Shahzada Rehmatullah Khan Saddozai

Shahzada Rehmatullah Khan Durrani شہزادہ رحمت اللہ خان درانی
Personal details
Born	(1919-10-10)10 October 1919 Quetta, Baluchistan Agency, British India (now in Balochistan, Pakistan)
Died	29 November 1992(1992-11-29) (aged 73)
Nationality	British Indian
Nickname(s)	Gull Aghaa

Shahzada Rehmatullah Khan Durrani (Pashto: شہزادہ رحمت اللہ خان درانی‎) was a Pakistan Movement activist born on 10 October 1919 in the Sadozai dynasty of Durrani, the ethnic Pashtun Sadozai tribe, section of the Popalzai sub clan of Durrani Abdali Pashtun tribe in British India, Quetta.^[1]

Early life

After his father's death, his uncle, Abdul Majeed Khan Durrani, became his guardian. As the first male of his family to be formally educated, he soon assumed control of his father's business Khan Brothers Regd form in 1900. He built a strong career, serving as a social welfare volunteer, a politician and one of the great Pashtun tribal chiefs. Moreover, he was a sponsor of an Adventurers Association and football club in Quetta. His best friends were Khan Abdul Ghafoor Khan Durrani the Popalzai Durranies chief in Balochistan, leader of All-India Muslim League in Balochistan, Khan Mohammad Sadeeq Khan Ghalzai; his father-in-law from Loralai, Ch. Mohammad Anwar {Retd Police officer}, Peer Zainudin Algillani, Meer Ghulam Nabi Marri (Shaheed), Haji Mohammad Hashim Khan Ghalzai, Haji Mirza Khan Peichi of Loralai.^[2]

Family

Durrani commanders after their victory at the Battle of Maiwand.

Shahzada Rehamatullah Khan Durrani with Half Brother Abdul Rasheed Khan Durrani 17 January 1931

Mohammad Abubakar Durrani Grandson of Shahzada Rehmatullah Khan Durrani receiving the Award from Prime Minister Mr. Yousaf Raza Gillani

In the days of bloodshed held between the Barakzai and the Sadozai tribes in Afghanistan, some members of royal Sadozai families changed their names and perceived cast, and prudently migrated from Afghanistan to British Baluchistan. Among them were son of Shahzada Kamran Durrani, Shahzada Sardar Bismillah Khan Durrani, migrated with his son Sardar Rasheed Khan Durrani and grandson Sardar Nidda Durrani and family with personal guards to a small fort of an elder of the Kakar tribe in Kuchlak near British Quetta. They soon moved to Killi Gogi Ahmandoon near Ziarat, where Sardar Nidda Durrani married into a notable family of the Kakar tribe and assumed a peaceful life. His grandfather was buried in Killi Ahmandoon. In December 1879, at the express invitation of Amir Mohammad Ayub Khan Mohammadzai and then Sardar Rasheed Khan Durrani (1832–1880) and his son Sardar Nidda Durrani (Aalijah)(1855–1926) went to Afghanistan as part of Amir policy to unify the tribes through chiefs for Sovereignty as well as to bring peace, stability and rebuild Afghanistan. In July 1880 during the Second Anglo-Afghan War against the British Empire in the Battle of Maiwand Shahzada Rasheed Khan Durrani was martyred and his son Shahzada Aalijah Nidda Durrani, after staying in Afghanistan, came back to British India to live with his family. In 1907 Shahzada Aalijah Nidda Durrani and family, including his son, Mohammad Abdul Rahim Durrani, and young Grandson Sardar Abdul Habib Durrani, returned from Killi Ahmandoon Ziarat to the small village of Killi Katheer near Kuchlak and soon after moved with his family to British Quetta for permanent settlement. Shahzada Aalijah Nidda Durrani died in Quetta, meanwhile the second and younger son of Mohammad Abdul Rahim Durrani, Abdul Majeed Khan Durrani went to Kolkata, India for business. After the death of Sardar Mohammad Abdul Rahim Khan Durrani, his first son Sardar Abdul Habib Khan Durrani took control of his business. Sardar Abdul Habib Khan Durrani was the father of Shahzada Rehmatullah Khan Saddozai Durrani (1919–1992),^[3] who was the father of Sardar Ahmad Khan Sadozai Durrani (Chairman) Saddozai Qomi Welfare Organization Balochistan, and of Noorullah Khan Durrani; Mr. Runner-up Pakistan in all Pakistan Body Building contest 1967, and is now settled in Harran Norway, The famous mountaineer and caving legend of Pakistan Hayatullah Khan Durrani is his seventh son and Habibullah Khan Sadozai settled in United Kingdom is his eighth and last son. Further, Pakistan's Junior / senior Canoe and Kayak Champion; Mohammad Abubakar Durrani is his grandson and Mohammad Abubakar Durrani^[4][5][6][7] is the youngest athlete to have won best Kayak paddler award and is the only player to have won this award in Pakistan eight consecutive times since 2007. Abubakar Durrani is also a Producer / Director and owner of Abdali Productions. His English language documentary film "The Great Adventurers", of Abdali Productions is very popular which is based on the true story / events of relief operations at Wam village, Ziarat District following the earthquake of 29 October 2008 on the other hand his short film "Un-Expected" is also very famous. He is a student of Computer Engineering in BUITEMS Balochistan.

Family tree

Political career

Invitation inrespect of Shahzada Rehmatullah Durrani for Mohammad Ali Jinnah Civic address 15-6-1948

.

Rehmatullah Khan Durrani was a known student activist of Muslim students federation Balochistan on his outstanding activities. Khan Abdul Ghafoor Khan Durrani, renowned leader of the Muslim-league, introduced him with the Quaid-e-Azam. He played a major role in the Pakistan independence movement in Quetta as a loyal Muslim league friend of Mohammad Ali Jinnah Quaid-e-Azam (Urdu: قائد اعظم) ("Father of the Nation"), the founder of Pakistan. On 15th June 1948 Shahzada Rehmatullah Khan Sadozai meeted Mohammad Ali Jinnah and Fathima Jinnah on the eve of presentation of civic address in Town Hall Quetta.

As volunteer

Shahzada Rehmatullah Khan Sadozai, nicknamed Gull Agha, raised his name in serving his tribe; the ethnic Pashtun Sadozai tribe section of the Popalzai sub clan of Durrani Abdali Pashtuns in Quetta Balochistan, Pakistan. He helped the victims of Quetta earthquake 1935. He was the chief of the Sadozai tribe in Balochistan and also founded the Sadozai Qaumi Welfare Organization. He died from cancer on 29 November 1992 at the age of 73.

See also

• Jinnah

References