Bara Bandai
Union Council & village in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Bara Bandai (برہ بانڈئ) is a village in Swat, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan, known as an area crossed by Alexander the Great during his invasion of the subcontinent. The people of village Bara Bandai belong to subsection Naikpikhel of Yusufzai the biggest and largest tribe of Pashtun or Pakhtun tribes. It is one of the Provincially Administered Tribal Areas (PATA) of Pakistan. The village contains a small series of mountains and a forest, residential area starting from meadows of mountainsand merge with river swat on right bank, a village market, vast land for crops, number of canals, and a part of the Swat river. Mountains of the village include Usmani Sar, Kafar Ghat and Najia Top.
Bara Bandai | |
|---|---|
Union Council & village | |
| بره بانڈئ | |
  Bara Bandai Location within Pakistan | |
| Coordinates: 34°46′N 72°21′E | |
| Country |  Pakistan |
| Province | Khyber Pakhtunkhwa |
| District | Swat |
| Government | |
| • District Councler & Tehsil councler | Falak Naz Khan |
| Area | |
• Total | 6 km2 (2.3 sq mi) |
| Population | |
• Total | 19,374 |
| Time zone | UTC+5 (PST) |
| Postal code | 19201 |
| Website | www.facebook.com/Bara Bandai |
Etymology
The village was renamed by Yusufzai Pakhtuns after capturing it. The name Bara means "Upper" and Bandai means "Meadow", hence was named Bara Bandai due to its locality. On the West side of Bara Bandai is the neighbouring village Kuza Bandai which means The Lower Meadow. The names were basically given by their greenery, comparing the distances of both villages from Mingora the main city of Swat Valley, and by comparing their distances from the upper hilly areas of Swat such as Kalam and Bahrain. The ancient names of these villages are not known as they are just mentioned by locations in old times books and scripts.
Location
Bara Bandai is about 8 Kilometers away from Mingawara or Mingoara, the main city of Swat Valley and 10 Kilometers from Saidu Sharif the Capital of the Yousufzai State of Swat (Princely State). Situated on the left bank (North side) of Suvastu or The River Swat and is important and one of the large village of Nikpikhel. Nikpikhel is a sub tribe of Akozai and Khudizai Yousufzai and their area stretches in North to Godamanai bordering directly with Dir district, Ningolai is on the East, Dadahara and Shamozai on the West. On the South side of Nikpikhel is The River Swat ([Suvastu]). Bara Bandai is about 80 Kilometers from Kalam, the famous tourist spot of North Pakistan. Bara Bandai comes under the PK-9 constituency of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Provincial Assembly and NA-4 constituency of National Assembly of Pakistan.
Division
The village residential areas are divided into subunits known locally as Cham (Pashto: چم) or Mohallah.
Photos
Peach Trees, Bara Bandai
Peach Trees, Bara Bandai
Greenery, Bara Bandai
Ethnics and Historical Land Division
Total population of village Bara Bandai is 19374 (2009). Which makes it one of the largest villages in the Swat valley. There are number of sub-tribes (clans) of Yousafzai, migrated groups and other groups (tradesmen castes[2]) who are known by their trade.
Yousafzai Tribes
The Yousafzai Pashtuns of the village were historically led by Nasir Khel, belonging to Nikpikhel major tribe. Historically, Nasir Khel[3]
Lands Division and Unit
Nasir khel owns 20 rupees.[2] In many instances, tribal leaders, Malaks, would receive a disproportionately larger share of resources or benefits in exchange for.[2]
Yousafzai Tribes of the Village
- Nasir Khel
Nasar Khel (Nasir Khel)
A larger group of the residents in Bara Bandai.
Tradesmen
Several occupational tribes in the region are traditionally identified by their trades. These include the Zargar (goldsmiths), Kasabgar (hairdressers and messengers), Tarkarn (carpenters), Kolal (potters), Shah Khel (rope makers), Gujjars (farmers and herdsmen),Parachas(traders) and Jalawal (boat operators). Many of these clans are believed to have Aryan ancestry.
The Yousafzais adopted the Aryan or Hindu calendar, already used by the Gujjars of the area which is a group of Aryan descent. The Gujjars, known for their expertise in farming and livestock management, introduced this calendar to the Yousafzai, who did not have a distinct calendar of their own.
Migrated Tribes
Malochwal or Malochian, who claim to be of Haider Khel ancestry also reside in the village. They migrated in 1960s from Maloch village of District Swat.
Ghaznavids
One of the groups residing in the village claims descent from the Ghaznavids, a dynasty of Turkic origin, specifically Mamluks. However, the Ghaznavids are not ancestrally linked to the Yousafzai or any Pashtun groups.
Ghali Khel
The Ghali Khel are a sister clan within the Nikpikhel branch of the Yousafzai tribe and are traditionally based in Kuza Bandai, a neighboring village. In recent times, a narrative has emerged among some groups hostile to the Nasir Khel clan, suggesting that the Nasir Khels are actually descended from the Ghali Khel rather than being a direct lineage of Nikpikhel. This claim lacks historical evidence and is generally regarded as a fabrication, possibly resulting from misinterpretations or deliberate alterations in a few local publications.
Genealogical records and oral histories in Swat generally maintain that the Ghali Khel and Nasir Khel are parallel sub-clans under the same ancestral line, not in a parent-child relationship.
Languages
All the residents speak Pashto as their native language. Gujari language is spoken by some local Gujjars, however it is almost extinct.
Education
The village consist of 1 high, 3 govt boys primary schools and 1 middle govt school for girls along with a number of schools in private sector.
Health
Bara Bandai has its own Basic Health Unit (BHU), numerous clinical laboratories and a number of clinics in private sector which provide healthcare facilities to the residents.
Administration
Administratively, the village is parl of the same name, Union Council Bara Bandai. It is further divided into two Neighbourhood Councils, namely Bara Bandai I & Bara Bandai II. Each neighbourhood council has its own administrative office in their respective Neighbourhood Council with a Village Council Secretary to supervise and oversee the implementation of development schemes and other council activities. Elected members of the councils are elected in Local Government elections under Local Government Act 2013 of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.[5]
Current elected Chairmans of the Neighbourhood council Bara Bandai I and II are Muhammad Tariq Khan Awdal Khel and Riaz Ahmad Zargar, respectively.
Climate
The weather of the village is cold in the winter season and moderate during summer. Snowfall in winter intensify its beauty.[citation needed]
Agriculture
Swat Valley is known for peach production. The village has numerous private peach orchards.
The village climate made it favorable for many crops and fruits.[citation needed] The village not only fulfill their own need but also supply its product to other areas. Among these onion and peach are commonly produce.[citation needed]
Notable figures
Nawab Sultan Ameer Khan(Late) { Khan Of all Asha Khel Tribe} (Awdal Khel) the 2nd One khan of awdal khail was Taj Muhammad khan (zeb sir ) known poeter of poshto language and also was a minister in swat state. He written a lots of book in poshto language and history of poshtoon.
Ramzan Khan (Also Known As Waleed Sultan) {Awdal Khel} The Current Khan of Bara Bandai
Idrees Khan {Martyred} by Taliban (Awdal Khel)
Aimal Khan[6] (a renowned Volleyball player[7] belonging to Awdal Khel tribe). Aimal Khan captain of Pakistan National Volleyball team.[7]
Shaykh Abu Eesa Niamatullah (a Yousafzai of Nasir Khel tribe, an internationally acclaimed religious scholar)[8]
Sultan Room Nasir Khail (Member of Provincial Assembly, PK-9)[9]
