Awan (Pakistan)
Encyclopedia
Awan is a South Asian Zamindar
tribe, putatively of Arab
origin, living predominantly in northern, central, and western parts of Punjab
, Pakistan
. The Awans subscribe to the belief that they are the descendants of the fourth Caliph
, Ali
, and as such, a number adopt the title, Alvi.
, who originally resided in Herat, served in the army of Mahmud of Ghazni
, and was a Hashemite
descendant of the Prophet Muhammad
's cousin and son-in-law, Ali (but by a wife other than the Prophet's daughter, Fatimah
). As Sir Lepel Henry Griffin states:
"All branches of the tribe are unanimous in stating that they originally came from the neighbourhood of Ghazni
to India
, and all trace their genealogy to Hasrat Ali the son-in-law of the Prophet. Kutab Shah, who came from Ghazni with Sultan Mahmud, was the common ancestor of the Awans."
It is asserted that Qutb Shah and six of his sons accompanied and assisted Mahmud in his early eleventh century conquests of what today forms parts of Afghanistan
, Pakistan and Northern India. It is claimed that in recognition of their services and valour, Mahmud bestowed upon Qutb Shah and his sons (who, according to tribal traditions, settled primarily in the Salt Range
) the title of Awan, meaning "helper".
Tribal history holds that Qutb Shah and his sons married local women who converted to Islam
from Hinduism
. Qutb Shah’s sons are said to have settled in different regions of the Punjab and to a lesser extent, what now constitutes parts of Khyber Pukhtunkhwa; Gauhar Shah or Gorrara, settled near Sakesar
, Kalan Shah or Kalgan, settled in Kalabagh
, Chauhan colonized the hills close to the Indus, Mohammad Shah or Khokhar
, settled by the Chenab, and Tori and Jhajh settled in Tirah
. Their descendants not only came to heavily populate these regions, but a number of Awan sub-clans that trace their origins to these six individuals, give their names to various localities such as Golera in Rawalpindi
, Khewra in Jhelum
, Banjara in Sialkot
, Jand in Attock
, and Dhudial in Chakwal
. Some of Qutb Shah’s sons are supposed to have assumed names that reflected the Hindu
heritage of their mothers and the Awan sub-clans that trace their origins to these particular individuals, bear the names of their eponyms.
Amongst those who support the Awan claim to Arab ancestry, are H. A. Rose, Malik
Fazal Dad Khan and Sabiha Shaheen. Although Rose was more cautious in assigning an Arab origin to the Awans, he was willing to concede that the tribe may well be Alvi Sayyid
s, who having sought refuge in Sindh
from the Abbasids, allied themselves to Sabuktagin and assisted him in his Indian adventure, for which he bestowed the title of Awan on them (Rose considering it plausible that the name of the Awan tribe was derived from the word 'Ahwan', meaning "helper". And although the Ferozsons Urdu-English Dictionary lists the Awans as a Rajput clan, it does state that the title of the tribe is of Arabic origin, being the plural of the word 'aun', and defining "Awan" as "helpers"). Making reference to W.S. Talbot's assessment of the Awans, Rose also commented:
"But in the best available account of the tribe, the Awans are indeed said to be of Arabian origin and descendants of Qutb Shah."
Malik Fazal Dad Khan supports the traditional account of the Awans' origins, but with some modifications. He considers the Awans to be of Arabian origin and traces their lineage to Ali, but according to him, Abdullah Rasul Mirza was the remote ancestor of the Awans; in the eighth century, he was made a commander of the army of Ghaur by Caliph
Haroon-ur-Rasheed, the title of Awan being conferred upon him, and his descendants consequently being called Awans. Sabiha Shaheen (who addressed this issue as part of her MA Thesis) deems this theory tenable. Furthermore, she states that Qutb Shah fled to the Subcontinent along with a small group of people due to Mongol attacks and joined the court of Iltutmish
. The majority of his descendants came to refer to themselves as Qutb Shahi Awans
, Harikishan Kaul, and Professor Ahmed Hasan Dani. Cunningham looked upon the Awans as a Rajput
clan, whereas Kaul was of the opinion that the tribe was of either Jat or Rajput origin, pointing to the fact that in Sanskrit
, the term Awan means "defender" or "protector" and asserting that this title was awarded by surrounding tribes due to the Awans successfully defending their strongholds against aggression. Dani claimed that following the spread of Islam in the region where the Awans predominated, the tribe made a conscious decision to associate itself with a Semitic
past, and hence Awans came to refer to themselves as “Qutub Shahis.” Citing Kaul's conclusions, James Wikeley said of the Awans that:
"After the Muhammadan invasions, they seem to have been converted by Syad Kutb Shah, after which the Awans began to call themselves Kutb Shahi, i.e., the followers of Kutb Shah."
and the Khilji dynasty
during the Delhi Sultanate
period. Awans also held prominent military positions during the Mughal era
. According to Denzil Ibbetson, the Awans may well have accompanied the forces of Babur
, and the Awans of Jalandhar
, who claimed to have shifted from the Salt Range at the behest of one of the early Emperors of Delhi
, were particularly notable for being in the imperial service at Delhi.
The Awans were amongst those the British considered to be "martial races" and as such, formed an important part of the British Indian Army
, serving with distinction during World Wars I and II. In particular, the Awans formed part of the core Muslim
group recruited by the British during the First and Second World Wars. Contemporary historians, namely Professor Ian Talbot, and Professor Tan Tai Yong
, have authored works that cite the Awans (amongst other tribes) as being looked upon as a martial race by not only the British, but neighbouring tribes as well.
With reference to the British Raj
's recruitment policies in the Punjab, vis-à-vis the British Indian Army, Tan Tai Yong remarks:
"The choice of Muslims was not merely one of physical suitability. As in the case of the Sikhs, recruiting authorities showed a clear bias in favour of the dominant landowning tribes of the region, and recruitment of Punjabi Muslims was limited to those who belonged to tribes of high social standing or reputation - the 'blood proud' and once politically dominant aristocracy of the tract. Consequentially, socially dominant Muslim tribes such as the Gakkhars, Janjuas and Awans, and a few Rajput tribes, concentrated in the Rawalpindi and Jhelum districts in the northern Salt Range tract in the Punjab, accounted for more than ninety per cent of Punjabi Muslim
recruits."
The Pakistani military has always heavily recruited Awans and as is consistent with the past, the tribe continues to produce a considerable number of recruits who occupy many of the senior-most ranks of the Pakistani Army. According to Philip Edward Jones:
"The Awan Tribe is perhaps the most heavily recruited tribe for the Pakistan Army."
On a rural level, Awans belong to the Zamindar or landowning class.
According to Sir Malcolm Darling, the Awans are the:
"Bravest of soldiers, toughest of cultivators and matchless as tent peggers."
Christophe Jaffrelot states:
"The Awan deserve close attention, because of their historical importance and, above all, because they settled in the west, right up to the edge of Baluchi and Pashtun territory. Legend has it that their origins go back to Imam Ali and his second wife, Hanafiya. Historians describe them as valiant warriors and farmers who imposed their supremacy on the Janjua in part of the Salt Range, and established large colonies all along the Indus to Sind, and a densely populated centre not far from Lahore
."
Many Awan families to this day live on and cultivate land, which their ancestors have held for centuries. They often carry titles typical to Punjabis
who own tracts of ancestral land such as Malik, Chaudhry and Khan
. The modern surname system often results in members of the same family with different surnames, some choosing their position as a surname i.e. Malik or Chaudhry, and some choosing their tribal name of Awan. Though the origins of the Awans may be a matter of some debate, it has long been recognised that the composition of the tribe is wholly Muslim. The most extensive study of the tribe was conducted during the era of the British Raj
, and as a result of census data collated during this period, the Awan tribe was invariably classified as being exclusively Muslim. In the opening to his account of the Awan tribe, H. A. Rose stated:
"The Awans are an important tribe, exclusively Muhammadan."
Similarly, John Henry Hutton has said of the Awans:
"They are exclusively Muslim and probably the descendants of some of the earlier Muslim invaders of the tenth century or earlier."
, Khushab
(particularly the Soon Valley
), Mianwali
(Awan clans residing here are believed to have been almost the sole occupants of the Mianwali Salt Range Tract for over six hundred years), Gujranwala
, Hafizabad
, Gujrat
, Sialkot, Narowal
and Layyah
, and is also scattered throughout the rest of Punjab.
Tracts in regions such as Attock, Jhelum and Mianwali are so heavily populated by Awans, that they have long been referred to as Awankari. Pre-Partition, an Awankari existed in Jalandhar and an Awan bara in Hoshiarpur
. Awankari is also a dialect of Punjabi
. Though these areas are their ancestral homelands and many own farms and other property there, numerous Awans live in the major cities of Pakistan such as Lahore (where a section of the Awan tribe has established a settlement, aptly named Awan Town
), Islamabad
, and Karachi
.
The Awan tribe is also to be found in great numbers in Khyber Pukhtunkhwa, particularly in the Hazara Division
, Peshawar
valley and the districts of Nowshera
, Kohat
, Abbottabad
, Haripur, Mansehra
, Bannu
, Swat and Mardan
. A smaller portion of the tribe resides in Azad Kashmir
, and to a lesser extent is also present in the Pakistani provinces of Sindh and Balochistan
. In addition, Awans can also be found in Afghanistan and some parts of India.
Zamindar
A Zamindar or zemindar , was an aristocrat, typically hereditary, who held enormous tracts of land and ruled over and taxed the bhikaaris who lived on batavaslam. Over time, they took princely and royal titles such as Maharaja , Raja , Nawab , and Mirza , Chowdhury , among others...
tribe, putatively of Arab
Arab
Arab people, also known as Arabs , are a panethnicity primarily living in the Arab world, which is located in Western Asia and North Africa. They are identified as such on one or more of genealogical, linguistic, or cultural grounds, with tribal affiliations, and intra-tribal relationships playing...
origin, living predominantly in northern, central, and western parts of Punjab
Punjab (Pakistan)
Punjab is the most populous province of Pakistan, with approximately 45% of the country's total population. Forming most of the Punjab region, the province is bordered by Kashmir to the north-east, the Indian states of Punjab and Rajasthan to the east, the Pakistani province of Sindh to the...
, Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
. The Awans subscribe to the belief that they are the descendants of the fourth Caliph
Caliph
The Caliph is the head of state in a Caliphate, and the title for the ruler of the Islamic Ummah, an Islamic community ruled by the Shari'ah. It is a transcribed version of the Arabic word which means "successor" or "representative"...
, Ali
Ali
' |Ramaḍān]], 40 AH; approximately October 23, 598 or 600 or March 17, 599 – January 27, 661).His father's name was Abu Talib. Ali was also the cousin and son-in-law of the Islamic prophet Muhammad, and ruled over the Islamic Caliphate from 656 to 661, and was the first male convert to Islam...
, and as such, a number adopt the title, Alvi.
Arab origin
Most Awans maintain that they are descended from an individual named Qutb ShahQutb Shah
Qutb Shah was the ruler of Herat and a general in the army of Sultan Mahmud Ghaznavi. Qutub Shah was a Hashemite descendant of Muhammad ibn al-Hanafiyyah, son of Hazart Ali, and Imam of the Kaysanites Shia , who was the son of Ali, who in turn was the cousin and son-in-law of the prophet...
, who originally resided in Herat, served in the army of Mahmud of Ghazni
Mahmud of Ghazni
Mahmud of Ghazni , actually ', was the most prominent ruler of the Ghaznavid dynasty who ruled from 997 until his death in 1030 in the eastern Iranian lands. Mahmud turned the former provincial city of Ghazni into the wealthy capital of an extensive empire which covered most of today's Iran,...
, and was a Hashemite
Hashemite
Hashemite is the Latinate version of the , transliteration: Hāšimī, and traditionally refers to those belonging to the Banu Hashim, or "clan of Hashim", a clan within the larger Quraish tribe...
descendant of the Prophet Muhammad
Muhammad
Muhammad |ligature]] at U+FDF4 ;Arabic pronunciation varies regionally; the first vowel ranges from ~~; the second and the last vowel: ~~~. There are dialects which have no stress. In Egypt, it is pronounced not in religious contexts...
's cousin and son-in-law, Ali (but by a wife other than the Prophet's daughter, Fatimah
Fatimah
Fatimah was a daughter of the Islamic prophet Muhammad from his first wife Khadijah bint Khuwaylid. She is regarded by Muslims as an exemplar for men and women. She remained at her father's side through the difficulties suffered by him at the hands of the Quraysh of Mecca...
). As Sir Lepel Henry Griffin states:
"All branches of the tribe are unanimous in stating that they originally came from the neighbourhood of Ghazni
Ghazni
For the Province of Ghazni see Ghazni ProvinceGhazni is a city in central-east Afghanistan with a population of about 141,000 people...
to India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, and all trace their genealogy to Hasrat Ali the son-in-law of the Prophet. Kutab Shah, who came from Ghazni with Sultan Mahmud, was the common ancestor of the Awans."
It is asserted that Qutb Shah and six of his sons accompanied and assisted Mahmud in his early eleventh century conquests of what today forms parts of Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
, Pakistan and Northern India. It is claimed that in recognition of their services and valour, Mahmud bestowed upon Qutb Shah and his sons (who, according to tribal traditions, settled primarily in the Salt Range
Salt Range
The Salt Range is a hill system in the Punjab province of Pakistan, deriving its name from its extensive deposits of rock salt. The range extends from the Jhelum River to the Indus, across the northern portion of the Punjab province. The Salt Range contains the great mines of Mayo, Khewra, Warcha...
) the title of Awan, meaning "helper".
Tribal history holds that Qutb Shah and his sons married local women who converted to Islam
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
from Hinduism
Hinduism
Hinduism is the predominant and indigenous religious tradition of the Indian Subcontinent. Hinduism is known to its followers as , amongst many other expressions...
. Qutb Shah’s sons are said to have settled in different regions of the Punjab and to a lesser extent, what now constitutes parts of Khyber Pukhtunkhwa; Gauhar Shah or Gorrara, settled near Sakesar
Sakesar
Sakesar is a mountain peak which lies on the outer fringes of the Soon Valley in the Punjab Province of Pakistan. It has an height of 1522 m and used to be the summer headquarters for the deputy commissioners of three districts - Campbellpur , Mianwali and Sargodha...
, Kalan Shah or Kalgan, settled in Kalabagh
Kalabagh
Kalabagh a town and union council of Mianwali District in the Punjab province of Pakistan. It is located on the western bank of Indus River. It is the site of the proposed Kalabagh Dam. It is also famous for its red hills of the salt range and scenic view of the Indus River traversing through the...
, Chauhan colonized the hills close to the Indus, Mohammad Shah or Khokhar
Khokhar
The Khokhar or Khokar are a people of Punjab region of Pakistan and north-western India. According to H. A. Rose they are the gotra of Rajput, Jat, Arain, Nai, and Churah. According to Denzil Ibbetson, they are also a gotra of the Tarkhan and Khatri tribes. The Khokhars were designated as an...
, settled by the Chenab, and Tori and Jhajh settled in Tirah
Tirah
Tirah is a region located in Kurram and Khyber agencies of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas of Pakistan . It lies between the Khyber Pass and the Khanki Valley. It is inhabited by the Afridi and Orakzai tribes of Pashtuns...
. Their descendants not only came to heavily populate these regions, but a number of Awan sub-clans that trace their origins to these six individuals, give their names to various localities such as Golera in Rawalpindi
Rawalpindi
Rawalpindi , locally known as Pindi, is a city in the Pothohar region of Pakistan near Pakistan's capital city of Islamabad, in the province of Punjab. Rawalpindi is the fourth largest city in Pakistan after Karachi, Lahore and Faisalabad...
, Khewra in Jhelum
Jhelum
Jhelum or Jehlum may refer to:* Jhelum, a city in Pakistan on the banks of the Jhelum River* Jhelum District, an administrative division in Punjab, Pakistan surrounding the city of Jhelum...
, Banjara in Sialkot
Sialkot
Sialkot is a city in Pakistan situated in the north-east of the Punjab province at the foothills of snow-covered peaks of Kashmir near the Chenab river. It is the capital of Sialkot District. The city is about north-west of Lahore and only a few kilometers from Indian-controlled Jammu.The...
, Jand in Attock
Attock
Attock is a city located in the northern border of the Punjab province of Pakistan and the headquarters of Attock District...
, and Dhudial in Chakwal
Chakwal
Chakwal is the capital of Chakwal District, Punjab, Pakistan. It is located 90 km south-east of the federal capital, Islamabad and is named after Chaudhry Chaku Khan, chief of the Mair Minhas tribe from Jammu, who founded it in 1525 CE during the era of the Mughal Emperor, Zaheerudun Babur...
. Some of Qutb Shah’s sons are supposed to have assumed names that reflected the Hindu
Hindu
Hindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion...
heritage of their mothers and the Awan sub-clans that trace their origins to these particular individuals, bear the names of their eponyms.
Amongst those who support the Awan claim to Arab ancestry, are H. A. Rose, Malik
Malik
Malik is an Arabic word meaning "king, chieftain".It has been adopted in various other, mainly Islamized or Arabized, Asian languages for their ruling princes and to render kings elsewhere. It is also sometimes used in derived meanings...
Fazal Dad Khan and Sabiha Shaheen. Although Rose was more cautious in assigning an Arab origin to the Awans, he was willing to concede that the tribe may well be Alvi Sayyid
Sayyid
Sayyid is an honorific title, it denotes males accepted as descendants of the Islamic prophet Muhammad through his grandsons, Hasan ibn Ali and Husain ibn Ali, sons of the prophet's daughter Fatima Zahra and his son-in-law Ali ibn Abi Talib.Daughters of sayyids are given the titles Sayyida,...
s, who having sought refuge in Sindh
Sindh
Sindh historically referred to as Ba'ab-ul-Islam , is one of the four provinces of Pakistan and historically is home to the Sindhi people. It is also locally known as the "Mehran". Though Muslims form the largest religious group in Sindh, a good number of Christians, Zoroastrians and Hindus can...
from the Abbasids, allied themselves to Sabuktagin and assisted him in his Indian adventure, for which he bestowed the title of Awan on them (Rose considering it plausible that the name of the Awan tribe was derived from the word 'Ahwan', meaning "helper". And although the Ferozsons Urdu-English Dictionary lists the Awans as a Rajput clan, it does state that the title of the tribe is of Arabic origin, being the plural of the word 'aun', and defining "Awan" as "helpers"). Making reference to W.S. Talbot's assessment of the Awans, Rose also commented:
"But in the best available account of the tribe, the Awans are indeed said to be of Arabian origin and descendants of Qutb Shah."
Malik Fazal Dad Khan supports the traditional account of the Awans' origins, but with some modifications. He considers the Awans to be of Arabian origin and traces their lineage to Ali, but according to him, Abdullah Rasul Mirza was the remote ancestor of the Awans; in the eighth century, he was made a commander of the army of Ghaur by Caliph
Caliph
The Caliph is the head of state in a Caliphate, and the title for the ruler of the Islamic Ummah, an Islamic community ruled by the Shari'ah. It is a transcribed version of the Arabic word which means "successor" or "representative"...
Haroon-ur-Rasheed, the title of Awan being conferred upon him, and his descendants consequently being called Awans. Sabiha Shaheen (who addressed this issue as part of her MA Thesis) deems this theory tenable. Furthermore, she states that Qutb Shah fled to the Subcontinent along with a small group of people due to Mongol attacks and joined the court of Iltutmish
Iltutmish
Shams-ud-din Iltutmish was the third ruler of the Mamluk dynasty of Delhi of Turkic origin. He was a slave of Qutub-ud-din-Aybak and later became his son-in-law and close lieutenant. He was the Governor of Badaun when he deposed Qutub-ud-din's successor Aram Shah and acceeded to the throne of the...
. The majority of his descendants came to refer to themselves as Qutb Shahi Awans
Indigenous origin
However, there are those who attribute an indigenous origin to the Awan tribe; these include Alexander CunninghamAlexander Cunningham
Sir Alexander Cunningham KCIE CSI was a British archaeologist and army engineer, known as the father of the Archaeological Survey of India...
, Harikishan Kaul, and Professor Ahmed Hasan Dani. Cunningham looked upon the Awans as a Rajput
Rajput
A Rajput is a member of one of the patrilineal clans of western, central, northern India and in some parts of Pakistan. Rajputs are descendants of one of the major ruling warrior classes in the Indian subcontinent, particularly North India...
clan, whereas Kaul was of the opinion that the tribe was of either Jat or Rajput origin, pointing to the fact that in Sanskrit
Sanskrit
Sanskrit , is a historical Indo-Aryan language and the primary liturgical language of Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism.Buddhism: besides Pali, see Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit Today, it is listed as one of the 22 scheduled languages of India and is an official language of the state of Uttarakhand...
, the term Awan means "defender" or "protector" and asserting that this title was awarded by surrounding tribes due to the Awans successfully defending their strongholds against aggression. Dani claimed that following the spread of Islam in the region where the Awans predominated, the tribe made a conscious decision to associate itself with a Semitic
Semitic
In linguistics and ethnology, Semitic was first used to refer to a language family of largely Middle Eastern origin, now called the Semitic languages...
past, and hence Awans came to refer to themselves as “Qutub Shahis.” Citing Kaul's conclusions, James Wikeley said of the Awans that:
"After the Muhammadan invasions, they seem to have been converted by Syad Kutb Shah, after which the Awans began to call themselves Kutb Shahi, i.e., the followers of Kutb Shah."
History
The Awans have a strong martial tradition and are renowned for their bravery. They were prominent in the armies of the Slave DynastySlave dynasty
The Slave Dynasty or Mamluk Dynasty or Ghulam Dynasty , was directed into India by Qutb-ud-din Aybak, a Turkic general of Central Asian birth. It was the first of five unrelated dynasties to rule India's Delhi Sultanate from 1206 to 1290...
and the Khilji dynasty
Khilji
Khilji may refer to:*Khilji dynasty*Khilji, Nepalas added to the page to prevent it being listed on Special:Shortpages. It and the accompanying monitoring template were generated via Template:Longcomment. Please do not remove the monitor template without removing the comment as well....
during the Delhi Sultanate
Delhi Sultanate
The Delhi Sultanate is a term used to cover five short-lived, Delhi based kingdoms or sultanates, of Turkic origin in medieval India. The sultanates ruled from Delhi between 1206 and 1526, when the last was replaced by the Mughal dynasty...
period. Awans also held prominent military positions during the Mughal era
Mughal era
The Mughal era is a historic period of the Mughal Empire in South Asia . It ran from the early 15th century to a point in the early 18th century when the Mughal Emperors' power had dwindled...
. According to Denzil Ibbetson, the Awans may well have accompanied the forces of Babur
Babur
Babur was a Muslim conqueror from Central Asia who, following a series of setbacks, finally succeeded in laying the basis for the Mughal dynasty of South Asia. He was a direct descendant of Timur through his father, and a descendant also of Genghis Khan through his mother...
, and the Awans of Jalandhar
Jalandhar
Jalandhar is a city in Jalandhar District in the state of Punjab, India. It is located 144 km northwest of the state capital, Chandigarh...
, who claimed to have shifted from the Salt Range at the behest of one of the early Emperors of Delhi
Delhi
Delhi , officially National Capital Territory of Delhi , is the largest metropolis by area and the second-largest by population in India, next to Mumbai. It is the eighth largest metropolis in the world by population with 16,753,265 inhabitants in the Territory at the 2011 Census...
, were particularly notable for being in the imperial service at Delhi.
The Awans were amongst those the British considered to be "martial races" and as such, formed an important part of the British Indian Army
British Indian Army
The British Indian Army, officially simply the Indian Army, was the principal army of the British Raj in India before the partition of India in 1947...
, serving with distinction during World Wars I and II. In particular, the Awans formed part of the core Muslim
Muslim
A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
group recruited by the British during the First and Second World Wars. Contemporary historians, namely Professor Ian Talbot, and Professor Tan Tai Yong
Tan Tai Yong
Tan Tai Yong is Professor of South Asian history at the National University of Singapore. He is currently the Vice-Provost and Director of the Institute of South Asian Studies, an autonomous university-level research institute in NUS....
, have authored works that cite the Awans (amongst other tribes) as being looked upon as a martial race by not only the British, but neighbouring tribes as well.
With reference to the British Raj
British Raj
British Raj was the British rule in the Indian subcontinent between 1858 and 1947; The term can also refer to the period of dominion...
's recruitment policies in the Punjab, vis-à-vis the British Indian Army, Tan Tai Yong remarks:
"The choice of Muslims was not merely one of physical suitability. As in the case of the Sikhs, recruiting authorities showed a clear bias in favour of the dominant landowning tribes of the region, and recruitment of Punjabi Muslims was limited to those who belonged to tribes of high social standing or reputation - the 'blood proud' and once politically dominant aristocracy of the tract. Consequentially, socially dominant Muslim tribes such as the Gakkhars, Janjuas and Awans, and a few Rajput tribes, concentrated in the Rawalpindi and Jhelum districts in the northern Salt Range tract in the Punjab, accounted for more than ninety per cent of Punjabi Muslim
Muslim
A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
recruits."
The Pakistani military has always heavily recruited Awans and as is consistent with the past, the tribe continues to produce a considerable number of recruits who occupy many of the senior-most ranks of the Pakistani Army. According to Philip Edward Jones:
"The Awan Tribe is perhaps the most heavily recruited tribe for the Pakistan Army."
Awans: past and present
Awans in general enjoy a respected status in Pakistan. Many have played and continue to play, prominent roles in areas as varied as politics, the armed forces, academia, literature and sport. These include figures such as:- Malik Amir Mohammad Khan (The Nawab of KalabaghNawab of KalabaghMalik Amir Mohammad Khan also known as Nawab of Kalabagh was a prominent feudal lord, politician and the seventh nawab of Kalabagh state, in Mianwali District of north western Punjab, Pakistan. He belonged to the Awan tribe of ancient repute. He was crowned as Nawab of Kalabagh after the death of...
, Governor of West PakistanWest PakistanWest Pakistan , common name West-Pakistan , in the period between its establishment on 22 November 1955 to disintegration on December 16, 1971. This period, during which, Pakistan was divided, ended when East-Pakistan was disintegrated and succeeded to become which is now what is known as Bangladesh...
, 1960–66) - Nawabzada Malik Amad KhanNawabzada Malik Amad KhanNawabzada Malik Amad Khan, or simply Malik Amad Khan is the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and member of Majlis-e-Shoora since 2008. He is one of the youngest members of the Cabinet of Pakistan.-Early years:...
(Minister of State for Foreign Affairs (Pakistan)Minister of State for Foreign Affairs (Pakistan)The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs is the junior minister in the government and the deputy head of Ministry of Foreign Affairs after the Foreign Minister. The current Minister of State for Foreign Affairs is Ahmed Poria who took charge in July, 2011....
and a member of the Majlis-e-ShooraMajlis-e-ShooraThe Parliament of Pakistan, officially termed the Majlis-e-Shoora ; is the federal and supreme legislative body of Pakistan. It is a bicameral federal legislature that consists of the Senate and the National Assembly, the upper and lower houses, respectively...
. Grandson of Malik Amir Mohammad Khan) - Sumaira MalikSumaira MalikSumaira Malik is a politician from Khushab District, Punjab, Pakistan.Sumaira Malik is a member of Pakistan's National Assembly. She is the daughter of Malik AllahYar Khan and the granddaughter of Amir Mohammad Khan, The Nawab of KalaBagh...
(Member of the National Assembly of PakistanNational Assembly of PakistanThe National Assembly of Pakistan is the lower house of the bicameral Majlis-e-Shura, which also compromises the President of Pakistan and Senate . The National Assembly and the Senate both convene at Parliament House in Islamabad...
. During the tenure of former Prime Minister Shaukat AzizShaukat AzizShaukat Aziz is a world acclaimed Pakistani economist who was the 15th Prime Minister of Pakistan from May 20, 2004 to 15 November 2007 in a joint military government led by General Pervez Musharraf. A Citibank executive, Aziz returned to Pakistan from the United States to be became Finance...
, headed the Ministry of Women Development and Ministry of Youth Affairs. Granddaughter of Malik Amir Mohammad Khan, and niece of the former President of PakistanPresident of PakistanThe President of Pakistan is the head of state, as well as figurehead, of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. Recently passed an XVIII Amendment , Pakistan has a parliamentary democratic system of government. According to the Constitution, the President is chosen by the Electoral College to serve a...
, Farooq LeghariFarooq LeghariSardar Farooq Ahmad Khan Leghari was the eighth President of Pakistan from November 14, 1993 until December 2, 1997...
) - Air MarshalAir MarshalAir marshal is a three-star air-officer rank which originated in and continues to be used by the Royal Air Force...
Nur KhanNur KhanAir Marshal Malik Nur Khan, HJ, HS, HQA, SPk was the Commander-in-Chief of Pakistan Air Force from 1965 to 1969. Considered the hero of the 1965 air war - the man who led the Pakistan air force achieve parity over the three times bigger Indian air force on the very first day of the 1965 war - a...
(Commander in Chief of the Pakistan Air ForcePakistan Air ForceThe Pakistan Air Force is the leading air arm of the Pakistan Armed Forces and is primarily tasked with the aerial defence of Pakistan with a secondary role of providing air support to the Pakistan Army and the Pakistan Navy. The PAF also has a tertiary role of providing strategic air transport...
, 1965–69, Governor of West Pakistan, 1969–70, and recipient of the Hilal-i-JuratHilal-i-JuratThe Hilal-i-Jur'at Various official sources that are highly reputable spell the name of the medal differently, so the Pakistan Army website spelling is being taken as the official spelling...
, Pakistan’s second highest military award. A close relative of Malik Amir Mohammad Khan) - Prince Malik Ata Muhammad KhanPrince Malik Ata Muhammad KhanPrince Malik Ata Muhammad Khan is a prominent feudal lord, Nawab of Kot Fateh Khan in Attock District of north western Punjab, Pakistan. He belongs to the Awan tribe of ancient repute...
(Nawab of Kot Fateh Khan. A prominent patron of horse riding and tent pegging in Pakistan) - Malik Meraj KhalidMalik Meraj KhalidMalik Meraj Khalid was a Pakistani lawyer and politician and the acting Prime Minister of Pakistan from November 5, 1996 till February 17, 1997.-Early life and career beginnings:...
(Caretaker Prime Minister of PakistanPrime Minister of PakistanThe Prime Minister of Pakistan , is the Head of Government of Pakistan who is designated to exercise as the country's Chief Executive. By the Constitution of Pakistan, Pakistan has the parliamentary democratic system of government...
, Speaker of the National Assembly, Chief Minister of Punjab, Federal Minister for Food and Agriculture, and Rector of the International Islamic University IslamabadInternational Islamic University IslamabadThe International Islamic University, Islamabad is a seat of Islamic learning in Pakistan....
) - Zaheer-ud-din Babar AwanBabar AwanZaheer-ud-din Babar Awan is the former Federal Minister for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs of Pakistan. He is also a senator in Pakistan's upper House of the Parliament, and a practicing lawyer and member of the Pakistan Peoples Party Central Executive Committee...
(Senior lawyer of the Supreme Court of PakistanSupreme Court of PakistanThe Supreme Court is the apex court in Pakistan's judicial hierarchy, the final arbiter of legal and constitutional disputes. The Supreme Court has a permanent seat in Islamabad. It has number of Branch Registries where cases are heard. It has a number of de jure powers which are outlined in the...
and prominent leader of the Pakistan Peoples PartyPakistan Peoples PartyThe Pakistan Peoples Party , is a democratic socialist political party in Pakistan affiliated with Socialist International. Pakistan People's Party is the largest political party of Pakistan...
, Federal Minister for Law, Justice & Parliamentary Affairs, and recipient of one of Pakistan’s highest civilian honours, the Sitara-i-ImtiazSitara-i-ImtiazThe Sitara-i-Imtiaz , is the third highest honour and civilian award in the State of Pakistan. It recognizes the individuals who made an "especially meritorious contribution to the security or national interests of Pakistan, world peace, cultural or other significant public endeavors"...
) - Ghulam Farooq AwanGhulam Farooq AwanGhulam Farooq Awan , is a Pakistani lawyer and the current adviser to the Prime Minister of Pakistan for law, justice and parliamentary affairs. He is also the former additional Attorney General of Pakistan.- Early life :...
(Lawyer, former Additional Attorney General of PakistanAttorney General of PakistanThe Attorney General for Pakistan is appointed under Article 100 of the constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and the Deputy Attorney General of Pakistan appointed under the Central Law Officers Ordinance, 1970...
, and appointed by the President of Pakistan, Asif Ali ZardariAsif Ali ZardariAsif Ali Zardari is the 11th and current President of Pakistan and the Co-Chairman of the ruling Pakistan Peoples Party . He is also the widower of Benazir Bhutto, who served two nonconsecutive terms as Prime Minister....
, as Adviser to the Prime Minister on Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs. Brother of Babar Awan) - Firdous Ashiq AwanFirdous Ashiq AwanDr. Firdous Ashiq Awan , is a female Pakistani politician. She is currently serving as Federal Minister of Information and Broadcasting.- Political career :...
(Member of the National Assembly of Pakistan. Former Speaker of the National Assembly of Pakistan. Federal Minister of Information and BroadcastingMinister of Information and Broadcasting (Pakistan)The Minister of Information and Broadcasting is a person who is the head of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. This minister control that department of government. Currently the minister of Information and Broadcasting is Firdous Ashiq Awan....
) - Malik Zahoor AhmadMalik Zahoor AhmadMalik Zahoor Ahmad is a former Pakistan diplomat and Middle East expert. He is currently the Chief Coordinator of the Pakistan Trilateral Secretariat and the Director General of NAPHIS...
(Former Minister of Information at the Pakistani Embassy in Washington, D.C.Washington, D.C.Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, political analyst specialising in the Middle EastMiddle EastThe Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
and South AsiaSouth AsiaSouth Asia, also known as Southern Asia, is the southern region of the Asian continent, which comprises the sub-Himalayan countries and, for some authorities , also includes the adjoining countries to the west and the east...
, and CNNCNNCable News Network is a U.S. cable news channel founded in 1980 by Ted Turner. Upon its launch, CNN was the first channel to provide 24-hour television news coverage, and the first all-news television channel in the United States...
commentator) - Dr. Arif Alvi (Founding member and Secretary-General of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-InsafPakistan Tehreek-e-InsafThe Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf is a political party in Pakistan. PTI was founded by former Pakistani cricket captain and philanthropist Imran Khan. The party's slogan is "Justice, Humanity and Self Esteem".-Founding:...
) - Zain AwanZain AwanZain Awan is an Indian born international TV journalist of Arab origin. He has worked with The Times of India and various international TV channels including NHK and most recently Al Jazeera English....
(Indian journalist. Currently AsiaAsiaAsia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
and AustralasiaAustralasiaAustralasia is a region of Oceania comprising Australia, New Zealand, the island of New Guinea, and neighbouring islands in the Pacific Ocean. The term was coined by Charles de Brosses in Histoire des navigations aux terres australes...
correspondent for Al Jazeera English) - Malik Muhammad ArifMalik Muhammad ArifMalik Muhammad Arif [December 9, 1948 - April 16, 2010] was born in Quetta Pakistan. His father Malik Ghulam Hussain Awan, who belonged to Sialkot had migrated to Quetta in 1936 during Bristih India rule. He belonged to Awan tribes. His early life was spent in Quetta Cantt. He completed his early...
(Prominent cameraman and reporter who worked for the Pakistan Television CorporationPakistan Television CorporationThe Pakistan Television Corporation is Pakistan's national television broadcaster. The first live transmission of PTV began on November 26, 1964, in Lahore...
and SAMAA TVSAMAA TVSAMAA TV is a Pakistani news network.- Competitors :*Dunya News*Geo News*ARY News*Express News*Indus News*Waqt News- External links :*...
) - G.R.AWANG.R.AWANG.R.AWAN is Born Lahore and Belong to Muhallah Islami Bagh, Behra District Sargodha. Behra is a Historical place.Its History Starts from the Era of Prophet Noah .A person Named Soraj decender of Prophet Noah was King Of this Territory,...
(Journalist, scholar, and author. Publications he has contributed to, include Urdu DigestUrdu DigestUrdu Digest is a monthly magazine of Pakistan. It is first Digest of Pakistan, 1st print published on November 1960 in Lahore. Appearance is similar to the famous USA monthly, Reader's Digest. It is popular among upper, middle and lower middle classes of Pakistan. Its writings present a...
, Nawa-i-WaqtNawa-i-WaqtNawa-i-Waqt is an Urdu daily newspaper in Pakistan. Nawa-i-Waqt started its publishing on March 23, 1940 under the leadership of Hameed Nizami. The tradition is continued by his brother Majid Nizami. Nawa-i-Waqt is one of the largest circulating newspapers in the country...
, Daily MashriqDaily MashriqMashriq is an Urdu daily newspaper in Pakistan published from Peshawar, provincial headquarter of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa....
, Daily PakistanDaily PakistanDaily Pakistan is an Urdu daily newspaper in Pakistan. Mr. Mujib ur Rahman Shami is currently its chief editor and it has a circulation of over 500,000 copies per day. Daily Pakistan is currently published from Lahore, Karachi, Islamabad, Multan and Peshawar simultaneously. This Lahore-based daily...
, KhabrainKhabrainKhabrain is an Urdu daily newspaper Pakistan. It was started on 26 September, 1992 from Lahore, Punjab by Zia Shahid.-External links:* *...
and The Daily JangDaily JangThe Daily Jang is an Urdu newspaper based in Pakistan. It is the oldest newspaper of Pakistan in continuous publication since its foundation in 1939. Its current Group Chief Executive & Editor-in-Chief is Mir Shakil-ur-Rahman....
. He is the author of Ahmaqon Ki Jannat, Sheshoon Ka Maseeha, and Bena-e-Laila) - Dr. Akil N. AwanAkil N. AwanAkil N Awan is a British academic and the current RCUK Fellow in the ‘Contemporary History of Faith, Power and Terror’ and Lecturer in both International Terrorism and Contemporary Islam in the Department of History and the Department of Politics and International Relations, at Royal Holloway,...
(British academic and the current RCUK Fellow in the ‘Contemporary History of Faith, Power and Terror’ and Lecturer in both International Terrorism and Contemporary Islam in the Department of History and the Department of Politics and International Relations, at Royal Holloway, University of LondonRoyal Holloway, University of LondonRoyal Holloway, University of London is a constituent college of the University of London. The college has three faculties, 18 academic departments, and about 8,000 undergraduate and postgraduate students from over 130 different countries...
(RHUL)) - GeneralGeneralA general officer is an officer of high military rank, usually in the army, and in some nations, the air force. The term is widely used by many nations of the world, and when a country uses a different term, there is an equivalent title given....
Muhammad ShariffMuhammad ShariffGeneral Muhammad Shariff was retired four-star general in the Pakistan Army who was the first Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee since its inception in 1976 till his retirement in 1978...
(Four-star general. He served as the first Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff CommitteeJoint Chiefs of Staff Committee, PakistanThe Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee , is a military administrative body of high-ranking and senior uniformed military leaders and officers in the Pakistan Defense Forces who advises the civilian Government of Pakistan, National Security Council, and Defence Minister on important military matters...
, Pakistan, and was also the first Supreme Commandant of the Pakistani Armed Forces) - General Muhammad Iqbal Khan (Four-star general. Former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, Pakistan)
- Lieutenant GeneralLieutenant GeneralLieutenant General is a military rank used in many countries. The rank traces its origins to the Middle Ages where the title of Lieutenant General was held by the second in command on the battlefield, who was normally subordinate to a Captain General....
Akhtar Hussain Malik (Recipient of the Hilal-i-Jurat) - Lieutenant General Abdul Ali MalikAbdul Ali MalikLieutenant General Abdul Ali Malik was a Pakistan Army engineer officer and a high-ranking military general. He is a well known figure from the Chawinda tank battle during the 1965 Indo-Pakistani war and a member of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community.-Biography:...
(Recipient of the Hilal-i-Jurat) - Lieutenant General Ghulam Muhammad Malik (Former Commander of the X Corps (Pakistan)X Corps (Pakistan)The X Corps is an active military administrative corps of Pakistan Army, currently assigned in Rawalpindi, Punjab Province of Pakistan. Its one of two brigades are currently active in Kashmir. One of its brigades, the 111th Infantry Brigade in Rawalpindi, has been frequently involved in military...
) - Lieutenant General Muhammad SafdarMuhammad SafdarLieutenant General Muhammad Safdar is the former Governor of Punjab, the largest province of Pakistan, having served from 1999 to 2001. A career soldier, he was Chief of General Staff at the GHQ under Zia-ul-Haq's rule, ambassador to Morocco in Nawaz Sharif's first tenure, carried on as...
(Governor of Punjab (Pakistan)Governor of Punjab (Pakistan)The Governor of Punjab is the appointed head of state of the provincial government in Punjab, Pakistan. The governor is designated by the Prime Minister and is normally regarded a ceremonial post...
, 1999–2001, Former AmbassadorAmbassadorAn ambassador is the highest ranking diplomat who represents a nation and is usually accredited to a foreign sovereign or government, or to an international organization....
to MoroccoMoroccoMorocco , officially the Kingdom of Morocco , is a country located in North Africa. It has a population of more than 32 million and an area of 710,850 km², and also primarily administers the disputed region of the Western Sahara...
, and Former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Punjab) - Lieutenant General Abdul Qayyum (Former chairman of Pakistan Ordnance FactoriesPakistan Ordnance FactoriesPakistan Ordnance Factories was founded in 1951 with the primary objective of producing arms and ammunition for the armed forces of Pakistan...
, and former chairman of Pakistan Steel MillsPakistan Steel MillsThe Pakistan Steel Mills, PSM, is the state-owned producer of long rolled steel and heavy iron products in Karachi, Sindh Province of Pakistan. The Pakistan Steel Mill is the country's largest industrial undertaking having a production capacity of 1.1 million tonnes of steel...
. Recipient of the Hilal-i-ImtiazHilal-i-ImtiazThe Hilal-i-Imtiaz, English: Crescent of Excellence, Urdu: هلال ا متيا ز , is the second highest civilian award and honor given to both civilians and military officers of the State of Pakistan|Pakistan armed forces by the Government of Pakistan...
, Pakistan’s second highest civilian award, and the highest medal award that can be given to those who have attained the rank of Lieutenant General) - Major GeneralMajor GeneralMajor general or major-general is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. A major general is a high-ranking officer, normally subordinate to the rank of lieutenant general and senior to the ranks of brigadier and brigadier general...
Tajammul Hussain MalikTajammul Hussain MalikMajor General Tajammul Hussain Malik is a senior and former 2-star rank general officer in the Pakistan army and the former General Officer Commanding of the 23rd Division of Pakistan Army, retiring with the rank of Major-General...
(Commanding Officer of the 205th Infantry Brigade at the Battle of HilliBattle of HilliThe Battle of Hilli or the Battle of Bogra was a major battle fought in the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 and Bangladesh Liberation War. It is generally regarded as the most pitched battle that took place in East Pakistan, now Bangladesh...
, and former commander of the 23rd Infantry Division). - Major General Ameer Faisal Alavi (First General Officer Commanding of the elite Special Service Group of the Pakistan ArmyPakistan ArmyThe Pakistan Army is the branch of the Pakistani Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. The Pakistan Army came into existence after the Partition of India and the resulting independence of Pakistan in 1947. It is currently headed by General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani. The Pakistan...
) - MajorMajorMajor is a rank of commissioned officer, with corresponding ranks existing in almost every military in the world.When used unhyphenated, in conjunction with no other indicator of rank, the term refers to the rank just senior to that of an Army captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel. ...
Muhammad AkramMuhammad AkramMajor Muhammad Akram , was a Pakistan Army officer who was posthumously awarded the Pakistan military's highest decoration, the Nishan-e-Haider, for his actions during the 1971 Indo-Pak...
Shaheed (Recipient of the Nishan-e-HaiderNishan-e-HaiderNishan-e-Haider or Nishan-e-Hyder is the highest military decoration given by Pakistan . It was established in 1957 after Pakistan became a Republic, however, it was instituted retrospectively from Independence in 1947...
, Pakistan's highest military award) - Lance Naik Sher Shah (VC)Sher Shah (VC)Sher Shah Awan VC was a British Indian Army soldier from the village of Chakrala, about 30km east from Mianwali, Punjab region that is now Pakistan, who received the Victoria Cross which is the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British...
Awan (Recipient of the Victoria CrossVictoria CrossThe Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories....
, the highest recognition for valour “in the face of the enemy” that was awarded to British EmpireBritish EmpireThe British Empire comprised the dominions, colonies, protectorates, mandates and other territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom. It originated with the overseas colonies and trading posts established by England in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. At its height, it was the...
personnel) - SubedarSubedarSubedar is a historical rank in the Indian Army, ranking below British commissioned officers and above non-commissioned officers. The rank was otherwise equivalent to a British lieutenant and was introduced in the East India Company's presidency armies, to make it easier for British officers to...
HajjiHajjiHajji or El-Hajj, is an honorific title given to a Muslim person who has successfully completed the Hajj to Mecca, and is often used to refer to an elder, since it can take time to accumulate the wealth to fund the travel. The title is placed before a person's name...
Fateh Khan AwanFateh Khan AwanHaji Sub. Malik Fateh Khan Awan Late belongs to Ahmed Gul Khel clan of Sighaal Awan tribe. He was born at Dhoke Ahmed Gul Khel which is part of Kalri Viallage near Rikhi in Namal Valley District Mianwali just 5 Kilometer off Rawalpindi-Mianwali road....
(Recipient of the Indian Order of Merit and the Italy StarItaly StarThe Italy Star was a campaign medal of the British Commonwealth, awarded for service in World War II.The medal was awarded for operational service in Italy, Greece, Yugoslavia, Pantelleria, the Aegean area and Dodecanese Islands, and Elba at any time between 11 June 1943 and 8 May 1945...
) - Sultan BahuSultan BahuSultan Bahu was a Muslim Sufi and saint, who founded the Sarwari Qadiri Sufi order.Sultan Bahu belonged to the Awan tribe, and was born in Anga, Soon Valley, Sakesar . Like many other Sufi saints of South Asia, Sultan Bahu was a prolific writer, with more than forty books on Sufism attributed to...
(Sufi poet-saint. Founded the Sarwari Qadiri Sufi order) - Maulana Ameer Mohammad Akram AwanAkram AwanAmeer Muhammad Akram Awan is Shaikh of the Islamic Naqshbandia Owaisiah of Tasawwuf/Sufism. He is a mufassir ; his tafseer is “Israr-ul-Tanzeel”. He is a lecturer, a leader, a philosopher, and a reformist...
(Famed Sufi, Shaikh of the Naqshbandia OwaisiahNaqshbandia OwaisiahNaqshbandi Owaisia Order is one of the major Sufi orders of Islam. Formed in 1380, the order is considered by some to be a "sober" order known for its silent dhikr rather than the vocalized forms common in other orders.-Description:The Naqshbandi order is notable as it is the only Sufism order...
Order, mufassir, philosopher and reformist, Dean of the Siqarah Education System, and head of a welfare organisation, the Al-Falah Foundation) - Shaykh Muhammad Imdad Hussain Pirzada (Leading Muslim scholar, mufassir, intellectual)
- Ahmad Nadeem QasimiAhmad Nadeem QasimiAhmad Nadeem Qasmi, PP, SI was a legendary Urdu and English language Pakistani poet, journalist, literary critic, dramatist and short story author. With some 50 books of poetry, fiction, criticism, journalism and art to his credit, Qasmi was a major figure in contemporary Urdu literature...
(Renowned author, poet and journalist. Founded, published and edited the prestigious literary journal FunoonFunoonFunoon is the landmark Urdu journal published by Ahmad Nadeem Qasimi from Lahore, Pakistan since 1963. In past four decades, Funoon has proved to be one of the most respected literary magazines in the history of Urdu language....
, served as Secretary of the Progressive Writers Movement and was a recipient of the President’s Pride of Performance, the Pakistan Academy of Letters Lifetime Achievement award, as well as the Sitara-i-Imtiaz for Literature) - Dr. Naheed QasimiNaheed QasimiDr Naheed Qasimi is a Pakistani writer and literary critic; she serves as Head of the Department of Urdu, Samnabad College, Lahore. She is author of several books of literary criticism, and has edited collections of poetry by her father Ahmad Nadeem Qasimi.-References:...
(Writer and literary critic. Daughter of Ahmad Nadeem Qasimi) - Wasif Ali WasifWasif Ali WasifWasif Ali Wasif was a teacher, writer, poet and sufi intellectual from Pakistan. He was famous for his unique literary style. He used to write short pieces of prose on topics like love, life, fortune, fear, hope, expectation, promise, prayer, happiness, sorrow and so on. He was the regular...
(Eminent Sufi author and poet) - Dr. Rafiq AnjumRafiq AnjumA Paediatrician by profession, Dr Rafique Anjum alternate spelling Dr Anjum Awan is a promising Gojri poet, scholar and researcher of Jammu & Kashmir.He received State level award for Excellence in Literature in 2007 and is a member of General Council of Jammu and Kashmir Academy of Art, Culture...
Awan (GojriGojriGojri, also known as Gujari is a variety of Rajasthani spoken by the Gujjars of Northern-Pakistan, India and Afghanistan.Rajasthani, Marwari and Gujarati are evolved from Gujari. The language was known as Gujjar bhakha or Gurjar Apabhramsha lately. It was used as literary language as early as 12th...
poet, scholar and researcher. Recipient of the Jammu and Kashmir Academy of Art, Culture and LanguagesJammu and Kashmir Academy of Art, Culture and LanguagesThe Jammu and Kashmir Academy of Art, Culture and Languages is a Government-supported organization dedicated to the promotion of regional languages, art and culture including theatre....
Best Book Award in 1995 & 2007) - Saadat AwanSaadat AwanSaadat Awan is a Washington DC native, by way of Pakistan and Afghanistan. He is a member of The Cassettes, Metropolitan band, and Thievery Corporation side projects International Velvet and I.C.U...
(Pakistani AmericanPakistani AmericanA Pakistani American is any citizen or resident of the United States who has Pakistani heritage.- History in the United States :Muslim immigrants from areas that are now part of Pakistan have been migrating to America and first entered the United States as early as the eighteenth century, working...
musician and vocalist, member of The CassettesThe CassettesThe Cassettes are a Washington, DC based "Mystic Country"/Steampunk band formed in 1999.-History:...
and the Metropolitan bandMetropolitan bandMetropolitan are a four-piece indie rock group from Washington, D.C., USA.Metropolitan began as a collaboration between guitarists John Masters and Aidan Coughlan in late 1998, and they recorded and released their debut record, "Side Effects," in 1999...
) - Samina AwanSamina AwanSamina Awan is a British-born actress best known for her role as Naseema in Love + Hate and has been nominated for BIFA.-Life and career:...
(British Pakistani actress. Nominated for a British Independent Film Award for Most Promising Newcomer for her starring role in Love + HateLove + HateLove + Hate is a 2005 drama film directed by Dominic Savage.-Plot:Love + Hate is a modern love story set across the racial divide in a Northern town. Adam has been brought up in a home and community that fosters racism. Naseema is a girl from the same town...
) - Veena MalikVeena MalikVeena Malik is a Pakistani actress, model and comedienne. Over a span of ten years, she has worked with news channels and in movies, garnering accolades and acclaim for most of her performances. Malik has since established herself as a leading actress of Urdu cinema...
(Pakistani actress, model and comedienne) - Shoaib MalikShoaib MalikShoaib Malik is a Pakistani cricket player and former captain. He made his One-Day International debut in 1999 against the West Indies and his Test debut in 2001 against Bangladesh. He has taken over 100 ODI wickets, and has a batting average in the mid 30s in both Test and ODI cricket...
(International cricketerCricketerA cricketer is a person who plays the sport of cricket. Official and long-established cricket publications prefer the traditional word "cricketer" over the rarely used term "cricket player"....
, and former captain of the Pakistan national cricket team. Married to Indian tennisTennisTennis is a sport usually played between two players or between two teams of two players each . Each player uses a racket that is strung to strike a hollow rubber ball covered with felt over a net into the opponent's court. Tennis is an Olympic sport and is played at all levels of society at all...
player, Sania MirzaSania MirzaSania Mirza is a professional Indian tennis player. She began her tennis career in 2003 and is well known for her powerful forehand ground strokes. She is the first ever Indian to break into the top 30 WTA rankings...
) - Saleem MalikSaleem MalikSaleem Malik is a former Pakistani cricketer who played between 1981/82 and 1999, at one stage captaining the Pakistani cricket team. He was a right-handed wristy middle order batsman who was strong square of the wicket. His legbreak bowling was also quite effective...
(Former international cricketer, and former captain of the Pakistan national cricket team) - Mohammad AkramMohammad AkramMohammad Akram is a Pakistani right arm fast-medium bowler in cricket, he plays for Surrey County Cricket Club. He played in 9 Test matches and 23 One Day International matches for Pakistan between 1995–1996 and 2000-2001.He is 6'2 tall and Akram is nicknamed Haji...
(Former Pakistani international cricketer) - Akhtar AyubAkhtar AyubAkhtar Ayub is a cricketer.He played in the 2006 U-19 Cricket World Cup for Pakistan in Sri Lanka....
(Pakistani first-class cricketer, who was also a member of the Pakistan U-19 cricket team that won the 2006 U/19 Cricket World Cup) - Imran AwanImran AwanImran Pervez Awan is a Pakistani born American cricketer. A right-handed batsman and right-arm fast-medium bowler, he has played for the United States national cricket team since 2000.-Biography:...
(International cricketer of Pakistani origin, who has represented the United States national cricket team) - Qazi Mian Muhammad AmjadQazi Mian Muhammad AmjadQazi Mian Muhammad Amjad , was an eminent legal scholar of Qur'an, Hadith, and the Hanafi school of Islamic law . As a master of all the branches of contemporary knowledge of Islam, he was an acknowledged authority on Muslim jurisprudence...
(Aristocrat and eminent legal scholar of the Qur'anQur'anThe Quran , also transliterated Qur'an, Koran, Alcoran, Qur’ān, Coran, Kuran, and al-Qur’ān, is the central religious text of Islam, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God . It is regarded widely as the finest piece of literature in the Arabic language...
, HadithHadithThe term Hadīth is used to denote a saying or an act or tacit approval or criticism ascribed either validly or invalidly to the Islamic prophet Muhammad....
, and the Hanafi school of Islamic lawShariaSharia law, is the moral code and religious law of Islam. Sharia is derived from two primary sources of Islamic law: the precepts set forth in the Quran, and the example set by the Islamic prophet Muhammad in the Sunnah. Fiqh jurisprudence interprets and extends the application of sharia to...
) - Qazi Mazhar QayyumQazi Mazhar QayyumQazi Mazhar Qayyum 'Raees-Azam Naushera', came from a qadi's family which had, since the 16th century, been prominent among the landed aristocracy of the Soon Valley. He belonged to Awans tribe of ancient repute. He was the famous "Hakeem" , especially of Muslim medicine and unani medicine of Soon...
(Raees-Azam NausheraNausheraNaushera, also Naoshera, Urdu نوشهره is a village and one of the 51 Union Councils of Khushab District in the Punjab Province of Pakistan.. Naushera is the main town of Soon Valley. Situated in the heart of Soon Valley, Naushera is surrounded by high hills, beautiful lakes, jungles, natural pools...
. Eldest son of Qazi Mian Muhammad Amjad. Renowned HakeemHakim (title)' and ' are two Arabic titles derived from the same triliteral ḤKM "appoint, choose, judge". Compare the Hebrew title hakham.-Hakīm :...
, who wielded considerable political influence in the Punjab, prior to and following creation of Pakistan) - Khan SahibKhan SahibKhan Sahib - a compound of khan and sahib - was a formal title of respect and honour, which was conferred exclusively on Muslim, Parsi and Jewish subjects of the British Indian Empire...
Qazi Zafar HussainQazi Zafar HussainKhan Sahib, Qazi Zafar Hussain came from a qadi's family which had, since the 16th century, been prominent among the landed aristocracy of the Soon Valley. He belonged to Awans tribe of ancient repute. He was awarded the title of Khan Sahib by the British Crown. This was a formal title, a compound...
(Youngest son of Qazi Mian Muhammad Amjad and brother of Qazi Mazhar Qayyum. Awarded the title of Khan Sahib by the British Crown) - Lieutenant ColonelLieutenant colonelLieutenant colonel is a rank of commissioned officer in the armies and most marine forces and some air forces of the world, typically ranking above a major and below a colonel. The rank of lieutenant colonel is often shortened to simply "colonel" in conversation and in unofficial correspondence...
Qazi Altaf HussainQazi Altaf HussainLieutenant Colonel Qazi Altaf Hussain was a Lt. Colonel of 11 Frontier Force Regiment and Commandant of Zhob Militia, Quetta. He served British Indian Army and Pakistan Army with gallantry. He was famous for his bravery in Indo-Pakistani War of 1965 where he commanded his regiment...
(Eldest son of Qazi Zafar Hussain. Served in the 11th Prince Albert Victor's Own Cavalry (Frontier Force)11th Prince Albert Victor's Own Cavalry (Frontier Force)The 11th Cavalry also known as PAVO Cavalry, is an armoured regiment of the Pakistan Army. It was previously known as the 11th Prince Albert Victor's Own Cavalry and was a regular cavalry regiment of the old British Indian Army...
Regiment, and former CommandantCommandantCommandant is a senior title often given to the officer in charge of a large training establishment or academy. This usage is common in anglophone nations...
of the ZhobZhob-Roads:Zhob is 333 kilometers from Quetta, 225 kilometers from Dera Ismail Khan. However, the road linking with Dera Ismail Khan is for most part fair nowadays track passing through water streams and almost complete road is metalloid....
Militia)
On a rural level, Awans belong to the Zamindar or landowning class.
According to Sir Malcolm Darling, the Awans are the:
"Bravest of soldiers, toughest of cultivators and matchless as tent peggers."
Christophe Jaffrelot states:
"The Awan deserve close attention, because of their historical importance and, above all, because they settled in the west, right up to the edge of Baluchi and Pashtun territory. Legend has it that their origins go back to Imam Ali and his second wife, Hanafiya. Historians describe them as valiant warriors and farmers who imposed their supremacy on the Janjua in part of the Salt Range, and established large colonies all along the Indus to Sind, and a densely populated centre not far from Lahore
Lahore
Lahore is the capital of the Pakistani province of Punjab and the second largest city in the country. With a rich and fabulous history dating back to over a thousand years ago, Lahore is no doubt Pakistan's cultural capital. One of the most densely populated cities in the world, Lahore remains a...
."
Many Awan families to this day live on and cultivate land, which their ancestors have held for centuries. They often carry titles typical to Punjabis
Punjabi people
The Punjabi people , ਪੰਜਾਬੀ ), also Panjabi people, are an Indo-Aryan group from South Asia. They are the second largest of the many ethnic groups in South Asia. They originate in the Punjab region, which has been been the location of some of the oldest civilizations in the world including, the...
who own tracts of ancestral land such as Malik, Chaudhry and Khan
Khan (title)
Khan is an originally Altaic and subsequently Central Asian title for a sovereign or military ruler, widely used by medieval nomadic Turko-Mongol tribes living to the north of China. 'Khan' is also seen as a title in the Xianbei confederation for their chief between 283 and 289...
. The modern surname system often results in members of the same family with different surnames, some choosing their position as a surname i.e. Malik or Chaudhry, and some choosing their tribal name of Awan. Though the origins of the Awans may be a matter of some debate, it has long been recognised that the composition of the tribe is wholly Muslim. The most extensive study of the tribe was conducted during the era of the British Raj
British Raj
British Raj was the British rule in the Indian subcontinent between 1858 and 1947; The term can also refer to the period of dominion...
, and as a result of census data collated during this period, the Awan tribe was invariably classified as being exclusively Muslim. In the opening to his account of the Awan tribe, H. A. Rose stated:
"The Awans are an important tribe, exclusively Muhammadan."
Similarly, John Henry Hutton has said of the Awans:
"They are exclusively Muslim and probably the descendants of some of the earlier Muslim invaders of the tenth century or earlier."
Geographical distribution
The bulk of the Awan tribe is to be found in the Punjab (Pakistan). Its population is concentrated in the districts of Rawalpindi, Attock, Chakwal, Jhelum, SargodhaSargodha
Sargodha is a city in the Sargodha District of Punjab province, Pakistan.Sargodha is located in the northwest of Pakistan. It is the eleventh largest city of Pakistan and also known as Pakistan's best citrus-producing area. It is an agricultural trade centre with various industries...
, Khushab
Khushab
Khushab is a city of Khushab District in the Punjab province of Pakistan. The city serves as the headquarters of Khushab Tehsil an administrative subdivision of the district....
(particularly the Soon Valley
Soon Valley
The 'Soon Valley' The 'Soon Valley' The 'Soon Valley' (Urdu: The 'Soon Valley' ([[Urdu]]: The 'Soon Valley' ([[Urdu]]: [[وادئ سون)]] or Soon Sakesar is one of the famous valleys of [[Pakistan]] situated in the central [[Punjab (Pakistan)|Punjab]] province. The Valley is situated in the north west...
), Mianwali
Mianwali
Mianwali is the capital city of Mianwali District and situated in the north-west of Punjab province, Pakistan. The city is located on the eastern bank of the Indus River...
(Awan clans residing here are believed to have been almost the sole occupants of the Mianwali Salt Range Tract for over six hundred years), Gujranwala
Gujranwala
Gujranwala is a industrial city in the north-east of the Punjab province. It is the sixth largest city in Pakistan with a population of approximately 2,661,360 as on 24 June 2011...
, Hafizabad
Hafizabad
Hafizabad is a city and tehsil of Hafizabad District in the Punjab province of Pakistan. It is situated at 32° 4′ N. and 73° 41′ E.- History :...
, Gujrat
Gujrat
Gujrat is a city in Pakistan. It is the capital of Gujrat District and the Gujrat Tehsil subdivision in the Punjab Province. People living in Gujrat refer to themselves as Gujratis, which sometimes leads to confusion with people from the Indian state of Gujarat which adjoins Pakistan...
, Sialkot, Narowal
Narowal
Narowal is a city in the northeast of the Punjab province of Pakistan. The city is the capital of Narowal District and tehsil. It is situated on the banks of Ravi River about 4–5 km from the Indian border.-Etymology:...
and Layyah
Layyah
Layyah, also spelt Leiah , is the capital city of the Layyah District in the Punjab province of Pakistan. It is located at 30°58'0N 70°56'0E with an altitude of 143 metres .-Old History:...
, and is also scattered throughout the rest of Punjab.
Tracts in regions such as Attock, Jhelum and Mianwali are so heavily populated by Awans, that they have long been referred to as Awankari. Pre-Partition, an Awankari existed in Jalandhar and an Awan bara in Hoshiarpur
Hoshiarpur
Hoshiarpur is a city and a municipal council in Hoshiarpur district in the Indian state of Punjab. It was founded, according to tradition, during the early part of the fourth century. In 1809 it was occupied by the forces of Maharaja Karanvir Singh and was united into the greater state of Punjab....
. Awankari is also a dialect of Punjabi
Punjabi language
Punjabi is an Indo-Aryan language spoken by inhabitants of the historical Punjab region . For Sikhs, the Punjabi language stands as the official language in which all ceremonies take place. In Pakistan, Punjabi is the most widely spoken language...
. Though these areas are their ancestral homelands and many own farms and other property there, numerous Awans live in the major cities of Pakistan such as Lahore (where a section of the Awan tribe has established a settlement, aptly named Awan Town
Awan Town
Awan Town is a housing society in Lahore, Pakistan. It is an approved housing society by Lahore Development Authority. It is located on Multan Road, opposite to Allama Iqbal Town and next to Hassan Town. It is divided into several blocks, mainly Rizwan Block and Madina Block. Other blocks are...
), Islamabad
Islamabad
Islamabad is the capital of Pakistan and the tenth largest city in the country. Located within the Islamabad Capital Territory , the population of the city has grown from 100,000 in 1951 to 1.7 million in 2011...
, and Karachi
Karachi
Karachi is the largest city, main seaport and the main financial centre of Pakistan, as well as the capital of the province of Sindh. The city has an estimated population of 13 to 15 million, while the total metropolitan area has a population of over 18 million...
.
The Awan tribe is also to be found in great numbers in Khyber Pukhtunkhwa, particularly in the Hazara Division
Hazara Division
On the dissolution of West Pakistan in 1970, Hazara District and the two tribal agencies were merged to form the new Hazara Division with its capital at Abbottabad...
, Peshawar
Peshawar
Peshawar is the capital of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and the administrative center and central economic hub for the Federally Administered Tribal Areas of Pakistan....
valley and the districts of Nowshera
Nowshera District
Nowshera is a district in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province of Pakistan - the principal city is Nowshera. Nowshera District is divided into 47 Union Councils and 5 provincial seats....
, Kohat
Kohat
Kohat is a medium sized town in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan. It is located at 33°35'13N 71°26'29E with an altitude of 489 metres and is the capital of Kohat District. The town centres around a British-era fort, various bazaars, and a military cantonment. A British-built narrow gauge...
, Abbottabad
Abbottabad
Abbottabad is a city located in the Hazara region of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, in Pakistan. The city is situated in the Orash Valley, northeast of the capital Islamabad and east of Peshawar at an altitude of and is the capital of the Abbottabad District...
, Haripur, Mansehra
Mansehra
Mansehra city is located at in Mansehra District, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan. It is very near to Abbottabad city. It is a major stop for tourists on the Karakoram Highway which leads to China...
, Bannu
Bannu
Bannu is the principal city of the Bannu District in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province of Pakistan. It is an important road junction and market city. Bannu is a very old city, founded in ancient times; however, the present location of the downtown Bannu was founded by Sir Herbert Edwardes in 1848,...
, Swat and Mardan
Mardan
Mardan , known as The city of hospitality, is a city and headquarters of Mardan District in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province, Pakistan. It is the de facto headquarters of the Yousafzai tribe and the second most populous city in the province, located at 34°12'0N 72°1'60E and an altitude of in the south...
. A smaller portion of the tribe resides in Azad Kashmir
Azad Kashmir
Azad Jammu and Kashmir or Azad Kashmir for short, is the southernmost political entity within the Pakistani-administered part of the former princely state of Jammu and Kashmir...
, and to a lesser extent is also present in the Pakistani provinces of Sindh and Balochistan
Balochistan
Balochistan or Baluchistan is a region which covers parts of Afghanistan, Iran and Pakistan. It can also refer to one of several modern and historical territories within that region:...
. In addition, Awans can also be found in Afghanistan and some parts of India.
See also
- Tribes and clans of the Pothohar PlateauTribes and clans of the Pothohar PlateauThe Potohar plateau, or sometimes pronounced Pothohar Plateau , is a large region of plateau situated in northern Punjab, Pakistan. It is bounded on the east by the Jhelum River, on the west by the Indus River, on the north by the Kala Chitta Range and the Margalla Hills, and on the south by the...
- Sighaal AwanSighaal AwanSighaal Awan is a clan of the Awan Tribe of Awankari Region. Sighaals are mainly found in Namal Valley, in Mianwali District, Punjab, Pakistan and this clan is one of the biggest clans of the area. There are two major clans of Namal Valley, the Sighaal and Ghulchaal.Sighaals are residents of Mauza...
- HeratHeratHerāt is the capital of Herat province in Afghanistan. It is the third largest city of Afghanistan, with a population of about 397,456 as of 2006. It is situated in the valley of the Hari River, which flows from the mountains of central Afghanistan to the Karakum Desert in Turkmenistan...
- Ghazni ProvinceGhazni ProvinceGhazni is one of the thirty-four provinces of Afghanistan. Babur records in his Babur-Nama that Ghazni is also known as Zabulistan It is in the east of the country. Its capital is Ghazni City...
- Tent peggingTent peggingTent pegging is a cavalry sport of ancient origin, and is one of only ten equestrian disciplines officially recognised by the International Federation for Equestrian Sports. Used narrowly, the term refers to a specific mounted game with ground targets...
External links
- http://awans.com.pk/books/baab-ul-awan, Tareekh Bab-Ul-Awan (A History of the Awan Tribe), Muhammad Noor-ud-Din Sulemani
- http://www.archive.org/details/AwanAResearchArticleOnTheOrginAndHistoryOfAwanTribe, Awan: A research article on the origin and history of the Awan tribe, Malik Sultan Mahmood
- http://www.archive.org/details/Zia-e-soonAJournalOfGovernmentCollegeNausheraDedicatedToTheHistory, Zia-e-Soon: A journal of Government College Naushera, dedicated to the history of the Awan tribe