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Tanoli

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The Tanolis are a prominent and famous Muslim tribe residing mainly in the Mansehra Hazara district of NWFP Pakistan. They have a history that spans to the early 13th century since the establishment of the Delhi Sultanate. They have ruled the state of Amb of Hazara since the 13th century up until the wars with the Sikhs in the 19th century. They were frequently engaged in rebellions with successive rulers of the Delhi Sultanate as well as allying with Ahmed Shah Abdali in his conquest of India.

They were also the last ruling dynasty of the State of Amb.

Origins and History

Tanolis are generally divided into two groups, the Hindwal Tanolis and the Pulwal Tanolis. The Hindwal Tanolis/Tanawli Rajas were well known for ruling their state of Amb until the 19th century wars with the Sikh Maharajas of Punjab. But later relations between them improved. The Hindwal Tanoli Nawabs claim descendancy from the Janjua Dynasty.

The Gazetteer of North-West Frontier Province (p138) records that "Tanawal state also known as Amb-Darband after its twin capitals, under its founder Raja Tanawli extended its tentacles across the Indus to Buner in Swat and Bajaur in Dir.....Its real rulers (Tanolis) are divided into two steps, the Pul-al and Hando-al or Hind-wal. The former held the tract of the Siran, its chief founded Bir when the Mughal empire was decaying, but internal dissensions led to intervention of Kashmir. Meanwhile the Hind-wal spet had gained power and its chief Nawab Khan defied the Durranis, but met his death at the hands of Sardar Azim Khan in 1818. His son Painda Khan, played a considerable part in the history of his time and vigirously opposed the Sikhs, but lost his territory except the tract around Amb. On his death in 1840 his son Jahandad Khan recovered part of it through favour of Gulab Singh of Kashmir and the British Govt. Thus the present semi-independent estate comprises the territory formerly held by the Hind-wal Tanawalis. It has an area of 204 square miles, with population of (1901) of 31,622.....on the east by the Mansehra tehsil of Hazara District." The mentioned Raja Tanawli is mentioned in by Lepel H. Griffin, in his famous book Chiefs and Families of note in the Punjab (Lahore, 1910, ii) as the son of a famous Janjua King Raja Mal Khan, who at the peak of his power aided his son's successive conquer of regions of Punjab and also what became known later as the 'Tawal' district.

It must be mentioned here that some Tanolis today claim to have migrated from a place called "Tanubal River" in Afghanistan. However, no "Tanoli" tribe has ever been found in any of the Pashtun tribal genealogies and nor is there any record of such a river in Afghanistan. Although some writers claim Tanoli tribes still reside in Afghanistan around Gardaiz and Ghazni, the authenticity of this claim is in question as 20th and 21st Century events in Afghanistan have never shown the presence of this tribe in that country.

Wars and Famous Personalities

The Yousafzai tribe came to Swat in approximately 1450AD and began fighting with tribes inhabiting Swat namely the Tanolis, Swatis and Dilazak. After several battles between the Tanolis and the Yousafzais, the Tanoli Chief Sultan Ameer Khan Tanoli was finally martyred whilst fighting with Yousafzais at Topi (near Swabi). The Tanolis were temporarily pushed to the eastern bank of river Indus.

The Tanoli Chief Zabardast Khan gained the title of Suba Khan from Ahmed Shah Abdali for his bravery in the historical battle againstMarathas at Panipat, where 250,000 Marathas were defeated by an outnumbered army of 60,000 Abdali warriors.

Nawab Painda Khan is famed for his staunch rebellion with the Sikh Governor of Hazara, Hari Singh Nalwa. He eventually lost all his territories except the Amb region. This was later recovered by his son Nawab Jahandad Khan by favour of Maharaja Gulab Singh.

Tanolis have a vast historical background of several wars against Sikhs, Yousafzais, Durranis, Jadoons and many other tribes.


Tanolis Today

The last Nawab of the state of Amb was Nawab Salahuddin Khan who is the fourth in descendant grandson of Nawab Jahandad Khan son of Nawab Painda Khan of the Hindwal Tanolis. The dynasty of Raja Tanoli had ruled Tanowal/Amb state for centuries since the 13th century until 1973 when the royal status was abolished by the Pakistani Govt.

The majority of Tanolis reside in the former state of Amb in the Hazara division of the North-West Frontier Province of Pakistan. Their main langauges are Hindko and Punjabi. Those living in Pashtun dominated areas also speak Pashto.

Some Tanolis have migrated during colonial times to other areas of Pakistan such Potohar area of Gujar Khan and many have also migrated to the UK to contribute to the labour shortages after the 2nd World War.

  • AL-Afghan Tanoli written by Ghulam Nabi.
  • History of Tanolian written by Syed Murad Ali Shah.
  • Historical Background of Tanolis written by M. Ismail afi.
  • Tehreek e Janjua written by Muhammad Anwar Khan Janjua
  • Chronicles of Early Janjuas by Dr Hussain Khan
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