Pathans of Uttar Pradesh

In neighbouring Muzaffarnagar District, the Pathan settlements are found mainly in a tract between the Hindan and Kali rivers, there is a cluster of villagers known as the Bara Basti. These Pathan are for the most part belong to the Daudzai(yadgare salf) and Lodi tribes. Further west, the Kakar of what is known as the Bawan Basti were at one time substantial landowners. They are of the same stock as the Kakar of Deoband tehsil in neighbouring Saharanpur District. There is also a settlement of Yousufzais north of the town of Thana Bhawan, who were settled by the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb to control the turbulent Ranghars of the region. Their main settlement is the village of Jalalabad.[6]

In Meerut District, including Baghpat, the Pathan are found throughout these two districts. They belong for the most part to the Yousafzai and Ghauri tribe. The city of Meerut has been said to be the earliest settlement of the Pashtuns in North India, and the Ghauri have been settled for at least eight hundred years. Other Pathan tribes in the district include the Kakar, Bangash, Tareen and Afridi.[7]

The district of Bulandshahr is home to a number of important Pathan colonies. Perhaps the most important settlement is that of the city of Khurja. The Kheshgis of Khurja were brought over from Kasur in Punjab by Firuz Shah Tughlaq and small Community of Ibrahimkhel also settle in Bulandshahr city. They are often referred to as Kasuria, on account of that being their original settlement in India. There also exists a Barabasti, or twelve towns of Daudzai Pathans near the banks of the Ganges. These Pathans are connected through marriage with the larger Pathan settlement in Rohilkhand, across the river. The Pathans of Malakpur, who are Yousafzai were settled their by the Emperor Akbar.

The Pathans in Aligarh District belong to a number of clans, perhaps the most important from a historic point are the Sherwani of Bhikampur and Datawali, in Aligarh tehsil. These Sherwani were substantial landowners, and were practically independent rulers in the period between the collapse of Mughal power and the rise of the British. Their oldest settlement is at Jalali, which contains several families of Lodis and Ghoris. The Popolzai Durani of the village of Barla were settled their by Ahmed Shah Abdali. In the city of Aligarh, there are settlements of Yousafzais and Mohammadzais. Other Pathan settlements include the Lodis in Sikandra Rao, the Afridis in Khair and the Ghoris in Atrauli.[8]

The most important Pathan colonies in the Doab are that of Aliganj and Kasganj, both in Etah District. These Pathans belong mainly to the Lodi tribe, but there are also important settlements of Ghoris, Mohammadzais and Yousafzais. Both the settlements of Aliganj and Kasganj were founded by a Yaqut Khan. Yaqut Khan is said to have invited Pathans to settle in these two towns. A further settlement was founded at Kadirganj and Sajawar. Most of the early settlers belonged to the Lodi tribe, who still form the largest sub-group. In addition to these settlements, Bhai Khan who links to the toia khel[9] founded the village of Saraiaghat, which still remains a settlement of Danish khan Pathan.[10]

The Pathans of Farrukhabad region basically belongs to The Mughal dinesty, these mughals of UP are an endogamous community, marrying within their own community, or in communities of a similar status such as the Pathan and Muslim Rajput. The district of Farrukhabad was the centre of the Bangash kingdom, and as such home to a large settlement of Afridi Pathans, Gaziuddin khan belongs to the same family. Important settlement in the district include town of Qaimganj, and the villages of Pitaura, Kuberpur, Subhanpur, Gulami, Gadhi Izzat Khan, Gadhi Noor Khan, Nagla Daood Sarai, Chalaul, Lalbagh, kalakhail Pahadi saitpur and Ataipur Jadid. Most of the Pathan belong to the Bangash tribe, with smaller numbers of Ghauri, Khattak and Yousafzai.[11]

The name "Barabasti" is derived from the term "Barah Basti", 12 villages and town of Pathans which in Hindustani means "twelve settlements". The twelve villages, now under the districts of Bulandshahr, Ghaziabad and Amroha, are: Giroura , Basi, Bugrasi, Chandiyana, Gesupur, Barwala, Umarpur, Sherpur, Bahadurgarh, Hasanpur, Buklana, Mohammadpur Shahjahanpur it is noted for its relatively large Pathan population.

Here is a list of the major tribes, tabulated for 1891 Census of India.[12]

NOTES:

¹ The Baqarzai are sub-clan of the Durrani tribe

² The Bunerwal are Qazi, and originate in the Buner District, and the word Bunerwal literally means an inhabitant of Buner. Most Bunerwal are Mandanr Yousafzai

³ The Urmuz are a sub-tribe of the Afridis

⁴ The Warakzai or Barakzai are largest sub-division of the Durrani confederacy.

The district of Lucknow is a home to a number of Pathan communities, most found in towns referred to locally as qasbas, such as Malihabad. In the city of Lucknow, there are communities of Mohmands, Shinwari, Yousafzais, Lodi, Bangash and Ghori pathans. While in the district, the Pathans are found mainly in the qasbas of Malihabad, Mirzaganj, Bhaktiyarnagar, Khalispur, Malakpur Badi Garhi, Rasoolpur and Garhi Sanjar Khan. Unlike other Uttar Pradesh Pathans, a significant number are Shia Muslims. Among the oldest settlers are the Bazid Khel Pathans of Jowaki Division of Adam Khel clan who are an Afridi tribe from Kohat mentioned in several historical records including the Gazetteer of the Kohat District, published in 1883-84.[14]

The Garhi Sanjar Pathans belong to the Amazai clan of the Jadoon tribe. They claim descent from Daler Khan Amazai, who arrived in Awadh in 1656. Daler Khan, also known as Jalal Khan Jadoon, was appointed governor of Awadh. Daler Khan brought with him two brothers, Kawal Khan and Khan Bahadur Khan. They settled initially in Bulakinager, while the son of Khan Bahadur Khan, Sarmast Khan founded the settlement of Garhi Sanjar Khan. The Jadoons are now found mainly in Bulakanagar, Bhakitiyarnagar, and Garhu Sanjar Khan.[15]

The Malihabad Pathan belong mainly to the Jowaki Khel Afridis and Shinwari tribe, and were settled in the district during the rule of Nawab Shuja-ud-Daula. Their ancestor was Faqir Mohammad Khan, who sought service under the Nawabs of Awadh. He brought with him members of his tribe, and they now form an important element in Malihabad's Muslim population.

The Hotakis of Khalispur claim descent from Yousaf Khan Qandhahari, who settled during the rule of Shuja-ud-Daula., who was the grandson of Yahiya khan which was the real brother of king of Afghnistan Mir Wais Hotak and Yusuf Khan was the real son-in-law of Mir Wais Hotak. Yusuf Khan was granted the village of Khalispur as an jagir. He is said to have brought his kinsmen from present Afghanistan, and village now contains a large settlement of Duranis.[15]

In neighbouring Barabanki district, the town of Fatehpur is also an important centre of the Pathans in Awadh. The town was founded by a Fateh Khan, who was a Pathan, in 1321. As a frontier settlement, with the countryside still held by Hindu chiefs, Fateh Khan established a colony of Pathans. They belong mainly to the Yousafzai and Lodi tribes. In addition to the Fatehpur Pathans, there are also settlements in Ramsanehighat tehsil, belonging mainly to the Afridi and Shinwari tribe.[16]

In Saidpur District there is a lot of Pathan in Saipur Rudauli, there is a mohalla named Pathan Tola. the famous Pathan of Saipur Ruaduli Mohammed Puttu Khan.

The other important Pathan settlement in Awadh is that of Bahraich and Balrampur districts. This arose out of the fact that this area was home to the Nanpara and Utraula principalities, both of which are now situated in Balrampur District and Siddharthnagar District, which is the centre of the largest Pathan settlement outside Rohilkhand. Both these was found at height of their powers controlled most of the districts from the 17th to the early 19th Century. The Nanpara principality was founded by a Rasul Khan, an Afghan, was appointed keeper of the fort at Bahraich in 1637. He was also granted five villages as jagir, and these five villages formed the core of what was to become the Nanpara Estate. His descendant, Karam Khan taking advantage of the collapse of Mughal authority in the early 18th Century, extended his rule over pretty much the entire district. During this period, several Pathan families settled in the district. The present Pathan population include the Kakar, and some of Ghazali they are also known as Ghazni Patahns, found mainly in Nanpara, now in Balrampur District and adjoining villages, Mohammadzais mainly in Fakhrpur, Afridi, Shinwari, Dilazak and Bangash, all in Bahraich.[17]

The principality of Utraula was founded by Ahmad Khan Kakar, who established a base initially in Gonda, and Basti (a Pindari estate). His son Ali Khan Kakar seized Utraula, from the Gautam Rajputs, and founded the principality Utraula, now in the Balrampur District, and is home to large colony of Kakar Pathans. There are also important settlements of Ghauri and Yousafzai Pathans in the district.[18]

NOTES:

¹ The Baqarzai are sub-clan of the Durrani tribe

² The Bunerwal are Yousafzai, and originate in the Buner District, and the word Bunerwal literally means an inhabitant of Buner. Most Bunerwal are Mandanr Yousafzais

³ The Urmuz are a sub-tribe of the Afridis

⁴ The Warakzai or Barakzai are largest sub-division of the Durrani confederacy.

⁵ The lodhi Section comprise on all Lodhi sub-sections included ShahuKhel, Daulat Khel Niazi, Marwat and other Nohani/Lohani.