Karlani
Pashtun tribal confederacy
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The Karlāṇī (کرلاڼي; also spelled Karrani) are a major Pashtun tribal confederacy.[1] They primarily inhabit the former FATA regions of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan, as well as parts of eastern Afghanistan.
In the 16th century, a branch of the confederacy established the Karrani dynasty, which served as the final ruling dynasty of the Bengal Sultanate before its integration into the Mughal Empire.[2]
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Origins
The term Karlani (also spelled Karrani) literally translates to "adopted." The exact genesis of the Karlani Pashtuns remains a subject of historical dispute.[3] The 17th-century Mughal scholar Nimat Allah al-Harawi did not include the Karlani tribes in his genealogical work, the Makhzan-i-Afghani.[4]
According to one Pashtun legend, Karlan was the adopted son of Qais Abdur Rasheed, the eponymous ancestor of the Pashtun people.[5] Another variant of the tradition states that Karlan was a foundling discovered by two Ormur brothers in an empty field where an army had encamped the previous night. One brother, who was childless, reportedly exchanged a cooking pot for the infant, leading to the tribal lore that the Karlanis are "adopted" tribes of potentially non-Pashtun origin.[3][6]
This perceived distinction has led some historians to suggest that various Karlani groups, such as the Afridis or Bangash, may have absorbed elements of Dardic, Arab, or other local lineages over time.[7][8] Certain sections of the Karlani confederacy also claim Sayyid descent from Muhammad.[4] Despite these diverse origin theories, the Karlani tribes identify strictly as Pashtun and adhere to the Pashtunwali code.[5]
Dialect
Karlani tribes speak central dialect, a distinct dialect of Pashto.[9]
Karlani tribes
See also
- Nimat Allah al-Harawi author of Tarikh-i-Khan Jahani Makhzan-i-Afghani also known as The History of the Afghans
- Amir Kror Suri