Gandapur
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6a/Historical_gate_of_Kulachi%2C_Dera_Ismail_Khan%2C_Khyber_Pakhtunkhawa%2C_Pakistan.jpg/220px-Historical_gate_of_Kulachi%2C_Dera_Ismail_Khan%2C_Khyber_Pakhtunkhawa%2C_Pakistan.jpg)
TheGandapur(Pashto:ګنډہ پور Urdu: گنڈہ پور ) also called Gandapore is aPashtuntribe, which is based inPakistanandAfghanistan.[1][2]They took their name from theIndo-Parthiansking Gondophernesof house ofSuren.[3]
It is a Pashtun tribe that lives in theDamaan ValleyofDera Ismail Khan Districtand some parts of the District Tank of Pakistan.[1][2]The majority of Gandapurs live inKulachi Tehsilincluding Kulachi city and its surrounding villages like Luni, Rori, Takwara, Maddi, Kot Zafar Baladasti, etc., and in some of the villages of District Tank like Bara Khel, Gara Baloch etc. The tribe descended from the Afghan highlands to the plains of Damaan during the 17th century. The center of their winter quarters developed into a town in the 19th century, probably because of the trading activities of the tribesmen betweenKhurasanand India.[1][2]
Origin of the caste lies in the fact that Storai khan had 5 sons namely Shakhai, Tarrai Marerai, Amar Khel and Hamarh. Hamarh's progeny is still known after his father's caste i.e. Storai or Storyani while the rest of the 4 brothers' progeny is known as Gandapur, due to Tari Khan alias Gandapur's father famous sayings: May your prosper among 12 castes.
The Afghan King Ahmed Shah Abdali named Gandapurs as Afghanpurs. The Gandapur tribe took part in Pashtun tribal wars during the 18th century. They also fought against theSikh Empire(1799-1849). A part of the tribe also lives in Sur Kalay (سور کلے) inGhazni Provinceof Afghanistan.[1]
Main subcastes of the Gandapur tribe are as follows:
Bara Khel, Bahadar Khel, Ali Zai, Ibrahim Zai, Yaqoob Zai, Kamal Khel, Isa Khel, Ikhtiar Khel, Qadam Khel, Husain Zai, Khadar Khel, Mosa Zai, Shakhi, Marerai, Malang Khel, Bazeed Khel, Payi Khel, Pati Khel, Zarni Khel, Kamal Khel, Zohag Zai, Allahdad Khel, Mehtar Khel, Shah Khel, Nasar Khel, Suleman Khel, Khuwaja Khel, and Yahya Khel.
People
[edit]References
[edit]- ^abcd"Gandapur tribe".Encyclopedia of Islam, Second Edition website.2012.Retrieved20 December2022.
- ^abcdHanifi, M. Jamil (20 August 2020),"GANDĀPŪR",Encyclopaedia Iranica Online,Brill,doi:10.1163/2330-4804_eiro_com_1873,retrieved10 September2022
- ^Revolving Around India(s) Alternative Images, Emerging Perspectives.Cambridge University. 2020. p. 28.ISBN9781527545922.