DARRA ADAM KHEL PAST AND PRESENT

   Written & Researched By:

Muhammad Abbas Khan Afridi

Designed By:

 Mirnawaz Khan Afridi

IN THE NAME OF

ALLAH

THE MOST BENEFICENT THE MOST MERCIFUL

And he is alone the Helper

    The history of the tribal areas is full of adventure and historic romance and it has, therefore, attracted the attention of British administrators, researchers and historians. As a resident of Dara Adam Khel, I deemed it my duty to write about my area and people and thus the idea was  conceived to explore the undiscovered Dara And give it expression in the form of the present work. Dara (Pass) or Kohat Pass is not only an important link between  Peshawar and Kohat, it is also famous  for its arms industry. This industry has won a name and fame for the Adam Khel Affridies, and besides foreign tourists, hundreds of people visit Dara (Pass) daily to buy the indigenious copies of the world's best known weapons including rifles, revolvers, pistols and all sort of automatic weapons. An effort has been made to trace the origin of this industry in Dara (Pass), its gradual development and the British Government's efforts stifle this indigenous industry which was the major source of arming the tribals against the British.

    Besides arms indust ry, an attempt has been made to trace the origin of the Afridies in general and Adam Khel Afridies in particular; their peculiar characteristics, customs and traditions to get her with leading personalities of Dar ra Adam Khel including Ajab Khan Afridi, the her o of Miss Ellis drama on the frontier together with multi lingual poet, Qasim Ali Khan Afridi, who belonged to Akhor, Dara Adam Khel.

    This work is based mostly on unpublished sources and restricted material, Monographs and books which could only be consulted by British officers such as 'Notes on Adam Khel afridies , and confidential works such as "A Collection of Treaties, Sands and Engagements by C.U Aitchison and Gazetteers of ALE Holmes and Col. C-M MacGregor,. In addition to this, all available material on Dara Adam Khel, in files preserved in the Directorate of Archives Peshawar and Tribal Research Cell, Home Department Peshawar has been consulted.

LAND AND PEOPLE

    Afridi is a large tribe of the Pakhtoons which inhabits the lower and Eastern most spurs of the Sufed Koh range, to the west and south of the Peshawar District, including Maidan in Tirah and the valleys of the Bara and Churah. To their east, they are bounded by the Khattaks of A kora and the Mohmand and Khalil divisions of the Peshawar Districts. In the north they are flanked by Mohmands and in the west by Chamkanis and Shinwaris. On their south is the Orakzais  Agency.

    The origin of  this tribe, owing to want of written record is obscure. "Their traditional records," says James, would lead us to believe that in common with other Pathan tribes, they are the descendants of Khalid-ibn-Walid, a Jew who embraced Islam. During the reign of Mahmud of Ghazana, a chief by the name of Afridi, owing to his feuds, was obliged to fly from his country in Afghanistan and seek refuge with a kindred spirit, by name of Wazir, in the wilds of Sheratala. Here he seems to have settled and remained with his family for considerable time.

     Similarly Turner Says that;

           "Afridi an individual of unknown country and parentage, came to Ghor, and there had an intrigue with a woman of the Karari tribe, the eventual results of which was the tribe of Afridies."

    H.W . Bellew gives some what different account. He says,

        "The Afridies are without doubt the same Aparyata of Herodotus; both name and the positions are identically the same."

     Another legend says that in ancient  times a Governor of the province of Peshawar summoned some members of the Afridies to his 'Darbar' or court of  audience.  One of them, with native self possession and independence, took his seat at the entrance to the Darbar, and as the Governor stopped, and asked him who he was ? Zah sok yam? ("who am  I?") H e replied with stolid indifference, Zah hum Afrida yam........"I am also a creature of God." In the Persian  language Afridia means "a created being. " From this circumstance the tribe received the name of Afridi.

     Hayat Khan, the author of Hayat-e-Afghani considers Afrid as the grand son of Karlan's younger son Usman, nick named Afrida. A story as to how he derived this name is told as follows:

GENEALOGICAL TABLE OF THE AFRIDIES

ULA

CHARACTERISTICS OF THE AFRIDIES

       Afridies have been painted in different colours by their detractors and admirers. H.W. Belloew says that;

               "His manliness is at once apparent, and his proverbial hospitality,courtesy, courage, cheerfulness and loyalty makes him an excellent companion, and a valuable soldier and entitle him to respect and admiration."

          In general, Afridies are tall, athletic, hardy and capable of great endurance. In the rank of British Army, however, improved by discipline and emulation, they have often shown the best qualities of a soldier. In warfare, unless thoroughly humbled or convinced of the advantages of peace, they never omit to follow up a retiring enemy.

          Some writers have described Afridies as the best specimen of the Pakhtoons. Tall, with handsome features, robust and strong body, fair complexion, eagle eyes, dressed in khaki colour. The young boys like wearing colourful waistcoats and silk turbans, and the women like colourful wax-work shirts and printed with flower dupattas (head scarf).

          ADAM KHEL AFRIDIS AND THEIR SUB-DIVISIONS

Physical Feature of Adam Khel Territory:           

          Dara Adam Khel is a land of rugged mountains rising in some cases to an elevation of 6500 feet. The hills are sparsely wooded with growth of shrubs and stunted trees, chiefly the ilex oak, wild olive, palosin (Kikar) and thorny bushes known as the gorgoora. In good seasons there is also an abundance of grass in these hills which is mostly cut and stacked fore sale. The land is dependent for its cultivation entirely on the rainfall. Wheat and maize are its common crops. The produce of these fields is as a rule kept for home consumption and is rarely sold in the market. The climatic conditions of Dara Adam Khel varies from extreme cold in winter to sultry hot in summer.

Sectional Responsibility on the Road:

The responsibility for the safety of the road was divided as follows:

          Sherakki and Bosti Khel sections were responsible from the Kotal as far as Sanda Basta. The Tor Sapar clan was responsible from Sanda Basta to Shahida Talao. They were origninally responsible upto a point called Gatossai.  

          Zarghun Khels were responsible from Shahida Talao to Palosin and Akhorwals from Palosin to AAimal Chbutra.  The Torsaparis who had no land and villages near the pass used to relegate a share of their responsibility for offences committed on the bit of road to the Zarghun Khels to whom they used to pay Rs. 80 per annum as chaukidari. This chaukidari (protection of the kohat pass road) allowance to the Zarghun Khels carried the condition that if the road for which it was paid was violated, this amount would first be utilized towards the payment of compensation decreed in favour of an injured person. If the amount assessed was in excess of this amount, it came out of the Tor Sapar allowances. In the settlements between themselves which followed the acceptance by the Afridis of the construction of a good military road, the Zarghun Khels agreed in the future to forego this chaukidari allowance of Rs. 80 per annum.

          The following is a brief account of the different sections responsibilities of the Kohat pass road.

Bosti Khel:

          This section lives at the western head of the valley. In all matters Bosti Khel had an equal share with Sherakkis, the two sections being the descendants of two brothers. The Bosti Khels   received a total subsidy of Rs. 1215 per annum in 1901 including the amount added on account of the construction of a good military road through the Kohat pass.

Sherakki:

          The Sherakkis, as mentioned above, are closely connected with the Bosti Khel. They received an annual subsidy of Rs. 1215, which they divided in equal shares between the Mobarak Khel and Bash Khel sub-divisions.

Tor Saparis:

          This section which is the off shoot of Gallai's eldest son would have been the strongest if all the sections of unanimity had been its lot in life. This section enjoyed a subsidy of Rs. 1200 per annum, whicyh after paying a small 1/4th share to Kooiwals, they divided it into two equal shares between the Nekzan Khel and Feroz Khel sub-sections, who again further sub-divided it into small shares for each particular "Kandi".

Zarghun Khels:

          The Zarghun Khel is the strongest and most important section. They occupy, with the Sherakki, the central portion of the valley. It consists of five main sub-section i.e., Mohammad Khel, Miri Khel, Mullah Khel -cum-Kasim Khel, Sani Khel, Talim Khel and Shpalkaiwals. Their subsidy of Rs. 950 was divided into five e1qual shares between the five sections above mentioned. Their allowances could be computed at Rs. 1130. To this has been added Rs. 1,000 on account of the construction of the new road in 1901.

Akhorwals:

          The Akhorwals are descendants of the Barkai, Tatkai and Nur Malik sub-section, so the Hassan Khel family. Their original subsidy of Rs. 2250, Rs. 400 were allotted to the Akhorwals. The balance of Rs. 1850 they divided into the shares of different sub-section i.e., Gaddia Khel, Bolaki Khel two shares, and Pirwal Khel one share. In the allowances ofr the construction of the road they were given Rs. 750 per annum.

CUSTOM S AND TRADITIONS

HOSPITALITY (MELMASTIYA):

          Afridis are one of the most hospitable people. They consider Melmastiya (generous hospitality) as one of the finest virtues and greet their guest warmly with a board smile on their faces. Afridis feel delighted to receive a guest regardless of his past relations or acquaintance and prepares delicious meal for him or feed him with same meal and accommodation as he himself would await. Mr. L. Whit King says that "Afridis regard dispensing of hospitality as a sacred  duty, and supply their guests with food according to their means." Guests are usually entertained in a hujra (village meeting place). The host kills a fowl if he cannot afford to slaughter a lamb or goat and prepares a sweet dish (Halwa) to satisfy his sense of hospitality. Guests are not only looked after but also respected.

          Dara Afridis feel happy over the coming of the guests and greet them with traditional slogans, "Har Kala Rasha" and " pa Khair Raghley" and Starrey Mashey" i.e. may you often come, welcome and may you not be tired. He also  exchanges such courtesies with the guest as " jorr yai " (a re you well)"  Kha jorr yai" ( are you quite well) and "Takrra yai" (a re you hale and hearty). The guest gratefully acknowledging these forms of welcome by saying" Pa Khair Ossey, (may you be safe)" Khudai de mal Sha  "(may God be with you)" Khushal Ossey" (may you be prosperous and happy) and " Ma khwaraigey" (may you not be destitute). This way of greeting full of friendly gestures reflects the warmth with which the guest s are received. The arrival of the guest in Hujra is immediately followed by tea and later the guest is served with a rich meal consisting of Halwa (a special sweet dish), Pullao (rice dish) and other seasonal dishes. When the guest sets off on his journey he is bade farewell in these words" Pa Makha De kha" (May your journey be safe4 and happy). The reply is "Sta Sara". (same with you).

          The guest of an individual is considered as the guest of all and he is jointly entertained by the villagers in the Hujra. A variety of dishes are prepared and the elders of the family lunch with the guest on a common piece of cloth (Dastarkhwan) spread over a carpet, drugget or a mazri mat. It is one of the cardinal principles of Afridis hospitality to request the guest to sup or take a few morsels. After they have partaken of a meal, the company prays to Allah to give the host riches and prosperity and power of entertaining more guests.

Sir Olaf Caroe says:

                            "The giving of hospitality to the guest is a national pride and honour, so much so that the reproach to an inhospitable man is that he is devoid of pakhto, a creature of contempt. It is the greatest affronts to an Afridi to carry off his guest, and his indignation will be directed not against the guest who quits him but to the person who prevails on him to leave. This or some thing like it, was the reception accorded to the outlaws from British justice who fled to the hills.

Under Construction.................