Population:
The population of Swat is round about 1,250,000.
Distribution of Population:
The distribution of population depends upon relief, climate vegetation, products, and industries. The people deserts the uneven surface composed of poor soil with severe climatic conditions, and seeks abode somewhere else in the area where the facilities for decent life are available. Therefore, in the early days, the exceeding number of population of mountainous areas were coming to the villages of the valley, and worked as peasants, or as helpers of the landlords. But now, the industrial and commercial centers avail them good opportunities for lucrative jobs, and fruitful labor work. So instead of the villages, the influx of the population is toward the cities. Thus Mingora is the thickly populated area in the whole Swat. The villages of the valley have thicker population as compared to the mountainous areas.
Races:
The population of Swat consists of the following main races: Mian, Mula, Swati Dalazak, Pukhtoon, Kohistani, and Gujar. Each of them has their own genealogy, and background.
Mian (Plural Miangan):
Mian means reverend, so, all the Miangan are respected for their pious origin, forefathers, but they are not descended from one progenitor. They have come from different origins, hence they are known with various names i.e. Sayed, Papinee, Akhund Kheil, and Madey Kheil etc.
Among them, Sayeds are very respected, and their genealogy is linked to the Holy Prophet (Peace be Upon him). Sayed Qambar Ali Shah, known as Peer Baba, whose tomb is in Buner which is attended by thousands of people each year, is their nearer forefather.
Mula (plural Mulan):
A Mula is a religious scholar. The whole family of a Mula is also named after him. Like Miangan, Mulan are also reverend sect. Again, like Miangan, they are not from one source. There are various groups in them like Mula, Sahibzada, Sheikh, and Akhunzada etc.
Muslim conquerors also brought Mulans with them, to preach Islam in the newly occupied regions. Later on these Mulans were settled permanently in these areas.
Many other races like Pukhtoon, Mian, Gujar etc. also turned as Mulan, and so, their origin was concealed by the thick cover of knowledge and wisdom.
Both Mulan, and Miangan, are known as "Stanadar" Stana means residence, and Dar means holder. Thus, Stanadar means the permanent Master of Abode. They were called so, because in the case of departure, or attack, other people would deposit their precious materials in the houses of Stanadar (Miangan and Mulan), as the invaders would not touch them. The assailants also respected Stanadar, and never touched, or harmed the things that were entrusted to Stanadars. Secondly, before 1924(the year of permanent allotment), other people would change their villages at the end of each decade, but Stanadars would stay in their villages permanently.
Pukhtoon:
This race is belonging to Yousafzai tribe. Though, there are some Mandan, Swati and Shalmani too, but their number is very little. The majority of the population of Swat is Yousafzai.
This tribe is further subdivided into many offshoots, and each branch is called by its nearer forefathers' name, as the children of Usman are Usmankhail, and from Janakay is Jankikhail, and so on.
Kohistani:
Kohistani appear to be the indigenous population of Swat. When Mahmood conquered Swat, he had no time to explore the cone, and corners of Swat, so, the mountain-enclosed valleys were not invaded. Islam spread, slowly and gradually, in these areas. These people are now called as Kohistani.
Kohistani can also be divided into many tribes. The population of both Abasin Kohistan and Kohistan-e-Swat has many offshoots.
Gujar:
In recognition of profession Gujars are of two types:
Proper Gujars, who keep buffaloes and cows.
Ajar, who are also Gujar but keep sheep and goats.
They are called Ajars, because they are seasonal migrators.
This division occurs for their professions, both are the same race otherwise. However, the chief tribe of Gujars is Kattaan, and that of Ajars is Balaisar.
Now all of these races have become an integral part of Yousafzai.
|
