Akazai
Encyclopedia
The Akazai is a Pakhtoon/Pashtoon/Pathan
tribe. It is one of the division of Isazai clan of the Yousafzai
tribe which is one of the most powerful, famous and respected tribe of Pashtoons. Colonel Wylly, Harold Carmichael, 1858–1932, has described these great people in just one sentence; laeving no space for further descriptions and definitions. According to him;
"The Yousafzai is an agriculturist, generally fine, well-limbed man, of a good physique and appearance with great deal of race-pride, well dressed and cheery, while his hospitality is proverbial".
; a division of the Isazai clan of the great Yousafzai
tribe. They are the descendants of Aka the son of Isa (Isazai) and the grandson of Yusaf/Yousaf/(Yousafzai
). The Akazais are further divided into four sections; each section having two or more sub-sections.
. Tor Ghar is a Pushto word. They inhabit a portion of the crest and western slopes of Tor Ghar; to the north of Hassanzai
s having on the east a part of Agror and Piriarey; to the north Chagharzai
s (Nasrat Khel and Basi Khel) and to the west the Indus. The southern face of Machai Sar (Peak) belongs to Akazais, which is the highiest peak of Tor Ghar. Their main villages are Kand (Upper and Lower), Bimbal and Bilianrey. Other Akazai villages are Darbanrey, Kanar, Bakrey, Laid, Lashora, Bakianra, Moraata, Torum and Larey. During the Sikh Rule and up to 1868 Akazais held the village of Shahtut in Agror valley (Oghi Tehsil). Some people who migrated from there are now living in Tehsil Oghi of Mansehra District (adjoining Tor Ghar), Malikpura - Abbottabad
, Khalabat- Haripur
, Karachi
and Rawalpindi
.
The fighting character and bravery of the tribe has been described by Sir William Wilson Hunter in the following words:-
The Indian British government sent four major expeditions to Tor Ghar to suppress The Black Mountain (Tor Ghar) Tribes
during different times:-
After the creation of Pakistan
on 14 August 1947, Tor Ghar was given the status of Tribal Area which had been administered by provincial government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (The then North West Frontier Province or N.W.F.P.).
etc.
Most of the Akazai areas come under the Kandaro tehsil.
Pashtun people
Pashtuns or Pathans , also known as ethnic Afghans , are an Eastern Iranic ethnic group with populations primarily between the Hindu Kush mountains in Afghanistan and the Indus River in Pakistan...
tribe. It is one of the division of Isazai clan of the Yousafzai
Yousafzai
The Yūsufzai is one of the largest Pashtun tribes...
tribe which is one of the most powerful, famous and respected tribe of Pashtoons. Colonel Wylly, Harold Carmichael, 1858–1932, has described these great people in just one sentence; laeving no space for further descriptions and definitions. According to him;
"The Yousafzai is an agriculturist, generally fine, well-limbed man, of a good physique and appearance with great deal of race-pride, well dressed and cheery, while his hospitality is proverbial".
Origin
The Akazais are amongst The Black Mountain (Tor Ghar) TribesThe Black Mountain (Tor Ghar) Tribes
The original name of the Black Mountain is Tor Ghar, which is a Pushto word which means Tor Ghar . Tor Ghar is situated in Hazara division of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan. Tor Ghar is lying to the east of the Indus river from Thakot to Darband...
; a division of the Isazai clan of the great Yousafzai
Yousafzai
The Yūsufzai is one of the largest Pashtun tribes...
tribe. They are the descendants of Aka the son of Isa (Isazai) and the grandson of Yusaf/Yousaf/(Yousafzai
Yousafzai
The Yūsufzai is one of the largest Pashtun tribes...
). The Akazais are further divided into four sections; each section having two or more sub-sections.
The sections and sub-sections
| Sub Clan | Section | Sub-section (Khel) |
| Akazai | Painda Khel | Awal Khel, Jogi Khel and Lal Khel |
| Barat Khel | Biba Khel, Khan Khel and Shahi Khel | |
| Tasan Khel | Ghazi Khan and Mamuzai | |
| Aziz Khel | Darja Khel, Sain Khel and Kala Khel |
Demographics
The major population (approximately 35,000) of the Azakai tribe occupy the western slopes of the Tor Ghar; known as Black MountainBlack Mountain
-Australia:*Black Mountain , a mountain in Canberra*Black Mountain, New South Wales, a village in Guyra Shire, New South Wales*Black Mountain, Queensland, a small town in Queensland...
. Tor Ghar is a Pushto word. They inhabit a portion of the crest and western slopes of Tor Ghar; to the north of Hassanzai
Hassanzai
The Hassanzai is a Pakhtoon/Pashtoon/Pathan tribe. It is one of the division of Isazai clan of the Yousafzai tribe which is one of the most powerful, famous and respected tribe of Pashtoons...
s having on the east a part of Agror and Piriarey; to the north Chagharzai
Chagharzai
The Chagharzais or Chagarzais are a division of the Malizai clan of the Yousafzai tribe. Colonel Wylly, Harold Carmichael, 1858–1932, has described these great people in just one sentence; laeving no space for further descriptions and definitions.-Origin:...
s (Nasrat Khel and Basi Khel) and to the west the Indus. The southern face of Machai Sar (Peak) belongs to Akazais, which is the highiest peak of Tor Ghar. Their main villages are Kand (Upper and Lower), Bimbal and Bilianrey. Other Akazai villages are Darbanrey, Kanar, Bakrey, Laid, Lashora, Bakianra, Moraata, Torum and Larey. During the Sikh Rule and up to 1868 Akazais held the village of Shahtut in Agror valley (Oghi Tehsil). Some people who migrated from there are now living in Tehsil Oghi of Mansehra District (adjoining Tor Ghar), Malikpura - Abbottabad
Abbottabad District
Abbottabad is a district in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan. The district covers an area of 1,969 km with the city of Abbottabad being the principal town...
, Khalabat- Haripur
Haripur District
Haripur is a district in the Hazara region of Khyber-Pukhtunkhwa, province of Pakistan with an altitude of around above sea level. Haripur District has the highest Human Development Index of all the districts in the Hazara....
, Karachi
Karachi
Karachi is the largest city, main seaport and the main financial centre of Pakistan, as well as the capital of the province of Sindh. The city has an estimated population of 13 to 15 million, while the total metropolitan area has a population of over 18 million...
and Rawalpindi
Rawalpindi
Rawalpindi , locally known as Pindi, is a city in the Pothohar region of Pakistan near Pakistan's capital city of Islamabad, in the province of Punjab. Rawalpindi is the fourth largest city in Pakistan after Karachi, Lahore and Faisalabad...
.
Fighting against the British
The area of Tor Ghar had never been under the rule of British Rule. Akazis along with Hassanzais were active in fighting against the British.The fighting character and bravery of the tribe has been described by Sir William Wilson Hunter in the following words:-
The Indian British government sent four major expeditions to Tor Ghar to suppress The Black Mountain (Tor Ghar) Tribes
The Black Mountain (Tor Ghar) Tribes
The original name of the Black Mountain is Tor Ghar, which is a Pushto word which means Tor Ghar . Tor Ghar is situated in Hazara division of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan. Tor Ghar is lying to the east of the Indus river from Thakot to Darband...
during different times:-
- Expedition against Hassanzais - 1852-53 (The force comprised 3800 troops commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Mackeson,C.B. In this expedition five soldiers were killed and 10 wounded.)
- Expedition against Black Mountain Tribes - 1868 (The force comprised 12544 troops commanded by Major General Wilde. In this expedition 55 soldiers were killed and 29 wounded.)
- Expedition against Black Mountain Tribes - 1888 (The force comprised 9416 troops commanded by Major General J. McQueen. In this expedition 25 soldiers were killed and 57 wounded.)
- Expedition against Black Mountain Tribes - 1891 (The force comprised 7289 troops commanded by Major General W.K. Elles. In this expedition 9 soldiers were killed and 39 wounded.)
- Akazais provided 1000 fighting men for famous Ambela Operation of December 1863
After the creation of Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
on 14 August 1947, Tor Ghar was given the status of Tribal Area which had been administered by provincial government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (The then North West Frontier Province or N.W.F.P.).
Culture and traditions
Like all other Pashtuns, Akazais have maintained their cultural identity and individuality. They lead their lives strictly in accordance with code of ethics of Pashtoonwali which comprises Manliness, Goodness, Gallantery, Loyalty and Modesty. Akazais have also maintained the great Pashtoon customs of Jirga (consultative assembly), Nanawati (delegation pleading guilty), Hujhra (large drawing room) and Melmasteya (hospitality).Language
Pushto is the basic language of Akazais. Being away from the urban centres and less interaction with people from other languages, Akazais of Tor Ghar speak the purest form of Pushto. Due to migrations to other areas of Pakistan for better prospects of life and marriages in non-Pushtoon families, some Akazais have adopted other languages like Hindko and UrduUrdu
Urdu is a register of the Hindustani language that is identified with Muslims in South Asia. It belongs to the Indo-European family. Urdu is the national language and lingua franca of Pakistan. It is also widely spoken in some regions of India, where it is one of the 22 scheduled languages and an...
etc.
Recent developements
On 28 January 2011, Tor Ghar became the 25th District of Khyber Pakhtoonkhwa. Judba is the Capital of this newly born district with following tehsils:-- Judba.
- Kandaro.
- Mada Khel.
Most of the Akazai areas come under the Kandaro tehsil.