Progress can be achieved only when each number of the society performs his/her duty. In different parts of the world people have different ways of living. There are people who lead a comfortable and easy life and then are those who are faced with poverty and drudgery. There are many ways by which poverty can be eradicated, but no policy can be effective unless the people who are faced with the problems themselves come forward and collectively participate in projects being undertaken for their betterment. No project or plan can successfully be completed unless and until it has the support of the target group itself.

It is the wish of every group or area to lead a free and respectable life. To achieve this end those who strive and work sincerely with a missionary zeal are remembered. They become legendary figures and remain alive in the hearts of the people through folk love etc.

on central Afghanistan/ Hazarajat also many people worked hard for the welfare of their homeland. Women of these areas have also played a very effective role in the past and have now become legendry figures. The women contributed not only in their domestic duties e.g. traditional embroidery, agriculture, livestock, calligraphy, politics and social welfare but have also earned fame in the battle fields by fighting shoulder to shoulder with men folk. Their achievements are remembered till this date in stories and folk tales.

During the past 15 years, Afghanistan has faced external and internal political and socio-economic wars, which have resulted in giving a complete blow to its social, cultural aspects of life. the afghans including the women would have to strive hard to utilize the full natural resources at their disposal in rebuilding the war torn afghanistan. Women’s participation in nation building is extremely essential.

In central Hazarajat, there are sufficient resources available; by what is needed is the communities full participation for effective utilization of these resources.

In this regards OXFAM,s programme in the region is successful because it has the full support and co-operation of all the locals residing in that region.

Women play an important part in building and shaping nations, and the national, economic and cultural aspects of that society determine their position in a society. It would be appropriate to say that their men determine the status of. In some societies women enjoy equal status with men, but to achieve this they have had to struggle a lot.

The human society is a combination of men and women and their joint struggle. Not only women are responsible for procreation, they have also contributed other wise in the development of the society.

In the days of antiquity, it as the women who planted seeds in the soil and grew plant etc. whereas the men folk went out for hunting.

Like other continents, Asia is general, south East Asia and central Asia in particular. There have been examples of women’s whose names are now part of history. In the developed countries, women’s role in achieving progress has been recognized, but in the developing countries, they have not been given their rights and their contribution and achievements are not given due recognition. if the potential and capability of half of the nation is not utilized and is suppressed, then it is a loss for the nation.

According to Will Durant:

“In the beginning of human society, the economic development was started by women. The men folk still used their tools for hunting. It was the women who started agriculture .she made ropes and later made cloth. It was she who created social life by introducing manners, traditional customs and rites, thus she brought civilization itself”.

In our society especially in Pakistan and Afghanistan, the potential of our women has not been fully utilized. In fact they have been suppressed under the garb of religion, culture, customs and traditions.

According to Plato

“Men and women are like the right and left arms. As we use the right arm more frequently, its performance is also better.

THE WOMEN OF AFGHANISTAN

Like many other countries of the world the women of Afghanistan is have also been denied most of their basic rights. They can not take independent decisions about their own future. Education is almost exclusively for men, as it is thought unnecessary for women. Not only men but women also believe that women are inferior to men. The common proverbs/saying in this regard are:

“Women is mentally inferior.

“She has no right to interfere in what the men do”

“If she consulted in a case, the men should act contrary to her advice”

“Her opinion should not be taken”

“She should be treated as a commodity, and should be beaten, as she is the root cause of all ills etc.

Although Islam gives women many rights e.g. at the time of marriage, her consent is taken, other marriage is not legally contracted. But in Afghanistan these Islamic teachings are also ignored. The head of family arranges the marriage of women without seeking their consent.

During war between tribes, women were exchanged for the dead soldiers. The life for Afghanistan’s women was full of hurdles. There are few women who came forward, sought knowledge, entered the field of politics and have come to be known for their valour in the battlefields.

1) Among these women are, Ms Rrabia Balkh: who was the first poetess and acquired high education in Persian literature.

In addition to the above, there are other famous afghan women, e.g. Shah Jehan Begum, Sanober Aziza, Haleema Khushal , Haleema Bubo Jan, Asmat Begum, Fatima Sultan, Gohari Kabuli, Mehbooba Hervi.

During foreign invasions, the Afghan women played a major role by fighting alongside their men.

WOMEN OF HAZARAJAT

The mountainous region in central Afghanistan is known as Hazarajat here the people are for centuries leading a tribal and feudal life. In 1893 A.D the then prevailing system of awful musky was taken over by the Kabul government, but the feudal and the tribal system continues

Kazim Yazdani says:

“The predicament of women of Hazarajat was more or less like the other women of Afghanistan. However, they enjoyed more respect and domestic responsibilities as compared to other women.”

According to Umar Hayat Khan Afghani:

“It is amazing that the women of Hazarajat, though remote from culture and knowledge, enjoyed more respect and were assigned many important roles, as compared to the women of other societies.

The pressure from Hazara society and the Islamic teaching have forced the Hazara women to follow their husbands in every possible way. It is not only true for the masses of the Hazara’s, but to the families of Khans, Mirs and Arbabs. Cases like Bacon’s, Aghai of Daizangi do arise once in a while, but it is the men who dominate the Hazara interpersonal relationship between husband and wife. A Hazara mother id expected to fulfill two important roles in the Hazara society: first to raise the children, and second to manage the household affairs.

As time passed, the position of Hazara has changed drastically. The Hazara women described by Harlan could not be found in today’s Hazara society. There is a noticeable change in the social and mental attitudes of the Hazara men towards their wives.

According to Harlan:

“The men display a remarkable deference for the opinion on their wives, especially on grave occasions, which impressed a stranger with surprise, when that deference is contrasted with the indifference and contempt usually prevailing among Mohammedans in their treatment and opinion of their opposite sex the sexes participate in the domestic responsibility and in the labours and pleasures of their conditions. Seclusion of the women is not practiced less dependence being placed on bolts and bars for the preservation of female virtue than is allowed to sense of prudence and the influence of honour. They address their wives with the respect and dignified title of Aga, which means master and also mistress, as the word may refer to male or female. They associate with them as equal companions. Arrogate no superior pretensions of pre eminence, consult with them on all occasions, and in weighty matters, when they are not present, defer a conclusion until the opinions for their women can be heard. The women, in fact, are free from temptations, and that fact is a safe guard to chastity no less potent than the force of education.”

Harlan further noted that in Hazara society:

“The wife and husband among the Hazara are inseparable in public affairs. She sits with her husbands on the divan. Dressed like him and booted. Ready for the chase of even a military foray! They would not go on a distance expedition, but in civil dissentions and in border difficult ties, to which their excursions are mostly confined. They generally participate. In both cases, both sexes use the firelock expertly and accurately. They will gallop their unshod horses over a precipitous deer path, regardless of danger, and bring down the game at full speed. Females of the poor manage the household duties, assist in tending flocks, bringing in thorns, and carrying water and all the hard. Laborious work.

The women of Mir Arbab (tribal chief) and other influential families participated in certain political affairs by advising on politics, e.g. Mir Yazdan Baksh’s wife used to advise him on all matters relating to community welfare and politics. She also participated in wars. Dressed up as male. And during Arghun dynasty Bibi Zarif Khanum , Mah Begum ,Sultan Begum , Khanzada Begum and Bibi Daulat

Were known for their giving expert advise on political issues.

Sayed Qadam’s wife was a very intelligent women. After her husband’s death till her son grew up, it was she who solved her nations community related problems.

When her husband Syed Qadam (who was a tribal chief) died, she not only brought up her sons Mir Qadam Naib and Hasan Naib but also advised her tribe on the social and community problems.

When Hasan Naib, became the chief, he came to be known as “Hasan Laila” after his mother. He was a brave and power full chief. He fought bravely in a battle against Amir Abdr Rehman. He came out of the fort and fought bravely. He got killed in the battle, but the people of region would remember him. The soldiers of Amir Abdur Rehman, its traces, burned the fort of Hasan Laila and remnants can still be seen.

Hasan Laila had a sister who also inherited her mother’s intellect and maturity.

She was the daughter of Mir Yousaf Baig Shehristani. In the absence of her father Gul Chaman solved the problems related to the community or politics.

During the foreign invasions in Afghanistan the women folk remained equipped and also fought against the enemy for the defence of their country. The velour of many women has become almost proverbial. Mohammed Miro’s daughter and Syed Ahmed Shah Noor’s sister Amma Sanghari was one of the brave fighter. Her real name was Gul Begum but because of her courage and bravery, she came to be known as Amma Sanghari. (Sanghari those who is always at the forefront of the battle).

During the last years of the rule of Amir Habibullah, a war was declared against the nomads. During this war Amma Sanghari played a very important role in this war, which forced the Amir along with his family to flee in the mountains. Amma Sanghari grew up this warlike condition and was thus familiar with guns and ammunition from the very outset.

Her bravery and velour is exemplary. She could use the bow and arrow very expertly. she participated in wars, alongside her brothers, dressed up as male. She married a man name Sahib Jan, but when it was required she joined her brothers in the battlefield.

KUKU KHANUM

She was the wife of Gulnar Haider Khan Shah Noor and was know for her bravery. She belonged to Yakawlang. When the enemy attacked, the entire family of Syed Ahmed and Gulnar Haider prepared themselves for defence. Amma Sanghari and Kuku Khanum also joined, but a bullet in her thigh hit kuku but she pulled it out and bandage the wound with a piece of cloth without informing her companions. She later said she did not inform to other s for fear that they would become panicky in the war field.

ZULIEKHA KHAN

At Jaghoori, Zuliekha Khan is known for her velour’s participated in many wars and came to be known as Zuliekha Khan.the title of khan is only reserved for men, but in this exceptional case she was titled as khan. In the village of Kogab Ghanchi, when the nomads, started killing the villagers, she with a rifle in her hand fought bravely. When she ran out of her ammunition, she with a pair of scissors continued fighting. Later she was killed.

It has been observed that the women of Hazara resort to suicide when they fail in their defence. When Abdur Rehman’s soldier attacked, 47 women of Hazara jumped from a mountaintop and died. In another incident, when Amir Abdur Rehman,s (1880-1910) soldiers took many women as prisoners and were travelling towards Jaghoori, as this caravan passed by a river, all the women prisoners jumped in the river and died.

WIFE OF MIR YAZDAN BAKSH:

She was the daughter of Daizangi chief whom Mir Yazdan Baksh married in order to solidify his authority. She accompanied the mir on all-important occasions and was a woman of extraordinary qualifications and natural powers of Mind. She used to put on a masculine robe, and ornament herself with a sword and shield. A bow and arrow, a spear, a dagger, and a matchlock. She appeared in the battlefield with her husband. when Amir dost Mohammed invited Mir Yazdan Baksh to Kabul, his wife, suspicious of the Afghans, accompanied her husband. It was due to her help that the Mir escaped from the afghan jail. Burns in his book, Cabool: A personal narrative, mentioned:

“There are however, women in this country who have pre-eminently distinguished themselves by their conjugal devotion: and I should do wrong were I pass over in silence. Aghai, the lady of Yazdan Baksh, a Bazara Chief, whom dost Mohammed khan detained at Cabool as a hostage, Yazdan Baksh urged her to escape from the window of her prison. She then mounted a horse and fled to the Behsud country, between Cabool and Bamiyan. She was persuaded by two of the Amir,s officers, Accompanied by some of her husband’s enemies. she was over taken, her companion was killed but she herself escaped and reached the first fort in her own country, from the walls of which she defied her pursuers, proudly exclaiming ,this is the land of Yazdan Baksh!

AGHAI NARAG:

About 30 years back Aghai Narag lived in a village of Tagao Barg. She is known as Aghai Narg. she worked for welfare of her people. Agha Mohammed Hussain Baig, son of Mir Ibrahim Baig’s eldest daughter succeeded her father, after his death. She was a woman of many talents. She received her early education from the village and could barely read and write. The Panjao called Nargis. Gargar and Tago Brarg, where 100 pairs of oxen were used for ploughing land were all under her rule.

Agha was very kind hearted. She was also known for her bravery and velour, like other Amirs she did not inflict physical torture on the masses. On the contrary she desired absolute peace in her area.

The welfare of her people was close to her heart. She used to listen to their problems and would issue instant directives to redress their grievances.

According to her son:

At Khurdag Takhta, many government functionaries resided, but it was Agha who solved the problems faced the people of the area. She died at the age of 60 in 1342 Hijari. Her younger brother Akbar khan ( Nargis) succeeded her after death.

Eighteen years ago, the daughter of Sher Ali Karbali, Khadija or Arbab Khajai became the Arbab (leader) of “Anda” and village Shatu near Yakawlang District. She did not belong to a feudal or rich family but came to be known because of her velour and hospitality.

Due to harsh weather conditions, many travellers stayed at Khajai’s on their way to crossing Shatu Pass. She used to entertain them with tea and looked after them. Khajai became famous after one incident. On the other side of Kotal Shahi, a group of nomads had forcibly occupied the area and were also advancing further. Khajai took the armed men of her village and fought against the nomads and defeated them.

She often visited Bamiyan, to resolve the social issues pertaining to her area. These issues related to peace in the region, she resolved politics etc. once a man killed his wife, the matter was referred to her and it was Khajai who awarded him punishment. once in Yakawlang the govt needed donkeys and horses belonging to the people for construction of roads.khajai raised protest against the govt’s decision and impressed upon the govt to the owners for the animals hired.

According to her son:

“I do not know much, but I know that the other Mir’s of Yakawlang, reported against my mother to the govt of Bamiyan, asking him to proceed against her and arrest her, for it was a matter of shame for them that a women was known as Arbab.”

He further informed that for Zahir,s Shah’s welcome celebration, she gathered 60 men and women of the area and decorated a “welcome gate” for the shah. She also arranged an oxen dance, where as the men folk did not participate other wise in celebration of such nature.

Besides Mohammad Ali, Khajai ( Khajai’s son) had two more children, but no one could replace Khajai. Mohammed Ali now runs a teashop near Kotal Shatu.

HAZARA WOMEN AND SOCIETY:

In central Hazarajat till the year 1880 AD, there was no central govt. the rich landlords and the influential of the area were independently ruling their respective areas. These rulers were known by the title of Mir, Khan, Sultan, Torak Khan,Gul Ikhtiar etc. the highest title was Mir, which means the ruler of the leader. The rulers of Daizangi, Daikundi all were titled as Mir.

The rich contracted many marriages and had large families e.g. Mir Ulqan, Mir Mohammed Raza Baig’s family compromised of 70 members. The wives of the Mir’s who also belonged to the family of another Mir, played active role in the social and political life of the Mir. The wives were given the title of Agha .the wives at times expressed their views and gave advise on social and political issues. Very often they dressed up as men and participated in the wars.

The rich rulers often displayed their riches in order to show the masses their superiority. They would exhibit their household objects and wear ostentation cloths and jewellery. Their swords were unique and their horses were of rare breed, decorated with silver and gold.

The wives of the rich rulers wore highly expensive clothes especially on Eid festival and other ceremonies. on their daughter lavish weddings, they received highly expensive gifts.

HANDICRAFT:

The Hazara women are known for making high quality gloves and scarf’s (muffler). to impose their goods further, they dyed them in different colours using both artificial and natural colours.they also used brush to paint on them.

According to J.P Ferriar:

“The Hazara women were so skilled in their crafts that the rich landlords of Iran and Afghanistan made their dress Barak, using the fabric/cloth made by the Hazara women.

According to T.E.F Fox an American:

“I had always heard that the Hazarajat is the place of find good Afghan felt, and since I wanted some, I was watching for it in the villages that we passed through. I saw some very fine pieces in the villages near Waras Pass and tried to buy them, but the villagers assured me that I would see much better in the bazaar Panjao we were told that the best felt is available in villages near Unai pass, and when the villagers of that place were asked for felt, they said that the very best place to find good felt was back near Waras pass”.

According to Hasan Poladi:

“in general, Hazarajat industry remained dormant, individual Hazarajat valleys became famous for specific handicrafts. Notable crafts, which were in demand outside their land, were fabrics made out of sheep, camel and goat hair. on such type of fabric was known as Barak-e-Barrai, e.g. Barak made out of lamb’s wool, which is famous fir its fineness and soft texture. During 19th century it was in great demand in neighbouring countries. Besides this, Barak made out of camel hair, known as Barak-e-Shutori, was also in great demand. Fabrics made of goat hair by Hazara were considered matchless in beauty and value in the surrounding countries.”

The finer and cleaner wool was mostly save for making fabrics such as Baraks, blankets, jackets, stop coats, trousers, and carpets. The remaining coarser wool and goat hair were used for making different products of lower value such as felt, sacks for transportation and storage, and ropes. Hazarajat, in the past, was also famous fir its fine quality carpets, but no longer produces them. Instead, much attention is given to producing rugs (Gilim) and felts (Nemad). Trade and indebtedness with nomads forced the Hazara to produce as much as the nomads demand, and they are thus the exclusive buyers of these products. Those Hazara who are in debt to the nomads do weaving for them. Nomads for their services pay others. Under these arrangement, the nomads provide the raw materials, and the Hazara women do the manufacturing.”

In Hazarajat women work through out the year. They however enjoyed recreation facility. They cooked, stitched and look after the children. They also milked the animals and cleaned the house. in addition to the domestic chores they joined men in agricultural activity. in their spare time, they stitched clothes, made caps and Baraks.

In this connection Mohammed Hayat Khan Afghani writes.

“The Hazara women are fully conversant with the art/skill of carpet weaving, Barak making, cap, gloves, rug making, and in dying, stitching of cloth plus cooking. With lamb wool they make fine threads. They excel in making horse bridle/saddle etc.”

According to Moseo Foshe, a French writer:

“In each Hazara house, there is a small factory, where a women is seen weaving cloth or carpet with very find lamb wool.”

Sayed Jamluddin Afghani writes about the Barak;

“Such fine fabric can rarely be seen in Europe.”

Yaqoob-writes:

‘’Barak, which is made of a kind of wool, is fine and soft fabric called Barak. It is soft durable and warm, but the best quality Barak is made in afghanistan by Hazara tribe.”

Arminos Vambri writes:

One trader has purchased pistachio and Barak in the large quantity. Barak is soft cloth made by the Hazara women. The people living in the north of Iran and Afghanistan made coats called “Cheen” from this high quality fabric, they also make jackets called Gilim, shawls, rugs, gloves, socks and caps. The items, which are made today, do not have the same quality as in the past. Among the few Hazara women well known for their craft and skill, Gul Bahar is one.

Mirza Gul Bahar was the daughter of Kuda Baksh who belonged to a poor family of village Lali in District Waras, She received religious education. She leant the art of calligraphy, against the wishes of her father and later mastered the art.

She wrote 15 copies of “Hamla Haidri” (A book in which described the bravery of Hazarat Ali’s war storyin a few years. By selling these, earned her livelihood. “Mirza is a title given to good calligraphers. She came to be known as Mirza Gulbahar. She later got married and went to Kabul. She lived till 1356 Hijri.

Hazara women also specialize in leatherwork. Being agricultural people, leather is used for many purposes. Special products are leather bags, saddles, belts, harnesses, and covers for guns and rifles. From leather, Hazara men make their shoes, and they do all leather tanning. Women also specialize in hand made pottery. One unique feature of Hazara pottery’s the way it is made. They do not use a pottery wheel, only their hands, with great skill. However, with the appearance of the wheel, this technique is rapidly disappearing.

Prince Peter of Greece and Denmark, who observed the Hazara women making earthen jars with out the use of wheels in the village of Garm-Ao, Dai Zangi, described it:

“The material used was local clay mixed with water, no grit or straw temper being employed. These jars were extremely plain, with no decoration to them at all. The method used to build them up consisted of making small clay sausages with the hands, and then laying this one upon the other to form the outer wall. The handles were made in the same way. The surface was then smoothed with the fingers. While smoothing the clay, water is continuously used. Because of their primitiveness and rough structure, these earthen jars have no commercial value and are used exclusively by the Hazara villagers. Each village produces enough earthen pottery to be self sufficient.”

CONCLUSION

When we look back at the past achievements of Hazara women, we realize how actively they participated in achieving political, cultural and economic progress in the country. in the entire history of Afghanistan no such example can be found. Keeping the past achievements in view, it can be hoped that the women of this can also play the same kind of role in their country. in the light of the glorious past, their talents and skills can be utilized.

it is agreed that the role of Hazara women in the past was mainly that of an advisor, or a manager. It was only the women of rich and influential families who participated in the political and social lives, along with their husbands or brothers. Similarly the participation of women in the battlefield was also restricted to the women belonging to the ruling elite.

as regards the Hazara women’s handicraft skill in making bark, carpets, rugs shawls, socks leather goods, the same have now become extend. Besides these items were valued only in Iran, Turkistan and Afghanistan.

Their interest in calligraphy has died, although today as compared to the past the literacy rate among women is high. If today the women were educated, not only the women but also their children would be healthy and useful in the society.

 Gulzari

References

1). Mubarak Ali, Dr. Awrat Aor Tarikh.

1993, Lahore

2). Poladi, Hasan. The “Hazara”

Stockton California, USA. 1989

3). Yazdani, Kazim, Haji Tarikh-e-Tasahyoo Dar Afghanistan

Meshad Iran. 1370

4). Timor Khanov, Tarikh-e-Milli Hazara.

Urdu version translated by

Hasan Raza Chengazi.

1993. Quetta.

Note:

This information has been compiled in October1993. During my trip to Hazarajat. Since then I have collected more information about the women of Hazarajat which will soon be added as epiloge to this booklet.

END