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"The Hazara Tribe in Balochistan " (An Analysis of Socio-culture Change) By Mohammad Owtadolajam |
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FOREWORDIt is a great privilege for me, a Hazara, to write the foreword to this most absorbing and comprehensive work, which is the result of about five years unrelenting and dedicated study and research by Mohammad Owtadolajam, who served as Director, Iran Cultural Centre, in Quetta and Karachi, since 1971. Although the author’s main purpose in its preparation was to get his Ph.D. in Pakistan, it can also serve as an unique reference book on the Hazara tribe for generations to come. It is unique, in that, for the first time in the history of the tribe, have its origin, history, culture, characteristics, language, traditions, custom and contemporary life been documented, inspiringly, eloquently and in great detail–in one volume. Indeed, nothing about the Hazaras is worth knowing, if it is not mentioned in this work. Historians and sociologists should find it fascinating and of great value in their professional study. Hazaras, particularly their younger generations, would, I am sure, not only study this book with deep interest and pride but also derive inspirations from it. They would be well advised to make the best possible use of it. Mohammad Musa General (Retired) Karachi, 14 October 1976.
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| Brief overview of the book | ||||||||||||||||
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The Hazara tribe has been living in Afghanistan for centuries its migration in the past was not of an exceptional nature and followed the normal pattern of populations migrating to neighboring countries for different reasons. This remained the case till the 1880’s. What caused an increase in the flow of migrants from Afghanistan like an uncontrollable flood were the battles fought by them in 1872 onwards with Amir Abdul Rehman, the ruler of Afghanistan.
The Hazara tribal leaders blamed the
Afghan government for these battles and accused it of committing
atrocities and levying punitive and innumerable heavy taxes on them. The petty rulers of the Hazarajat, as far as possible avoided clashes with them or as Amir Abdul Rehman, the ruler of Afghanistan at that time, admitted that these non-rulers had not been able to subdue the Hazaras, Amir Abdul Rehman in his book Taj has referred to the Hazaras as “rebellious and stubborn”. According to him they were the cause of disorder and unrest in the country and caravans and travelers faced insecurity on the routes passing through the Hazarajat, Most part of central Afghanistan was occupied by the Hazaras who successfully plundered such caravans and travelers. In 1307, Amir Abdul Rehman subjugated and vanquished the disobedient Afghan elements and other tribal leaders of areas surrounding Kabul and the border areas of Afghanistan. While returning from Afghan Turkistan (the northern province of Afghanistan), he appointed Sardar Abdul Quddus Afghan the governor of the Hazaras. It was on this very occasion when one of the military columns proceeding to Kabul from Turkistan was attacked by the Hazaras of Shaikh Ali in Besud. A considerable number of soldiers were killed and wounded and their arms and equipment seized. Those who escaped hurried to Kabul and reported the matter to the Amir….. The history of the Hazaras in Pakistan is brief and revolves around a few events mainly concerning their service in the army and emergence of Pakistan as a country. They had lived in Quetta and other parts of the subcontinent in small numbers much before their uprising against Amir Abdul Rehman Khan….. Since the inception of Pakistan, Hazaras have done their best to reap the benefits of freedom, through it was only in 1962, that they were formally recognized by the government as citizens of Pakistan and tribesmen of Balochistan. Their children, male and female flock to schools and colleges. Quite a number of educated Hazaras rose to ranks as civilian officers in various departments of the government, on the technical side as engineers, mechanics, doctors, teachers, accountant, architect, computer engineer and technicians and on the administrative side as deputy commissioners, chairman of municipalities, tahsildars, secretaries, lecturers etc. On the military side there are a score or more in the army, navy and air force in ranks from lieutenants to colonels. In the India-Pakistan war of 1965, the Hazaras played a significant part. In fact the war was fought under General Mohammad Musa Khan Hazara who was then the commander-in-chief of the Pakistan army and is recognized by many as the hero of that war. In other ranks too the Hazaras fought on all fronts and suffered a number of casualties amongst them….
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| Contents of the Book | ||||||||||||||||
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Publishsr’s Note............................................................................. Acknowledgement........................................................................... Foreword........................................................................................ List Of Tables................................................................................ List Of Illustrations.........................................................................
A- Introduction...................................................................... B- Brief Remarks on the Hazara Cultural Pattern.................... C- Statement of the Research Problem................................... 1- Race and History........................................................ 2- Language.................................................................. . 3- Reasons for Migration................................................ 4- Image of the other Residents about Hazaras................. 5- Changes in the Culture............................................... 6- Social Structure of Hazaras......................................... D- Objectives of the Study 14 1- Importance of the Study............................................. 2- Objectives of the Study............................................... E- Focus of the Study........................................................... 1- Propositions 2- Hypotheses............................................................... a- Operational Definitions of the Concepts.............. 3- Variables..................................................................
A- Social Change as Theoretical Framework........................ B- Race as a Theoretical Framework.................................... C- Social Change as Theoretical Framework—the Concepts of Society and Culture D- Background Literature..................................................
A- General ........................................................................ B- Preliminary remarks....................................................... C- Research Design D- Universe...................................................................... E- Sampling Method.......................................................... F- Interview Schedule....................................................... 1- Formulation ........................................................... 2- The Main Test of the Interview Schedule and the Conditions observed in its Formulation 3- Pre-test .............................................................. 4- Training of the Research Assistants (Investigators)....... G- Field Experience ........................................................... 1- Direct observation.................................................... 2- Maintenance of Research Diaries and Talks with the Elders... 3- Field Experiences.................................................... H- Statistical Measures Applied..........................................
A- Origin of the Hazaras and an analysis of the views of different historians in the matter B- The Links of the Hazaras with the Mongols; or the Mongoliods C- Denomination of the Hazaras and the causes of this denomination D- The History of the Hazara before Changiz Khan................. E- The Name of the Different Hazara Tribes and their present genealogies F- Historical Reasons for the Migration of the Hazaras from Afghanistan G- A Short History of the Hazaras living in Iran...................... H- A Brief History of the Hazaras after their Migration to Pakistan.
A- General Orientation to Culture....................................... B- Introduction to the culture of Hazaras before their migration to Pakistan and their moral characteristics C- Culture of the Hazara people after migration to Pakistan.... D- Education and the Method of Instruction—Past and Present..... E- Social Institutions........................................................ 1- Births and rites relating to childbirth........................ a- Naming the baby.............................................. b- “Aqeeqah”...................................................... c- “Kamar-bandi”................................................ d- “Khatna”......................................................... 2- Marriage, its Rites and Customs............................. a- Betrothal.......................................................... b- “Hena Bandan” or “Kheena”............................ c- “Aqd” and bringing the bride............................. d- Bridal chamber................................................. e- “Pa-khushai” or “Paiwazi”................................. f- Miscellaneous customs about marriage.............. 3- Divorce.................................................................. 4- Death, its rites and rituals........................................ F- Mode of Life............................................................... 1- Food.................................................................... a- Names and descriptions of dishes common in the past and still in use b- Foods and dishes newly introduced...................... c- Foods/dishes known to Hazarajat and discarded by Hazaras in Quetta 2- Medicine and treatment of ills.................................... 3- Facial features and dresses....................................... a- Facial features................................................... b- Dresses of the Hazara people............................. c- Hazara Woman.................................................. d- Hazara Men....................................................... 4- Dwellings................................................................ G- Hazaragi Language, Literature and Music.......................... 1- Language................................................................ 2- Poetry, Literature and Folk Lore.............................. 3- Music and Musical Instruments................................ H- Proverbs, original and adopted..................................... I- Faiths, Beliefs and Superstitions.................................... 1- Jins ....................................................................... 2- Reading the shoulder blade bone........................... 3- Vows and Offerings.............................................. 4- Prayers and Amulets............................................. 5- Permission to travel from and farewell to the souls of ancestors, when proceeding on travels 6- “Shab-e Murdaha”................................................ 7- Miscellaneous Beliefs and Superstitions..................... 8- Curses and Abuses................................................... J- Games and Entertainments............................................ 1- Sports and games of purely Hazara origin.................. 2- Sports and games borrowed from Iran, Pakistan and India
A- Background of the Respondents...................................... B- Testing of the Hypotheses..............................................
A- Orientation .................................................................. B- Main Findings................................................................ C- Conclusion.................................................................... D- Suggestions and Recommendations................................ Appendix A.................................................................................. Appendix B.................................................................................. Appendix C.................................................................................. Cited and References...................................................................
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| Availability | ||||||||||||||||
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The book is available from: Hazaragi Academy Tanzeem Nasle Nau Hazara Mughal, Alamdar Road Quetta 87300 Pakistan Ph:- 0092-81-2668491, 0092-81-2668501 Fax:- 0092-81-2667544 Price: US $ 30.00 + Courier Charges
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