Marwat

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Marwat مروت, a well known branch of Pashtun tribe, are the direct descendents of a Persian Prince Shah Hussain of the house of Ghor (Afghanistan) and Bibi Mato (Daughter of Sheikh Baittan). The clan is named after 'Marwat', who was the great grandson of Ibrahim Lodhi or Lodi (second son of Prince Shah Hussain/Bib Mato and younger brother of Ghiji or Ghilzai). Their primary abode is District Lakki Marwat in the southern NWFP of Pakistan. They are also settled in other places such as Tank and Dera Ismail Khan districts. Other tribes which live around them are Khattak, Wazir, Betani, Mahsud, Banuchi, and Niazi.

Contents 1 Origin Of Marwat 2 Baittan Baba and Prince Shah Hussain 3 Bibi Matto 4 Exodus from Katawaz 5 Arrival Period 6 Occupation of Lakki Marwat 7 Disunity and Division 8 The People 9 Notable Marwats 10 Sources 11 References

[edit] Origin Of Marwat

Most of the Pashtoons trace their origin from Qais. It is said that he had gone to Makkah where Muhammad gave him the name of Abdur Rashid. Due to his piety, decency, wit and wisdom he was widely known and respected in the area. Abdur Rashid (Qais) had three sons. Named Baittan, Ghorghust and Sarban. Baittan was the third. Most of the Pashtuns tribes trace their origin from Sheikh Baittan or Bait Baba.

However, some scholars challenge his theory. Bahadur Shah Zafar Kaka Khel, A renowned historian has discussed in detail various theories in his voluminous book "Pukhtane Da Tareekh Pa Rana ke" (Pakhtoons in Historical Perspective). Syed Awar-e-Haq Jeelani has translated his work in Urdu under the title of "Pushtun Tareekh Kay Ayeenay Main" (Peshawar, University Book Agency, 1964).

Some theoreticians consider that before the coming down of the Saka tribes of Aryans from the Central Asia, people were already living in the area now called Afghanistan. Those people were skilled in fighting and diplomacy that compelled the invaders to mention them in their epics.

[edit] Baittan Baba and Prince Shah Hussain

Baittan baba was a puritan and pious saint of this region. His daughter, named Matto, was married to one Syed Shah Hussain, known as a prince of Persia. In a state of distress, Shah Hussain came to seek the blessing of Baittan Baba. Here, he took to worship and prayers and earned the favour of his mentor. The marriage of Shah Hussain and Matto generated some romantic stories. The oft-repeated story says;

"A Persian prince, Shah Hussain, on account of intense penury and indigence, was driven to the necessity of seeking succour from Bait Baba. He also remained engaged in singing hymns and worship. Finally, he was enamoured of the beautiful tresses of a beautiful maiden, the daughter of the Bait Baba. He fell deeply in love with the Baba’s daughter, captivating belle. Bulk of work of piety did not thwart the emotions of love to avoid the scandal of their secret marriage. The first issue of Bibi Matto was named as Ghalzae, the thief son, and the other was named Ibrahim Lodhi."

"One day, Ibrahim brought meal to his grand father, Baittan, who was so pleased that he uttered these words for him "loe-day" (he is a great one). This word later on became on Lodhi."

Shah Hussain had another wife; name Mahi. She was the daughter of Kaaghdoam who was a Karlanee Pashtoon. The offspring of these two (Mahi and Matto) were known as Mathi tribes. Some other scholars believe that the name of the tribes became popular after the name of Bibi Matto.

Shah Hussain, a Persian Prince, was a Syed. Due to the atrocious attitude of the Umayyad and Abbasid dynasties, many Syed families immigrated and settled in Persia and Khurasan (other parts of Afghanistan). On account of the defaulting attitude of the rulers towards the Sadat, the puritans kept their identity secret. It is just possible that predecessors of Shah Hussain, although Syed they were, might have arrogated for themselves the status of “Princes' of Persia”. But in common parlance, Pukhtuns call a Syed as Bacha or Shahji (king) owing to deference.

[edit] Bibi Matto

Bibi Matto had six sons. Amongst them, Ghalzai and Ibrahim Lodhi became more famous. Their genealogical tree shows that Ibrahim Lodhi had three sons; each founding a sub tribe after his respective name. Among those sub tribes, the Lohani became more famous. Marwats are descendants of the Lohani sub tribe. They are subdivided into four clans (also known as Khels) known as Salars, Tappay, Mussa and Nuna.

Some writers reject this theory and try to malign the pious person of Baittan Baba. Raverty leads the Group that has spared no chance to sling mud on this noble personality. Disparagement of such a pious man in fabulous stories is highly objectionable and does not appeal to the sound mind. The romantic story of Shah Hussain and Bibi Matto is a creative ingenuity. Shah Hussain was allowed to live in the house of Baittan. He won the heart of his host who felt strong desire to give daughter’s hand in marriage to him.

The Marwats form one of the four Great sub-tribes of the Lohani tribes and are also known as Speen Lohani (white Lohanis). However, it is evident that the Marwat and the rest of Baittan tribes are the combination of the three best ancestries of Asia. In their veins, flows the Persian, the Israeli and Turkish Blood. The history of the Marwat tribe is old, interesting and revealing. The recent research in the field highlights a fascinating story of this tribe, The Lineage of this tribe goes back to the Pre-Islamic era.

Following interpretations have been made in this connection by Dr Chiragh Hussain in his book Dood-e-Chiragh:

1. The predecessor or the ancestor of the Marwat was named as Marwat.
2. There is a hill in Katwaz. Afghanistan, which is called Marwati. The Marwat tribe formerly inhabited there, and so they were named Marwat.
3. The word Marwat is derived from Arabic word “Murrawat”, which means compassion, generosity and manliness. This really reflects and interprets the word Marwat on account of their moral values, habits, social contacts and hospitality even to day. In the past, the Aryan Chiefs took oath in the name of the Marwat tribe’s modesty, when they were sworn as leaders of their tribe’s.
4. The modern Western historians are of the view that all these old names are of geographical importance. For instance, Bait is the center of river Dajla and Farrat, and Haroot and Maroot are the names of two tribes. They were famous in the past for their purity. In the ancient religious books they have been mentioned in literary and allegorical sense.

[edit] Exodus from Katawaz

The original homeland of the Marwat's was Katawaz, South of Ghazni in Afghanistan. Now the Sulaiman Khel Tribe occupies this land. The Marwats migrated to Daman (present day Tank) and settled in this area. Under the stress of adverse circumstances some of them moved to other lands in the subcontinent.

Writers have expressed different views regarding the exodus of this tribe from Katawaz. One version goes as:

"A petty servant of the Sulaiman Khel tribe abducted a woman form the house of Azad Sultan Khel and sought asylum with the Marwat Tribe; who provided asylum to them under their convention (Nanawati). The Sulaiman Khel demanded extradition and handing over of the culprits, which the Marwat declined as they were bound by traditions to protect the honour and life of refugees under their protection.

On refusal of several requests, the Sulaiman Khel were left with no other option but to attack the Marwats with full force. The Marwat were strong enough to withstand and repulse their initial attack. Then the Sulaiman Khel sought the help of other clans of the Ghilzai tribe, who answered the call positively. The combined force of the Ghilzai clans overpowered the Marwat tribe. To avoid the constant threat from the rival clans, the Marwats decided to migrate to some remote parts. Hence their subsequent migration to the Daman Area."

We cannot ignore the fact that permanent settlement in old days was difficult. The whole tribe travelled and settled at places where better grazing grounds were found. Furthermore, as “might is right” goes, tribes with less fighting strength had to leave the place for stronger invaders. The Marwat, being less in number, migrated to safer places; Hence their migration to the Tank area.

Dr. Syed Chiragh Hussain says, "The early history of the Marwat is cloudy due to non availability of proper record like other Pashtoon tribes. However, in 1451 AD when the Delhi Sultanate was captured by Lodhis, then the trace of the Marwat is to be found in his reign. Bahlol Lodhi’s call for getting land (Jagirs) in Hindustan was warmly received here. Khawas Khan Marwat was one of the famous Generals in Sher Shah Suri’s reign. He had lost his life during the war of succession won by Salim Shah Suri.”

According to an account, the settlement period of the Marwat in the Daman area is probably during the reign of Lodhis. Sir Denzil Ibbitson does not agree to it. In his view the Marwat settled here in the reign of Moghul Emperor Akbar.

However, their stay in the Daman area was not long. They took new feuds on distribution of water with the Raees (Chief) of Tank, Shah Nawaz Khan Katti Khel. The Katti Khels were also their cousins. Marwats came around Tank and were in a position to drive the Katti Khels out of it. However, Shah Nawaz Khan sought help from the Gandapur and Mian Khel families and repulsed the Marwat attack. As a result, they were driven out of Daman and forced to migrate towards the Baeena Pass (Dara Pezu - the current site of Lucky Cement Factory).

Thus for one reason or the other they migrated to Daman and then Pezu via Gomal Pass. “Most of them ultimately settled in Tank with Niazis (also a branch of Lodhi group) who had been in the past driven in the same manner from their original lands”.

[edit] Arrival Period

Mira Jan Sayal writes in his book "Da Pukhtano Qabilo Shajare" that, "The Marwat arrived in this area during the early years of the reign of the Mughal King Akbar (1556-1605). They took advantage of the internal dissension among the Niazis, expelled them from this area and settled on the right bank of river Gambilla. Mayar, a branch of Niazis, sought help from the Marwat against its fellow Niazis Clan, Sarhang. The Marwat attacked the Niazis under Malik Qatal Khan and other Maliks. In a severe battle near Tatti Michan Khel, the Niazis were completely defeated and pushed towards Esa Khel. Among them, only the Michan Khels were spared due to their neutrality and religious position."

With the conquest of such a vast area, the Marwats dropped the idea of taking back Tank form Shah Nawaz Katti Khel, who extended his hand for friendship. This was accepted for the sake of guarding that Frontier.

[edit] Occupation of Lakki Marwat

For some time the Marwats confined themselves to pastoral pursuits. When their number increased, groups of families went out of the close settlement and spread over the vast plain - each within rather undefined limits of the allotment of the section to which it belonged. Such groups in turn became centres from which further migration took place. Thus in course of time the whole plain became populated. A large proportion of the Marwat settled down as agriculturists. Each community cultivated and held its land according to the "Wesh Tenure".

During the Mughal period, the Marwats; being little interrupted by others and being strong and united enough to defy any encroachment by other neighbouring tribes, enjoyed the singular good fortune of being left to themselves, and this developed and worked out their ancient communal institutions.

Meanwhile, the Mughal Empire, which was already on decline received a deathblow as its province on the right bank of the Indus River was conquered by Ahmed Shah Durrani in 1756. The whole territory of the Marwats came under the Kingdom of Afghanistan. It was ruled by the Durani King for more than 70 years; although practically they remained independent. In fact, this area was not regularly occupied because at that time, the Marwats lived a nomadic life. When attacked from any side they would simply migrate towards the hills with all their goods and cattle. During such visitations the material loss was not great, as those who led nomadic pastoral life retired with their flocks and herds into the hills, and those who tilled the soil either remained with the royal revenue collectors or fled to the hills. Thus beyond a partial destruction of his crops, no Marwat lost much as the stay of the Kabul troops was never long and the burning of his house only gave him an extra trouble of procuring a few ox-loads of reeds from the marsh and twigs from the jungle and building a hut of them.

In the words of Ghulam Habib Afghani, for the Marwats, the capturing of such a vast area was greater than their needs and they did not feel sorry for Tank which they had lost earlier. This vastness of land was the reason why there was no internal conflict. But the Niazis and the Ghazni Khel Khattaks from the east, and Kati Khel, Sulaiman Khel Wazir and Mahsoods from the south repeatedly attacked the Marwats. But due to their unity, they succeeded every time to repulse these attacks. They opposed any type of intervention from any tribe till Edward took the whole area under his control for his political objectives.

The Marwats fought almost sixty battles against different tribes for safeguarding their frontiers. Sarfaraz Khan Khattak admits this fact in his book, “Tareekh-e-Khattak”.

[edit] Disunity and Division

Gund bazi (tribal jealousy)

Unluckily this unity could not remain for a long time. The Marwats were divided into two gawands (groups) known as Speen-Gund (the white group) and Tor-Gund (the black group). This division among the Marwats is known as Gund Bazi (internal rivalry). The Speen-Gund includes Mama Khel, Begu Khel, Maidad Khel etc, whereas the Tor Gund includes Isa Khel, Ghazni Khel, Adam Zai, Tatter Khel etc.

Initially all Maliks accepted the eldest man as the leader and considered his decision final and followed that. During the conflicts with Ghiljis, Wazirs, Dawars, Masoods, Niazis and Daulat Khels, decisions were taken by the headman and they were obeyed. However, in the wake of Gund Bazi the Marwat clans split into two groups. The leader of each Gund was supported by the allied Maliks. Basically the Gund Bazi started with a conflict between Begu Khels and Isak Khels. Maidad Khels joined the Begu Khel Gund and Ghazni Khel joined the Isak Khel Gund. Meena Khels held an important position due to their occupation of the Lakki City.

The Gund Bazi started when Salar Khan Maidad Khel; being proud of his Maliki (Chieftancy) tried to destabilize the Maliki of Sikandar Khan Azghar Khel with respect to Lakki City. Sikander Khan along with Sadar Khan Isak Khel attacked Salar Khan near village Dalo Khel (presently located on Tajazai-Lakki Highway). Salar Khan, his two brothers and five other men were killed. As a result of this Gul Rang Khan; son of Saleem Khan Miandad Khel became the Malik. He was bold, courageous and dashing and he fought several battles against the Khattaks.

Another Malik who was aspiring to share the Maliki with Gul Rang Khan was Gulan Khan of Tatter Khel. Gul Rang Khan had him killed on the plea that Gulan Khan showed cowardice during the Khattak campaign. When Almar Khan Isak Khel came to Sardar Samand Khan Begu Khel, he sided with Gulrang Khan. From that time, the Marwat tribe was divided into two groups.

“Any type of attack on one man was considered an attack on the whole Gund and it was responded to by the whole Gund. The whole Gund became a party to the happiness and sadness of a member of his own Gund”.

In the words of Ghulam Habib Afghani, other tribes took great advantage of this disunity because a lot of money and resources were spent on the procurement of weapons. Due to this Gund Bazi, Nawab Hafeez Ahmed Khan of Mankera was invited in 1819 to capture this area and secure taxes. Later on, the Nawab abandoned this area in favour of the Sikhs in 1823.

[edit] The People

Majority of the Marwats reside in and around Lakki Marwat, which had been a Tehsil of District Bannu for more than 132 years but became a district in early nintees of 20th century. A small proportion of other tribes also settled here. The main reason is that the area had remained economically un-developed through the ages and had a little attraction for new settlers.

The people of the Marwat tribe are strong, sturdy, and tall, of very sound physique and fair complexion (many are blonde with either green or blue eyes). About the people of this area Sir Herbert says, “the Marwat descend from the pure and nice generation of the trans-Indus area, tall, stout, handsome, candid with rosy cheeks generally. These entire features are due to their pure and nice Afghan origin and probably this is the reason that they are very dignified and generous and meet the strangers with great courtesy, They are very generous towards their woman folk as compared to the other tribes of Pathans”.

Like other Pashtoons, Marwats are also divided into numerous Khels. The tribe is territorially divided into three great Tappas, viz, Dreplara, Musakhel-cum-Tappi, and Behram (subdivided into minor tappas Umar Khan Khel and Tatezai)

The two branches of Salar, i.e. Khado Khel and Achu Khel, along with Aba Shaheed Khel Sadat family, are known as dreplara. (Children of three parents). According to the distribution of land (Wesh System), Tappa Musa Khel and Noona Khel settled in the western part of Lakki Marwat. Behram in the middle and Dreplara in the eastern part.

Since most of the territory occupied by the Musa Khel (Kot Kashmir, Gandi Khan Khel. Mama Khel, Bayist Khel, Takhti Khel, Bragi, Shatoora), Noona Khel and Tapey is Pakha (solid) area, therefore they are called Pakha Marwat (Solid Marwat). The area occupied by Dreplaree is sandy. Hence they are called Saga Marwat (Sandy Marwat).

Some important Khels are:

1. Musa Khel with sections Takhti Khel, Januzai and Pasanni

2. Achu Khel with sections Begu Khel, Isak Khel, and Ahmad Khel

3. Khadu Khel with sections Sikandar Khel, and Mammu Khel

4. Nawab Khel with Nar Muzzafar Khan

5. Bahram Khel with sections Umar Khan Khel and Totezai; the latter with sub-sections Tajazai, Dilkhozai, Ghazni Khel, and lastly Tappi.

6. Mina Khel who live in the heart of the city with a strong hold.

They speak softer Pashto which is very simlar to the Pashto spoken in Qandahar (Afghanistan) and Quetta (Pakistan).

[edit] Notable Marwats

Politics

• Khan Habibullah Khan was a Mina Khel by origin, who remained Chief Justice of West Pakistan, first & second Chairman of the Senate of Pakistan, Pakistan's Interior Minister and also Chief Minister of West Pakistan (One Unit).
• Anwar Saifullah Khan is a Ghazni Khel by origin and a former Federal Minister.
• Salim Saifullah Khan is a Ghazni Khel by Origin and a current Senator as well as Federal Minister. Salim is also a former Fderal as well as a Provincial Minister.
• Kabir Khan is an Ahmad Khel by origin and a former Member of National Assembly.
• Humayun Saifullah Khan is a Ghazni Khel by origin and a former Provincial Minister as well as Current Nazim of District Lakki Marwat.
• Anwar Kamal Khan is a Mina Khel by origin and a current Member of Provincial Assembly as well as a former Provincial Minister and Senator.
• Naseer Muhammad Khan is a Maidadkhel by origin and a former Member Provincial Assembly.
• Irfanullah Khan Marwat is a Current Provincial Minister in Sind Province.
• Mir Nawaz Khan Marwat is a former Federal Minister.

Civil Services

• Shah Nawaz Khan was a Mina Khel by origin, who remained Chief Justice of NWFP and also remained the Judge Supreme Court of Pakistan.
• Akhtar Munir Khan, a Retired Captain of Pakistan Army, is currently working as an Additional Secretary to the Government of Pakistan.
• Abeedullah Jan Khan is a former Inspector General of Forests and a former Provincial Minister.
• Kalim Dil Khan is a former Chairman of Pakistan Narcotics Control Board and a former member of Federal Public Services Commission (FPSC), Pakistan.
• Dil Jan Khan is a Begu Khel by origin. He has formerly worked as Inspector General of Police, as a Federal Additional Secertary, and as President of INCB at United Nations.

Business

• Zain-ul-Abiddin or Zulabi is a national transport tycoon.
• Javed Saifullah Khan is a Ghazni Khel by origin and national telecommunication tycoon.

Academia

• Sherin Jan Khan is a Begu Khel by origin and a former Provincial Director of Education.
• Dr. Fazlur Rahim Marwat is a current Professor at University of Peshawar.

Arts & Literature

• Abdur Rahim Majzoob is from Nar Sahibdad (Sarai Naurang) and is commonly known as the Wordsworth of Pashto Language.
• Ahmad Jan Ahmad is a Langer Khel by origin and has contributed a lot towards Pashto Poetry.
• Khurshid Marwat is a Begu Khel by origin and is the only Marwat who has a published collection of English Poetry. Khurshid was also the first Marwat to write a TV Play for Pakistan Television.
• Afgar Bughari is a well known Pashto song writer and has been extensively sung by Khial Muhammad and Damsaz Marwat.

[edit] Sources

1. 'Lakki Marwat History'
2. 'Family Tree of Marwats'

[edit] References

• Shah Sawar Marwat, "Da Marwato Tareekh", unpublished.
• Fazl-ur-Rahim Marwat, (Introduction) Marwat Students Union, University of Peshawar
• Daily: The Mashriq, Peshawar. 14 January 1993.
• Dr Sher Zaman Taizi, Nara Zheba (The Virile Language), (Pabbi, Kamil Pukhto Adabi Jirgah Pabo Seema)
• Olaf Caroe, The Pathans 1550 BC – 1957, (London, MacMilan, NY, 1958)
• Tuffail Ahmad Khan, Bannu Tareekh Kay Ayeenay Main, (Tahi Kulachni Publishers, 1979)
• Insaf, Weekly Magazine (Urdu), Peshawar. 11 July 1955
• Ghulam Habib Afghani, Marwat and native Tribes, Vol II (unpublished)
• Gul Ayub Saifi, Bannu Au Da Waziristan Tareekh, (Bannu, Nazir Medical Store, Lakki Gate. 1969)
• Haim, Haim’s One-Volume Persian- English Dictionary. (Tehran, Farhang Moaser, 1983)
• Dr Syed Chiragh Hussain, Dood-e-Chiragh. (DI Khan. Ishrat Art Press. 1980)
• Parvez Ahmad Khan, The Bannu Valley, (Pakistan Study Centre, University of Peshawar, 1987)
• Syed Bahadur Shah Zafar Kaka Khel, Pashtun Tareekh Kay Ayeenay Main (Translation from Pashto by Syed Anwarul Haq Jeelani). (Peshawar. University Book Agency. 1964)
• Sir Denzil Ibbitson, Lesser Known Tribes of NWFP; India and Pakistan, Vol 11. (Delhi Ammar Prakshan. 1992)
• M.J. Siyal Mohmand, Da Pukhtano Da Qabilo Shajare. (Peshawar. University book Agency, 1986)
• Govt of NWFP. Gazetteer of Bannu District (1883-84). (Lahore. Sang-e-Meel. 1989)