Nazoo Anaa
Encyclopedia
Nazo Tokhi, known mostly as Nazo Ana or Nazoo Anaa, (1651 – 1717) was a prominent Pashtun
female poet
and a literary figure of the Pashto language
. Mother of the famous early-18th century Afghan King Mir Wais
, she grew up in an influential family in the Kandahar
region. Nazo Tokhi is remembered as a brave woman warrior
in the history of Afghanistan
, who eventually became the legendary "Mother of Afghan Nation".
of Afghanistan, into a powerful and wealthy Pashtun
family. Her father, Sultan Malakhai Tokhi, was a prominent head of the Tokhi
Pashtun tribe
and governor of the Ghazni
region. She was married to Salim Khan Hotak, son of Karam Khan. The famous Afghan ruler of the Hotaki dynasty, Mir Wais Hotak
, was her son, and Mahmud Hotaki and Hussein Hotaki
were her grandsons.
Nazo Anaa became a learned poet and courteous person, people knew her by her loving and caring. Nazo's father paid close attention to her education and upbringing. He induced training and full education from the learned personalities of the time in Kandahar. She eventually became the legendary "Mother of Afghan Nation", and gained authority through her poetry and upholding of the Pashtunwali
code. She called for Pashtunwali to be the law of the confederacy of the Pashtun tribes
, and she arbitrated conflicts between Ghilzai
and Sadozai Pashtun tribes so as to encourage their alliance against the Persian Safavid
rulers. Her contribution as a poet is uniquely considered invaluable even today.
was born.
.
among the Afghans. There are a number of schools and other institutions named after her throughout Afghanistan.
Pashtun people
Pashtuns or Pathans , also known as ethnic Afghans , are an Eastern Iranic ethnic group with populations primarily between the Hindu Kush mountains in Afghanistan and the Indus River in Pakistan...
female poet
Poet
A poet is a person who writes poetry. A poet's work can be literal, meaning that his work is derived from a specific event, or metaphorical, meaning that his work can take on many meanings and forms. Poets have existed since antiquity, in nearly all languages, and have produced works that vary...
and a literary figure of the Pashto language
Pashto language
Pashto , known as Afghani in Persian and Pathani in Punjabi , is the native language of the indigenous Pashtun people or Afghan people who are found primarily between an area south of the Amu Darya in Afghanistan and...
. Mother of the famous early-18th century Afghan King Mir Wais
Mir Wais Hotak
Hajji Mirwais Khan Hotak, also known as Mir Vais Ghilzai , was an influential tribal chief of the Ghilzai Pashtuns from Kandahar, Afghanistan, who founded the Hotaki dynasty that ruled a wide area in Persia and Afghanistan from 1709 to 1738...
, she grew up in an influential family in the Kandahar
Kandahar
Kandahar is the second largest city in Afghanistan, with a population of about 512,200 as of 2011. It is the capital of Kandahar Province, located in the south of the country at about 1,005 m above sea level...
region. Nazo Tokhi is remembered as a brave woman warrior
Woman warrior
The portrayal of women warriors in literature and popular culture is a subject of study in history, literary studies, film studies, folklore and mythology, gender studies, and cultural studies.-Archaeology:...
in the history of Afghanistan
History of Afghanistan
The written history of Afghanistan can be traced back to the Achaemenid Empire ca. 500 BCE, although evidence indicates that an advanced degree of urbanized culture has existed in the land since between 3000 and 2000 BCE. Alexander the Great and his Macedonian army arrived to Afghanistan in 330 BCE...
, who eventually became the legendary "Mother of Afghan Nation".
Early life and family background
Nazo Tokhi was born in or about 1651 in Spogmayiz Gul near Thazi, Kandahar ProvinceKandahar Province
Kandahar or Qandahar is one of the largest of the thirty-four provinces of Afghanistan. It is located in southern Afghanistan, between Helmand, Oruzgan and Zabul provinces. Its capital is the city of Kandahar, which is located on the Arghandab River. The province has a population of nearly...
of Afghanistan, into a powerful and wealthy Pashtun
Pashtun people
Pashtuns or Pathans , also known as ethnic Afghans , are an Eastern Iranic ethnic group with populations primarily between the Hindu Kush mountains in Afghanistan and the Indus River in Pakistan...
family. Her father, Sultan Malakhai Tokhi, was a prominent head of the Tokhi
Tokhi
Tokhi is an influential Ghilzai Pashtun tribe found throughout southern, western Afghanistan. In the Pashtun tribal hierarchy Tokhi is one of the most respected tribes.They are wholly powerful, rich and widely considered to be one of the most brave, warlike and tough Pashtun tribes, concurrently...
Pashtun tribe
Pashtun tribes
The Pashtun people are the largest ethnic group in Afghanistan and the second largest in Pakistan. Pashtun, tribes are divided into four supertribal confederacies: the Arbanee , Betanee , Gharghasht, and Karlanee .Traditionally, according to folklore, all Pashtuns are said to have descended, at...
and governor of the 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...
region. She was married to Salim Khan Hotak, son of Karam Khan. The famous Afghan ruler of the Hotaki dynasty, Mir Wais Hotak
Mir Wais Hotak
Hajji Mirwais Khan Hotak, also known as Mir Vais Ghilzai , was an influential tribal chief of the Ghilzai Pashtuns from Kandahar, Afghanistan, who founded the Hotaki dynasty that ruled a wide area in Persia and Afghanistan from 1709 to 1738...
, was her son, and Mahmud Hotaki and Hussein Hotaki
Hussein Hotaki
Shah Hussain Hotaki,, son of Mirwais Hotak, was the fifth and final ruler of the Hotaki dynasty. An ethnic Pashtun from the Ghilzai tribe, he succeeded to the throne after the death of his brother Mahmud Hotaki in 1725...
were her grandsons.
Nazo Anaa became a learned poet and courteous person, people knew her by her loving and caring. Nazo's father paid close attention to her education and upbringing. He induced training and full education from the learned personalities of the time in Kandahar. She eventually became the legendary "Mother of Afghan Nation", and gained authority through her poetry and upholding of the Pashtunwali
Pashtunwali
Pashtunwali or Pakhtunwali is a non-written ethical code and traditional lifestyle which the indigenous Pashtun people from Afghanistan and Pakistan follow. Some in the Indian subcontinent refer to it as "Pathanwali". Its meaning may also be interpreted as "the way of the Pashtuns" or "the code of...
code. She called for Pashtunwali to be the law of the confederacy of the Pashtun tribes
Pashtun tribes
The Pashtun people are the largest ethnic group in Afghanistan and the second largest in Pakistan. Pashtun, tribes are divided into four supertribal confederacies: the Arbanee , Betanee , Gharghasht, and Karlanee .Traditionally, according to folklore, all Pashtuns are said to have descended, at...
, and she arbitrated conflicts between Ghilzai
Ghilzai
Ghilzai are the largest Pashtun tribal confederacy found in Afghanistan and Pakistan. They are also known historically as Ghilji, Khilji, Ghalji, Ghilzye, and possibly Gharzai...
and Sadozai Pashtun tribes so as to encourage their alliance against the Persian Safavid
Safavid dynasty
The Safavid dynasty was one of the most significant ruling dynasties of Iran. They ruled one of the greatest Persian empires since the Muslim conquest of Persia and established the Twelver school of Shi'a Islam as the official religion of their empire, marking one of the most important turning...
rulers. Her contribution as a poet is uniquely considered invaluable even today.
Poetry
Below is a piece of the poetry works of Nazo Tokhi.Special dream
It is believed that Nazo Ana had a special dream on the night her son Mir Wais HotakMir Wais Hotak
Hajji Mirwais Khan Hotak, also known as Mir Vais Ghilzai , was an influential tribal chief of the Ghilzai Pashtuns from Kandahar, Afghanistan, who founded the Hotaki dynasty that ruled a wide area in Persia and Afghanistan from 1709 to 1738...
was born.
Death
Nazo Ana died in or about 1717 at the approximate age of 66, two years after her son's (Mirwais') death. After Nazo Anaa's death, her cause was picked up by Zarghona Anaa, the mother of Afghan Emir Ahmad Shah DurraniAhmad Shah Durrani
Ahmad Shah Durrani , also known as Ahmad Shāh Abdālī and born as Ahmad Khān, was the founder of the Durrani Empire in 1747 and is regarded by many to be the founder of the modern state of Afghanistan.Ahmad Khan enlisted as a young soldier in the military of the Afsharid kingdom and quickly rose...
.
Legacy
Nazo Ana is revered as a female heroHero
A hero , in Greek mythology and folklore, was originally a demigod, their cult being one of the most distinctive features of ancient Greek religion...
among the Afghans. There are a number of schools and other institutions named after her throughout Afghanistan.
See also
- TokhiTokhiTokhi is an influential Ghilzai Pashtun tribe found throughout southern, western Afghanistan. In the Pashtun tribal hierarchy Tokhi is one of the most respected tribes.They are wholly powerful, rich and widely considered to be one of the most brave, warlike and tough Pashtun tribes, concurrently...
- Malalai AnaaMalalai AnaaMalalai of Maiwand , also known as Malalai or Malalai Anaa is a national folk hero of Afghanistan who rallied the Pashtun army against the British troops at the 1880 Battle of Maiwand...
- Hotaki dynasty
- Pashto literature and poetryPashto literature and poetry-Notable figures:* Amir Kror Suri, son of Amir Polad Suri, is an 8th century folk hero and king from the Ghor region of Afghanistan.* Khushal Khan Khattak, 17th century Pashto poet-warrior from Akora Khattak in today's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan....