Turlandi
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Turlandi
ترلاندی | |
|---|---|
Village | |
  Turlandi Location of Turlandi in Pakistan  Turlandi Turlandi (Pakistan) | |
| Coordinates: 34°12′31″N 72°19′16″E / 34.208708°N 72.321187°E | |
| Country | Pakistan |
| Province | Khyber Pakhtunkhwa |
| District | Swabi |
| Tehsil | Razzar |
| Time zone | UTC+05:00 (PKT) |
| Postal code | 23420 |
| Area code | +92 938 |
Turlandi (Pashto: ترلاندی) is a village near Shewa Adda and a Union Council in Razar Tehsil, Swabi District of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan.[1] The village is situated at an elevation of 320 meters (1,050 feet).
Kalu Khan Yousafzai, a leading figure of the Yousafzai tribe, is believed to be buried in Turlandi.[2] He is noted for resisting Mughal expansion under Emperor Jalal-ud-Din Muhammad Akbar and is associated with the Battle of the Malandari Pass (1586) near the Karakar Pass.[3] His gravesite remains locally venerated.[4]
Local residents of Turlandi believe that the tomb of Ayaz, the renowned general of King Mahmud of Ghazni, is located in the village. However, there is no concrete evidence to substantiate this claim, and the site is currently referred to as nadaan baba's tomb.[5]
The famous Pashto folktale Yusuf Khan and Sherbano has a special connection with Turlandi, as one of its central characters, Yusuf Khan belonged to Turlandi.[6][page needed] The 1970 film Yousuf Khan Sher Bano, is regarded as the first Pashto-language film in Pakistan and includes scenes filmed in Turlandi.[7]
The name Turlandi is a modified form of the name Toolanday (Pashto: تولاندے) as used today. Toolanday means “up and down”, which is implicitly explained by the presence of a small mountain locally called Ghunday.[8] It is one of the oldest villages of the area with diverse Pukhtoon/Pashtun cultural bonds.[9] The nearby small villages Khwaja, Shagai, Tuti Banda, Qadamai, and Kaludher have originated from and historically formed part of this village.[10]
Multiple regional and subcontinental political figures have visited Turlandi during different historical periods.[11] The former Indian prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru along with his daughter visited Turlandi in an effort to gain the support of Pashtoons prior to the partition of British India.[12] Similarly, Liaquat Ali Khan also visited Turlandi to persuade local residents to vote in favor of Pakistan during the Pakistan Movement.[13] Zulfikar Ali Bhutto later visited Turlandi and met local deputy Muhammad Zaman.[14] Other prominent figures, including Allama Mashriqi, Bacha Khan, and Abdul Wali Khan, are also reported to have visited the village during different political phases.[15]
Demographics
As of 2014, village council records indicate that Turlandi has a population of approximately 35,000.[16]
The inhabitants of Turlandi belong predominantly to the Razzar clan of the Mandanr branch of the Yousafzai tribe.[17] Tribal structure plays a key role in local governance, identity, and traditional leadership.[18]
The main tribes (clans) dwelling in Turlandi are Ali Khan Khel, Dawran Khel, Mayagan, Jan Muhammad Khel, Amir Khel, Qabool Khel, Sundi Khel, Babi Khel, Buran Khel, and Pacheer Khel.[19] The literacy rate is relatively better than in earlier decades and is increasing steadily, particularly among younger generations.[20]
People of Turlandi earn a living primarily through agriculture, including the cultivation of wheat, tobacco, vegetables, maize, and sugarcane, alongside small businesses; a significant portion of the population is also employed in government services.[21]
Turlandi is located close to the nearby market town of Shewa Adda, which is one of the largest commercial centers in Swabi District.[22] Shewa Adda serves as a commercial hub for trade, agricultural sales, and livestock exchange for surrounding villages, including Turlandi.[23]
Culture
Residents of Turlandi traditionally consume simple foods and wear customary attire such as shalwar kameez. Offering black tea to guests is a common social practice, reflecting local customs of hospitality.[24]
The famous Pashto folktale love couple Yusuf Khan and Sherbano is also associated with Turlandi.[25] The film Yousuf Khan Sher Bano (1970), regarded as the first Pashto-language film produced in Pakistan, was partially shot in Turlandi.[26]
Residents of Turlandi are generally noted within the Swabi region for close-knit communal living patterns and a strong tradition of hospitality, consistent with wider Pashtunwali values.[27]
The cultural life of Turlandi reflects broader traditions of the Yousafzai Pashtun community of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The local population predominantly follows Pashtun social norms rooted in Pashtunwali, including hospitality (melmastia), honor (nang), and community protection and support (badal and nanawatai). Traditional gatherings, jirga-based dispute resolution, and communal decision-making remain part of the village’s social structure.[28]
Pashto is the primary spoken language in Turlandi, while Urdu and English are understood for educational and administrative purposes.[29] Cultural dress typically includes shalwar kameez, with men often wearing the pakol or turban, and women traditionally observing modest attire in accordance with regional customs.[30]
Turlandi maintains oral storytelling traditions, folk songs, and seasonal celebrations similar to those found across the Yousafzai belt. Weddings and communal events commonly feature traditional Pashto musical instruments such as the rabab and mangay, accompanied by folk dance forms practiced throughout the region.[31]
Agricultural practices shape much of village life, with wheat, maize, and tobacco historically cultivated in surrounding fields. Social gatherings often coincide with harvest seasons, religious festivals such as Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha, and other Pashtun cultural occasions, contributing to community cohesion and shared identity.[32]