Afghanistan Travel

GUJJARS :  A Warrior Tribe Who Inflicted Collosol Loss To The USSR

 

GUJARS  : The 2nd Largest Ethinic & Linguistic Entity Of Afghanistan

 

       By:   Ch.  M. Ashraf   Gujjar,

                                                                Islamabad,  Pakistan.

 

 

          The U.S.A. and her allied countries had propounded the idea of a broad-based Government in Afghanistan, comprising of all the ethnic and linguastic groups. The western countries had false perception about the exact ethnic and linguastic division of Afghanistan. It was mistakenly believed that the Afghnistan is ethnically devided into Pushtoons and Persian speaking Northern alliance. The U.S.A. and its allies, while forming the present Karzai Government in Afghanistan, absolutely ignored the second largest and major ethnic Gujjar community. The Gujjars constitutes to be the 35% of Afghanistan’s total population.

2.       The Gujjar is the largest tribe of the World, which is admittedly recognized to be the major ethnic group in Pakistan, India, Indo-Pak held Jammu & Kashmir, Xing Xiang(China), Tibet, Nepal, Bhuttan, Sakkum, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Georgia and other Central Asian States. The Gujjars can rightly be termed as an International tribe, who are not restricted and confined by the frontiers or borders.

3.       There is much known about the Gujjars dwelling in almost all parts of India and Pakistan. There population in India and Pakistan is 20 & 03-billion respectively. The Sub-Continent and Central Asia was ruled for centuries by the Gujjars, also known as Gurjars. It was during their rule that thousands of places were named after them or their sub-tribes in India, Pakistan, Iran, Afghanistan and Central Asian States. In Central and South Asia there are also numerous places named after the sub-clans of Gujjars, e.g. Chechania, Chechian, Jhanda Chechi, Kharian, New-Katarian, Panjan Kasana, Noon, Bhadana, Jhand Meelu, etc. etc. I am sure a list of such places, given at the end of this article, will be of great interest to realise that to what extent the Gujjars enjoyed power and influence in the Central & South Asia in the ancient times.

4.       The Gujjars of Afghanistan have always played a very important and significant role in Afghanistan. The Afghanistan is broadly divided into four major ethnic groups, i.e. (1)-Pushtoons 40%, (2)-Gujjars, speaking Gujari and other languages 35%, (3)-Persian speaking 10% and (4)-others 15% approximately. The over whelming and majority population of 14 Provinces of Afghanistan consists of Gujjar tribe, who generally speak Gujjari langauage. In some areas they also speak Pushto or Persian in addition to Gujjari langauage. This language is also spoken by the Gujjars of India and Pakistan. The Gujjarati, Daccani, Rajasthani, Mewati and mewarri, according to some scholars, are the regional names and dialects of Gujjari language. A brief and approximate account of Gujjar population in some of the Afghan-Provinces is given hereunder:-

i)        Kunnarr :  This province is situated in the south of Afghanistan and

in the North of Pakistan. The Gujjar tribe is living with over-whelming majority in this Province. The famous towns and villages of the Gujjars are Narrai, Asmar, Hari Kot, Tashagul, Konigul, Gorin, Inchagal, Samsagal, Karchigal, Bazagal, Batash, Hegal and Asoom, etc.

ii)       Lughman :  Its more than 50% population consists of Gujjar tribe. 

There are approximately 45-villages having hundred percent Gujjar population.

iii)      Panjsher :  The Gujjars constitutes 40% population of this Province.

          Perkhar and Wersak towns are the famous strong-holds of the Gujjars.

iv)      Badakhshan :  The Gujjars constitutes half of the population of this

Province. The Bajjarr, Chauhan, Bherwal, Jangle, Bhaddana, Kohli, Doei and Bokarra are the famous sub-tribes/clans of Gujjars living in this Province.

v)       Kondos :  The ¾ population of this Province consists of Gujjar tribe.

vi)      Farkhar :  More than 90% population of this Province belongs to the

Gujjar community. The Dashtiachi, Namakao, Khestazi and Khefdar, etc. are the famous towns & villages of the Gujjar tribe.

vii)     Mazar Sharif :  In this Province over 30% population consists of

Gujjar community.

viii)    Baglan :  In this Province over 40% population belongs to the Gujjar

caste.

ix)      Aneshkamesh :  The 70% population of this Province is consisted of

Gujjar tribe.

x)       Palol :  The Gujjar is a majority tribe of this Province. The Gujjar

commanders Mr. Ghulam Sakhi Khattana and Mr.Fardol Khatana, the militant leaders of Harkat-e-Islamia Afghanistan also belonged to this Province. They inflicted collosal loss to the enemy during the cold-war.

xi)      Andraf :  The Gujjars constitues ¾ population of this Province. The

Gujjar Generals Moman Bherwal and Mr. Arbab Therwal Malang, the militant Gujjar Commanders of Hizb-e-Islami belonged to this province. These Generals earned lot of name and recognition during the cold-war.

xii)     Taloqan :  The Gujjars forms half of the population of the Province.

Mr. Arbab Hakeem Chechi, the Supreme Gujjar Commander of Hizb-e-Islami also belonged to this Province. He also earned world wide recognition during the cold war.

xiii)    Shabargan :  The Gujjars are 1/3 of the total population of this

Province.

5.       The Gujjars are also living with a prominent and sizeable minority in the following Provinces of Afghanistan : -

i         Nangarhar,

ii        Kabul,

iii       Logar,

iv       Qandhar,

v        Gazni,

vi       Kapisa,

vii      Gardez,

viii     Tamroze,     and

ix       Harat.

6.       The Gujjars played a leading role in war (Jehad) against the U.S.S.R. since beginning in the year 1979. Mir Afzal Chechi of Kunnarr Province was one of the leading founders to organise and start the war(Jehad) to liberate Afghanistan from the clutches of U.S.S.R., who also sacrificed his life for the sacred cause. Malik Sher Afzal and Malik Qabeel of Kunnarr Province also significantly contributed towards organizing the war and Jehad against the U.S.S.R.

7.       The following militant leaders of various Jahadi organizations, who fought against the U.S.S.R., also belonged to the Gujjar tribe of Afghanistan:-

i)        Dr.M.Abdul Qayyum,                Founder,      Hizb-e-Islami

ii)       Maulana M.Younas Khalis         Quaid,         Hizb-e-Islami

iii)      Muhammad Ayub,                     Amir,           Tanzeem Ahl-e-Hadith

iv)      Ghulam Chechi,                        Commander Hizb-e-Islami

v)       Mauland Akhawandzada            Commander Harkat-e-Islami

vi)      Nadir Khan                               Commander Harkat-e-Islami

vii)     Arbab Mian Gul Chechi            Commander Jamaat-e-Islami

viii)    Haji Zardali                               Commander Hizb-e-Islami

ix)      Haji Daim Khan                         Commander Tanzeem Ahl-e-Hadith

x)       Musafar Khan                           Commander Hizb-e-Islami

xi)      Maulana Umra Khan                  Commander Hizb-e-Islami

xii)     Haji Badam Khan                      Commander Mahaz-e-Milli

xiii)    Mir Alam                                  Commander Jamat-e-Islami

xiv)    Malik Sadbar                            Commander Hizb-e-Islami

xv)     Maulana Kaduaali                      Amir            Islami Hizb

xvi)    Mirza Lal Doei                          Commander Jamat-e-Islami

xvii)   Madir Gujjarwal                        Commander Harkat-e-Islami

xviii)  Malik Jabeen Chechi                 Commander Hizb-e-Islami

xix)    Malik Shireen                            Commander Hizb-e-Islami

xx)     Malik Maasal                            Commander Hizb-e-Islami

xxi)    Hazrat Bilal Sher                       Commander Harkat-e-Islami

xxii)   Malik Gul Sharif                        Commander Tanzeem Ahl-e-Hadith

8.       The thousands of Gujjar Mujahideens sacrificed their lives while fighting against USSR during the period of cold war. A large number of Gujjars had to migrate to Pakistan and other neighbouring countries during and after the cold-war. The majority of Gujjar migratees were living in Bhai Cheena Camps, Anayat Kaley Camps in Bajorr Agency, Dodaba Camps and Ranrri Camps in Dir district of Pakistan.

9.       The culture, language, customs and traditions of the Gujjars are entirely different than the pushtoon ethnic stock. The Gujjars of Afghanistan speaks Gujjari language, the language that also spoken in most of the areas of India & Pakistan and enjoys representation on a number of state owned Radio and Television channels in both the countries.

10.     It will be worth mentioning that the Pushto speaking population do not belong to one community, tribal or racial group rather they are devided into Shanwaris, Afridis, Safis, Khattaks, Mashwanis and Yousafzais, etc. etc., who are foes and not friends as they keeps fighting with each other, whereas, on the contrary the Gujjars of Afghanistan belongs to one racial and tribal group unlike Pushtoons, who are just a linguistic group.

11.     The over 30-Million Gujjars in Pakistan and 20-Billion Gujjars in India had extended their implied and unconditional support to the notion of forming the broad based Afghan-Government comprising of all the ethnic groups and communities in Afghanistan so to bring the perpetual peace in Afghanistan.

12.     It was expected that the Gujjars being the second largest ethnic and linguistic community certainly was to be considered as a significant constitutent in broad-based government as by ignoring the Gujjars neither any government can function as a representative establishment nor that could be a workable or perpetual solution to the growing problems of Afghanistan. The U.S.A.,  U.K. and Pakistan Governments should have derived an acceptable formula giving due representation to the Gujjars of Afghanistan.

13.     The worrior & majority Gujjar tribe has not been given any representation while forming the present Afghan Government, the result is obvious, the writ of present Afghan-Government could hardly be established within the radious of only two Kilo meter area and more specifically speaking within the Presidential Compound under the guard and security of Allied forces. They are the brave Gujjars only who can restrict and confine the war-lords into their cloths and can bring the perpetual peace in Afghanistan. These Gujjars of Afghanistan also enjoys the unshaken support of 23-billion Gujjars of Pakistan and India in special and millions of Gujjars settled all over the world in common. Its in the larger interest that  Allied Forces, in order to bring the perpetual peace in Afghanistan, may even now draw a strategy to form a true representative Aghan-Government.

The royal-Gujjars have ruled the South-Central Asia for centuries and it was during their kingdoms that they had named thousands of places. No other tribe of the world can compete the Gujjars on this account. In the wake of recent unrest amongst the Gujjars of Rajisthan in India, which has been termed as the ‘Desert Storm By The Gujjars, an interesting discussion is going on these days as to who the Gujars, Gujjars, Gurjis or Gurjars are ?. I am mentioning a few name of some places, which will help the historians, anthrapologist and anaylst to ascertain the major and important role played by them in present and past history and the politics of these regions. The visitors of this site are allowed to forward this article to the other web-sites for befitting conclusion about the Gujjars’ history and their role in the present-age :-

 

                                                                                                                  

                                          I  N  D  I  A :              

 

 

P  U  N  J  A  B     PROVINCE :

 

AMRITSAR   DISTRICT :

                                      LODHI GUJJAR

                                      KOTLA GUJARAN

                                      GUJARPURA

                                      GUJAR PURA

FARIDKOT   DISTRICT :

                                      GUJJAR

FATEHGARH SAHIB   DISTRICT :

                                      RAIPUR  GUJJARAN,

                                      BUD  GUJJARAN,

FIROZPUR   DISTRICT :

                                      BEHAK  GUJJARAN,

                                      BUH  GUJJARAN,

                                      THEH  GUJJAR,

                                      THEH  GUJJAR (BEGU),

GURDASPUR   DISTRICT :

                                      TALWARA  GUJJARAN,

                                      SIMBLI  GUJJARAN,

                                      LAHRI  GUJJARAN,

                                      KOTLI  GUJJARAN,

                                      JHANDA  GUJJARAN,

                                      GUJARAT,

                                      GUJJAR PUR,

                                      CHANNI  GUJJARAN,

                                      BHURIAN  GUJJARAN,

                                      AIMAN  GUJJARAN,

HOSHIARPUR   DISTRICT :

                                      GUJJAR PUR,

                                      GUJJAR,

                                      GUJAR KATRALA,

                                      GUJAR BASOYA,

                                      RAIPUR GUJJARAN,

                                      JIWANPUR GUJJARAN,

                                      CHAK GUJJARAN-1,

                                      CHAK GUJJARAN-2,

                                      BHULEWAL GUJJARAN,

                                      BAGEWAL  GUJJARAN,

JALANDHAR   DISTRICT :

                                      RAIPUR  GUJJARAN,

KAPURTHALA   DISTRICT :

                                      MAND  GUJJAR PUR,

                                      GUJJARATTAN,

LUDHIANA   DISTRICT :

                                       AGWAR  GUJJARAN,

                                      BAUNKAR  GUJJARAN,

                                      BHAINI  GUJJARAN,

                                      FATEHGARH  GUJJARAN,

                                      GUJJARWAL,

                                      GUJJARWAL  BET,

                                      QUTABEWAL  GUJJARAN,

NAWANSHAHR   DISTRICT :

                                      GUJJAR  PUR  KHURD,

                                      GUJJAR  PUR  KALAN,

ROPARR   DISTRICT :

                                      BASI  GUJJARAN,

SANGPUR   DISTRICT :

                                      RAMPUR  GUJJARAN,

                                      RAMGARH  GUJJARAN,

                                      GUJJARAN,

PATIALA   DISTRICT :

                                      BADHOLI  GUJJARAN,

                                      BIR KHERI GUJJARAN,

                                      DUDHAN  GUJJARAN,

                                      FARID PUR  GUJJARAN,

                                      GUJARHERI,

                                      KHERI  GUJJARAN,

                                      SASA  GUJJARAN,

MUKTASAR   DISTRICT :

                                      BURA  GUJJAR,

 

 

          G U J A R A T     PROVINCE :

 

SURAT   DISTRICT :

                                      GUJJAR  PUR,

MEHSANA   DISTRICT :

                                      GUJJARVADA,

 

 

          HIMACHAL PRADESH (H.P.)    PROVINCE :

 

UNA   DISTRICT :

                                      DHAR  GUJJARAN,

 

 

          HARYANA    PROVINCE  :

 

AMBALA   DISTRICT :

                                      TALHERI  GUJJARAN,

BHIWANI   DISTRICT :

                                      GUJARANI,

FARIDABAD   DISTRICT :

                                      KHERI  GUJJARAN,

                                      NAGLA  GUJJARAN,

                                      TIKRI  GUJJARAN,

GURGAON   DISTRICT :

                                      BAR  GUJJARAN,

                                      GUJAR  NAGLA,

                                      MUHAMMADPUR  GUJJARAN,

KAITHAL  DISTRICT :

                                      BUDHANPUR  GUJJARAN,

                                      GARHI  GUJJARAN,

KURUKSHETRA   DISTRICT :

                                      KAKRALA  GUJJARAN,

MAHENDRAGARH   DISTRICT :

                                      GUJJARWAS,

PANI PAT   DISTRICT :

                                      NUR PUR  GUJJARAN,

                                      SIMLA  GUJJARAN,

                                      BAWANA  GUJJARAN,

REWARI   DISTRICT :

                                       BAWANA GUJJAR,

                                      GUJAR  MAJRI,

                                      GUJARIWAS,

                                      LADHUWAS  GUJJARAN,

ROHTAK   DISTRICT :

                                      KHERKA  GUJJARAN,

SONI PAT   DISTRICT :

                                      KHERI  GUJJARAN,

                                      PANCHI  GUJJARAN,

YAMUNA NAGAR   DISTRICT :

                                      GARHI  GUJJARAN,

                                      HAL DARI  GUJJARAN,

                                     

 

                                                                                                                  

                                                P  A  K  I  S  T  A  N :                   

 

 

P U N J A B       PROVINCE:

 

 

DERA GAZI KHAN   DISTRICT :

THOKH GUJRI,

LAYYAH   DISTRICT :

GUJRAT,

MUZAFARGARH   DISTRICT :

GUJARWALA,

RAJANPUR   DISTRICT :

KOTLA GUJAR,

GUJAR WALI,

FAISALABAD   DISTRICT :

CHAK 217/GB  GUJJAR PIND,

CHAK 176/GB  PALA GOJRA,

JHANG   DISTRICT

JAT GUJJAR,

TOBA TEK SINGH   DISTRICT :

GUJRA TEHSIL,

GUJARANWALA   DISTRICT :

                                      GUJARANWALA,

KOTLI GUJRAN,

GUJARAT   DISTRICT :

GUJARAT,

GUJARPUR,

DHOK GUJRAN,

GUJJAR KOTLA,

KULEWAL GUJRAN,

KHANPUR GUJRAN,

HAFIZABAD   DISTRICT :

GUJRANWALI,

GUJAR KE,

MANDI BAHA UD DIN  DISTRICT :

GUJRA,

NAROWAL   DISTRICT :

GUJAR WALI,

BHABRA GUJRAN,

BERA GUJRAN,

KHANPUR GUJRAN,

CHHANI GUJRAN,

DEHLA GUJRAN,

PAILA GUJRAN,

GUJAR TOOR,

HAJI PUR GUJRAN,

DARYA GUJRAN,

KOTLI GUJRAN,

BADALA GUJRAN,

NIKI GUJRAN,

JHOMIAN GUJRAN,

GUJRAT,

NADALA GUJRAN,

BALA GUJRAN,

BHERON CHAK GUJRAN,

TEHRA GUJRAN,

SIALKOT   DISTRICT :

GUJARKE,

GOJRA,

GUJAR KALLA,

GUJAR GORAYA,

GUJRAL,

GUJRAN WALA,

KASUR   DISTRICT :

GUJARKE,

LAHORE   DISTRICT :

NAWAN PIND GUJRAN,

HANDU GUJAR,

QILA GUJAR SINGH,

WARRA GUJARAN,

OKARRA   DISTRICT :

GHOUS PUR GUJJRAN,

SHEIKHUPURA   DISTRICT :

GUJAR PURA,

MAHMOON GUJAR,

KALA GUJAR,

KOTLI GUJRAN,

RATTA GUJRAN,

VEHARRI   DISTRICT :

GUJAR,

ATTOCK   DISTRICT :

THATTI GUJRAN,

DHOK GUJAR,

 

CHAKWAL   DISTRICT :

BHATTI GUJAR,

MOHRA GUJRAN,

PINDI GUJRAN,

JHELUM   DISTRICT :

WARA GUJRAN,

GUJAR PUR,

KALA GUJRAN,

THATHI GUJRAN,

GUJJAR,

GUJAR KATARIAN,

RAWALPINDI   DISTRICT :

GUJAR KHAN TEHSIL,

GUJRA,

MATUA GUJAR,

DHANGDEW GUJAR MAL,

JAND GUJAR,

GURAH GUJARAN,

PHAMRA GUJRAN,

KALA GUJRAN,

BHANGALI GUJAR,

ARAZI GUJRAL,

DHOK GUJRI,

BHADANA GUJRAN,

DANDI GUJRAN,

KHURAM GUJAR,

MIANWALI   DISTRICT :

GUJRAN WALA,

GUJRAT,

KHUSHAB   DISTRICT :

GUJRANWALA,

 

 

North Western Frontier Province (N. W. F. P.)

 

 

D. I. KHAN   DISTRICT :

GUJRAT,

ABBOTTABAD   DISTRICT :

MASAH GUJRI,

GUJRI,

BAIN GUJRI,

HARIPUR   DISTRICT :

PIND GUJRAN,

MOHRRA GUJAR,

KOHISTAN   DISTRICT :

GUJJAR BANDA,

GUJARYBAKE,

GUJAR KHEL,

GUJAR BANDA,

GUJAR BANDA,

MANSEHRA   DISTRICT :

GUJRAN,

GUJRA,

GUJRAN DE GAL,

LOWER DIR   DISTRICT :

GUJAR KALAI,

GUJAR ABAD,

UPPER DIR   DISTRICT :

GUJARA KILI,

GUJAR LALA,

MALA-GUJAR,

MARDAN   DISTRICT :

GUJRAT,

GUJAR GARHI,

Mohalla GUJARAN

Bakhshali,

PESHAWAR   DISTRICT :

CHOUHA GUJAR

MIAN GUJAR,

 

 

S  I  N  D       PROVINCE :

 

 

KARACHI   DISTRICT :

GUJAR CHOWK-

Manzoor Colony,

GUJJAR Nullah,

BADIN   DISTRICT :

GUJRI,

LARRKANA   DISTRICT :

GUJHAR,

SANGHARR   DISTRICT :

GUJRO,

GUJHERAN,

GUJHRO,

SUKKUR   DISTRICT :

GUJRO,

 

 

B A L U C H I S T A N        PROVINCE :

 

 

AWARAN   DISTRICT :

GUJARO,

KHUZDAR   DISTRICT :

GUJAAR,

BOLAN   DISTRICT :

GUJAR,

PISHIN   DISTRICT :

GUJIR,

DERA BUGTI   DISTRICT :

GUJRO,

ZHOB   DISTRICT :

GURJE ZAI,

 

 

ISLAMABAD CAPITAL TERRITORY (I.C.T.) :

 

KANGOTA GUJRAN,

DERA  GUJARAN(SECTOR G-10),

GOHRRA  GUJARAN,

MARRI GUJAR,TALHARR,

HADWALA GUJJARAN,

GUJJARAN NA MOHRRA.

 

                                                                                                                  

                                        I  R  A  N                                                  

 

 

GUJAR                 This place is situated in Esfahan, Iran, its geographical

coordinates are 33° 48′ 0″ North, 51° 20′ 0″ East.

 

 

                                                                                                                  

                                                A F G H A N I S T A N                            

 

 

Gujarabad,

Gujaristan,

Gujar pul (Kunnarr)

Gujar (Fariab), etc.

 

 

                                                                                                                  

                                      G E O R G I A (Central Asia)                    

 

 

Gurjistan      }        Persian names        ]The place where from the Gujars,

Gurjiya        }        of Georgia             ]Gurjis or Gurjars migrated to South

                   }                                     ]Asia in the ancient times.

 

 

                                                                                                                  

                      CH E C H A N Y A (Central Asia)          

 

 

CHECHANYA      This country is named after the Chechi sub-clan or gotra

                             of Gujjar/Gurjar Tribe. The following places are also

named after the Chechi sub-clan in Pakistan and Azad

Jammu & Kashmir :

          Jhandi Chechi,  District Rawalpindi, Pakistan

          Chechian,       District Mirpur, A. J & K.

 

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