Hassanzai

The Hassanzai is a Pakhtoon/Pashtoon/Pathan tribe. It is one of the division of Isazai clan of the Yousafzai tribe. Colonel H. C. Wylly (1858–1932) described the Hassanzai with the following sentence:[1]

The Yousafzai is an agriculturist, generally fine, well-limbed man, of a good physique and appearance with great deal of race-pride, well dressed and cheery, while his hospitality is proverbial.

Origin

The Hassanzais are amongst The Black Mountain (Tor Ghar) Tribes; a division of the Isazai clan of the Yousafzai tribe.[2] They are the descendants of Hassan the son of Isa (Isazai) and the grandson of Yusaf/Yousaf/(Yousafzai). The Hassanzais are further divided into following ten Sections:[3][4]

The Sections

Sub Clan Section  
Hassanzai Khan Khel
  Kotwal
  Zakaria Khel
  Mir Ahmad Khel
  Lughman Khel
  Kaka Khel
  Dada Khel
  Mamu Khel
  Nanu Khel
  Nasrat Khel

Demographics

The Hassanzais live on either side of the Indus; those cis-Indus occupy the most southern portion of the western slopes of Tor Ghar, while those trans-Indus live immediately opposite to them. The Hassanzai area is bounded on the north and east by the Akazais, on the west by the Indus,and on the south the Hassanzai border adjoins the territory of Tanawal, the former state of Amb.[5]

Culture and traditions

Like all other Pashtoons, Hassanzais have maintained their cultural identity and individuality. They lead their lives strictly in accordance with code of ethics of Pashtoonwali which comprises Manliness, Goodness, Gallantery, Loyalty and Modesty. Hassanzais have also maintained the Pashtoon customs of Jirga (Consultative Assembly), Nanawati (Delegation pleading guilty), Hujhra (Large drawing room) and Melmasteya (Hospitality).[6]

Fighting against the British

The Black Mountain (Tor Ghar) Tribes had never been under the British Rule. Hassanzais along with Akazais had been actively involved in fighting with British for quite some time. Brief account of the Briitish Expeditions against The Black Mountain (Tor Ghar) Tribes is as under:-[7][8]

References

  1. H.C. Wylly (1912). "From the Black Mountain to Waziristan". London, Macmillan. p. 56.
  2. Compiled by H. A. Rose. Glossary of the Tribes and Castes of the Punjab and N.W.F.Province. p. 10.https://archive.org/details/glossaryoftribes03rose
  3. J. Wolfe Murray. A Dictionary of the Pathan Tribes on the North-west Frontier of India.https://archive.org/details/adictionarypath00brangoog
  4. Compiled by the Intelligence Branch, Division of the Chief of Army Staff, Army Headquarters India. Frontier and Overseas Expeditions from India. Vol I. Chapter III and IV.https://archive.org/details/frontieroverseas01indi
  5. Wylly H.C. From the Black Mountain to Waziristan, Chapter - II pges (24 -53).https://archive.org/details/fromblackmountai00wyll
  6. Surinder Singh and Ishwar Dayal Gaur. Popular Literature and Pre-Modern Societies in South ASia. p. 336.http://books.google.com/books?id=QVA0JAzQJkYC&pg=PA336&dq=pushtoonwali
  7. Compiled by the Intelligence Branch, Division of the Chief of Army Staff, Army Headquarters India. Frontier and Overseas Expeditions from India. Vol I. Chapter III and IV https://archive.org/details/frontieroverseas01indi
  8. Wylly H.C. From the Black Mountain to Waziristan, Chapter-II pages (24-53).https://archive.org/details/fromblackmountai00wyll
  9. Raugh, Harold E. The Victorians at War, 1815-1914: An Encyclopedia of British Military History. Santa Barbara: ABC-CLIO, 2004, pp. 163-164, ISBN 978-1-57607-925-6.
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