Pir Roshan
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b. 1525 d. 1582/1585
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[edit] Background
Pir Roshan (the enlightened one) also called Pir Rokhan real name Bayazid Ansari, the founder of the schismatic Muslim religious Roshanian sect in the pashtun belt of the 16th century Mughal Empire. A major figure in Pashtun history and literature. The sect led an armed struggle against the rule of the Mughals. The Mughul emperor, Akbar, countered the Roshanians militarily as well as by assisting religious figures like Akhund Darweza to declare Pir Roshan as Pir Tarikai (the dark one) and a heretic (ironically as Akbar himself is considered a heretic by orthodox Muslims). The Roshaniya movement died out in the early 17th century after coming under sustained attack from orthodox Muslims.
[edit] Early life
Bayazid was born in 1525 at Jullundur in Punjab of parents who hailed from the Mahsud area of Waziristan. After his birth his parents shifted back to Waziristan where he was brought up, however it is believed he was not of a Mashud background as the area he was from was actually inhabited by the Urmari tribes. Disagreements about the original origin of his family are often mentioned in various books. However Bayazid himself made claim to be an Ansar.
[edit] Exile & rebellion
Bayazid fell out with his father and after an argument that led to blows he fled into exile, first living in a cave near the region of Kaniguram and then to Ningrahar in modern day Afghanistan, where he started preaching his doctrine to local Mohmand tribesmen, from there he went to the Peshawar valley and started spreading his message to the Khalils and Muhammadzais. However when he and his followers started spreading word of their movement amongst the Yousafzais he went into direct confrontation with the orthodox followers of Pir Baba of Buner. Despite the initial reversal he established his base in the Tirah valley where he rallied other tribes to his cause. He eventually raised the flag of open rebellion to the Mughal Emperor Akbarand although he led his Army successfully in several skirmishes against Mughal forces, they were eventually routed in a major battle in Ningrahar by the Mughal General Muhsin Khan.
[edit] Roshanniya Movement
Little is known about the beliefs of the Roshanniya followers, it is said they believed in the transmigration of souls and in the representation of God through individuals (which obviously worked to Roshans favour in recruiting followers). Writers have associated the movement with everything from Ismailis to Kharijites to Shia or Sufi influences.
[edit] Contribution to Pashto or Pakhto literature
Besides his reputation as a rebel. Pir Roshan wrote his “Khayr-ul-bayan” and the "Khurpan" in Pashto and this book was influential in Pashtun lands where Roshani leaders favored teaching Pashto and developed a very impressive school of Pashto literature. Pir Roshans period of literature work is considered by some a seminal moment in Pashto literature.
