Mansehra
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Mansehra
مانسہرہ |
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General Information
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| Country |  Pakistan |
| Province | North-West Frontier Province |
| District | |
| Time zone | PST (UTC+5) |
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Government
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| No. of Union Councils | 3 |
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Location
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Mansehra (Urdu: مانسہرہ) city is located at 34°20′N 73°12′E / 34.333°N 73.2°ECoordinates: 34°20′N 73°12′E / 34.333°N 73.2°E [1] in Mansehra District, North-West Frontier Province, Pakistan. It is very near to Abbottabad city. It is a major stop for tourists on the Karakoram Highway which leads to China. It is also a major transit point to the northern areas and locations such as the Kaghan Valley, Naran, Shogran, Lake Saiful Mulook and Babusar Top.
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[edit] History
Mansehra (former Pakhli Sarkar) has a very old history in the Sub-Continent. Its geographical boundaries has constantly been changed in the times of various Rajas, Maharajahs and Kings in the past. Alexander the Great after conquering the northern India, established his rule over a large part of it. Different historians are of the opinion that in the year 327 B.C. Alexander handed over this area to Abisaras, the Raja of Poonch state.
During Maurya dynasty Mansehra remained a part of Taxila. The Great Ashoka was the Governor of this area when the was a prince. After the death of his father, Bidusara, Ashoka ascended the throne and made this area along with Gandhara ball valley major seats of his govt. The famous edicts of Ashoka inscribved on three rocks near Bareri hill, beside Mansehra town, are the evidence of his rule here. These edicts prove that this area was a famous religious centre where pilgrims used to come to perform pilgrimage. From ages the devout Hindus after climbing up the BARERI PEAK performed religious obligations to "Sheva".
In second century A.D. a mythical Hindu king Raja Risalu, son of Raja Salbahan of Sialkot,brought this area under his sway. The local people consider him as their hero and even today parents narrate to their children the stories of Raja Risalu and his wife Rani Konklan in the winter nights.
When a Chinese pilgrim Hiun-Tsang visited Indo-Pakistan Sub-Continent this area was under the control of Durlabhavardhana, the ruler of KASHMIR. It is also said that Turkey Shahi and Hindu Shahi dynasties ruled Pakhli one after another. Among the rulers of Hindu Shahi dynasty Raja Jaipala was the most prominent. Mehmood of Ghazni defeated him during his (Mehmood) first Indian campaign. Mehmood paid no attention to Mansehra for establishing a Muslim rule over here except using it as his approach to Kashmir.
Again in the 11th century A.D. after the fall of Hindu Shahi dynasty, the Kashmiris occupied this area under the leadership of Kalashan (1063 to 1089 A.D). From 1112 A.D. to 1120 A.D. King Susala ruled this area. In the last quarter of the 12th century A.D. Asalat Khan, a General of Mohammad Ghuri, captured this area but soon after Mohammad Ghuri's death the Kashmiris once again occupied it.
Thereafter the history of Mansehra is obscure up to 1399 A.D. when the great Muslim warrior Taimurlanc, on his return to Kabul, left here some soldiers for the protection of this important route between Kabul and Kashmir. By this time, The Muslims ousted the Hindus from power and established their authority. In the beginning Mansehra remained under the direct control of Kabul. But in 1472 A.D. Prince Shahab-ud-Din came from Kabul and established his rule here. He founded the state namely Pakhli Sarkar and chose Village Gulibagh as his capital.
During the Mughal period the local Turk Chiefs acknowledged the authority of the Mughals. Since Mansehra (Pakhli) provided the main route of Kashmir, therefore, Emperor Akbar went to Kashmir via Mansehra. During the last days of Akbar the Turki Chief Sultan Hussain Khan revolted against the Mughals. His complaint was that the Mughals were interfering into his internal affairs. The Mughals exiled him after crushing thes revolt but later on they pardoned him and handed over his country back to him. In 1619-20 Emperor Jahangeer stayed with Hussain Khan when he was going to Kashmir.
The first quarter of the 18th century A.D. became miserable for the Turks because their rule came to an end due to the decay of their vitality, and the increasing aggression of the Pukhtoons and their allied forces. the most crucial attack was that of the Swatis under the command of Syed Jalal Baba & Pir Imam in 1703 A.D. They ousted the Turks and captured this area.
When Ahmad Shah Durrani extended his kingdom to Punjab and Kashmir, Mansehra also came under the control of this new invader. the durranis controlled Mansehra through the local Khans among whom the Khans of Amb State and Ghari Habibullah were prominent. In the beginning of the 19th century A.D. their power weakened which opened the way of revolt against them. they sent many detachments of troops to maintain law and order but rather their control decreased day by day. When the Sikhs arose in power under Ranjeet Singh (1777 - 1838 A.D.) they asserted themselves independent of the Durranis. Ranjeet Singh organized his "Khalsa" Army on modern lines and then started to extend his regime over vast area.
The Sikhs got hold of Mansehra in 1818 A.D. after a stiff resistance from its inhabitants. soon after the Sikh's annexation of Mansehra to Punjab, Syed Ahmad Shaheed along with the Mujahidin appeared on the soil of Mansehra. He, with the cooperation of local people, fought many battles against the Sikhs. at last in 1831 A.D. a fierce battle look place between the Sikhs and the Mujahidin at Balakot. the Sikhs got the upper hand and martyred Syed Ahmad along with his number of friends. Thus the Sikhs hold strengthened in Mansehra.
After the death of Ranjit Singh, disintegration of the Sikh state started due to which the British annexed Punjab to their dominion. In the meantime the remnants of the Mujahidin of Balakot and Tanaolis attacked the Sikh forts and slew a large number of Sikhs.
On 19 March, 1846 A.D. a peace treaty was signed between the Sikhs and the British according to which Raja Gulab Singh took Kashmir and Hazara from the British for rupees 75,00,000. But due to widespread civil disorder and resistance movement Raja asked the British government to take over Hazara in exchange of the Jamu-Jehlum belt. The British accepted this offer and took over Hazara from him. They deputed James Abbot to Hazara to restore peace. He defeated Chuttar Singh, a Sikh general, after coming to Hazara and thus completely ousted the Sikhs from power. In 1849 A.D. this area came under the direct control of the British. At first the British faced no resistance here, but after three years Zaman Shah of Kaghan turned against the British. James Abbot sent an expedition to Kaghan which deprived Zaman Shah of his territory and he was exiled to Pakhli plain. After four years the British forgave him and he was permitted to get back his lost territory.
Unlike the people of the settled areas, the Pukhtoon tribes that lived on the western outskirts of Mansehra, remained a constant source of trouble for the British for four decades (1852-92). The British sent more than four expeditions against them and ravaged Black Mountain (The pukhtoons abode) many times. To maintain peace in the area the British also took preventive measures having conferred titles on the leading persons.
After their advent the British declared Hazara as a district, divided into three tehsils i.e. Mansehra, Abbottabad & Haripur, and annexed it with the Punjab. In 1901 when NWFP province was formed, Hazara was separated from the Punjab and made a part of NWFP.
During the British period Mansehra remained in the forefront of various religio-political movements in the Indo-Pakistan Sub-Continent. The people of this area joined the ranks of those Muslims freedom fighters who wanted to strengthen the cause of Islam. The people of Mansehra joined the Khilafat movement zealously. Consequently Mansehra became quiet unruly. The people refused to acknowledge the British rule having selected their own functionaries in different Villages. The British took strict measures to bring them under their control. Even they imposed Martial Law in Mansehra to crush this resistance.
When the Muslim League started its movement for a separate homeland, the local people joined it and struggled for liberation from the alien rules under the leadership of Quaid-i-Azam and got triumphant victory against them, culminating in the creation of Pakistan, an independent state for the Muslims of the Sub-continent.
During the elder Bhutto's regime Mansehra was upgraded to a district level comprising two tehsils namely; Mansehra and Batagram. In 1983 Balakot town, a gateway to the Kaghan valley, was also upgraded to the level a tehsil of Mansehra District. Today Mansehra is a place of scenic beauty. During the summer, people come here for recreation from far flung areas of Pakistan as well as rest of the world. They feel here peace and tranquility.
[edit] Literacy
Mansehra is located in a province with a literacy rate of 35.41%. In comparison, Pakistan as a whole has literacy rate of 43.92%, while Islamabad leads the nation with a 72.4% literacy rate[2]. Hindko and Pashto are the predominant languages.
[edit] Subdivisions
The city of Mansehra is administratively divided into four Union Councils these are[3]:
- Mansehra City No 1
- Mansehra City No 2
- Mansehra City No 3
- Mansehra(Rural)
Each union council is divided into [[Mohalla]rsity on Map]] Mansehra is a rural city that is known for its raw natural beauty and temperate climate.
Education: Unfortunately, when it comes to education, Mansehra is located in a province with a literacy rate of 35.41%[2]. In comparison, Pakistan as a whole has literacy rate of 43.92%[2], while Islamabad leads the nation with a 72.4%[2] literacy rate. The First primary school in the district was established in 1872 in the village Behali. Recently there have been schools and training institutions, which are trying to raise the educational standards of the city. Some of these schools came into existence due to international funding, while most are privately owned. These schools and institutes include:
- Koh-I-Noor Academy & Teacher Training Centre(Shahnawaz Chowk Balakot Road)Mansehra.
- Agahi Community Schools and Teacher Training Center
- GARDEN PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOL [Bab NO 2] MANSEHRA
- JINNAH COLLEGE,S MANSEHRA [FSC(Pre Engineering&medical) & DEGREE COLLEGE OF COMMERCE AND BBA (OWNER)
- LIGHT TOWER PUBLIC HIGHER SECONDERY SCHOOL [COLLEGE DORAHA] PRINCIPAL MALIK REHMAN
- ((((HICS)))) Hazara Institute of Computer Sciences.
- Oxford English Public School & College, Bherkund Mansehra.
- Hazara University Mansehra
- JICS (Jinnah Institute of Computer Sciences.
- Sky International School & College, which was founded in 2004.
- Hazara Convent School, Akbar Khan Road, Mansehra.
- MCPS,Mansehra City Public School.
- MIPS, Mansehra International Public School, it has two college campuses.
- The Pakistan Scout Cadet College was established in 1996 in Batrasi, Mansehra (PSCC).
- University of Hazara is an HEC recognized University
- Tameer-i-Nau Public School Mansehra
- The Educators Pre School
- The Educators Primary School
- Mansehra Public School(MPS)
- Al Quran Public School
- Iqra Collegiate School
- Islamia Public High School
- Overseas Pakistani Foundation Dab No 1 Mansehra
Al-Huda public high school
- SDC Khaki mansehra. SDC khaki mansehra is powered by TUSDEC (Technology Upgradation and Skill Development Company) and Federal Government to enhance the Technical Capbilities of the habitant of the Area. SDC khaki Offer many course which are absolutly free of cost on the sucessfull completion then course SDC khaki Rewards a Certificate from the Approval Of PIDC (Pakistan Industrial Development Corporation) Pakistan. Courses Offered: Civil, Electricians, Electrical Supervisiors, Plumbing, Welding, Tourism, Trekking, Hotel Managment, F & B productions, Computer Courtesy Driving, English Motor rewinding.
Apart from these schools, Mansehra is also home to one of the prominent universities in Pakistan, The Hazara University.
[edit] Hospitals
- District Head Quarter Hospital
[edit] Tribes
The main tribes living in mansehra are SWATI, Gujjar, Paracha, Qureshi, Tanoli,Awan,Kashmiri, and Syed.There are some other tribes which are living in mansehra but they are small in number they include Lodhies and Turks. Gillani, Tirmizi,Jilani, from the Syed tribe, Awan are descends of Hazarat Ali, Khan Khel were the tanents of the Swati tribe and Turks living in Behali who were the first ruler of this region. Gillani Syeds came here from (gillan) located in Iraq They are the descends of Hazarat AbdulQadar Jillani Who are the Famous wali of Allah. Tarmizi Syed came here from Swat and are the descendants of Pir Baba Swat, while they originally migrated from Iran to Pakistan. In Mansehra District there is also another tribe called Gujar who speak Gojriand are large in population. Advocate of Village Mangloor was a renowned laywer and a student leader of Independence Movement; when Quaid-e-Azam visited Islamia College Peshawar, he presented Him the donation money collected for Independence Movement. Sub cast —bohal live in lassan thakral gali mohar and lassan nawab
[edit] Nonprofits
Mansehra is also home to a large number of foreign non profit groups, being a gateway to the Kaghan Valley the town has served as a jump off point for groups wishing to provide support after the 2005 Pakistan Earthquake. These groups now own virtually all of the guesthouses and many of the larger buildings in the town, with previous owners mostly having relocated to Islamabad after the quake.
[edit] Notable people
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- Dr. Ghullam Rabbani - Famous Doctor, Politician
- Justice (R) Muhammad Raza Khan - Former Chief Justice of Peshawar High Court
- Malik M Ashraf - Leader Pakistan Independence Movement
- Malik Amir Alam - Former deputy speaker N.W.F.P
- Nawabzada Salahudeen Saeed - Famous Politician NA-21/Former Federal Minister
- Haji Roshandeen Paracha - Former WAPDA chief N.W.F.P
- Amjad Saleem - Director- Natioanl Telecommunication, Islamabad
- SherAfzal Khan Swati District President Hotel Association Mansehra.Chairman Mansehra International Public School and College.
- Dr. Mohammad Irfan - Internationally renown Psychiatrist - Former MS Government Mental & General Hospital Mansehra
- Dr. AJ Khan - Former Federal Minister of Health & Population, Director Frontier Medical College
- Roshandin Paracha - Former WAPDA Chief N.W.F.P
- Shazi Khan - Politician, Currently minister of Food N.W.F.P
- Dr. Naveed Irfan - Internationally nenown Neurophysician and Psychiatrist,Best Graduate and Gold medalist,Provincial Secretary Pakistan Psychiatric Association, Pakistan.
- Shahid Saleem, Pharmacist & Manager Production in many national & multinational Pharmcutical and Vaccines companies.
- Babar Saleem Khan - Famous Politician
- Ateeq-ur-Rehman Jhangiri - District Deputy Nazim
- Azam Khan Swati - Federal Minister Science & Technology
- Dr. Rashid Saleem - Famous Veternarian & Dairy Technologist
- Naseer Shah, Development Practitioner
- Sajjad Paracha - Famous Politician, Former Nazim Inyatabad
- Faiz M. Khan - Famous Politician, currently MNA NA- 21
- Sardar Shahjehan Yousaf - Famous politician Currently MNA
- Nawabzada Sallahudin Saeed- Son of Late nawab of upper tanawal Nawab Saeed Khan.Five times consective MNA from NA-21
- Mufti Mohammad Idrees - Lawyer, Politician,Active leader of all India Muslim league, Former Minister NWFP, Advocate general.
- Mohammad Hanif Khan - Lawyer, Politician and Former federal minister .
- Asif Awan, Co-ordinator SDL (Halliburton Worldwide Limited, Saudi Arabia)
- Shehzada Aamir Sultan - Senior ADT Engineer ROC, (Halliburton Worldwide Limited, Saudi Arabia).
- Sheraz Mehmood Qureshi -Writer, Prominent social and political leader.
- Abdul Majid, NESCOM Enigneer.
[edit] See also
Mohammad Sabir senior Socila worker and coordinator MERAS NGO Naheed Hussain Shah Social worker and Programme officer MERAS
[edit] References
[edit] External links
- Mansehra International School & College (Main & City Campus)
- Mansehra International College
- Mansehra Valley
- Hazara University Mansehra
- Sarhad Tourism Corporation, Government of NWFP, Pakistan
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