Sudhun
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Sudhan is a tribe that has its origins in Kashmir. Majority of the Sudhun tribe members live in Pakistani administered Kashmir, primarily in the Poonch District of Azad Kashmir.
Additionally Sudhans can be found in the Poonch area in Indian administered Jammu and Kashmir, Kahuta, Murree, Kotli Sattian in Pakistan.
Sudhans stronghold and capital is the city of Rawalakot in Poonch district of Azad Kashmir. Palandri, District headquarters of District Sudhnuti and Mong are proud centres of Sudhans.
The Sudhans of Bagh, Kotli and Kahuta are equally a proud lot who make their presence felt whereever they are. Outside Azad Kashmir, the largest number of Sudhans are in Rawalpindi and Islamabad. Currently these twin cities are now the main cultural center of the Sudhans.
Internationally Sudhuns have a large community in New York, New Jersey, Texas,and Utah in the United States, Toronto and Calgary in Canada, London and Manchester in Great Britain. Sudhun settlers moved to the various cities from Poonch in search of jobs and freedom from the oppression of Pakistan Government ruled by military dictators.
[edit] Geneology
Some Sudhun tribe members claim to be of Afghan origin while some of tribe members claim to be part of the lost tribes of the Jewish Diaspora, however none of this been ascertained by historical or genealogical proof. The only credence given to this theory is through oral traditions.
Major Tilla Mohammad, now deceased, a political leader in Peshawar, Pakistan wrote books on the subject of Sudhan tribe and stated that Sudhans had immigrated to Azad Kashmir from Ghazni in Afghanistan during the 14th century. Major Tilla Muhammad was himself from Rehara, Kashmir and his ancestors had immigrated to Peshawar from Kashmir. [1]
There are few Sudhans who have adopted the name Sadozai, this started after the publication of the articles by Tila Muhammad. Sudhans have a great affinity for the Pathans and as such there are thousands of Pathans who are shopkeepers in Sudhan areas such as Rawalakot. However Pathans have brought with them the scorouge of illicit drugs such as Heroin and Charas.
Like all areas of ethinic mix, Sudhan areas also have families who have mixed in with the majority community, but retain their oral traditions pointing to indigenous Hindu roots as well as other backgrounds.
Lehr Muni (ancestor of Sudhan) s/o Bawa Muna (chief of Katas Tirath) migrated from Katas to Poonch in 11th century. One of his descendants Sudh Sain/Pal is the patriarch of Sudhan. Sudhan Chander Bansi dynasty ruled from the capital of Sudhnuti. Sudhan are Muslims as well as Hindus.[2]
A lot of Sudhans are of the opinion that they could be descendants of Hindu Brahmins. Research on this subject was conducted by Col. Dr. Khalil, a Sudhan who lived in Rawalpindi. There are a lot of Hindus and Sikhs who are members of the Sudhan tribe, most of these live in Indian Occupied Kashmi.[3] .[4]
According to Dr. Khalil Sudhans were converted to Islam by Auranzeb [1]
[edit] Dna Research
A research project comprising DNA lineage study has been commenced to determine the ancestry of the Sudhans. The results so far show that the Sudhans have origins in Southern Russia
[edit] Education
Sudhuns are a tightly knit community. Female education is highly priced in Sudhan areas.
Sudhan Women and Education
Maqbool Hamidullah Khan
The first Sudhan woman, Maqbool Hamidullah Khan received a Masters Degree in English from Punjab University in 1962. She retired as a professor of English from Government College for Women in Rawalpindi, Pakistan. Both of her sons are Physicians in the United States.
Her recently published auto biography "Budhi Budhay say Shakespeare Tak Ek Safar" captures the struggle of a woman for higher education. Her brother Dr. Yunus Khan is an eminent eye surgeon in the Wales, United Kingdom and trained many eye surgeons now holding high positions in Pakistan Army.
Dr. Rehana Kausar MD
Dr. Rehana Kausar MD, was the first woman doctor from the Sudhan tribe. She graduated in 1972 and is a practicing Anesthesiologist in the State of Texas, USA. She was the past President of the Islamic Medical Association of North America Imana. She is active in community affairs. She hails from Rawalakot.
Nasreen Tassadaq Khan
Nasreen was the first Sudhan woman to win a gold medal in the Masters of English from Punjab University. Thereby starting a flood gate of men and women of the Sudhun tribe who won medals and scholarships in the fields of study.
Nasreen's older sister was the first women from Azad Kashmir to be a news caster on Pakistan Television during the 1970's. She hosted the daily evening news in English.
Najma Mushtaq Khan
Najma is the first sudhan woman to become a barrister, who is currently residing in UK and also successful in her law career.
Just to name a few Sudhun woman who have won awards in their fields:
Dr. Ifthkhar Khan received his PhD from Tokyo in Electircal Engineeing and is an Assistant Professor at the University of Alabama (USA).
Sudhuns have produced a high number of PHDs from various Universities.
Sudhan have excelled in business in the countries where they have settled, they operator oil and gas exploration and production companies, hotels, restaraunts and communications companies, mining and other enterprises among others.
[edit] Language
The Sudhun mother tongue is the Pahari language, a variant of the Punjabi language. Sudhuns generally learn and speak the language of the area of settlement but take pride in speaking it. A common joke being that when a Sudhun is in a good mood he speaks pahari and when his temper is on the rise he usually starts with Urdu and when he is on the warpath he speaks English. Sudhans living in Karachi and other elite classes have become accustomed to using English and Urdu.
[edit] Traditions
The Sudhans have the same beliefs and traditions as the tribal people of NWFP and Afghanistan One of their forefathers was Nawab Jassi Khan who settle in Tehsil Rawalakot area in around 1760. They used to live in smaller domains in the villages of Sudhnoti, Rawalakot and Bagh before they were crushed and dominated by the Punjabi forces of Ranjit Singh in 1832.
There was a time in the 18th century when they use to live in their lands with self-styled government called AAp Raji, but this didn't last long due to the invasion by Ranjit Singh and later the British Raj. During the time of British Occupation of India Sudhans took various jobs in the British Indian Army such as Subedars, infantry soldiers, and soon as Kings Commissioned officers in the British Raj.
They are born fighters and this is obvious in the War of Independence during 1947-48. They defeated the Dogra Army and created Azad Kashmir under the leadership of Sardar Muhammad Ibrahim Khan. They are heroic freedom fighters and have a large presence in Pakistan Army.
Sudhans have not been in power in the Government of Azad Kashmir, since Sardar Ibrahim Khan's tenure as Presidentd. Sudhans due to a split in their in their tribe have sided with national political parties. Thus this has allowed national political parties to win in elections.
However, the elections during 2006 none of the Islamic parties won a single parlimentary seat in the Legislative Assembly of Azad Kashmir.
[edit] Notable Tribal Members
Some of the members of the tribe are:
Sardar Muhammad Ibrahim Khan Founder and First President of (Free) Azad Kashmir.
Major General (Retd.) Muhammad Hayyat Khan former President of Azad Kashmir.
Maj Gen (Retd) Sardar Muhammad Anwar Khan former President of Azad Kashmir.
General (Retd) Muhammad Aziz Khan former Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (JCSC) Pakistan Army. He was instrumental in the coup that brought dictatorship and led to the appointment of Pervez Musharaff as President of Pakistan.
General (Retd) M. Rahim Khan, the former Division Commander Pakistan Army in East Pakistan, Chairman Pakistan International Airlines, former Chairman Pakistan Chrome Mines Ltd and Secretary General Ministry of Defense.
M. Rashid Khan Chairman Pakistan Banking Council.
Lt. Col. Tassadaq Hussain Khan former Chief of the Military of the Sultanate of Oman
Sardar Khan Muhammad Khan of Thorar a political leader.
Khan Mohammad Khan of Palandri a political leader and reformer.
Captain Hussain Khan Shaheed a former British Army Officer.
Colonel Iftikhar another prominent Sudhan is a cancer specialist from Hurnamaira now serving in Rawalpindi Military Hospital.
Ambassador Masood Khan, the former spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for Pakistan and current Ambassador of Pakistan to United Nations at Geneva. He is one of the finest examples of an intellectual-diplomat hailing from Rawalakot
Tasneem Aslam, Spokesperson and Director General(UN), Pakistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs.[5]
[edit] Uprising against Maharajah of Kashmir
Sardar Irfan Khan Of Palandri was one of the leaders of the revolt against Maharaja of Kashmir. He and his family moved to the State of Illinios and are now residing in suburbs of Chicago.
Sudhun's contributed greatly in the uprsing against the Maharajah of Kashmir during 1947-1948 and were instrumental in the creation of Azad Kashmir. Prior to the creation of Azad Kashmir they were suppressed by the Maharaja of Kashmir. In 1832 the Sudhan tribe was crushed by the army of Ranjit Singh, a lot of women were taken as captives and twelve Tribal Leaders were hanged and skined for their rebellion at the city of Tararkhel. (Skined alive).To name a few of the leaders flayed alive were Subz Ali Khan, Malli Khan,and Shammas Khan. They were said to have been skinned alive from the toe up. Ranjit Singh's son is said to have witnessed the scene and was so harrowing a sight that he ran away to avoid seeing it and was forced by the commanding officer to see it. He is said to have remarked "If you want to rule these sarkash(restless)sudhuns you would have to be this brutal". There are a few slabs in the town of Mong in Poonch that bare witness to the site where the flaying took place. Incidently, about a hundred years later this was the same sight some Dogra solders got nervous and shot and killed three sudhuns who where climbing up the hill to go home. Thus acted as a catalyst and a rebellion began a month before the war of independence was declared by Sardar Ibrahim.
Later during the British Raj Sudhan being considered a warrior race by the British were taken in recruited in the British Indian Army. Few Sudhans allied with Maharaja of Kashmir, Most of the officers in support of the Maharaja of Kashmir rebelled during 1949, one such notable person was Captain Hussain Khan and his followers, who were instrumental in overthrowing the government of the Maharajah in Poonch.
During 1947, Sardar Muhammad Ibrahim Khan was the political and tribal elder of the Sudhans in 1947 and was the first President of Azad Kashmir.
Sudhuns are fiercely independent people, where every individual considers himself as the leader, as such Sudhans do not have a hereditary chief, but in the past they used to have tribal elders like Khan Mohammad Khan of Palandri and Sardar Muhammad Ibrahim Khan who were respected as elders of the Sudhan tribe for over 50 years.
In Sudhan society, being a democratic society, every individual has a right to lead and voice his or her independent opinion.
[edit] Sudhan Rebellion against Pakistan Army
Sudhans rebelled against Pakistan Army. Pakistan sent the Punjab constabulary along with a Brigade of Pakistan Army, to crush the rebellion. However, to the surprise of the Pakistanis the invading Pakistan Army surrendered and never again ventured to Sudhan territories.
This rebellion damaged the carreers of some Sudhans, however, Sudhans supported the rebellion against the Pakistan military.
Sudhans were not given security clearance until 1972, and were not accepted in the Pakistan Military Academy regular course until 1965. Sudhans have sufferred by the oppression of Pakistan occupation led by Military Dictators.
[edit] Religion
Sudhuns are Sunni Muslims of the Hannafi branch of Islam. There is lately, Wahabi influence, that has crept into Sudhans
[edit] Employment
Poonch District Area (850 km²) [1000persons/sqkm].
Area of Sudhnuti is 550 square kilometers.
Current population figures are approximately half a million sudhan tribe
Having a few natural resources resulted in Sudhuns joining the military, initially joining the British Indian Army during the First World War and later during the Second World War.
During the Second World War Sudhans fought in Burma, North Africa and particpated in the liberation of Europr. Some Sudhans who participated in the War are receiving war compensation from the Government of Japan.
After the Second World War the veterans of the war revolted against the Maharajah of Kashmir which resulted in the formation of Azad Kashmir.
Greatest resources of the Sudhans being their intellect. Sudhans are well represented in the military, government and business.
[edit] Sudhan In US Army
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[edit] Earthquake of 2005
The city of Rawalakot, the capital of the Sudhan tribe suffered significant damage from the 2005 Kashmir earthquake; although most of the buildings were left standing, many of them were rendered uninhabitable, and some of the population was left homeless. Most of the buildings have been reconstructed, though without the help of the Governments of Pakistan or Azad Kashmir.
In District Rawalakot the Press for Peace team in the supervision of divisional coordinator, Sardar Abid Siddique started its rescue and relief work soon after the disaster.
Cuba along with other countries provided medical assistance to the population of Rawalakot for which the populace is forever grateful.
[edit] References
- ^ :Frederic. Jammu & Kashmir Territories.
- ^ : Gazetteer of Kashmir & Ladakh (1890)
- ^ :Din, Mohammad (1932). The History of Poonch Tribes.
- ^ Tribes & Castes of Punjab & North West Frontier Province by Ebbetson.
- ^ http://www.mofa.gov.pk/Pages/Divisions.htm#7
- ^ The Sudhan Revolt (The News 19 October 1997.) By Sardar M. Saleem Khan. Sudhan, an important and high caste of Chihalis-Rajputs (Aryans).
Under the main heading of Brahmas of Khatris, Sudhan is shown as one of the 12 tribes in Hazara during the Vedic age. Sodhan is described as a Rajput tribe. Sud race is settled in East Punjab. The history of POONCH tribes written by Mohammad din fok:
Reigning Family of Lahore by Carmichael Smyth.
Sud were originally called suwdik, one of the nomadic tribes who settled in Iran in 900 BC. The name changed to Sogdian-Sulik-Sud due to dialects of Chines, Sogdian & Punjabi writers. Sudrakas (sud race in South Punjab) fought battle with Alexander the Great and gave Alexander a tough time in Sogdian (Summarkand).
Political & Social Movements in Ancient Punjab by Buddha Prakash
Sogdiana (Summarkand & Bokara) and Sogdae (Thar), Sogda (Rohri). The resemblance of names of the places shows that the Sogdian people lived in Sind.
Alexander the Great by Hammond
Sogdiana was Iranian province. Iranian tribes were present in Punjab & Summerkand.
Alexander the Great by Robin Lane
Darius conquered Sogdiana (521 BC), Punjab & Sind (512 BC)
History of Persia by Percy Sykes.
Chibhal. An important and high caste is Sudhan
Jammu & Kashmir. Territories by Frederic
Migrated from Ghazni to the present location in 14th century.
The Sudhan Revolt (The News 19 October 1997.) By Sardar M. Saleem Khan.
Sudhan, and important and high caste of Chihalis-Rajputs (Aryans).
Gazetteer of Kashmir & Ladakh (1890)
Lehr Muni (ancestor of Sudhan) s/o Bawa Muna (chief of Katas Tirath) migrated from Katas to Poonch in 11th century. One of his descendants Sudh Sain/Pal is the patriarch of Sudhan. Sudhan Chander Bansi dynasty ruled from the capital of Sudhnuti. Sudhan are Muslims as well as Hindus
Rajgan J&K and Rajputan Punjab by Tahakar Kahan Singh.
Mohammedan Rajas of Poonch losely resemble Khakhas.
Ancient Geography of Kashmir by Cunnigham.
Sulikas were present in North & Northwest of India in Vedic age.
Alberunis' India by Sachu.
History of Sudhuns. by:
Colonel Retired Dr. Muhammad Khalil 10-C St 1, New Lalazar Rawalpindi Cantt. Rawalpindi, Pakistan.
Modern academic studies that mention the Sudhans include Alexander Evans's 2005 article in Asian Affairs: http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/routledg/raaf/2005/00000036/00000001/art00003
[edit] External links
- Azad Jammu & Kashmir rawalakot
- Official website of the Government of Azad Kashmir
- Official Azad Kashmir tourism site
- Rawalakot
- [2]
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[edit] Typical Sudhan Tribal Members around the world
 Typical Sudhan family Rawalakot |
 Sudhan family Peshwar |
 Sudhans in New Jersey United States |
 Sudhans Eatontown New Jersey USA |
 Sudhans Delaware United States |
 Sudhans Reno, Nevada United States |
 Sudhans Salt Lake City United States |
 Sudhans Sierra Mountains, California United States |
 Sudhans Family in US |
Typical Sudhan Tribal Member |
