Hazarewal

This article is about the inhabitants of the Hazara region in Pakistan. For the Dari-speaking ethnic group of Afghanistan, see Hazaras.

Hazarewal or Hazarawals (ہزارہ وال; Hazarewal pronunciation: [(h)əzaːɾeːʋaːl]; Standard pronunciation: [həzaːɾeːʋaːl]) refer to the multi-ethnic community inhabitants of the Hazara region in Northern Pakistan.^[1] This region is known for its multi-ethnic population, comprising various ethnic groups with diverse origins.^[2]

Hazarewal tribes

The majority of the inhabitants belong to Dardic tribes (Yashkuns, Mankiyalis, Shinkari, Rajkoti, Chilis, Gabara, Marooch), alongside communities of Awans, Gujjars, Syeds, Tanoli, Mashwanis, Karlals, Dhund abbasi, Swatis and Pashtun tribes (Durrani, Tareen, Yousafzai, Dilazak, Jadoon, Khattak) who migrated to the area.^[3]

Languages and culture

Hindko is the most spoken language of Hazara Division followed by Pashto, Kohistani, Shina and various Dardic languages. Hindko speaking Hazarewals reside in and form the majority of the Haripur District, Abbottabad District, and Mansehra District. The Hindko speaking population consists of the Syeds, Awans, Gujjars, Tanolis, Swatis, Abbasis, Karlals, and Jadoons. Pashto speaking Hazarewals include the Yusufzais and Swatis of the Tor Ghar and Battagram District. The Kohistani people such as the Mankiyalis and Yashkuns inhabiting the northern most districts of Hazara speak in various Kohistani languages.^[3][4]

Jumlo/Peyraan dress worn by the Hazarewal community

Other minority languages include Pahari-Pothwari, spoken by sections of the Karlal and Abbasi tribes of the Galyat region of Abbottabad District (where the language is locally called Dhundi-Kairali) and Gojari spoken by Gujjars of the Kaghan Valley. ^[5][6][7] The Hazarewal,^[a] are not to be confused with the ethnic Hazara people inhabiting parts of Balochistan province in Pakistan or areas of neighbouring Afghanistan. The Hazarewals have, over the last few years, found themselves increasingly in favour of separation and autonomy from the rest of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province on administrative basis.^[8][9]

Hazarewal belt

Notable Hazarewals

Main article: List of Hazarewals

See also

• List of notable Hazarewals

References

1. "IAPS funding for Dr Muhammad Shakeel Ahmad - The University of Nottingham". www.nottingham.ac.uk. Retrieved 19 June 2021.
2. Hemphill, Brian E. (2023). "Population Dynamics among Ethnic Groups Residing in Hazarewal and Chitral-Gilgit-Baltistan". Ancient Pakistan. 34. University of Peshawar: 29–79. ISSN 2708-4590.
3. Rensch, Calvin Ross; O'Leary, Clare F.; Hallberg, Calinda E. (1992). Sociolinguistic Survey of Northern Pakistan: Hindko and Gujari. National Institute of Pakistan Studies, Quaid-i-Azam University. pp. 10–11. Members of a variety of ethnic groups speak the language called Hindko. A large number of Hindko speakers in Hazara Division (Mansehra and Abbottabad Districts) are Pashtoons. Some of those speak Hindko as a second language; many others speak it as their mother tongue. These include the Tahir Kheli Pashtoons, who claim to have migrated to Hazara Division from Afghanistan during the eighteenth century. Many other mother- tongue speakers of Hindko are Swati Pathans, who are said to have formerly spoken Pashto while living in the lower Swat valley. After migrating across the Indus River into Hazara Division, which Ahmed dates around A.D. 1515, the Swatis adopted the Hindko language. There are also Pashtoons belonging to three other groups, the Yusufzai, the Jadun and the Tarin, who have replaced Pashto with Hindko. Many speakers of Hindko belong to groups other than the Pashtoons: Some of these are Saiyids, said to have come to the area in the early centuries of Islamic history, many of whom live in the Peshawar area. Large numbers of Hindko speakers are Avans, particularly in Attock District and Hazara Division. Still others belong to groups of Moughals, Bulghadris, Turks and Qureshis. In Jammun significant numbers of Gujars have adopted Hindko as their first language.
4. Organization (Pakistan), Census (1975). Population Census of Pakistan, 1972: Hazara. Manager of Publications.
5. "Language in India". www.languageinindia.com. Retrieved 2024-05-07.
6. "Language in India". www.languageinindia.com. Retrieved 2024-05-07.
7. "Gujari | Ethnologue Free". Ethnologue (Free All). Retrieved 2024-05-07.
8. "In Karachi, keeping struggle for Hazara province alive". www.thenews.com.pk. Retrieved 19 June 2021.
9. Protests erupt over Pakistan NWFP name change

1. Essentially representing a linguistic and cultural/regional rather than ethnic entity