Samandri
BANNED
- Joined
- Sep 9, 2014
- Messages
- 1,959
- Reaction score
- -10
- Country
- Location
No Panjab tribe is more frequently mentioned in Indian history than the Ghakkars, who for many hundred years were the possessors of great power and a wide extent of country. The reason of their strength was that they were united among themselves. Not that their history does not contain many feuds and long continued contests between rival chiefs, but they at all times acknowledged some one chief as head of the tribe, and under him all the clans marched to battle against any external foe. It was their organization which enabled them to defeat A wans, Gujars, Khattars and Janjoahs, tribes always divided among themselves, and never able to combine even against a common enemy.
Ferishta indeed speaks of them, in 1205 A. D., as savage barbarians, among whom prevailel female infanticide and polyandry, while they were bitter persecutors of Muhammadans, and were only converted at the close of the reign of Muhammad Ghori.
According to Ferishta, In 682 AD, the Afghans from their mountains, who had, even at that early period, embraced the Islam, wrested certain possessions from the Hindu Rajput king of Lahore, Rajput King Prithviraj Chauhan,. A war ensued, and in the space seventy battles were fought with varied success, until the Afghans, having formed an alliance with the Ghakkars, a wild tribe inhabiting the Salt Range of Punjab, compelled the Raja to cede a portion of his territory.
Al-Hind, the Making of the Indo-Islamic World: Early Medieval India and the ...
By André Wink page 169
Ghakkars and Lodhis
During reign of Sayyid Muhammad, the ghakkars under jasrat joined Bahlol Lodhi, governor of Punjab. Thus Ghakkars developed cordial relationships with Lodhis and remained peaceful till the time of invasion of Babur. This is also verified by Babur who records in his tuzk-i-baburi, "Tatar Ghakkar had waited on Daulat khan and was in a certain way subject to him"
The Frontier Policy of the Delhi Sultans By Agha Hussain Hamadani page 179
Khan Kaju and Ghakkars
The authority of khan Kaju, a yusufzai chief, was acknowledged from Nangrahar to Margalla pass and from upper swat to Pindi and Kalabagh. Adam Khan Ghakkar was his feudatory.
Glossary of the Tribes and Castes of the Punjab and North West ..., Volume 1 page 241
Sher Shah Suri
In 1541, Sher Shah, having driven the Emperor Humayun from India, led an expedition against ghakkars who sided with humayun. They were defeated and their chief Sultan sarang was killed. Sultan sarang's son kamal khan was confined in the fort of Gwalior. Sher Shah built the famous fort of Rotas in ghakkar territory, where he placed a garrison of 12,000 men under his general Khowas Khan, to hinder the exile's return.
Construction of Rohtas fort
Sher Shah threatened to construct such a fort in that country that it should not only effectually restrain the Ghakkars, but also the passage of the Mughals. He therefore himself made a tour through the hills of Girjhak Nlnduna [mountains circumjacent],‘ and finding a fit spot, he laid the foundations of the fort, which he called Rohtas.
Besides that, he sent a large force against Rai Sérang, the Ghakkar, and not only was the country subdued, and the hill of Balna'th plundered, which was then the residence of the Darogha of that tract, but the daughter of its chief was taken prisoner, and conducted before Sher Shah, who presented her to Khawas Khan; upon which Rai Sérang, they relate, sent a quantity of [hemp] blankets and millet to Sher Shah, with the remark that in such only consisted their raiment and food, besides which they could afford nothing; according to others, he sent a lion’s skin and some [arrows] spears, which he said was their only property. With this conduct, however, Sher Shah was by no means satisfied. Sarang [Sarang’s troops] being weakened by [skirmishes] the attacks of“ the holy warriors, and greatly reduced and straitened, submitted himself in person to Sher Shah, who ordered him to be flayed alive, and his skin to be filled with straw, and so pay the penalty of his misdeeds.
Sher Shah issued farma'ns to complete the fortifications of Rohtas ; but Todar Khatri represented that the Ghakkars, to whom that country belonged, would not allow any one to work for wages; and that they had agreed amongst themselves, upon oath, to expatriate every person that should contravene their wishes. Sher Shah, in answer, told him [that he should noways be allowed to give up that work, which he only wished to do in consequence of his greediness for gold] that the work did not seem to advance under his superintendence, and that a man who was fond of money, and was alarmed about disbursing it, would never accomplish the king’s designs. Todar, on the reception of this fresh command, fixed first a golden ashrafi as the enormous remuneration for one stone, which induced the Ghakkars to flock to him in such numbers that afterwards a stone was paid with a rupee, and this pay gradually fell to five tankas, till the fortress was completed." ’
The History of India as Told by Its Own Historians the Muhammadan ..., Volume 5 page 115
Islam Shah Suri's expedition against Ghakkars
After the defeat at the hands of Islam shah, Niazis took refuge with the Ghakkars, in the hill-country bordering on Kashmir. Islam Shah advanced in person with a large army for the purpose of quelling the Niazi rebellion, and during the pace of two years was engaged in constant conflicts with the Ghakkars, whom he desired to subdue. He strove by every means in his power to gain possession of the person of Sultan Adam Ghakkar, who had been a faithful friend of the Emperor Humayun, without success; but he caught Serang Sultan Ghakkar, who was one of the most noted men of his tribe, and caused him to be flayed alive, and confined his son, Kamal Khan, in the fort of Gwalior. When Islam Shah had thus taken a proper revenge of Sultan Adam Ghakkar, and destroyed many of his tribe, many of the zaminda'rs whose possessions were at the foot of the hills submitted themselves to him. Skirting the hills.
The History of India, as Told by Its Own Historians: The ..., Volume 3
Kamal khan and Said khan ghakkar
In the 3rd year, kamal khan ghakkar was sent by Mughals against the Miyanah Afghans, who had revolted near Saronj (Malwah), and was made on his return jagirdar of Karah and Fathpiir Huswah. Prince Salim was married to a daughter of Sayd Khan, a brother of Kamal Khan.
In 1586 when Zain Khan Koka failed to subdue Afghan tribes, he appealed for reinforcements. Akbar, from his base camp at attock, dispatched fresh contingents of troops under the commands of Raja Birbal and Hakim Abu Fateh respectively to march upon Swat valley from two different directions. Sayid Khan Ghakkar was part of this military expedition. However their armies were annihilated by Afghans and Bribal perished in the battle. Zain Khan and Abu fateh survived the disaster and escaped to the fort of attock with great difficulty.
Ghakkars of Mianwali
During the civil commotions of Jehangir's reign the Niazais are said to have driven the Ghakkars across the Salt Range, and though, in the following reign, the latter recovered their position, still their hold on the country was precarious. In 1748 a Durrani army under one of Ahmad Shah's generals crossed the Indus at Kalabagh, and drove out the Ghakkars, who still ruled in the cis-Indus tracts of the district, owing nominal allegiance to the Emperor at Delhi. Their stronghold, Muazzam Nagar, was razed to the ground, and with their expulsion was swept away the last vestige of authority of the Mughal Emperor, in these parts.
Mian Ali, who founded Mianwali in Ghakar times, is said to have been a holy man from Baghdad. He gained ascendancy over the Niazi settlers in the country by encouraging them to throw off the yoke of the Ghakars. His promises of success were fulfilled, and the Ghakars were driven out of the country about the middle of the last century
gazetteer of the bannu district, 1883
Ghakkars in Hazara
Under Durrani rule , Ghakkars were given the charge of lower parts of Hazara, their chief Sultan Jaffar khan famous for his uprightness. But Sardar Hari Singh nalwa drove them from their lands. In 1868 British gave back entire Khanpur tract to Ghakkars.
(Glossary Of The Tribes And Castes Of The Punjab And North-west Frontier ...
By H.A. Rose)
Ghakkars and Afghans | History of Pashtuns
Ferishta indeed speaks of them, in 1205 A. D., as savage barbarians, among whom prevailel female infanticide and polyandry, while they were bitter persecutors of Muhammadans, and were only converted at the close of the reign of Muhammad Ghori.
According to Ferishta, In 682 AD, the Afghans from their mountains, who had, even at that early period, embraced the Islam, wrested certain possessions from the Hindu Rajput king of Lahore, Rajput King Prithviraj Chauhan,. A war ensued, and in the space seventy battles were fought with varied success, until the Afghans, having formed an alliance with the Ghakkars, a wild tribe inhabiting the Salt Range of Punjab, compelled the Raja to cede a portion of his territory.
Al-Hind, the Making of the Indo-Islamic World: Early Medieval India and the ...
By André Wink page 169
Ghakkars and Lodhis
During reign of Sayyid Muhammad, the ghakkars under jasrat joined Bahlol Lodhi, governor of Punjab. Thus Ghakkars developed cordial relationships with Lodhis and remained peaceful till the time of invasion of Babur. This is also verified by Babur who records in his tuzk-i-baburi, "Tatar Ghakkar had waited on Daulat khan and was in a certain way subject to him"
The Frontier Policy of the Delhi Sultans By Agha Hussain Hamadani page 179
Khan Kaju and Ghakkars
The authority of khan Kaju, a yusufzai chief, was acknowledged from Nangrahar to Margalla pass and from upper swat to Pindi and Kalabagh. Adam Khan Ghakkar was his feudatory.
Glossary of the Tribes and Castes of the Punjab and North West ..., Volume 1 page 241
Sher Shah Suri
In 1541, Sher Shah, having driven the Emperor Humayun from India, led an expedition against ghakkars who sided with humayun. They were defeated and their chief Sultan sarang was killed. Sultan sarang's son kamal khan was confined in the fort of Gwalior. Sher Shah built the famous fort of Rotas in ghakkar territory, where he placed a garrison of 12,000 men under his general Khowas Khan, to hinder the exile's return.
Construction of Rohtas fort
Sher Shah threatened to construct such a fort in that country that it should not only effectually restrain the Ghakkars, but also the passage of the Mughals. He therefore himself made a tour through the hills of Girjhak Nlnduna [mountains circumjacent],‘ and finding a fit spot, he laid the foundations of the fort, which he called Rohtas.
Besides that, he sent a large force against Rai Sérang, the Ghakkar, and not only was the country subdued, and the hill of Balna'th plundered, which was then the residence of the Darogha of that tract, but the daughter of its chief was taken prisoner, and conducted before Sher Shah, who presented her to Khawas Khan; upon which Rai Sérang, they relate, sent a quantity of [hemp] blankets and millet to Sher Shah, with the remark that in such only consisted their raiment and food, besides which they could afford nothing; according to others, he sent a lion’s skin and some [arrows] spears, which he said was their only property. With this conduct, however, Sher Shah was by no means satisfied. Sarang [Sarang’s troops] being weakened by [skirmishes] the attacks of“ the holy warriors, and greatly reduced and straitened, submitted himself in person to Sher Shah, who ordered him to be flayed alive, and his skin to be filled with straw, and so pay the penalty of his misdeeds.
Sher Shah issued farma'ns to complete the fortifications of Rohtas ; but Todar Khatri represented that the Ghakkars, to whom that country belonged, would not allow any one to work for wages; and that they had agreed amongst themselves, upon oath, to expatriate every person that should contravene their wishes. Sher Shah, in answer, told him [that he should noways be allowed to give up that work, which he only wished to do in consequence of his greediness for gold] that the work did not seem to advance under his superintendence, and that a man who was fond of money, and was alarmed about disbursing it, would never accomplish the king’s designs. Todar, on the reception of this fresh command, fixed first a golden ashrafi as the enormous remuneration for one stone, which induced the Ghakkars to flock to him in such numbers that afterwards a stone was paid with a rupee, and this pay gradually fell to five tankas, till the fortress was completed." ’
The History of India as Told by Its Own Historians the Muhammadan ..., Volume 5 page 115
Islam Shah Suri's expedition against Ghakkars
After the defeat at the hands of Islam shah, Niazis took refuge with the Ghakkars, in the hill-country bordering on Kashmir. Islam Shah advanced in person with a large army for the purpose of quelling the Niazi rebellion, and during the pace of two years was engaged in constant conflicts with the Ghakkars, whom he desired to subdue. He strove by every means in his power to gain possession of the person of Sultan Adam Ghakkar, who had been a faithful friend of the Emperor Humayun, without success; but he caught Serang Sultan Ghakkar, who was one of the most noted men of his tribe, and caused him to be flayed alive, and confined his son, Kamal Khan, in the fort of Gwalior. When Islam Shah had thus taken a proper revenge of Sultan Adam Ghakkar, and destroyed many of his tribe, many of the zaminda'rs whose possessions were at the foot of the hills submitted themselves to him. Skirting the hills.
The History of India, as Told by Its Own Historians: The ..., Volume 3
Kamal khan and Said khan ghakkar
In the 3rd year, kamal khan ghakkar was sent by Mughals against the Miyanah Afghans, who had revolted near Saronj (Malwah), and was made on his return jagirdar of Karah and Fathpiir Huswah. Prince Salim was married to a daughter of Sayd Khan, a brother of Kamal Khan.
In 1586 when Zain Khan Koka failed to subdue Afghan tribes, he appealed for reinforcements. Akbar, from his base camp at attock, dispatched fresh contingents of troops under the commands of Raja Birbal and Hakim Abu Fateh respectively to march upon Swat valley from two different directions. Sayid Khan Ghakkar was part of this military expedition. However their armies were annihilated by Afghans and Bribal perished in the battle. Zain Khan and Abu fateh survived the disaster and escaped to the fort of attock with great difficulty.
Ghakkars of Mianwali
During the civil commotions of Jehangir's reign the Niazais are said to have driven the Ghakkars across the Salt Range, and though, in the following reign, the latter recovered their position, still their hold on the country was precarious. In 1748 a Durrani army under one of Ahmad Shah's generals crossed the Indus at Kalabagh, and drove out the Ghakkars, who still ruled in the cis-Indus tracts of the district, owing nominal allegiance to the Emperor at Delhi. Their stronghold, Muazzam Nagar, was razed to the ground, and with their expulsion was swept away the last vestige of authority of the Mughal Emperor, in these parts.
Mian Ali, who founded Mianwali in Ghakar times, is said to have been a holy man from Baghdad. He gained ascendancy over the Niazi settlers in the country by encouraging them to throw off the yoke of the Ghakars. His promises of success were fulfilled, and the Ghakars were driven out of the country about the middle of the last century
gazetteer of the bannu district, 1883
Ghakkars in Hazara
Under Durrani rule , Ghakkars were given the charge of lower parts of Hazara, their chief Sultan Jaffar khan famous for his uprightness. But Sardar Hari Singh nalwa drove them from their lands. In 1868 British gave back entire Khanpur tract to Ghakkars.
(Glossary Of The Tribes And Castes Of The Punjab And North-west Frontier ...
By H.A. Rose)
Ghakkars and Afghans | History of Pashtuns
Last edited:
