais. When the last of the movements of the Yusufzais and Mohmands took place in late 15th century, they occupied Peshawar and Swat valleys. In their movement towards Nangrahar (Jalalabad area) they were accompanied by the famous tribe of Shinwaris. The latter tribe, however, settled in Nangrahar and around Landi Khana (Lwargai, Landikotal area) and did not move further into the Peshawar valley.
THE ORIGIN
Though, it is confirmed that the Shinwaris are descended from Sarban, the son of Kais Abdur Rashid (RA) H.W. Bellow, in his book. The Races of Afghanistan, gives a strange story about their origin. He describes the Shinwaris as the latest arrivals in the northern base of Koh-e-Sufaid, where the Ghiljis and Khogianis also lived. He states that the proper name of Shinwaris is Shirwanis, derived from Persian Shirwan. They accompanied Nadir Shah of Persia but have mostly lost their language and adopted the Pathan customs. Probably, Mr Bellew has confused the origin with Shirwanis who, too, are Pathans who descended from Sharkhaban son of Sarban whereas the Shinwaris are descended from his other brother Kharshabun.
The genealogical tree of the Shinwari tribe and its branches is given as follows
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The Mullaguris of the Khyber Agency are descended from Kand. Kansi had eleven sons. Their names were Anwari, Zaryani, Mohammadzi, Mosegh, Sabrun, Kehtar, Kohbar, Saum, Salmat, Hanar and Shinwari. The descendents of Shinwari came to be known as Shinwari tribe.
Sardar Sher Muhammad Khan Gandapur in his famous Persian book, Tarikh-e-Khurshid Jehan 1304AH (published as Tarikh-e-Pashtoon in Urdu, Translated by Siraj Ahmed Alvi 3rd Ed, 1991) writes about the Shinwari subdivisions or Khels as Sheikhmal Khel, Khoga Khel, Mir Dad Khel, Pero KheI, Sangu Khel, Sarki Khel and Sulairnan Khel. Maj Ridgway in his book Pathans -- 1910, however, writes that Shinwaris have four major division of Ali Sher Khel, Maridezai, Sangu KheI and Sepah. Ridgway also gives details of Ali Sher Khel who according to him are sub-divided into Paset Khel, Aotar Khel, Kali KheI, Par Khel, Sheikh Khels its sections are Zadi Khel and Mir Ahmed Khel. The sections of Piro Khel are Khan Khel, Shudan KheI and Mat Khel, whereas the sections of Isa Khel are Sheikhmal Khel, Khwaja Khel, Ash Khel, Sher Khel and Toti Khel.
SHINWARI SETTLEMENTS
As already mentioned, the Shinwaris moved with Ghoria Khel and settled in Nangrahar and Lawargi areas. Today the Shinwaris live astride the Durand Line which runs along the Afghanistan- Pakistan border. They occupy the western end of the Khyber Pass and Torkham. Landikotal lies in their area. According to Saida Khan Shinwari (The Khyber 1926), the Shinwari country extends from Chapriar River to Landikotal. The Shinwaris occupy the narrow valleys of Chapriar, Mazina, Kot Mahman and Pekha with Rud Hazarnao flowing into it. They thus enjoy a very important position in the Khyber along with the Afridis, with whom they have lived in harmony for centuries. Some of the Shinwaris live with the Khugiani tribe in the West of Koh-e-Sufaid. A sizeable portion of the tribe is also settled in Kohat, Kunar, Dara Shingal Bajaur, Mohmand Agencies and Kashmir. According to Military Report on Mohmand Country, 1941, the Shinwaris occupy areas west and south of Nawagai and their major villages are Kharkanai and Sheikh Baba Ziarat, (Kuz and Bar Chamarkand area also located in this area). In the south the major villages are Bar Tsagai, Kuz Tsagai and Tsagai Proper. Out of the Khyber Shinwaris, Aotar Khel, Kali Khel, Khwaja Khel, Mandezai, Sangu Khel and Sepah are settled in Nangrahar area. Paset Khel live in Darband village near Painda Khak, Par Khel live in a village by the same name. Piro Khels live near Sphola and Piro Khel villages. The Sheikhmal Khel and some Khwaja Khels live in the villages by the names of Sheikhmal Khel, Khwaja Khel, Mukhtar Khel, Khargali, Bagh and Algudai. The entire Isa Khel Shinwaris live in Ash Khel village.
TRIBAL RELATIONS AND PERSONALITIES
The Shinwaris, as a whole are a fine race of people. They are tall, strongly built and possess handsome features. They have faced many invaders into the Khyber Pass for a long time and their bravery and courage are well established. Nadir Shah paid 1.3 million rupees to Shinwaris and Afridis for safe passage through Khyber. According to Lowell Thomas, Beyond Khyber Pass, they were considered dangerous even by the Amir's soldiers. He quotes a famous Afghani proverb that states, "A snake, a Shinwari and a scorpion have never a heart to tame." Abdur Rehman was the first ruler to subdue them and built a tower of their skulls in Kabul. The Shinwaris played a significant role in the Pathan revolt of 1897. Politically, they have matured with the passage of time. After having lived together in the Khyber with the Afridis for a long time, both enjoy the confidence of each other as regards the socio-political matters of the Khyber Agency. The Shinwaris, however, have a mutual enmity with the Mohmands and both hold each other in contempt. An eminent historian Muhammad Shafi Sabir, The Story of Khyber 1966, while quoting Amir Hamza Shinwari writes that the enmity is linked to a marriage story. A Mohmand chief's request for the hand of a Shinwari girl for his son was rejected. His son, however, according to the custom in vogue claimed the girl by tearing her shirt. This led to war between the Mohmands and Shinwaris. The Mohmands outnumbered the Shinwaris and attacked Landikotal but suffered a defeat at the hands of the latter. The Ghiljai tribe siding with the Shinwaris led to the cessation of hostilities. The Mohmands and Shinwaris have fought many battles starting with the Mohmands' occupation of the Shinwari areas of Karnali and Mitai in Bajaur and the Shilman valleys in the late 18th century. W.R.H. Merk has mentioned some ruined Shinwari villages sites between Landikotal and Pesh Bolak. It is said that during the Khanship of Shat Khan Mohmand, Shilinan Wasun near Haft Shah, Paindai (a Khwaezai Mohmand) had been killed by Shinwaris. Paindi Khak is a locality named after him. Later Arsala Khan of Lalpura took Gulai but his brother Mazullah Khan suffered a defeat at Lowargi (Landikotal). A famous War Grass Kettle drum Shinkai was captured by the Sangu Khel from Mohmands. In 1673-74 this drum was captured in Khyber from the Mughal army of Aurangzeb. The Karmu --- Nmasi Sangu Khels keep this drum and is beaten only in gravest situation. It is said that its sound could be heard in the entire Shinwari area from Nazian to Jalalabad. In 1840, Torabaz Khan of Lalpura helped Mackeson during an expedition in Nazian valley against Sangu Khel Shinwaris. A Mohmand proverb highlights that no kindness will tame a snake or a Shinwari. Similarly, the Shinwaris have coined insulting tales of Mohmand courage.
The Shinwari tribe has produced important personalities at various time intervals. Khan Bahadur Malik Mir Alam Khan and Khan Bahadur Malik Murad Khan have been their chiefs. M Saida Khan Shinwari was an eminent writer, who wrote a book, The Khyber: A Historical Sketch. A great poet and scholar, Amir Hamza Khan Shinwari also belongs to this tribe. He was born in Ashraf Khel village (Landikotal) in 1907. He has written both in Urdu and Pashto. Many of his books are available and has earned fame and respect for these scholarly works.
A WORD ABOUT MULLAGORIS AND SHILMANIS
Besides Afridis and Shinwaris, the Mullagoris and Shilmanis also live in the Khyber Agency. Much has been written about the. Afridis and Shinwaris because they occupy the Khyber Pass, which is frequented by travellers and writers alike. The Mullagoris are descended from Kand son of Kharshabun son of Sarbun son of Kais Abdur Rashid (RA) and as such are near Kinsmen of the Shinwaris. They live on the right bank of Kabul River near Warsak. W.R.H Merk in his book, The Mohmands (l898), writes that the Mullagoris are either the remnants of Dilazaks or of the followers of Pir Rokhan (Pir Roshan or Bayazid Ansari). Traditionally, they claim to have had a kingdom with its capital near Pesh Bolak. This would support the theory that they belong to the Dilazaks. The Mullagoris are settled mostly on the eastern slopes of Tartara. Their major divisions are Tar Khel, Par Khel and Daulat Khel. Maj Ridgway gives their main divisions as Ahmed Khel and Ismail Khel. The Ahmed Khel are subdivided into Shah Khan Khel and Sheikhan Khel who lived in Painda, Lalma and Barazinaka. The Ismail Khel subdivisions are noted as Tar Khel, Pahar Khel and Daulat KheI and are settled in Lwara Miana, Murdadand, Sara Kili, Shahidmiana, Tartara, Taoda Oba and Jawara Miana. In total, they occupy the villages of Shahid Miana, Zwara Miana, Lwara Miana, Kambela and Zmakabara Srah Kili. They also live in Saprf in the Mohmand hills in the Sasobi valley. The Mullagoris are a brave tribe and reputed for their courage. The famous Warsak Dam and the Shahid Miana Marble is known for its quality worldwide. Late Khan Bahadur Malik Adam Khan was an important personality of this tribe.
The Shilmani tribe is settled in the North of Khyber Pass and an important Dabor route passes through their area from Shahid Miana to Landikotal. According to Roshan Khan (Tazkira, P-379, 5th Ed, 1987), the Shilmanis and Besuds lived in the northern Syria. Shilam is the name of a mountain in area near Lebanon. He writes that according to Tarikh-e-Sham (Syria), the Banu Bakht owned Jagirs in Shilman, Besud and Einab areas of Syria. The Shilmanis and Besuds retained their name while they shifted to Khurasan and beyond. Saida Khan Shinwari gives their divisions as Shamsher Khel, Halimzai and Kam Shilmanis and considers them to be Mohmands. He states that Shamsher Khels are related to Morcha Khel Mohmands, Halimzai to Halimzai Mohmands and Kam Shilmanis to Tarakzai Mohmands. Officially the Shilmanis are treated as a separate tribe since the Khyber Agreement of 1881. The Shilmanis are closer to Mohmands in characteristics and based on historical evidence they appear to be close kinsmen of the Mohmands.
CONCLUSION
The Khyber Agency has three important routes. The Bara route towards Tirah is controlled by the Afridis, the Khyber Pass is inhabited by the Afridis and Shinwaris while the alternative route (Dabar route) held by Mullagoris and Shilmanis. Together, the four tribes give a fascinating colour to the cultural mosaic of the Khyber Agency. There exists a genuine need for local researchers and anthropologists to put in sustained concerted endeavours for the preservation of their historical heritage for posterity.
BIBLIOGRAPHY --- The Shinwaris of Khyber
Published in The Frontier Post, Peshawar, 29 & 30 October, 1991