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INTRODUCTION
The origin of the word Bajaur is uncertain and nothing is exactly known as to
when and how this name was given to this area. However, according to one version
it was derived from the Persian word Baj (tribute) and awardan (to bring).
Legend is that the area of Bajaur once belonged to a tribe called Arab upto the
time of the Pathan conquest and was ruled by the Chief of Arab tribe, therefore,
it denotes the area which paid tribute to the Chief, or which paid tribute to
the Hindu dynasty of the day. According to the version of the common man of the
area the word Bajaur denotes an area which has been ruled by powerful tribal
chiefs with force Bajaur in the annals of history. However, the empirical facts
and historical data support the first version about the origin of the word
Bajaur. It’s administrative headquarters is at Khar town, at a distance of about
140 kilometers north of Peshawar connected through a metalled road via Mohmand
Agency and Malakand Agency. The land mass of the agency lies between 34° 30' and
34° 58' north latitudes and 71' 11° and 71' 48° east longitudes. The green
valleys of Bajaur Agency are situated in the north – west of NWFP. The agency is
surrounded by Dir district on the north – east, Afghanistan on the
north – east, Mohmand Agency on the south – west and
Malakand Agency on the south – east. The total area of the agency is 1,290
square kilometers.
PHYSICAL
FEATURES
The terrain of the agency is mountainous and hilly. In the northern part
mountain ranges are 3,000 meter high. Towards the south the height gradually
decreases and on the southern border, peaks are slightly over 2,500 meters high,
in the central part, the height further decreases. In the north – western half,
the land slopes down to the south –east direction while the central parts slopes
to the north – east through the Jandol Khwar and Panjkora river. The Panjkora
River flows in southern direction till it joins the
Swat
River,
which flows along the eastern boundary of Bajaur Agency.
MINING
Extensive deposits of marble are found at several places in Bajaur Agency. The
marble is associated with the calcareous rocks in the malange zone. The marble
is processed in different green and block colours. The marble is processed in
different marble factories in NWFP, and in other parts of the country.
CLIMATE
The agency has extreme climate. The winter season begins in November and lasts
up to March. The winters are extremely chill and cold and sometimes temperature
plunges below freezing point. December, January and February are the coldest
months. The mean maximum and minimum temperatures in these months are in the
range of 5 to 16 degree Celsius. The summer season lasts from May to October.
June, July and August are the hottest months. The mean maximum and minimum
temperatures in this period is in the range of 23 to 36 degree Celsius.
HISTORY
The early history of this part of Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) is
marked by invasions of Alexander (fourth century B.C) and Mahmood of Ghazna (11
the century A.D). In the 16th century, Pakhtoon tribes, mostly around the
present day city of Qandhar in Afghanistan entered the area and settled in the
area. It has been said that the Tarkani tribe of Bajaur Agency (Mamund, Charmang
and Salar zai) was ruled by the Mughuls with Sakhi Arab Khan as their governor
whose graveyard exists at Nawi Dand near Khar till today. Alexander the great
reportedly camped at Sikandaro, in Bajaur Agency and this place is known after
his name. The present Jandool including maidan and Barawal areas were once parts
of Bajaur when ruled by Umara Khan. Umara Khan was Mast Khel Tarkani. He was
able to extend his rule up-to Dir by ousting Mohammad Aurang Zeb Khan alias Bad
shah Khan, the then Khan of Dir. These areas were, however, wrested back from
him by Nawab of Dir and are now in Lower Dir district. Prior to 1960, Bajaur
Agency almost remained a semi-independent territory and was treated as an
inaccessible area under political jurisdiction of Political Agency Malakand. It
is the only agency in FATA, which had contained a number of mini-states or
Khanates such as Khanate of Khar, Khanate of Nawagai and Khanate of pashat etc.
These mini-states were internally ruled by three respective Khans who owned all
the agricultural land in their jurisdiction and most of the people within their
Khanates were their tenants. In 1960, Bajaur Agency was declared as a
sub-division of Malakand Agency and an Assistant Political Agent was appointed
with his headquarters at Munda in Lower Dir district to deal with its affairs.
It was, however, declared as a full fledged agency in 1973 and a Political Agent
was appointed with his headquarter at Khar. Nonetheless, since the establishment
of the agency in 1973 and during the recent years, the government has managed to
establish its rule and authority which gently go unchallenged. On the other
side, the Uthman khel tribe of the agency is more egalitarian in nature and has
historically always maintained a complete independence. Their area is
mountainous, largely infertile and unproductive except some alluvial area on the
southern bank of the Rud. The various clans of this tribe do not generally
maintain much good relations inter-se. There is no big Khan or Malik in the
Uthman khel area to subjugate his
clan’s
men.
RACE AND
TRIBES
The two major tribes inhabiting the agency are:-
a.
Tarkanai b. Uthman khel
They are
the off shoots of Yousaf zai tribe. Tarkanai out-number the Utman khel as
regards their population. However, Utman khel on the other hand occupy a large
area. Tarkanai tribe is further sub-divided into six sections, namely, Salar zai,
Mamund, Chamar kand & Charmang, Nawagai and ex-state of Khar. Similarly, Uthman
khel have seven sections i.e. Aseel, Shamo zai, Mandal, Lar-trass, Bar-trass,
Arang and Ali zai.
RIVER
AND STREAMS
A number of springs and streams of sweet water flow through out the agency and
serve as clean water sources for drinking and irrigation Rud is the major stream
which drains the main Khar – Nawagai valley and flows from south west to north –
east and discharges into Munda Khwar at a village called Kulala (Bajaur).
DRESS
AND ORNAMENTS
People wear the traditional Pakhtoon dress of Shalwar Kameez and head-wear.
Generally, the people wear hand made Dir caps while notables wear Pugri and
Kula, but this tradition is gradually fading out. Women folk wear Shalwar Kameez
and Chadder/veil and for Purdah they use Burkas (veil).
FOOD
Simplicity is the haul-mark of the food of the people of Bajaur. Rice is a
staple dish especially for dinners. Maize bread with local vegetable Saag and
Lassi is offered to guest as a seasonal specialty in summer.
DWELLING
Mostly the houses are made of mud through out the agency. The houses are called
Qila that is fortresses, which encompasses a number of houses inside. A house
generally consists of two or three rooms with a verandah in the rear and front.
Joint family system is in vogue in the agency. Every cluster of houses has a
common sitting place called Hujra where the male members daily meet, discuss and
share views on variety of local, national and inter-national issues with each
others. It is a common place and is also used as a guest room. The young spend
winter nights in Hujra and arrange for themselves music programmes or dishes as
a pass time activity. It is an important part of Pakhtoon culture which is
unfortunately changing with the modern times as people have begun to prefer
using personal gust-room.
OCCUPATION
The people in the agency are not widely educated. They migrate to down districts
in search of jobs or any other labour. Government services are a cherished
source of livelihood for many. Agricultural farming, small scale business and
working on daily wages basis are also major providers of job and sources
employment in the agency.
PLACES
OF INTERST
Simandaro is the area historically known for arrival of the Alexander the Great
to this area in pursuance of his conquests. A few shrines in the agency are also
historically known. These are Ghazi Baba, Sakhi Baba, Shiekh Baba and Mir Ali
Baba. Besides, the tomb of sakhi Arab Khan, Governor of this area under Mughals
at Naway Dhand on outskirts of Khar is also of some historical importance.
ADMINISTRATIVE SET UP
The Political Agent is the over all in charge for the agency administration,
assisted by Assistant Political Agents. The agency headquarter is located at
Khar. Administratively, Bajaur Agency comprises of two sub-divisions, namely,
Khar sub-division and Nawagai sub-division under two Assistant Political Agents.
Khar sub-division has further been divided into three Tehsil, namely Khar,
Salazai, and Uthman khel, while Nawagai sub-division consists of four tehsils,
namely Chamar kand, nawagai, Mamund and Barang. Thus, all the seven
Tehsils
in the agency are under the charge of three Political Tehsildars and Political
Naib Tehsildars.
NIKAT:
It is distribution system through which all the benefits and losses are shared
among the tribesmen. It is evaluated on the basis their ancestral positions.
MAJAB/MAWAJIB:
It is an allowance paid to a tribe (as a whole) in lieu of its cooperation and
loyalties shown by that very tribe to the then British Government during the
agreements/treaties accorded during 19th-20th centuries.
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