Mardan
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[edit] History
The area constituting Mardan district is a part of the Peshawar valley, which first appears in the history as part of the Gandhara kingdom. After invasion of Alexander the Great, the mists of obscurity began to clear. The armies of Alexander reached the Indus valley by two separate routes, one direct through the Khyber Pass and the other led by Alexander himself through Kunar, Bajaur, Swat, and Buner in 326 BCE. After Alexander's departure, the valley came under the rule of Chandragupta, who ruled the valley from 297 to 321 BCE. During the reign of the Buddhist emperor Asoka, the grand-son of Chandragupta, Buddhism was the religion, of the Peshawar valley. The valley saw the revival of Brahmanism after the Greeks took over in the time of king Mehanda. The Scythians and Indians followed and retained control of the valley till the 7th century CE.
Before the close of the 7th century, the Afghans appeared in the valley. At that time the Peshawar valley was under control of the rulers at Lahore. The Afghans joined the Gakkhars who held the country between the Indus and the Jhelum rivers and compelled the Lahore rulers to cede to them the hill country west of the Indus and south of the Kabul river. In the 10th century the area came under the control of Sultan Sabuktgin who defeated Raja Jaipal, the Hindu ruler of Lahore. Sabuktgin's son Sultan Mahmud of Ghazni made this area as the rallying point for his numerous raids into the interior of India. In the 12th century the Pathans of Ghor overthrew the Ghaznavis and the era of Ghaznavis came to an end. In 1505 the Mughal emperor Babar invaded the area through Khyber Pass. It remained under the rule of the Mughal emperors up to the time of Aurangzeb. During his regime the Pathan tribes revolted and Aurangzeb himself led his army to re-establish his authority but after a hard struggle which lasted for two years(1673-75) he was compelled to agree to the terms which left the Pathans practically independent. In 1738 came the surrender of Peshawar to Nadir Shah by which all the territory west of the Indus, which included present Mardan district was ceded by the Mughals to Nadir Shah.
Ranjit Singh took in Attock 1814 and Peshawar in 1818. He left Hari Singh Mfl1a in command and withdrew himself to Lahore. This valley remained under the :control of the Sikhs up to 1849. They were defeated by the British in the Second Sikh War. Major Lawrence was appointed as the first Deputy Commissioner of Peshawar. From that time Peshawar became an administrative district under the Punjab* Government. At that time the present Mardan district was a part of Peshawar district. In 1909 Frontier 'Province was constituted and in 1937, Peshawar district was bifurcated into Peshawar and Mardan district.
[edit] Ethnicity and tribes
Mardan district is mainly inhabited by the Yusafzai Pathans but the Lundkhwar valley has sizeable Khattak population. The origin of the Pathans is traced back to two brothers Khakai and Ghori who gave their names to the two divisions of the tribes settled near Qandhar. The Khakal were subsequently expelled by the Ghoris and they settled near Kabul about the middle of the 13th century. When they increased in number and acquired wealth they split into three clans, the Yusafzais, Gigyanis and. Turklays. At the close of the 15th century, the Yusafzais and the Gigyanis moved to the plains of Peshawar and eventually ousted the Dalazaks and spread into Buner district. They eventually moved into Mardan district and the area came to be known as "Yusafzai Plain"
The other main tribe of Mardan are Khattak and sahibzadagans. The Khattaks trace their decent from Lukman, surnamed Khattak, son of Burhan and grand son of Kaman. The Khattaks and Yousafzais were in a state of perpetual war with each other before the reign of emperor Aurangzeb. In the time of Aurangzeb, Khushal Khan Khattak the great pushto poet and warrior fell out with Aurangzeb and made peace with the Yousafzai. The name “Sahibzadagan” mean the sons of a pious person. The tribe of Sahibzadagans started in 17th century when one of the pious person of Ahmad Shash Abdali’s family came from kaundahar(Afganistan) to fight for the cause of Allah(swt). His name was Shaik Shoaib, but because of his self-righteous and due to his respect people called him ‘Sahib’, and from then his family members were called Sahibzadagans (the sons of a pious person). Sahibzada tribe is still one of the respectful tribes of pathans in Mardan, Swat, Swabi and elsewhere. After the construction of Upper and Lower Swat canals from the Swat river, the Mohamand tribes started penetrating in the district. They started as petty tenants of landlords of the district and gradually by their hard work they replaced many of their landlords. The Mohmands are mainly found in shumali Kamalzai and Junubi Kamalzai area of Mardan tehsil, but are also found in small number all over the district.
Besides these main tribes, some Sayyeds and Gujars and Afridis are also found in the district. The Gujars are more in number and some historian told that they are the original inhabitants of the area. Afridis had settled down from Hassan Khel tribe Frontier region Peshawar . They are mainly in Transport and Contractor business . Though less in number but has holding of the area by their strenghth and unity amoung them sleves . They play a major and desisive roll in the local politics .
[edit] Food
The most common diet of the people is bread which is made of wheat or maize flour. The people of the area are fond of meat, especially various forms of beef cooked in shape of chapli kabob, seekh kabob, tikkas and qahwa (green tea) is popular and is liked by most of the people.
[edit] Dress and ornaments
There is significant difference in dress of common people and educated and upper classes. The upper class people are inclined to western dress. The middle and lower classes are generally wearing typical pathan dress, the old loose coat or khalqa has been replaced by the less cumbersome qamiz with blanket or coarse chader during winter season around the body. Among the villagers use of mazari cloth is common for qamiz and shaiwar. A chitrali woolen cap is used in winter white a typical light color cap in summer. Chapplies are the most common foot wear. Shalwar qamiz and dopatta is the dress of female. Pardah is universal among women in a form of a printed coarse chaddar or plain white chaddar or burqa.
The use of ornaments among female is also common in the district. The women adorn themselves with ear rings and bangles with rare use of band quba, which consists of two egg like cups connected by chain or a flat circle shaped gold hanging on forehead.
[edit] Dwellings
The villages are divided into Kandis have congested house. Each Kandi is further occupied by sub-section. The division of Kandis are on the pattern of agricultural lands. Their houses are generally consists of two or three rooms and a court-yard turned as ghollai and verandah. The tattles and poultry are also accommodated beside the shelter for family.
Each Kandi of the village has its own mosque and its own Maulvi and a place of meeting or for public assembly called Hujra. In most cases it is the property of elders of the Kandi who is expected to feed and give shelter to the visitors and travellers. These Hujras are commonly used for the settlement of public disputes/business beside public meetings. Residents of Kandi assemble there to smoke, hear news of the day and discuss their problems and politics. Now a days the people in service abroad have accumulated sufficient wealth which brought a distinct change in the life of the villagers who construct pacca houses of cement, bricks and timber.
A Tandoor (Oven) is also found for baking bread in many houses and some time women of three or four houses assembled on one Tandoor (Oven) for baking bread on their turn. The houses have huge compound walls around with gates. Chairs and tables are used in the houses of well-to-do persons whereas others use the ordinary cot (Charpoy).
[edit] Occupations
Most of the people are farmer in profession in villages. They are engaged in agriculture either directly or indirectly. Industrial labour has increased after the establishment of factories in different places of the district. Some people are engaged in-business and Government service also.
[edit] Culture, customs and traditions
Religion has a great impact on the culture of people. Islam is the dominant religion while a small fraction of hindus not of pathan ancestry also live with the natives.
The Sayyeds, Mians and Sahibzadas enjoy special respect amongst the pathans for their ancestry. The visit to shrines or ziarats is very common specially the women.
The Yousafzai Pathans are brave and hospitable people. A slight insult is greatly resented and ends up sometimes in violence. Revenge is taken even from the son or grand-son for the wrongs of the father or grand-father. This pattern of life has resulted in extreme insecurity and utter disregard for human life.
There are many forms of greetings and salutations. It is very usual for the pathans to embrace each other when they meet. This is followed by a chain of inquiries like jor ye (Are you all right), Khushal ye (are you happy) besides, some other similar expressions of good will.
[edit] Marriage and deaths
There are different customs and traditions which are followed on occasions, such as marriages, births and deaths. The main features of such occasions are described below:-
[edit] Marriage customs
Frequently the parties have some previous acquaintance before the marriage. The parents of the boy and girl make the choice. Sometimes after the girl's father agrees to the match, the relatives of the boy take presents to the girls house and the engagement is announced. On that occasion shots are fired and friends of both the parties congratulate each other. After engagement the boy seldom sees the girl till they are married. The ornaments, clothes for the bride and other articles required for the marriage ceremony are provided by the parents of the boy.
[edit] Births
The birth of a boy is an occasion of great rejoicing. The parent of the baby receive felicitations from friends and relatives. The birth of a girl is not welcomed and generally goes unnoticed.
[edit] Deaths
On the death of a person, the women of the neighborhood also join the women of the deceased family in lamentation. After the funeral rites are completes alms are distributed to the poor at the graveyard. At the house of decease( the mourners are provided with food by relatives or friends of the deceased' family, as no food is then cooked at home. People continue to come for condo fence to the Hujra of the area for three consecutive days.
[edit] Festivals and fairs
Festivals and fairs are a part of the pathan life. The most important festivals are the two Eids. Apart from that, there are weekly cattle fairs in all towns, at which cattle and other necessities of life are bought and sold.besid this every marriage cermony is consider as festivals.
[edit] Name, location, boundary and area
In the beginning, the name Mardan was given to a small area after the name of Pir Mardan Shah, a prominent religious figure. Gradually, a large surrounding area came to be known as Mardan. The area constituting Mardan district is part of Peshawar valley, which first appears in history as part of Gandhara Kingdom. Until 1937, Mardan district was a part of Peshawar district. In 1937, Mardan was set up as an independent district after the name of its headquarters town.It was further divided into Swabi and Charssada district in 1980s .
The district lies from 34° 05’ to 34° 32’ north latitudes and 71" 48’ to 72° 25’ east longitudes. It is bounded on the north by Buner district and Malakand protected area, on the east by Swabi and Buner districts, on the south by Nowshera district and on the west by Charsadda district and Malakand protected area. The total area of the district is 1632 square kilometers.
[edit] Physical features/topography
Mardan district may broadly be divided into two parts, north eastern hilly area and south western plain. The entire northern side of the district is bounded by the hills. In the district, the highest points in these hills are Pajja or Sakra, 2056 meters high and Garo or Pato, 1816 meters high. The south western half of the district is mostly composed of fertile plain with low hills strewn across it. It is generally accepted that this plain once formed the bed of a lake which was gradually filled up by the load of the river flowing into from the surrounding hills. From the foot hills the plain runs down at first with a steep slope which carried the rain water to the lower levels and ultimately to the Kabul river.
[edit] Rivers and streams
Generally stream flows from north to the south. Most of the streams drain into Kabul river. Kalpani, an important stream of the district rises in the Baizai and flowing southwards join Kabul river. Other important streams which join Kalpani are Baghiari Khawar on the west and Muqam Khawar, coming from Sudham valley and Naranji Khawar from the Narangi hills on the left.
[edit] Climate
The summer season is extremely hot. A steep rise of temperature observed from May to June. Even July, August and September record quite high temperatures. During May and June dust storms are frequent at night. The temperature reaches to its` maximum in the month of June i.e. 41.50"C. Due to intensive cultivation and artificial irrigation the tract is humid and heat is oppressive. However, a rapid fat! of temperature has been recorded from October onwards. The coldest months are December and January. The mean minimum temperature recorded for the month of January the coldest month is 2.09° C.
Most of the rainfall occurs in the month of July, August, December and January. Maximum rainfall recorded for the month of August the rainiest month is 12S.8Smm. Towards the end of cold weather there are occasional thunder storms and hail storms. The relative humidity is quite high throughout the year while maximum humidity has been recorded in December i.e. 73.33 percent.
[edit] Flora
The present flora of the irrigated areas is exotic. The common trees are mesquite, ber, different species of acacia and jand. The most common shrubs are tarmariax, articulata, spands, akk, small red poppy, spera, pueghambrigul, drab grass, spera, eamelthorl and pohli chaulai etc.
[edit] Fauna
The district has a variety of fauna comprising the following:.
1. Leopard
2. Leopard Cat
3. Black Bear.
4. Brown Monkey.
5. Jackal.
6. Wild Goat.
7. Pheasant.
It is the birthplace of the Pakistani cricketer Younis Khan. Mardan is also home of the famous Guides Regiment, raised by Lumsdon. Her Majesty Queen Elizebeth and Prince Philip visited the old Guides Mess at Mardan in the early 1960s. Sir Winston Churchill as a young officer stayed at Mardan for a while before he proceeded to Peshawar via the Bajaur valley.
[edit] External links
[edit] Map links
