Kalu Khan Yousafzai

Kalu Khan Yusufzai (Pashto: کالو خان یوسفزئی) was an Afghan warrior and military leader in 16th century who inflicted one of the greatest defeat of the Mughal Empire.[1][2] He is known for leading the Yusufzai Rebellion against Mughals at the Karakar Pass in which Prominent Mughal commanders including Raja Birbal was killed by Yousafzai tribesman in 1586 during the Afghan-Mughal Wars[3][4][5][6]

Kalu Khan Yousufzai
Ghazi
Reign1581 - 1597
PredecessorMalak Gaju Khan Yusufzai
SuccessorMalak Bhaku Khan Yusufzai
Born1550s
Kalu Khan, Swabi
DiedKalu Khan, Swabi
HouseYusufzai
FatherAli Khan (Rustam)
ReligionSunni Islam
Military career
Battles/warsBattle of the Malandari Pass (1586)


Yousafzai Revolt
Further information: Battle of the Malandari Pass (1586)

Following Mullah Meru's defeat and death in 1581 A.D., the Mughals decimated the whole Yousafzai tribe, and Kalu Khan made the decision to assume charge of bringing the Yousafzai organisation and unity back. Ayub son of Rusi, Babu son of Saifu Aba Khel Mandanr, Mirwais son of Mullah Meru, and other Yousafzai personalities participated in the jirga that he organised after consulting his friends and followers. This jirga travelled across Yousafzai's country, preaching about unity and issuing dire warnings about the effects of division.

According to Ain-i-Akbari, Kalu Khan accompanied Mughal Emperor Akbar to Agra when he visited the Kabul area to reprimand Mirza Muhammad. He received favourable treatment, but subsequently left Agra. He was detained close to Attock by Khwaja Shamsuddin Khwafi, who then took him to court. He once more escaped and returned to his own country, where he rose to prominence as the head of the seditious elements.[7] How, why, and under what conditions Akbar brought Kalu Khan to Agra are not explicitly described by Abu Fazal.

The Yousafzai had chosen Ghazi Khan Malezai to lead them in Kalu Khan's absence. But soon after, Ghazi Khan was murdered in a conflict with the Mughals at Bajaur. In the fight, Kalu Khan, who had just returned from Agra, also took part. At a meeting, Yousafzai tribesmen re-elected him as the tribe's leader in Damghar, Swat.[8]

The Mughals were incited against by Kalu Khan's people. After some initial wins, the Yousafzai suffered significant casualties, and Zain Khan Koka was dispatched to defeat them. In 1586, Akbar despatched Said Khan Ghakkar, Abu Fateh, and Birbal to aid Zain Khan. The united troops of Zain Khan and Birbal were then routed by the Yusufzai Afghans under the command of Kalu Khan between the Karakar Pass and the Malandrai Pass. In this conflict, Birbal lost his life.[9][10][11] According to Mughal historian Khafi Khan, this fight resulted in the deaths of 40,000–50,000 Mughal warriors.[12] However, according to Badoani, this entire incident resulted in the deaths of close to 8000 Mughal warriors.[13][14] One of Akbar's biggest and possibly the greatest military setback was this. According to reports, he expressed his sorrow over Birbal, his favourite courtier, passing away.[15]

Legacy

The village of Swabi District, "Kalu Khan" village named after Kalu Khan Yousafzai. It is located at 34°13'0N 72°18'0E with an altitude of 317 meters (1043 feet).

See also

References
  1. Rashid, Haroon (2002). History of the Pathans: The Sarabani Pathans. the University of Michigan. p. 70.
  2. Arlinghaus, Joseph Theodore (1988). The Transformation of Afghan Tribal Society. Duke University. p. 320.
  3. Joshi, Rita (1985). The Afghan Nobility and the Mughals. Vikas Publishing House. p. 70.
  4. Rashid, Haroon (2002). History of the Pathans: The Sarabani Pathans. Haroon Rashid.
  5. Symist (2019-01-27). INDIA: Brief History Volume 2. Symist.
  6. Dani, Ahmad Hasan; Masson, Vadim Mikhaĭlovich; Unesco (2003-01-01). History of Civilizations of Central Asia: Development in contrast : from the sixteenth to the mid-nineteenth century. UNESCO. p. 276. ISBN 978-92-3-103876-1.
  7. Allami, Abu-L.-Fazl; Mubārak, Abū al-Faz̤l ibn (2001). The A-in-i Akbari. Low Price Publications. p. 70. ISBN 978-81-7536-228-4.
  8. Central Asia. Area Study Centre (Central Asia), University of Peshawar. 1981. p. 47.
  9. Srivastava, Niraj (2019-08-06). Daggers of Treason: The Curse of Mughal Series - Vol. 1. Invincible Publishers. ISBN 978-81-936662-0-3.
  10. Mahajan, V. D. (2007). History of Medieval India. S. Chand Publishing. ISBN 978-81-219-0364-6.
  11. Symist (2019-01-27). INDIA: Brief History Volume 2. Symist.
  12. Central Asia. Area Study Centre (Central Asia), University of Peshawar. 1981. pp. 47–48.
  13. Elliot, Henry Miers (2013-03-21). The History of India, as Told by Its Own Historians: The Muhammadan Period. Cambridge University Press. p. 451. ISBN 978-1-108-05587-1.
  14. Dowson, John (2023-02-25). The History of India. BoD – Books on Demand. p. 137. ISBN 978-3-382-12416-8.
  15. Dani, Ahmad Hasan; Masson, Vadim Mikhaĭlovich; Unesco (2003-01-01). History of Civilizations of Central Asia: Development in contrast : from the sixteenth to the mid-nineteenth century. UNESCO. p. 276. ISBN 978-92-3-103876-1.
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