Sherwani (tribe)

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Sherwani (also Sarwani) is a Pashtun tribe settled in Afghanistan, Pakistan and India.

Qais Alias Abdur Rashid Alias Pehtan had three sons named Sarban, Batan and Ghurghust. Most of the present-day Pashtun tribes claim descent from these three persons. Batan had a daughter named Bibi Matto. Her boy, was given the name of Ghilzai. Bibi Matto's next son was Ibrahim who, because of his intelligence and wisdom, was addressed by Qais as Loi-dey (Lodi) i. e., Ibrahim is great. Two of Loi-dey's grandsons were Pranki and Ismail. BahIul Lodhi, the founder of the Afghan empire of Delhi, was eight generations from Pranki and was a member of the Sahukhel tribe of Lodhis. The Suris and Nuhanis are descended from Ismail's two sons Sur and Nuh. Thus the Ghilzais (Khiljis), Lodhis, Suris, Nuhanis, and their branches, the Sarwanis and Niazis are common descendants of Bibi Matto

[edit] Demographics

The Sarwani, Suri or Sherwani tribes migrated to Dera Ismail Khan and settled in Chaudwan. A town by the name of Dhraban was built by Sherwanis. A dispute with Suri resulted in heavy casulties on both sides. The Miankhels of Dera Ismail Khan subsequently forced Sarwanis to leave that place. Some went to India, a few to a place near Wah known as Chikara. From Wah they migrated to Hazro,Multan(named as Afghan Colony),Deraghazi Khan and Attock. A few families are now residing in Spinkane Ziarat Ka Ka Sahib and Amiro Khairabad, NWFP, Pakistan. Those who migrated to India produced many generals especially in army of Sher Shah Suri. Abbas Sherwani wrote the history of Sher Shah Suri. The Sherwani established a state in Malir Kotla, Indian Punjab. Sherwanis are now scattered in different parts of the world, very few can speak the Pashto language. Afghanabad is a village in Jhelum, where still the Afghan Sarwani is major tribe.

[edit] Other information

Sherwani Bala and Sherwani Payan are towns in Afghanistan. Shahryar Khan (ex-Secretary to Government of Pakistan for Foreign Affairs and ex-Chairman Pakistan Cricket Control Broad) is a member of the Nawab of Malerkotla family.

The dynasties of Lodhi and Suri had the support of the Sherwani Pashtun Chief Of Army Staff and troops of that time. Reference to this are found in Tarikh-e-Sher Shah Suri, Tarikh-e-Afghani and Makhzan-e-Afghani. Another reference is in Tuzk-e-Babri.

The historian Asad Muhammad Khan who writes for Suspense Digest nowadays could be a good lead to determine the history of Sherwani Pathans or Sarwani.