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Dhond Abbasi Tribe of Circle Bakote

   Written and compiled by
MOHAMMED OBAIDULLAH ALVI 
Senior Journalist, Anthropologist and Historian

(Cell # 0331-5446020)

Rattan Khan (Abdurehman) took charge as a feudal chief of Murree Hills, Circle Lora and Circle Bakote in about 1400. His first reform, as the major landowner in the area, was the promotion of agricultural base of the community. As a result a large part of Circle Bakote cultivated and many villages are famous for their agriculture products. Hotrol (Land of paddy fields), Hotrerhi (a small piece of land cultivated by farmer) are memorials of that time. Rattan Khan had four sons, three from a lady of Kashmir and one who had a local mother. Rattan Khan's Kashmiri wife was called Zulaikha and she had given birth to Bodrha Khan, forefather of Budreal of Malkot (b. 1425), Hejhe Khan, forefather of Hejheal of Dewal, Murree (1427) and Baikh Khan, forefather of Bekhal (1429). Zulaikha died by smallpox in 1430. Rattan Khan than married another local lady, Paris Jan, in the same year and she gave birth to Lahr Khan in 1433.

Lahr Khan

Lahr Khan was the youngest brother of Traeka and demanded his portion of the family inheritance in 1478 -when Rattan Khan died. His three elder brothers resisted and he contested this issue in Pherwala Gakhar Court. Gakhar Chief Malik Boga decided that the land from the end of Dewal to Boi would be awarded to Lahr Khan and a boundary of mentioned land signed by all of them. This decision caused Lahr's half brothers to unite against him, and he laid foundation of new region of Hazara now called Circle Bakote. He had also four sons: Hammu Khan (b. 1457), Humaira Khan (b. 1455), Shaikho Khan (b. 1450) and Pailo Khan (b. 1460). History records only Shekho Khan descendants, because he possessed courage and leadership against enemies from south.

Shaikho Khan  

Shaikho Khan (real name Shaikh Khan) was renowned for his rule of Circle Bakote. His wife Bafat Jan belonged to the Chameati Tribe, and she is famed for diplomacy with other tribes. Historians like Frishta and Kegohar Nama praised her and says that she was the real ruler of Circle Bakote. She also eased tension with the south. Shaikho Khan was also a great reformer who invited the working class for development of Circle Bakote, water mills, ginning factories, weaving communities, and leading class of Imams, religious scholars, and teachers came there in his time. He was the most favoured feudal lord of the Ghakhers Rulers as he provided well equipped men to them in their revolt against Emperor Sher Shah Suri. He regularly paid the taxes and revenue to Ghakhers also. He was father of four younger and brave sons named Changas (Changaize) Khan (b. 1488), Moyoo (Moj) Khan (b. 1492), Nikoder Khan (b. 1495) and Khan Dada (b. 1497). These four dominated in Birote Kalan, Birote Khurd and Bakote.

       Dhond Abbasies of UC Birote

The four Khan brothers lived in Birote, and ruled between 1500 and 1590. The Dhond Abbasi of Birote Kalan trace their descent from Adhari Khan. Adhari Khan had four sons, the most important of whom are Tahir Khan (b. 1730) and Bahgo Khan (b. 1735) from which all Dhond Abbasi families in Birote Kalan trace their descent. The other two sons are believed to have migrated elsewhere and their name has not been recorded.

Tahir Khan 
Tahir Khan was a person of high calibre with two sons, Shah Mohammed and Lalli Khan. Shah Mohammed had a very large family with seven sons including Fateh Khan, forefather of Phatteal (b. 1782), Sunni Khan, forefather of Sunnial (b. 1785), Newais Khan, forefather of Niwaesal (b. 1790), Mir Khan, forefather of Miral (b. 1793), Saffer Khan, forefather of Saffreal (b. 1796), and Bakhsh Khan (b.1799) and six daughters. His sons' descendants having a separate identity as a sub-tribe. Tahir Khan younger brother Lalli Khan having only three sons named Jamal Khan (1780), Qassal Khan (B. 1784), and Bolaki Khan (b. 1788). Bolaki Khan was a rising leader of his family and stood out among Birote rulers. He imposed a travelling tax on everybody among his own family, his palace today is now a hotel owned by Sain Mohammed Abbas Khan. He was killed by his own family members due to this tax dispute and deported his family to Kahoo Sharqi. Khushi Mohammed (Abdul Gafoor) is the main personality of Bolaki Khan family now. Jamal Khan had two sons, Marwat Khan, forefather of Murtal (b.1805) and Haji Khan, forefather of Hajiaal (b. 1808). General Councilor of UC Birote Zoaq Akhter Abbasi is descended from Murtal and Ex-Chairman UC Birote Haji Mohammed Azam Khan belonged to Hajiaal family. Kassal Khan had two sons, Fakar Khan, forefather of Fikeeral of Tangan and Bamboo Khan, forefather of Bambeal of Hotyrerhi (Birote Khurd). Mohammed Rezaq Khan belonged to the Fakeeral family of Tangan who started the first bus company, Murree Hills Transport on Upper Dawal Kohala Road in 1964.
Bahgo Khan 
Bahgo Khan was the younger brother of Tahir Khan. He was a religious person and not interested in politics. He had four sons named Masti Khan, forefather of Masteal (b. 1760), Mahr Khan, forefather of Mehral (b. 1772), Kamal Khan, forefather of Kamlal (b. 1775) and Dast Khan, forefather of Dasteal (b. 1779). Kamil Khan had only one son Naserdeen Khan, forefather of Naserdeenaal family. Nazim of Birote Afaq Abbasi belonged to the Kamalal family. 'Muqarab Abbasi' Muqarab Abbasi, of the Birote family, is director of the U.S. agency, NASA.

Other facts
Murree was established as a summer 'hill-station' for the British families in order to escape the heat of the Indian plains following the British annexation of the Punjab in 1849 from Sikh rule. After 1857 when the British Raj formally extended its sovereignty over India, a structured administration commenced in the Punjab. Murree became the summer capital of India and remained so until the end of nineteenth century. The creation of another summer capital at Simla (now in India) in the later half of the 19th century eased the load on Murree hills a bit. However it continued to serve its purpose.
The English had this urge to carve a bit of England in India. It was like any European town. One can still find a number of churches and chapels, 16 cemeteries, convents, a Mall and remains of a club and brewery etc apart from the many cantonments and old English settlements built in and around the town. One comes across many English sounding names of streets and houses. The local buildings and structures were built in typical English taste and many have survived the last 100-150 years. A sanatorium for sick soldiers and many hospitals were also built here.
Holy Trinity Church was one of the earliest buildings to be erected. It stands out as a prominent landmark in almost all the photos of Murree taken before the partition of India. Until 1875, it lay further away from the then main market or "lower bazaar" as it is now known. But when the 'Great Fire' burned down the market in 1875 a new Mall strip was built in its place in an area overlooked by the church grounds and parallel to the 'lower bazaar'. Over the following years, the Mall became the main market place and today has turned into a bustling business centre.

The Dhond Abbasi claim descent from Dhond Khan (which was a nick name of Shah Wali Khan) and Abbas, an uncle of the prophet Muhammad - hence the name of the tribe. Because of this the language of the tribe is sometimes called Dhondi/Kareali. The tribe are spread throughout the following areas - Circle Bakote, Poonch District, Bagh (AJK) and the Murree Hills area.
Although the tribe trace their roots back directly to Abbas, it is more likely they are descended from citizens of the Abbasid dynasty. The descendants of Abbas rose to power displacing the Umayyad rulers, they and their followers were known as the Abbasids, this dynasty and governed for 500 years from Baghdad, Iraq, there was also trade and emigration, but their rule did not extend as far east as India - in fact only as far as the western regions of Afghanistan.
Envoys and traders of the Abbasids initially came to Taxila, India where they constructed a mosque and started preaching Islam by the order of Caliph Haroon Al-Rashid around 844 CE. An Abbasi scholar Abu Fadhal taught a Kashmiri King Onti Vermon in 882, and he translated the Quran into Hindi. This was the first translation of the Quran into an Indian language. A historian Mohammed Obaidullah Alvi writes in his book Tarikh-o-Tamaddun-e-Kosar that in 1025 CE Raja Mall of Jhelum who also governed over the modern day Birote and Murree Hills, embraced Islam by Mahmud Ghazni and constructed a fort at Malot, Malpur near Islamabad and Malal Bagla opposite of east of Birote in present day Pakistan administered Kashmir. He died in Jhelum.
In 1021 the government of Gakhars ruled in Kohsar and according to a document of Mehmood Ghaznavi - the Gakhars contacted the Dhond Abbasis who were settled in the Delhi Area. The Dhond Abbasis had settled in the area since an ancestor Poro Khan had arrived in 880 CE, Noh Khan was his son born in 900 CE. In 968, Karhral chief Galler Khan came to Circle Bakote from Kehan Iran and settled there. Dhond Chief Sardar Taeq or Taif Khan met with Sabaktagin, the father of Mehmood Ghaznawi at Kabul in 975 CE and joined his army among other family members. This royal honeymoon continued until 17 attacks of Mehmood Ghaznawi than they became allies and guards of Gakhars Tribe of Kohsar and Potohar.
Zurrab Khan, a general of Khurasan state had come to Pothohar after losing power to Persians. His son Akbar Ghae Khan is the forefather of all Abbasi tribes including Dhond in Murree and Kashmir.
Dhond Abbasis of Circle Bakote
There are are many milestones in Dhond Abbasi tribe of Circle Bakote. Rattan Khan (Abdurehman) had appointed as a feudal chief of Murree Hills, Circle Lora and Circle Bakote in near about 1400 by Gakhars of Pharwala. The first reform that was imposed by him was promotion of agriculture broad bases as owner of lands, as a result a large part of Circle bakote cultivated and many villages were won a publicity of their agriculture products. Hotrol. (Land of paddy fields), Hotrerhi (a small piece of land cultivated by farmer) etc are memorials of that time. Rattan Khan had four sons, three from a lady of Kashmir and one local. Rattan Khan's Kashmiri wife was called Zulaikha and she had given birth to Bodrha Khan, forefather of Budreal of Malkot (b. 1425), Hejhe Khan, forefather of Hejheal of Dewal, Murree (1427) and Baikh Khan, forefather of Bekhal (1429). Zulaikha died by smallpox in 1430. Rattan Khan than married another local lady name Paris Jan in the same year and she gave birth of Lahr Khan in 1433.
Lahr Khan:
Lahr Khan was the youngest brother of traeka and demanded his assets and other family inheritance in 1478 -when Rattan Khan passed away. His three elder brothers resists and he contested this issue in Pherwala Gakhar Court. Gakhar Chief Malik Boga decided that the land from the last end of Dewal to Boi would be awarded to Lahr Khan and a boundary of mentioned land signed by all of them. This incident results in Lahr's half brothers to unite against him, as a result he laid foundation of new region of Hazara now called Circle Bakote. He had also four sons elder was Hammu Khan (b. 1457), Humaira Khan (b. 1455), Shaikho Khan (b. 1450) and Pailo Khan (b. 1460). History hold record of only Shekho Khan descendants, because he possessed courage and leadership against enemies from south.
Shaikho Khan:
Shaikho Khan, (real name Shaikh Khan) is reputed to have been a very brave, clever and diplomatic person who is renowned for the way he had administered and ruled all of Circle Bakote. His wife Bafat Jan belonged to the Chameati Tribe, and she is famed as being a great lady building bridges with others tribes. Historians like Frishta and Kegohar Nama praised her and say that she was the real ruler of Circle Bakote. She also eased tension with the south. Shaikhu Khan was also a great reformer who invited the working class for development of Circle Bakote, water mills, ginning factories, weaving communities, and leading class of Imams, religious scholars, and teachers came there in his time. He was the most favoured feudal lord of the Ghakhers Rulers as he provided well equipped men to them in their revolt against Emperor Sher Shah Suri. He regularly paid the taxes and revenue to Ghakhers also. He was father of four younger and brave sons named Changas (Changaize) Khan (b. 1488), Moyoo (Moj) Khan (b. 1492), Nikoder Khan (b. 1495) and Khan Dada (b. 1497). These four dominated in Birote Kalan, Birote Khurd and Bakote.
Dhond Abbasis of Birote
Birote is inhabitant of above mentioned four Khan brothers. Their ruling time was between 1500 to 1590. The Dhond Abbasi of Birote Kalan trace their descent from Adhari Khan. Adhari Khan had four sons, the most important two are Tahir Khan (b. 1730) and Bahgo Khan (b. 1735) from which all Dhond Abbasi families in Birote Kalan trace their descent, the other two sons are belived to have migrated elsewhere and their name has not been recorded.
Tahir Khan:
Tahir Khan was a person of high calibre with two sons, one was Shah Mohammed and the other was Lalli Khan. Shah Mohammed had a very large family with seven sons including Fateh Khan, forefather of Phatteal (b. 1882), Sunni Khan, forefather of Sunnial (b. 1885), Newais Khan, forefather of Niwaesal (b. 1890), Mir Khan, forefather of Miral (b. 1893), Saffer Khan, forefather of Saffreal (b. 1896), and Bakhsh Khan (b.1899) and six daughters. His sons' descendants having a separate identity as a sub-tribe. Tahir Khan younger brother Lalli Khan having only three sons named Jamal Khan (1780), Qassal Khan (B. 1784), and Bolaki Khan (b. 1788). Bolaki Khan was a rising leader of family and milestone in Birote rulers. He imposed a travelling tax on everybody among his own family, his palace today is now a hotel and possessed by Sain Mohammed Abbas Khan.
He was killed by his own family members due to this tax dispute and deported his family to Kahoo Sharqi, Khushi Mohammed (Abdul Gafoor) is the main personality of Bolaki Khan family now . Jamal Khan had two sons Marwat Khan, forefather of Murtal (b.1805) and Haji Khan, forefather of Hajiaal (b. 1808). General Councilor of UC Birote Zoaq2 Akhter Abbasi belonged to Murtal and Ex-Chairman UC Birote Haji Mohammed Azam Khan belonged to Hajiaal family. Kassal Khan had two sons one is Fakar Khan, forefather of Fikeeral of Tangan and other Bamboo Khan, forefather of Bambeal of Hotyrerhi (Birote Khurd). Mohammed Rezaq Khan belonged to Fakeeral family of tangan who started first transport bus Murree Hills Transport on Upper Dawal Kohala Road in 1964.
Bahgo Khan:
Bahgo Khan was younger brother of Tahir Khan. He was a religious person and not interested in politics. He had four sons named Masti Khan, forefather of Masteal (b. 1760), Mahr Khan, forefather of Mehral (b. 1772), Kamal Khan, forefather of Kamlal (b. 1775) and Dast Khan, forefather of Dasteal (b. 1779). Kamil Khan had only one son Naserdeen Khan, forefather of Naserdeenaal family. Nazim of Birote Afaq Abbasi belonged to Kamalal family.