Saleh Khana
Saleh Khana
صالح خانه | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Country | Pakistan |
| Province | Khyber Pakhtunkhwa |
| Main languages | Pashto |
Saleh Khana is a large village in the Nowshera District of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province located just below the Cherat mountains, The people of this village are Pashtuns of the Khattak tribe.
Like other parts of Pakistan, many people live overseas for work, the people of this village are spread throughout the world, with 60% living abroad. Among the countries where one can find residents of this village are, to name a few, the UK, USA, UAE, Canada, Australia, and Malaysia. The majority can be found in the UK, mainly in Birmingham, Manchester, and Aylesbury. This has earned the village the name of "little England" due to most of its residents having dual citizenship in the UK. Originally, the residents moved aboard during the early 1960s to earn and send income back home. However, as time passed, many decided to stay abroad settling with dual citizenship and regularly travelling back and forth occasionally.[citation needed]
The village is surrounded by the Cherat mountains range. Within the mountains range, just above the village, is a former British Hill station or cantonment that was used in 1861 and is currently being occupied by the Pakistani army, it mainly consists of a training ground for the Pakistani SSG. It is off limits to Public Near the village, it hosts the worlds largest zipline in South Asia [1] which covers ranges of 1.6 km located at the Khattak mountain ranges.
It is the only village in Pakistan with multiple banks.[2]
The name Saleh Khana derives from Arabic and means "Good Home" & its well known for its famous slogan, "The Few, the Proud". [citation needed]
People & History
The People of this village are mainly and majority Pashtuns, an tribal ethnic group located in both Northern Pakistan & Afghanistan. They are of the Khattak tribe which are known for their bravery and strict adherence to Pashtun customs which promote Honour, Pride, Bravery, Protection of Women, Revenge, Hospitality called the Pashtunwali. The Pashtunwali is followed by all Pashtuns from Afghanistan to Pakistan as a social code of conduct and how they carry themselves. As well as this, the people are Muslims.[citation needed]
In 1984, there was a huge tribal fight, between the tribes of Saleh Khana and neighbouring village of Kotli Kalan which eventually was solved in both the villages being split up and divided into two.[citation needed]
Pashtuns of this village have migrated from their homeland in the Tirah valley present day Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, to their current village during the mid 17th century.[citation needed]
After brutal tribal wars in the 17th century the Oriya Khel tribe migrated east and settled in Jalozai in Khattak tribe territories. Great hostility from surrounding clans lead to a major blood feud between the Oriya Khel and Khattak clans.[citation needed]
The feud was so big that a Loy Jirga (Pashtun grand council) took place in order to end the bloodshed; as a result of this jirga to end the tribal feuds, the Oriya Khel were given the current lands that they now reside in today, hence they moved up into and inhabited the mountainous region of Cherat.[citation needed]
Today 60% of the inhabitants of Saleh Khana have migrated to developed countries around the world, primarily to Europe, United States of America, Canada. United Kingdoms, Birmingham,Ayelsbury region; during the 19th and 20th century in order to seek work and send money back home to the village.[citation needed]
However, as time has gone by a lot of families have decided to stay and reside in UK,US, European countries and now view themselves with a duel identity. However Pashto and Pashtunwali always takes precedence over all other identities.[citation needed]
Language
The language here spoken predominantly is the Khattak dialects of Pashto, which is the Central dialect of Pashto. The similar dialect is understood and spoken by all Central Pashtun tribes such as the Afridi, Wazir, Meshud. Orakzai, Bannusi Dawar, Bangash, Turi as well as Central Pashtun tribes across the border in Afghanistan including Zadran, Zazai, and Mangal.[citation needed]
Central Pashto has a different vocabulary and sound than Northern Pashto dialect, which is spoken in Peshawar, Mardan, Swat mainly so by the Yusufzai tribe. For example Central Pashto dialect it is "Mozja or Mizha" for "we" whereas Northern Pashto, it is "Monga" for "we".[citation needed]
Slight difference occur however since Saleh Khana is relatively close to Peshawar, a lot of the inhabitants can understand the Northern Dialects which is considered standard Pashto used in books, letters, also called "Kitaabi Pashto" therefore, Pashto spoken in Saleh Khana is unique on its own terms.[citation needed]
Tribes and Clans
Saleh Khana is inhabited by the khattak tribe of the Pashtuns. The tribe is then divided into clans (khels), these are:[citation needed]
- Durran Khel
- Gunh Khel
- Mund Khel
- Qurban Khel
- Mes Khel
- Amirjan Khel
- Amin Khel
Each clan has its own Mullah,Leader which is their village clans representative in a Pashtun council called the jirga, to settle village disputes and progress. The Gunh Khel clan is made up of the Maliks (the Chiefs) of Saleh Khana and thus all village decisions are made through them. Some of the notable Malaks were: Malak Bahadar, Malak Kajeer, Malak Sher Zada, Malak Akbar Zada.[citation needed]
Every clan has its own Mohallah and every Mohalla has its own Masjid and own representatives for a tribal/clan meeting which is called a Jirga in Pashto.[3]
References
- ^ Malik, Paras (2020-09-04). "Check out this South Asia's 'longest' sky bridge zipline". Latest Breaking News | Top Stories |Sports |Politics |Weather. Retrieved 2022-08-09.
- ^ "This Village in KPK has 10 Banks and is Called Chhota London". Manhoos.com. Retrieved 2022-08-09.
- ^ "Definition of jirga". Mariam webster.