History of Sadozai Khan Family
Written By Shujah Khan Sadozai
Sadozai family living in Azad
Kashmir is locally known as Sudhan or Sardar is an martial tribe from
Sudhanoti, Poonch, Bagh, Kotli districts of Azad Kashmir. The tribe is known
for his bravery and greatest share in the subsequent fighting and sacrifices
for Kashmir’s history. The tribe has moved from Afghanistan to Kashmir region.
The Sadozai living Azad Kashmir are traditionally descendants of Jassi Khan, an
Sadozai figure who moved to Kashmir some centuries ago along with his Sadozai
troops.
Sadozai tribe living in Azad Kashmir is a tribe of professional fighters and soldiers. They are a brave and self respecting people. They can be easily made to resort to Arms for a cause. They, some time, differ with one another, in ordinary life, but just as much easily and quickly get together in times of crises. In social life they follow time old customs and traditions, which may not be easily acceptable to a modern man but these traditions have a good basis and a good background. Though conservative in their thinking, basically they are a religious people, God fearing and believing tenaciously in God and His existence. Sadozai possess a good physical appearance and some of them could be classed as one of the most handsome of human race.
It is said that some 500 years or so ago Sadozai in western parts of Poonch (now in Azad Kashmir) and fought for their existence, but the local people dominated them. In this period, they multiplied quickly and emerged into a strong and powerful tribe called. Jassi Khan, an Afghan Sadozai warrior, first attacked Kotli, in the Murree hills with his powerfull Pashtun army men. Another tribe held the opposite bank of the Jhelum and was tyrannised over the locals of that area, the locals called in the Jassi Khan, Sadozai to their aid. The Sadozai having defeated the tribe, seized their country and named it Sudhanoti, it was at this time that they took the title of Sudhan, The Sudhan which originates fron Sanskirt langauge, meaning "just and fair" this name was an honorary name given to their Afghan ancestors; Nawab Jassi Khan and his battlelion. which they had earned as a compliment to their valour from the locals. In this period, they multiplied quickly and emerged into a strong and powerful tribe. Shrine of Jassi Khan can be found at Jessa Peer, near Mang and Sudhan betka organized by Jassi Khan can be found at Holar in Kotli.
Sadozai had never reconciled the Dogra and Sikh rule on their homeland because of their Pashtun decent and traditional links with people of eastern Afghanistan.
Sikhs and Dogras had to fight the Sadozai in wars spread Over a fairly long time. Sadozai resisted the Sikhs and Dogra, till powerful armies of Sikhs and Dogras subjugated them and committed unheard of atrocities on them. But they have survived as a tribe to the present day. This happened between 1830-1840, much before the Treaty of Amritsar, which was concluded in 1846.
When Sadozais were defeated, in 1837, the Dogras imprisoned as many as five thousand women and children and as many men were ruthlessly beheaded. Their heads were presented to the Dogras barbaric forces against five rupees per head. This cutting of heads and their sale continued for a period of two months or so. In order to suppress these people for ever, the Dogra forces flayed alive their leaders. As many as twenty people were flayed alive. They were refused even a drop of water. Their bodies were hanged from trees. Some of these trees are still there to bear witness to these ghastly events. As far as one can see and judge world history, such atrocious events could not be easily found in the history of any Land.
In 1837, tribal chief of Sadozai tribe, Shams Khan started a war against the Dogras in the hill region of Poonch and there were bloody rebbelions between Sadozai tribesmen and Dogra army in the 18th century. Because of the independent identity of their homeland as a princely state, formidable mountain barriers, and districts ethnic characteristics, there interaction between the inhabitants of Poonch and those of the adjoining areas of the State; their traditional links were with the North-West Frontier Province and eastern Afghanistan. Shams Khan, who was chief of Sadozai tribe, Shams Khan had rose a war against Dogra, Gulab Singh’s forces, Sudhan tribemen braverly defeated the Dogras and libearted their areas from Dogra, but Sikh empire attacked Sadozai tribemens from Kahuta, Punjab gave currency to a rumour that both of them had been killed in a battle. Sabz Ali Khan and Malli Khan along many other Sadozai leaders of the revolt, who were captured and flayed alive at Mang.
18th century to 19th century, Poonch was one of the major recruiting grounds for the British Army, beacuse Sadozai people would always think of themselves as fightersa and there were no economic opportunities and inadequate landholdings in this area. So, most of them fought alongside the British, unlike other Kashmiri Muslims, who had enough land to till and were involved in economic activities. Sudhan had military and combat skills. This brings us to the last great war and Sudhans history.
This war gave Sadozai a great chance to fight on all fronts of the war. They fought in North Africa and Europe all over. Against the Japanese, they fought in Burma, Indonesia, Malaysia and other fronts. After Sadozai came back from war fronts, Indo-I’akistan continent was witnessing a unique political struggle and was on the verge of independence. This struggle for independence affected every big or small town. A new age was emerging with a brilliance never witnessed for ages before. Sadozais were thus affected by the magnificent struggle for freedom. Dogra rule seemed miserably crumbling along with the British Raj, where the sun never set for two hundred years or so. Filled with a spirit of new urge to be free, the Sadozais, like all Kashmiri patriots, were ready to do their part in freedom struggle. In fact they were the first to challenge the Maharaja and his armies all over the state.
In 1947, Dogra rulers were once again threatened by Sardar Ibrahim Khan, 32 year old Sadozai from Rawalakot, who organized army of 60.000 ex-serviesmen from Sadozai tribe to fight the Dogra, there were 60,000 Sudhans who had served in the British Army. Poonch was one of the major recruiting grounds for the British. These Sadozai people own Pathan origin and would always think of themselves as fighters. There were no economic opportunities and inadequate landholdings in this area. So, most of them fought alongside the British, unlike Kashmiri Muslims, who had enough land to till and were involved in economic activities. Sudhan had military and combat skills. toegether with Pakistani Pathan (Pashtun) tribemen, it was Sadozai who libarated ‘Azad Kashmir’.
Sadozai tribe living in Azad Kashmir is a tribe of professional fighters and soldiers. They are a brave and self respecting people. They can be easily made to resort to Arms for a cause. They, some time, differ with one another, in ordinary life, but just as much easily and quickly get together in times of crises. In social life they follow time old customs and traditions, which may not be easily acceptable to a modern man but these traditions have a good basis and a good background. Though conservative in their thinking, basically they are a religious people, God fearing and believing tenaciously in God and His existence. Sadozai possess a good physical appearance and some of them could be classed as one of the most handsome of human race.
It is said that some 500 years or so ago Sadozai in western parts of Poonch (now in Azad Kashmir) and fought for their existence, but the local people dominated them. In this period, they multiplied quickly and emerged into a strong and powerful tribe called. Jassi Khan, an Afghan Sadozai warrior, first attacked Kotli, in the Murree hills with his powerfull Pashtun army men. Another tribe held the opposite bank of the Jhelum and was tyrannised over the locals of that area, the locals called in the Jassi Khan, Sadozai to their aid. The Sadozai having defeated the tribe, seized their country and named it Sudhanoti, it was at this time that they took the title of Sudhan, The Sudhan which originates fron Sanskirt langauge, meaning "just and fair" this name was an honorary name given to their Afghan ancestors; Nawab Jassi Khan and his battlelion. which they had earned as a compliment to their valour from the locals. In this period, they multiplied quickly and emerged into a strong and powerful tribe. Shrine of Jassi Khan can be found at Jessa Peer, near Mang and Sudhan betka organized by Jassi Khan can be found at Holar in Kotli.
Sadozai had never reconciled the Dogra and Sikh rule on their homeland because of their Pashtun decent and traditional links with people of eastern Afghanistan.
Sikhs and Dogras had to fight the Sadozai in wars spread Over a fairly long time. Sadozai resisted the Sikhs and Dogra, till powerful armies of Sikhs and Dogras subjugated them and committed unheard of atrocities on them. But they have survived as a tribe to the present day. This happened between 1830-1840, much before the Treaty of Amritsar, which was concluded in 1846.
When Sadozais were defeated, in 1837, the Dogras imprisoned as many as five thousand women and children and as many men were ruthlessly beheaded. Their heads were presented to the Dogras barbaric forces against five rupees per head. This cutting of heads and their sale continued for a period of two months or so. In order to suppress these people for ever, the Dogra forces flayed alive their leaders. As many as twenty people were flayed alive. They were refused even a drop of water. Their bodies were hanged from trees. Some of these trees are still there to bear witness to these ghastly events. As far as one can see and judge world history, such atrocious events could not be easily found in the history of any Land.
In 1837, tribal chief of Sadozai tribe, Shams Khan started a war against the Dogras in the hill region of Poonch and there were bloody rebbelions between Sadozai tribesmen and Dogra army in the 18th century. Because of the independent identity of their homeland as a princely state, formidable mountain barriers, and districts ethnic characteristics, there interaction between the inhabitants of Poonch and those of the adjoining areas of the State; their traditional links were with the North-West Frontier Province and eastern Afghanistan. Shams Khan, who was chief of Sadozai tribe, Shams Khan had rose a war against Dogra, Gulab Singh’s forces, Sudhan tribemen braverly defeated the Dogras and libearted their areas from Dogra, but Sikh empire attacked Sadozai tribemens from Kahuta, Punjab gave currency to a rumour that both of them had been killed in a battle. Sabz Ali Khan and Malli Khan along many other Sadozai leaders of the revolt, who were captured and flayed alive at Mang.
18th century to 19th century, Poonch was one of the major recruiting grounds for the British Army, beacuse Sadozai people would always think of themselves as fightersa and there were no economic opportunities and inadequate landholdings in this area. So, most of them fought alongside the British, unlike other Kashmiri Muslims, who had enough land to till and were involved in economic activities. Sudhan had military and combat skills. This brings us to the last great war and Sudhans history.
This war gave Sadozai a great chance to fight on all fronts of the war. They fought in North Africa and Europe all over. Against the Japanese, they fought in Burma, Indonesia, Malaysia and other fronts. After Sadozai came back from war fronts, Indo-I’akistan continent was witnessing a unique political struggle and was on the verge of independence. This struggle for independence affected every big or small town. A new age was emerging with a brilliance never witnessed for ages before. Sadozais were thus affected by the magnificent struggle for freedom. Dogra rule seemed miserably crumbling along with the British Raj, where the sun never set for two hundred years or so. Filled with a spirit of new urge to be free, the Sadozais, like all Kashmiri patriots, were ready to do their part in freedom struggle. In fact they were the first to challenge the Maharaja and his armies all over the state.
In 1947, Dogra rulers were once again threatened by Sardar Ibrahim Khan, 32 year old Sadozai from Rawalakot, who organized army of 60.000 ex-serviesmen from Sadozai tribe to fight the Dogra, there were 60,000 Sudhans who had served in the British Army. Poonch was one of the major recruiting grounds for the British. These Sadozai people own Pathan origin and would always think of themselves as fighters. There were no economic opportunities and inadequate landholdings in this area. So, most of them fought alongside the British, unlike Kashmiri Muslims, who had enough land to till and were involved in economic activities. Sudhan had military and combat skills. toegether with Pakistani Pathan (Pashtun) tribemen, it was Sadozai who libarated ‘Azad Kashmir’.
Written By Shujah Khan Sadozai currently staying in Belgium
Category: About Kashmir, Abrar Ishaq Sadozai, Sudhnoti
I am also sadozai(sudhan),my Ancestors migrated to India from hindukush region
Hi, brothers, my name is sardar asim and I am from mung Kashmir I am looking at my lost tribe, I am a decedent of Nawab Jessi khan please tell me about your four far fathers and I can check in a family tree I have a shajarnasab thanks you can reply me.
Can u share it
Ur family tree