2A02:C7C:ACA6:F800:C0EA:2F2B:E34:B287 at 15:03, 13 March 2023

2023-03-13T15:03:17Z

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{{short description|A tribe in Pakistan}}

'''Awan''' ({{lang-ur|{{Nastaliq|اعوان}}}}) is a [[Pashtun]] tribe living predominantly in the northern, central, and western parts of [[Punjab (Pakistan)|Pakistani Punjab]], with significant numbers also present in [[Pakhtunkhwa]], [[Azad Kashmir]], and to a lesser extent in [[Sindh]] and [[Balochistan, Pakistan|Pakistani Balochistan]].<ref>Douie, J. 2003. The Panjab, North West Frontier Province and Kashmir. Asian Educational Services, p.105.</ref> Genetically, it is a Pashtun sub-tribe of [[Ghoryakhel]] tribe but the people of Awan tribe claim [[Arabs|Arab]] descent.

==History==
[[Jamal J. Elias]] notes that the Awans believe themselves to be of Arab origin, descended from [[Ali ibn Abu Talib]] and that the claim of Arab descent gives them "high status in the Indian Muslim environment".<ref>{{cite book|title=Death Before Dying: The Sufi Poems of Sultan Bahu|last=J. Elias|first=Jamal|author-link=Jamal J. Elias|publisher=University of California Press|date=1998|page=12|isbn=978-0-52021-242-8}}</ref>

[[Christophe Jaffrelot]] says: {{quote|The Awan deserve close attention, because of their historical importance and, above all, because they settled in the west, right up to the edge of [[Baloch people|Baluchi]] and [[Pashtuns|Pashtun]] territory. Legend has it that their origins go back to Imam Ali and his second wife, Hanafiya. Historians describe them as valiant warriors and farmers who imposed their supremacy on the [[Janjua]] in part of the [[Salt Range]] and established large colonies all along the [[Indus River|Indus]] to [[Sindh|Sind]], and a densely populated center not far from [[Lahore]].<ref>{{cite book |title=A History of Pakistan and Its Origins |first=Christophe |last=Jaffrelot |author-link=Christophe Jaffrelot |edition=Reprinted |publisher=Anthem Press |year=2004 |page=205 |isbn=978-1-84331-149-2 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Q9sI_Y2CKAcC}}</ref>}}

People of the Awan community have a strong presence in the [[Pakistani Army]]<ref>{{cite book|title=The Pakistan People's Party: Rise to Power|last=Jones|first=Philip Edward|publisher=Oxford University Press|year=2003|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xliNAAAAMAAJ|page=61|quote=This [Awan] tribe is perhaps the most heavily recruited tribe in the [Pakistan] Army.|isbn=0195799666}}</ref> and a notable martial tradition.<ref>{{cite book |last=Ali |first=Imran |year=1998 |title=Punjab under Imperialism, 1885–1947 |publisher=Princeton University Press|page=114 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=MgUABAAAQBAJ&pg=PA114|isbn=1400859581}}</ref> They were listed as an "agricultural tribe" by the British Raj in 1925, a term that was then synonymous with classification as a "[[martial race]]".<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=O4Wop9vwS9sC |title=The Indian Army and the Making of Punjab |first=Rajit K. |last=Mazumder |page=105 |publisher=Orient Longman |year=2003|isbn=9788178240596 }}</ref>

==Genetic studies on Awan==
Centre for Human Genetics of [[Edith Cowan University]], [[Australia]], [[Armed Forces Institute of Pathology (Pakistan)|Armed Forces Institute of Pathology]], [[Pakistan]] and Institute of General Genetics of [[Russian Academy of Science]], [[Russia]] conducted different genetic studies on Awan and its neighbouring tribes, namely [[Khattar (clan)|Khattar]] and [[Rajput]], which concluded that Awans are genetically isolated, endogamous and very different from its neighbouring tribes.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=W. Wang|last2=S. G. Sullivan|last3=S. Ahmed|last4=D. Chandler|last5=L. A. Zhivotovsky|last6=A. H. Bittles|date=2000|title=A genome-based study of consanguinity in three co-resident endogamous Pakistan communities|url=https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1046/j.1469-1809.2000.6410041.x|journal=Annals of Human Genetics|publisher=John Wiley & Sons, Inc.|volume=64|issue=Pt 1|pages=41–49|doi=10.1046/j.1469-1809.2000.6410041.x|pmid=11246460|s2cid=21493970|quote=There was a reduction in heterozygosity and high average inbreeding effects (''F<sub>IS</sub>'' and/or ''H<sub>S</sub>''), particularly in the Awan, indicating genetic isolation and a high cumulative level of autozygosity.}}</ref>

Department of Genetics of [[Hazara University]], [[Pakistan]] conducted a dental morphology and DNA analysis of major tribes in [[Northern Pakistan]] which recorded that [[Haplogroup T-L206 (Y-DNA)|haplogroup T1]] (originated in [[Israel]]<ref name="Lazaridis16">{{cite journal |last1=Lazaridis |first1=Iosif |display-authors=etal |year=2016 |title=Genomic insights into the origin of farming in the ancient Near East |journal=Nature |volume=536 |issue=7617 |pages=419–424 |bibcode=2016Natur.536..419L |biorxiv=10.1101/059311 |doi=10.1038/nature19310 |pmc=5003663 |pmid=27459054}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=9 April 2022 |title=Haplogroup T-M184 |url=http://www.owlapps.net/owlapps_apps/articles?id=9238638&lang=en |quote=It appears to have originated somewhere around the Eastern Mediterranean Basin, perhaps somewhere between Israel to the Jordan Valley.}}</ref>) is only found in Awans.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Nazia |date=2014 |title=GENETIC ANALYSES OF THE MAJOR TRIBES OF ABBOTTABAD AND MANSEHRA DISTRICTS THROUGH DENTAL MORPHOLOGY AND DNA ANALYSES |url=http://prr.hec.gov.pk/jspui/bitstream/123456789/2751/1/2908S.pdf |journal=Department of Genetics Hazara University Mansehra |pages=92}}</ref>

Department of Genetics of [[Hazara University]], [[Pakistan]], Department of Anthropology of [[University of Alaska Fairbanks]], [[USA]] and Center for Human Genetics of [[Hazara University]], [[Pakistan]] conducted different studies in which hypervariable segment I (HVSI) from mtDNA was analyzed to establish the genetic lineage of the populations living in [[Northern Pakistan]]. A three-cytosine deletion (CCC) at position 16191-16193 was clearly observed in Awans and they fall in the same genetic cluster as Arab tribe of [[Sayyid|Syeds]] because of their similarity.<ref>{{cite journal |author1=N. Akbar |author2=H. Ahmad |author3=M.S. Nadeem |author4=B.E. Hemphill |author5=K. Muhammad |author6=W. Ahmad |author7=M. Ilyas |date=June 24, 2016 |title=HVSI polymorphism indicates multiple origins of mtDNA in the Hazarewal population of Northern Pakistan |url=http://www.funpecrp.com.br/gmr/year2016/vol15-2/pdf/gmr7167.pdf |journal=Genetics and Molecular Research |volume=15 |issue=2 |doi=10.4238/gmr.15027167 |pmid=27420957 |access-date=November 28, 2020 |quote=HVSI sequence homology showed that Hazarewal populations fall into three major clusters: Syeds and Awans sorted out into cluster I, ... A three-cytosine deletion (CCC) at position 16191-16193 observed in the ethnic Awan population residing in Mansehra. |doi-access=free}}</ref>

A latest study conducted by [[Zoological Society of Pakistan]] concluded that Awans are genetically identical to [[Pashtuns]], specifically [[Daudzai]] and [[Khalil (Pashtun tribe)|Khalils]] sub-tribes of [[Ghoryakhel tribe]].<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Zubair |first1=Muhammad |last2=Ahmad |first2=Habib |last3=Hemphill |first3=Brian E. |last4=Tariq |first4=Muhammad |last5=Shah |first5=Muzaffar |title=Identification of Genetic Lineage of Peshawar and Nowshera Tribes through Dental Morphology |journal=[[Pakistan Journal of Zoology]] |date=June 2021 |volume=53 |issue=3 |doi=10.17582/journal.pjz/20190927080941 |issn=00309923}}</ref>

==Notable people==

[[File:Nawab of Kalabagh Malik Amir Mohammad khan.jpeg|thumb|150px|[[Nawab Malik Amir Mohammad Khan]], former [[Nawab]] of Kalabagh, Chief of the Awan tribe, [[Governor]] of [[West Pakistan]] from 1960 to 1966]]
[[File: Noor khan.jpg|thumb|150px|Air Marshal [[Nur Khan]], Commander in Chief of the Pakistan Air Force, 1965–69, Governor of West Pakistan, 1969–70]]

* [[Nawab Malik Amir Mohammad Khan]] – Former [[Nawab]] of [[Kalabagh]], Chief of the Awan tribe and [[Governor]] of [[West Pakistan]] from 1960 to 1966.<ref>{{cite book|title=Pakistan Leadership Challenges|last=Khan|first=Jahan Dad|publisher=Oxford University Press|year=2001|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=MjZuAAAAMAAJ|page=72|isbn=0195795873}}</ref>
* [[Nur Khan|Air Marshal Nur Khan]] – [[Commander-in-chief]] of the [[Pakistan Air Force]], 1965–69, Governor of West Pakistan, 1969–70, and recipient of the [[Hilal-i-Jurat]], the second-highest military award of [[Pakistan]].<ref>{{cite book|title=The American Papers: Secret and Confidential India-Pakistan-Bangladesh Documents, 1965-1973|last=Khan|first=Roedad|publisher=Oxford University Press|year=1999|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=sxpuAAAAMAAJ|page=265|isbn=0195791908}}</ref>
* [[Mir Sultan Khan]] – A [[chess master]] also believed by some to be the greatest natural [[chess]] player of modern times.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Sultan|first1=Ather|last2=Sultan|first2=Atiyab|date=17 May 2020|title=CHESS:The Wrath of Khan|url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1557393|work=Dawn|access-date=12 June 2020}}</ref>
* [[Ahmad Nadeem Qasmi]] – [[Urdu]] poet, journalist, [[literary critic]], dramatist, short story author, recipient of the [[Pride of Performance]] and [[Sitara-e-Imtiaz]], the third-highest civil award of Pakistan.<ref>{{cite book|title=Flower on a Grave: Poems from Ahmad Nadeem Qasimi|first=Daud |last=Kamal|publisher=Oxford University Press|year=2008|url=http://global.oup.com/academic/product/flower-on-a-grave-9780195474978|isbn=9780195474978}}</ref>
* [[Sultan Bahu]] – A [[Sufi]] [[mysticism|mystic]], [[poet]], [[scholar]] and founder of [[Sufism|mystic tradition]] known as [[Sarwari Qadiri]].<ref>{{cite book|title=The Friends of God: Sufi Saints in Islam, Popular Poster Art from Pakistan|first=Jürgen Wasim |last=Frembgen|publisher=Oxford University Press|year=2006|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wzzYAAAAMAAJ|page=103|quote= ... Sultan Bahu (d. 1691) whose real name was Sultan Muhammad. Born into an Awan Family in Shorkot (District Jhang), ... |isbn=0195470060}}</ref>
* [[Khadim Hussain Rizvi]] – A Pakistani [[Islamic scholar]] and the founder of [[Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan]].<ref>{{cite news |last= Warraich |first= Suhail |date=10 December 2017 |title=A Barelvi revival? |url=https://www.thenews.com.pk/tns/detail/564518-barelvi-revival |work= The News International |location= Islamabad|access-date=24 January 2021}}</ref>
* [[Ameer Muhammad Akram Awan]] – [[Islamic scholar]] and [[Sheikh#Sufi term|spiritual leader]] of the [[Sufism|mystic tradition]] known as [[Naqshbandia Owaisiah]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.naqshbandiaowaisiah.org/hazrat-ameer-muhammad-akram-awan-ra.html |title=Hazrat Ameer Muhammad Akram (RA) |website=Silsala Naqshbandia Owaisia |access-date=3 January 2021}}</ref>
*[[Abdul Mannan Wazirabadi]] – Islamic scholar, [[Faqīh|jurist]] and [[Hadith studies|muhaddith]].<ref>Ustad-e-Punjab (teacher of Punjab), in [[Urdu|Urdu Language]], by Maulana Majeed Sohadravi, Darussalam Pakistan/Muslim Publication, [[Lahore]]. page 41</ref>{{better source|date=May 2022}}
*[[Dilip Kumar]] – An actor in [[Hindi cinema]].<ref>{{Cite news|last=Web Team|first=WION|date=July 8, 2021|title=Pakistan mourns the loss of legendary Indian star Dilip Kumar, prayers offered outside ancestral home|work=WION|location=New Delhi, India|url=https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/pakistan-mourns-the-loss-of-legendary-indian-star-dilip-kumar-prayers-offered-outside-ancestral-home-396784|access-date=July 13, 2021}}</ref>


==See also==
*[[Tribes and clans of the Pothohar Plateau]]
*[[Ahmed Gul Khel]]
*[[Awan Patti]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Further reading==
*{{cite book|title=Pakistan - Social and Cultural Transformations in a Muslim Nation|last=Qadeer|first=Mohammad|publisher=Taylor & Francis|date=22 November 2006|isbn=1134186177|page=71}}

{{Castes and Tribes of the Punjab}}

[[Category:Punjabi tribes|*]]
[[Category:Social groups of Pakistan]]

Awan tribe - Revision history

2A02:C7C:ACA6:F800:C0EA:2F2B:E34:B287 at 15:03, 13 March 2023