Najabat Khan

Najabat Khan (not to be confused with Najaf Khan) was a Ghorghusht Pashtun warrior of the 18th century, and founder of a line of chiefs of Kunjpura^[1] which he was granted by Ahmed Shah Abdali in 1739 and the titlehood "Nawab". Nawab Najabat Khan was killed during the Third Battle of Panipat at his Fort (Kunjpura) by the Maratha Confederacy in 1760 or 1761.^[2]

Early life

Najabat Khan was born in Mohalla Ishaq Zai, Ghourghushti, (Attock,Pakistan) in a house near the pond, on top of which now stands a girls school. Najabat Khan left this village and his poor family to search for work in larger cities of India. He first went to Sardar Dawood Khan of Lahore to seek work who sent him to the service of Subidar Meer Minnoo of Lahore. There he made a name for himself after wrestling one of the infamous giants who served as a bodyguard for Meer Minnoo, whom he had killed in a bout. This was an era of constant battles, and he stood out as an accomplished fighter and leader. During one of the battles, he saved the life of Meer Minno, whilst others were fleeing the battle ground he stood firm with courage. He defeated his enemies, and was rewarded with a number of horses and men. Najabat Khan had taken advantage of the troublesome times when the whole fabric of the Moghul Empire had fallen to pieces to carve out a small principality for himself.

Kunjpura chiefdom

In 1739, Najabat Khan received a grant of chiefdom of Kunjpura from Ahmed Shah Abdali. In 1748 he obtained a sanad from the Afghan conqueror Ahmed Shah Abdali, also called Durani, who was then in the height of his power in Northern India, granting him a "hereditary jagir" of 149 villages. The villages were declared to be inam, or revenue-free, and he was to enjoy thenceforth the revenue payable to the Imperial Government, subject to the obligation of maintaining order in his ilaqa or possessions. These villages were in Karnal district, and it was from this base that he fought more battles against Hill Rajas. In the 1750s he recalled reinforcements from Ghorghushti and built a fort in Kunjpura. The fort was renowned for its strength and was referred to as Lal Qila. He became a nawab after winning the respect of the Imperial leadership in Delhi.

Amidst appeals from Muslim leaders like Shah Waliullah, Ahmad Shah Abdali invaded India to face the formidable challenge posed by the Maratha Confederacy. Ahmad Shah Abdali asked for help from his fellow Muslim nawabs and jagirdars against the armies of Marathas and Jats, who were killing and occupying Muslim areas following the death of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb. Nawab Najabat Khan joined the army of Ahmad Shah Abdali but he was killed before the Battle of Panipat in the Battle of Kunjpura.^[3] His direct descendent later joined the British and after the partition of India, the last Nawab of Kunjpura, Nawab Ibrahim Ali Khan, migrated to Lahore in Pakistan, and died in 1953.

The Sarkhel tribe are considered to be descended from Nawab Najabat Khan through his elder brother Zabita Khan. It is stated in Tareekh Kunjpura he was of Zakka Khel clan of Yusufzai tribe. There is no other reference to a tribe or clan called Zakka Khel, therefore it is assumed that the Nawab's Indian descendants may be mistaken as to the origins of the clan. Nawab Najabat Khan's elder brother Zabita Khan returned to Ghorghushti whose descendants now live in the town. The ancestral home in Mohalla Ishaq Zai is still owned by the descendents of Nawab Najabat Khan's brother, which has attracted tourists from Kunjpura, Lahore, Karachi and Kotkay.^[4]

There is a mention of Nawab Najabat Khan in the Imperial Gazetteer of India V.16 that he was Ghorghusht Pathan, and his place of origin is mentioned.^[5]

References