Swatis facts for kids
The Swatis (Pashto: سواتي) are a group of people, also known as a Pashtun tribe. They live in the Hazara region of Pakistan. This area is part of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. You can mostly find Swatis in the Mansehra and Batagram districts. Some also live in Kohistan. A few Swatis have also settled in the Kashmir region.
Most Swatis in Hazara speak a language called Hindko. However, some also speak Pashto.
Where Do the Swatis Come From?
The Swatis are a Pashtun tribe with roots in the Bettani group from Afghanistan. They moved to the Swat valley in the early 1200s. This was around the time of Mohammad Ghori. The Swatis won against the local Buddhist and Hindu people in Swat District. They then set up their own rule there. The Swatis ruled in Swat for about 400 years.
Later, another tribe called the Yusufzai tribe arrived. The Yusufzai had recently moved to Peshawar and Bajaur. They had been asked to leave Kabul by Governor Ulugh Beg Mirza in the 1500s. The Swatis welcomed the Yusufzai into the region. However, the Yusufzai eventually pushed the Swatis out of Swat. They took over the area themselves. Because of this, many Swatis moved across into the Hazara region. They settled in the places where they live today.
Swati Family Groups
The Swatis are divided into three main family groups, called subtribes. These are the Gabari, Mitrawi, and Mamaili. The Lughmani are a part of the Gabari group.
The Gabari group lives in several places. These include Kaghan valley, Balakot, Garhi Habibullah, Mansehra, Dhodial, Shinkiari, Baffa, Batagram, Thakot, and Konsh Valley. The Mitrawi and Mamaili groups live in Bherkund, Agror, Tikri Valley, and Deshan of District Batagram. The Allai area is home to all three subtribes. The Lughmanis are mainly found in Baffa.
Well-Known Swati People
- Akund Saad-ud-din
- Wajih uz Zaman Khan, a leader from Oghi
- Babar Saleem Swati (Jahangiri)
- Ayaz Khan Advocate
- Lughmani (Sarkeli)
- Khadi Khan Lughmani from Baffa
