Dargai facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Dargai درگئی
City and Tehsil
Dargai درگئی Location in Pakistan
Country	Pakistan
Region	Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa
District	Malakand District
Time zone	UTC+5 (PST)

Dargai (Pashto: درگئی; Urdu: درگئی) is a town and an important area (called a 'tehsil') in the Malakand District of Pakistan. It's located in the northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. Dargai sits on the main highway that connects big cities like Peshawar to northern areas such as Swat, Dir, and Chitral.

Dargai is becoming more important for its economy. It's a busy trading spot between the upper and lower regions of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. It's also well-known for its timber market and historically, it was the last train station into Northern Pakistan.

For a long time, Dargai was part of the Malakand Agency, which was a special tribal area. In 1970, some old princely states like Chitral, Dir, and Swat were joined together to form the Malakand Division. This division was then split into districts, and one of them became the Malakand District, which included Dargai. Even though things have changed, people sometimes still use the name "Malakand Agency" to talk about the whole area.

Dargai's Past: A Look at Its History

Dargai has a rich history, especially known for battles during the time of British rule.

Early Battles and Resistance

The British started their campaigns in Malakand in 1852. Dargai became famous for its battles. First, the British fought against the Pashtun Utmankhel tribe. A big battle happened at Prang Ghar. The Utmankhel fighters, even though they were few and didn't have many weapons, were eventually defeated.

In March 1852, a British army group, led by Lord Clyde, attacked Dargai and Kharkai. These were small villages of the Ranizai tribe at the bottom of the Malakand Pass. The British had strong artillery, so the Ranizais agreed to pay a ransom. After this, they declared a "holy war" in the Buner Valley, which was ruled by Syed Akhbar Shah Badshah. The British felt threatened by Badshah and tried to take the valley, but they were not successful.

Agreements and More Fighting

After the Swat ruler Akhund Sahib (Saidu baba) died in 1877, the British commander brought a strong force into Ranizai territory. The Ranizais once again tried to settle things peacefully.

In 1895, British army major Sir Arlo and Colonel Kelly started a war against Umara Khan, a leader and politician. The British set up camp at Dargai and Kharkai before a huge battle in the Malakand pass. The Swat Ranizais showed great bravery during this fight. On September 12, 1895, an agreement was signed between the British and the Swat Ranizais.

The Second Battle of Malakand

Another important battle, the second battle of Malakand, took place in 1897. During this time, the Swat Ranizais continued to resist. Even the Pukhtoon women joined the fight. History tells us about a brave woman from Dehri Alladand who fought day and night. She also provided food and water to the fighters. She died with her sword in hand and is buried near Dehri Alladand village. People there call her Shaheeda Abai, which means "martyred grandmother."

A brave tribesman named Hazrat Sadullah Khan, also known as Sar tor Faqir, fought against the British. When the British took Amandara, Sar tor Faqir marched towards Thana. The British went to Dehri Alladand and Batkhela. Sar tor Faqir's group went around the British troops at Amandara and attacked Malakand, where they defeated the British. Later, the Sikhs joined the British, but they were still beaten by the local fighters. Many British and Sikhs were killed or captured, and a lot of weapons were taken. Nineteen local fighters were killed, including Sar Tor Faqir. His tomb is at the bottom of Elephant Pass (Hathi Darrah) in Malakand.

Later, the British created a new army group called the Malakand Field Force to deal with the tribes in the Malakand area. Winston Churchill, who later became a famous British Prime Minister, was a young officer in this force. The Malakand Field Force attacked many villages in Malakand, Swat, Dir, and Chitral. Slowly, British rule spread across the whole area.

Recent Events and Community Spirit

In November 2006, there was an attack on soldiers during a parade in Dargai. Many were injured. The local people quickly helped by driving the injured soldiers to the hospital, saving many lives. The people of Dargai are also known for their kindness. From 2009 to 2012, they offered water, food, and even places to stay in their homes for people escaping violence in the North. They also helped people who were affected by floods in July 2010.

Dargai Heights: A Famous Battleground

An attack on Dargai Heights during the Tirah campaign in 1897 was very important. Four Victoria Crosses, which are very high military awards, were given out because of the bravery shown there. The Heights were held by Afridi tribesmen. British soldiers from the Gordon Highlanders and the 2nd King Edward VII's Own Gurkha Rifles successfully stormed the area on October 20, 1897. Several soldiers received medals for their courage. This event was remembered in poems, a pipe march called The Heights of Dargai, and a fiddle tune also named Dargai.

Local Attractions and Power Projects

Today, Dargai has beautiful places to visit. It's also home to important hydro-electric projects like Jabban (Malakand-I), Dargai (Malakand-II), and Dargai (Malakand-III). In these projects, water travels through a 3 miles (4.8 km) tunnel before falling 350 feet (110 m) to power generators. The two original power houses at Dargai and Jabban were joined by a third, the 81 MW Malakand-III hydropower station, which was finished in 2008. The Punjab Regimental Centre, a military training base, is also located near Dargai Railway Station.

Transportation in Dargai

Dargai railway station was an active train station until 1992. It was connected to the main railway system by the Nowshera–Dargai Branch Line.