Source: Unclear, maybe twitter user @xohaibtanweer The Manj mostly identify as Rajput although ones in Gurdaspur have been known to classify as Jats as well and the reason for the fluidity of labels for the same group of people was explained in detail in my Formation of Rajput Identity piece. In short, the claims of… Continue reading Isa Khan Manj
Author: Sarang Khan
Based in North America, a Punjabi Muslim from Pakistan, write under the pen name Sarang Khan. Interested in Punjabi Muslim history, culture and identity.
1857 GT Road Blockade
A group of ragtag Punjabi Muslim rebels of various tribes would come together (one of those rare instances, when big egos would be put aside for a common Punjabi Muslim cause) & blockade the Lahore-Multan GT road, which would cut Lahore off from Bombay & in those days it was the only communication line between… Continue reading 1857 GT Road Blockade
“Let the Turanis, Rajputs, Iranis & Afghans do the ruling & fighting; we (Punjabis) will stay alive”
“Let the Turanis, Rajputs, Iranis & Afghans do the ruling & fighting; we will stay alive” [1] Concludes the book Punjab: A History from Aurangzeb to Mountbatten, but every conclusion has a premise & if the premise isn’t even true then the argument falls flat. The book also claims: “Whether or not they were Muslim,… Continue reading “Let the Turanis, Rajputs, Iranis & Afghans do the ruling & fighting; we (Punjabis) will stay alive”
Nawab Muqarrab Khan
I will preface this post by saying not every Medieval/Post era Punjabi Muslim figure with a sword was a hero. The Gakhars as it has been said a few times on this site are one of the most dominant tribes in The Punjab’s history & a recurring topic especially in the military context. Once again,… Continue reading Nawab Muqarrab Khan
Formation of Rajput Identity
Source: Wikipedia Punjabis don't use the word tribe or "qabeela" for descent groups opting for the word, biradri meaning brotherhood instead. The biradries & their status in the pre-modern world was determined based on their occupation at the time & the primary way to raise one's & their descent group's standing before the rise of… Continue reading Formation of Rajput Identity
Muhammad Saleh Kamboh
Muhammad Saleh Kamboh, Source: Wikipedia Today’s blogpost will discuss an interesting and extraordinary Lahori character, the name is in the title. The goal of my “Mughal Nobility” series isn’t to misrepresent & create a faux narrative where Punjabi Muslims were some kind of driving force behind the empire, because that would simply be disingenuous and… Continue reading Muhammad Saleh Kamboh
Kamal Khan Gakhar
Kamal Khan defeats Sultan Adam Khan This post won't discuss the history of Gakhars, but briefly its a Punjabi Muslim tribe indigenous to the Potohar, Hazara & AJK regions known for their military prowess, the tribe since the time of Babur, who founded the Mughal Empire were loyal allies. This loyalty is the reason why… Continue reading Kamal Khan Gakhar
Siege of Multan 1818
The collapse of Mughal rule in Punjab which was accelerated by Nadir Shah's & later Abdali's invasions of India would cause the Multan region of Punjab to drift in to the Afghan (Pashtun) sphere. Fast forward & Nawab Muzaffar Khan Sadozai is Governor of Multan on behalf of the state founded by Ahmad Shah Abdali,… Continue reading Siege of Multan 1818
The Qureshi Family of Punjab
Tomb of Rai Ahmad Khan Kharal Though only glossed over in school, at least in my time, the 1857 War of Independence is one of the most significant events in the history of Punjab & even wider Pakistan for the simple reason that the elite in today's Pakistan can trace their lineage back to the… Continue reading The Qureshi Family of Punjab
Adina Beg’s significance to the Punjabi Muslim narrative
Adina Beg Language, Culture & History in my humble opinion are the three core components of a nation’s collective self-esteem. Language isn’t just a means to communicate, it’s a social institution of its own, it shapes the way we perceive the world. Ever wondered why jokes don’t just translate over in to another language? Also,… Continue reading Adina Beg’s significance to the Punjabi Muslim narrative
Punjabi Waseb 