Swati (Pashtun tribe)

Swatis (Urdu: سواتی, Pashto: سواتیان) is a Pashtun tribe mostly inhabiting the Hazara District of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province in Pakistan.[1] They are mostly agriculturist and are the biggest land owning tribe in Mansehra and Batagram Districts (Feudal Tanawal excluded).[2] Swatis are divided into four major tribal clans: Gabri (گبری),[3] Mitravi (متراوی),[4] Mumyaali (ممیالی) and Toar (ٹوڑ). Majority of them speak Pashto, but in towns like Mansehra, Balakot, Naran, Kaghan and Garhi Habibullah they also speak hindko. Their code of conduct and customs are Pashtunwali, they call it Swatiwali. Swatis are sometimes referred to as Suwadis and Servatis. Most of them are orthodox Muslims since Ghaznavid times and staunchly follow Hanafi school of Islamic jurisprudence. [5]

According to the 1911 Census Report, the tribe was counted as 33,000 individuals in Hazara District alone, excluding the Independent Territory of Battagram, then known as Hazara Agency.[6]

Subsections and their locations

Swatis had the following subsections, holding land share given against each (in British territory only prior to Independence of Pakistan):

  1. Khankhel (1) Nimakai land collectively in areas of Garhi Habibullah, Mansehra and Bherkund.[7]
  2. Sarkheli (2) Nimakai land collectively in areas Baffa, Balakot and Shinkiari.
  3. Mirs including (a) Dodaal (1) Nimakai collectively in areas Shinkiari, Kaghan, Balakot and Bhogarmang (b) Panjghol (1) Nimakai collectively in areas Shinkiari and Kaghan (c) Panjmiraal (1) Nimakai in area Shinkiari.[8]
  4. Deshraaes including (a) Jahangiri (1) Nimakai collectively in areas Mansehra and Bhogarmang (b) Arghushaals/Malakaals (1) Nimakai collectively in areas Shinkiari and Kaghan.(c) Iznaali/Mandravi (1) Nimakai in area Konsh.[8]
  1. Ali Sheris (3) Nimakais collectively in the areas of Sherpur, Malakpur, Gidarpur, Tarihya. This tribe is further divided into (a) Khankhel Balasuri (unrelated to Khankhels of Garhi Habibullah) (b) Jalangiaal (c) Ranisiaal.
  2. Beegaal (3) Nimakais in the area of Agror. This tribe is further subdivided into (a) Shamkori (b) Chojayee.[8]
  • Mumyaali (6) Nimakais collectively in areas of Trangi Sabir Shah, Khaki, Gulibagh, Nakot and Tikri. This tribe is further divided into (a) Sharor (b) Rabati (c) Panjkora (d) Shilmani (e) Ashlor (f) Naror (g) Toor Malakaal (h) Deshaan.[8]
  • Toar is the tribe that was located in then Independent Territory, now mostly under Battagram district. Therefore, it was not surveyed in 1872.[8]

References
  1. Raverty H.G (1888). Notes on Baluchistan and Afghanistan:. Eyre And Spottiswoode, London. pp. 51, 52, 117.
  2. Mountstuart Elphinstone (1843). An Account of the Kingdom of Caubul:. Richard Bentley. pp. 415–417. The author has mentioned Swatis and Shilmani Dehqan, his contact with Swati Dehqan at Afghanistan. He has mentioned also Gabri and Laghmani languages offshoots of Dari being spoken in Kabul.
  3. Mansour Shaki (2000). Gabri:. Encyclopædia Iranica.
  4. Roger Beck (2002). Mitravi:. Encyclopædia Iranica.
  5. Bernard Dorn (1829) History of Afghans. Part II. p. 131
  6. "North-West Frontier Province". Census of India 1911, Vol. 13
  7. Nimakai is a Pushto / Dari word derived from nim figuratively meaning share
  8. E G. Wace (1876) Report of the land revenue settlement of the Hazara district of the Punjab.

Further reading
  • Baburnama by Emperor Zaheeruddin Babar translated by Beveridge, Annette Susannah, 1842-1929. A detailed version of Mir Haidar Ali Gabri Swati of Bajawar, Sultan Awais Swati and Sultan Aliuddin Swati.
  • Tajik Swati and Gabr by Prof. Akhtar
  • Story of Swat as told by Miangul Abdul Wadood Badshah by Asif Khan. History of Swati Tribe and Swat at general.
  • Ethnogenesis and History of Swatis by Arif Hasan
  • Imperial Gazetteer of India P 319
  • History of the Pathans Vol. III by Brig. Haroon Rashid (R).
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