The Tanoli or ( Tanole Tanolian Taniwal )is the name of a Pashtun tribe,Tanoli migrated from a place called Tanubal River" in Afghanistan
Tanolis came to Swat from Afghanistan after the invasions of Sultan Sabuktagin. They came to form a new state. The head of the Swat state at that time was Anwar Khan Tanoli.
The tribe are also present in different areas of [[Pakistan]] and [[Afghanistan]]
In Pakistan, they live in Swat, Mardan,Dir, Bajour,Buner, Shangla,Tanawal, Abbottabad Havelian, Haripur, Khalabat,Malakand agency, Dargai, Sakha Koat, Charsadda, Topi Swabi,
Tanoli tribes live all over in NWFP,and Afghanistan
Tanoli tribe where most live in afghanistan Paktia Gardaiz and Ghazni.
The Yousafzai tribe came to Swat in approximately 1450AD and began fighting with settled Pakhtun tribes inhabiting Swat namely the Tanolis, Swatis and Dilazak. At that time Tanolis were among the leading tribes in Swat. Sawat history also tells us that Tanolis were the only threat for Yousafzais. Every time Tanolis fought bravely against Yousafzais but at last they were left alone by the other tribes of Swat. After several battles between the Tanolis and the Yousafzais, the Tanoli Chief Sultan Ameer Khan Tanoli was finally martyred while fighting with Yousafzais at Topi (near Swabi).
Richest tribe
The Tanolis are the richest tribe of Hazara in terms of land ownership. They are the largest in population. Upper Tanawal and Lower Tanawal which cover the greater part of Hazara have been ruled by Tanolis for centuries. They have ruled the state of Amb of Hazara since the beginning of 18th century. During the late 17th century, Turks were overthrown by Swatis in areas of Upper Hazara. Tanolis, however, remained loyal to the Turks until the end of latter's rule in Hazara. Tanolis were later involved in the rebellions against the Sikhs in the 19th century. They also allied with Ahmed Shah Abdali in his conquest of India. Many Khans and princes of their dynasty have gained mass popularity as heroes. Charles Allen referred to them in his book Men who made the North-West Frontier as "the extremely hostile and powerful Tanolis of the Tanawal Mountains, brave and hardy and accounted for the best swordsmen in Hazara." They were also the last ruling dynasty of the Princely State of Amb.
Tanoli or (Tanole Tanolian Taniwal Tanawalis) Famous Personalities
Sardar Zabardast Khan/ Suba Khan Tanoli
In AD 1752 the Tanoli Chief Sardaar Zabardast Khan allied with fellow Afghan, and King of AfghnistanAhmed Shah Abdali, in his conquest of India. His renown was such, that he gained the title of Suba Khan from Ahmed Shah Abdali for his bravery in the historical battle against the Marathas at Panipat, where two hundred and fifty thousand strong army of Marathas were famously defeated by just sixty thousand of Abdali's soldiers and allied Muslim tribes. His later grandson, Mir Nawab Khan saw the Durrani empire crumbling and defeated the Durranis, thus freeing his kingdom of their control, however, in this battle he was killed by Sardaar Azim Khan.
Mir Sar-Buland Khan
During the Governorship of the Sikh general Hari Singh Nalwa, Mir Sar-Buland Khan Tanoli, was very rebellious towards him. He allied with Mir Painda Khan and Muhammad Khan Tareen as well as chiefs of the Pakhtun Jadun tribes against them. Whilst engaged in one battle, Hari Singh Nalwa shot dead his son Sher Muhammad Khan. He continued his rebellion regardless and unrelented in his repeat incursions against them, though without success against the militarily superior opposition. At one point, he and Mir Painda Khan besieged and conquered Darband fort from the Sikh chief Sardar Gordat Singh.
Mir Painda Khan
Mir Painda Khan is famed for his staunch rebellion against Maharaja Ranjit Singh's Governors of Hazara. He was the son of Mir Nawab Khan, who defeated the Durranis and freed his kingdom from their influence.
From about 1813, he spent a life long rebellion against the Sikhs, who, realising the potential of his rebellion, set up forts at strategic locations to keep him in check. Hari Singh Nalwa took this initiative during his governorship.
Painda Khan's relentless rebellion against the Sikh empire, cost him a major portion of his Kingdom, leaving only his twin capitals Amb and Darband. However, this deterred him less and appeared to increase his resistance against the Sikh government.
The District Gazetteer of the North-West Frontier Province (p138) confirms, "Painda Khan, played a considerable part in the history of his time and vigorously opposed the Sikhs."
Mir Painda Khan set the tone for the regional resistance against Sikh rule. Men who made the North-West Frontier (Charles Allen, Abacus 2001, p139) attests,
"There was a long history of conflict between Jehandad Khan's family and the Sikhs, and the name of his father Painda Khan, was said to be 'magic to the ears of the people of Hazara' because of the struggles he fought on behalf of his 'poor circumscribed and rugged principality' against the Sikhs. Abbot was aware that before his death Painda Khan had made his son (Jehandad Khan) swear never to trust his safety to any ruler."
Eventually, realising that the Heroic Tanoli Khan would not be subdued by force, General Dhaurikal Singh, commanding officer of the Sikh troops in Hazara, had Painda Khan poisoned to death in September 1844. He is still revered in Hazara today as a "Heroic Warrior King of the People".
In 1828 Mir Painda Khan gifted the State of Phulra to his brother Mir Madad Khan.
Mir Jehandad Khan Tanoli
This Tanoli chief deserves special mention as the son of a famous Tanoli hero of Amb Darband Hazara, Mir Painda Khan.
It is mentioned in Men who made the North-West Frontier (Charles Allen, Abacus 2001, p139) that
"Of all the tribal chiefs of Hazara, the most powerful said to be Jehandad Khan of the Tanoli, whose land straddled both banks of the Indus and whose fellow-tribesmen were 'brave and hardy and accounted for the best swordsmen in Hazara'. There was a long history of conflict between Jehandad Khan's family and the Sikhs, and the name of his father Painda Khan, was said to be 'magic to the ears of the people of Hazara' because of the struggles he fought on behalf of his 'poor circumscribed and rugged principality' against the Sikhs. Abbot was aware that before his death Painda Khan had made his son (Jehandad Khan) swear never to trust his safety to any ruler."
This was a strong testament to the physical, political power and heroic background of the House of Tanoli which continued throughout the history of the tribes ancestry.
Mir Jehandad Khan is further mentioned in the same source as,
"Jehandad Khan - a good looking young man of 26 years, tall and slender, with remarkably large and fine eyes - rode into Abbott's encampment surrounded by an escort of horsemen clad in shirts of mail and steel skull caps, handsomely mounted and equipped, who made a most picturesque display....the bystanders, who regarded the Chief with great awe, were thunderstruck.."
In 1852, Jehandad Khan was summonsed by the President of the Board of Administration (who travelled to Hazara to see the Khan) in relation to a murder enquiry of two British civilians in his lands. It is mentioned in the above source (p203,p204) that
"Jehan Dad Khan, the head of the Clan, and his minister Boostan Khan...knowing himself charged for his life, with the air of a prince sat down....answered all questions in an easy off hand way that looked very much like innocence. I was glad when the examination was over and the men let go, for they had a following of five or six hundred men, all stalwart fellows who had accompanied their Chief..."
The President ended the talk by threatening him that, "If you refuse to give up the murderers...I will come with an army to burn your villages and give your country to another." It is said that the Khan replied, folding hands and with some fun replied with his elders, "We should consider your presence (in our kingdom) an honor, but our country is a 'rather difficult one' for your army." This famed statement was the talk of the day and remembered by many locals of Hazara even to this day as a heroic answer to a staunch threat from a powerful official.
His son, Nawab Bahadur Sir Muhammed Akram Khan was conferred the title Nawab Bahadur by the British Raj.
Nawab Sir Muhammad Akram Khan
The next chief of the Tanolis and son of Mir Jahandad Khan was Nawab Sir Akram Khan (1868 - 1907). He was a popular chief and it was during his tenure that the fort at Shergarh was constructed, along with Dogah and Thakot. His rule was a peaceful time for Tanawal with no major conflicts.
Nawab Khanizaman khan
Nawab Khanizaman Khan succeeded his father in taking over the reins of power in Tanawal in Amb. He helped the British in carrying out the [[Black Mountain]] (Kala Dhaka/Tur Ghar)expeditions.
Malik Nawab Khan Tanoli
Malik Nawab Khan was a great personality of Lower Tanawal. He had his own small state Jarna in [[Abbottabad]] Major Abbot mentioned him as a "Brave man" in his book written on Abbottabad. Malik Nawab Khan was a learned man and an able soldier. He was a strong religious man. He was the last chief of [[Tanoli]] Jirga. Malik Nawab Khan was among the fellow tribesmen of famous Mir Jehandad Khan.
Tanolis Today
The majority of Tanolis reside in the former state of Amb in the Hazara division of the North-West Frontier Province of Pakistan. A branch of the Tanoli tribe also resides in Kashmir mainly in [[Muzaffarabad]] The famous ancestral forefather of this Kashmiri branch was Amir Mir-ullah. Tanolis have a big area of territory called Upper Tanawal and Lower Tanawal. Upper Tanawal is considered as backward area and has its quota in Govt of Pakistan. Tanolis have their majority throughout Hazara Division Abbottabad, Haripur, Mansehra, Battagram, Kohistan. Tanolis are also living in some areas of Swabi Nowshera Rawalpindi Gujar Khan and Sultanpur A large number of Tanolis are also living in Karachi
Their main language is Hindko Tanolis living in Pashtun dominated areas speak Pushtu and those living in Punjab speak Punjabi and others living in others countries speak dominant language of those states e.g. English as this is a natural phenomenon.
Some famous personalities of the Pakhtun Tanoli tribe in this modern era are:
Ayub Khan Tanoli
He was a lawyer and well-known politician. He remained as Minister of Law and Education NWFP. He belonged to Sherwan in Abbottabad.
Jamshed Khan Tanoli
Jamshed Khan Tanoli from Jarral served as Secretary of Education NWFP. During his service he was famous for his honesty throughout the province.
Nawabzadah Salahuddin Saeed Tanoli
He is grandson of Nawab Farid Khan, the last Nawab of Tanawal, and son of Muhammad Saeed Khan who passed away in 1974. The Nawabzadah has been elected to the National Assembly as an MNA for Mansehra NA15 from 1985 to 1999. He held important posts in the Federal Government as a cabinet minister and chairman of standing committees and travelled abroad as a representative of Pakistan, including the General Assembly of the United Nations.
Some Tanolis migrated to UK after the 2nd World War to help rebuild the war ravaged country.
Tanolis are rich in culture values and strongly follow the customs of their Pakhtun ancestorsGazetteer of Hazara District 1883-4.
There are numbers of book which contains information about Tanoli, but there are four books that are exclusively written on Tanoli and their background & history, the fifth one is under prograss in english language by Dr. Nasir Khan Tanoli.
1. Tanolis In the Mirror of History, written by M. Ismail Khan Tanoli.
2. History of Tanwal, written by Muhammad Fida.
3. Tanoli Al-Afghan, written by Ghulam Nabi.
4. History of Tanolian, written by Syed Murad Ali Shah.
5. Tarekhe Hazara Dr writer Sher Bahadur Khan Pani
6.Historical Background of Tanolis written by M. Ismail afi.
