People and Culture

They are fond of liberty, faithful to their friends, kind to their dependants, hospitable, brave, hardy, frugal, aborious and prudent." Pakhtoon designates a person who speaks Pashto. Pathan is a Hindi term adopted for them by the British. The racial composition of the Pukhtoons is less than clear. The tribes who dwelled in the area in the days of the Greek historians are believed to be part of the great Aryan horde which had moved down from Central Asia a millennium earlier. Over the course of centuries, the Greek, Persian, Turk, and Mongol invaders who passed through the Frontier have added their blood. Nearly one-ten of the population of Shabqadar is non-Pakhtoon and are called Hamsaya or Kadwal. Around 99 per cent of the households in Shabqadar are Pakhtoon and Pukhtu speaking while around one per cent of households speak other languages, such as Kohwar in Chitral district, Urdu (National Language), Sariki and Punjabi.

Pukhtoon Society

The Pukhtoon society comprises both the people of the tribal areas and the settled districts of KPK. The tribal society has been the focus of many studies as it has kept alive the true Pukhtoon ethos. The Pukhtoon of the settled districts have however been subject to external influence and have moderated some of the more traditional aspects of their culture and customs. TheGegyanis, Yousafzai, Muhammadzai and Khalil tribes belong to the settled districts and have limited links in the tribal areas. All other Pukhtoon tribes of the settled districts have extensive affections and consanguninal ties with the tribal Pukhtoons. The Pukhtoon society is individualistic despite the rigid behavior prescribed by clan membership. While Pashto speaking people constitute one cultural and social entity, Pukhtoon society is divided into tribes, based on genealogies. The tribes are sub-divided into Khels, which may be equated with clans. Within the Khels, the basic division is the expanded family group. The leader of each family group is called a Malik, and the most important of a group of Maliks is designated as the leading Malik of the Khel. The usual object of allegiance is the Malik, and in settled districts, a Khan. They gain their title by their ability to lead followers in public affairs. A Pukhtoon Malik is however no more than a first among equals, and acquires the status through personal merit and the ability to inspire fellow tribesmen. Primogeniture is not recognized, and leadership is accorded to the most capable. The social structure in the settled districts has altered a great deal from the tribal order. The Khans have lost much of their original leadership role in the settled districts. Agriculture is a notable characteristic of the culture of both the settled and tribal areas. In the former, it is however more developed in terms of irrigation, cultivation of cash crops and utilization of modern technology. The literacy rate is higher in the settled districts, especially for women. The trend towards having nuclear rather than extended families is also more pronounced in the settled districts.
among Maliks the gegyanis are most famous for the bravery hospitality and power,,  Malik Sikandar khan, Malik  Daulat Khan , Malik  Yousaf khan , Malik  Muhammad Ibrahim and Malik  Muhammad Younas are the nobility of GEGYANI MALIK TRIBE.

Jirga(Pukhtoon Assembly) da masharano ghonda

The Jirga is the Pukhtoon assembly in which all public and private affairs are settled. The Jirga, of which the Khan is the head, now contends with the state judiciary in the settled districts. Rules of the federal and provincial governments are enforced through state intervention. The decisions of the village Jirga in the districts have to be reinforced by the court of law if the law enforcement authorities have also registered the case. Unlike in the tribal areas, a legal permit is required for the manufacture and possession of arms and ammunition. The Hujra is traditionally a male club and social centre, which exists in every village of the tribal as well as settled areas. It is the focus of community opinions and actions. While Hujras exist in the villages of the settled districts as well, they have lost much of their functional importance. Traditionally, the conduct of Pukhtoons was guided by a code of honor called the Pukhtunwali. The foremost commandment of the Pukhtunwali is Badal or revenge (revenge is a dish which tastes better cold, Pukhtoon proverb). The obligations to take revenge for wrong falls not only upon the man who has suffered it, but also upon his family and tribe. Insults and retaliation hence involve clans and perpetuate blood feuds. The most frequent causes of trouble are money, women and land (zar, zan, and zamin). In rare instance, feuds are terminated when the weaker party throws itself on the mercy of its enemy, called Nanawati or acceptance of a bonafide truce, when blood money may be accepted in lieu of revenge. The third component of Pukhtunwali is Melmastia, or hospitality towards a guest, stranger, or an enemy if he seeks it. A formal escort or assurance of safety to a guest or enemy is called Badragga. The Pukhtunwali provides for law and order in a harsh environment, and is still a strong force in the tribal areas. Women are intelligent and aggressive within the limits prescribed by custom. They play an important role in arranging marriages and alliances between families. Women also provide the practical means of implementing Melmastia. Women of the working classes are responsible for domestic work, some outdoors. They do not observe Purdah in the same way as the affluent classes. With modernization, more and more women have emerged into the working world and can be found performing well in offices and industries Family An attractive feature of the Pukhtun way of life is the joint family system, which signifies their deep love for the family's solidarity and welfare. The desire for communal life emanates from a consideration of economic security and integrity. All the family members, even the married sons, live jointly in a house large enough to separately accommodate each married couple under the authority of the father who as head of the family, manages the family affairs and exercises an immense influence in his own domain. All the earning hands of the family, married as well as unmarried, contribute their share of income to the common pool of resources. All expenses on food, clothing, education, health, birth, marriages and deaths are defrayed from the common fund. The mantle of authority falls on the eldest son's shoulders after the death of the father or when old age renders him unable to discharge his functions. The internal management of the household rests with the mother who exercises her authority within her own sphere of influence. The joint family system, however, is gradually giving way to individualistic trends under the impact of modern influence. It is losing its hold, particularly in educated classes and well off sections. Food Dry fruits are produced in Shabqadar and very popular all over the world. One special thing which is very famous among Pathans is chappal kabab. It also popular among the people of Pakistan. They also eat mutton, biryani and pallow. The food of the people is of most simple character. The major food items are wheat, vegetables, maize and meat. Tea is taken a lot and people of the area have a craving for tea. The people take food three times a day. Although the daily intake of food may not be of the standard recommended by the doctors, still it is nutritious and the people by and large are healthy. The food is generally entirely the produce of the cattle and land of the area. Dress Pathans usually wear shalwar qameez with turban. There turban is symbol of honor. Women wear embroided qameez which contains lot of glass work. There embroided dresses are very famous among the women of Pakistan. The people wear the usual Pathan dress of shalwar kameez. This is a loose shirt and pajama. The women’s dresses differ in the sense that it is often colorful with different patterns printed on it or embroided. The women also wear a diaphanous shawl. “Sharay” is taken which is an excellent tool for protection from severe cold. The women also wear such shawl but like their dress, is more colorful and of bright color. Men usually wear a cap (topi) on their heads. The traditional headgear of kullah, pagrai or patki is now a days very rare. Similarly khalka chughas and posteen are also almost obsolete and the more modern wear of jackets, blazers and pullovers have taken their place. A very fine type of hand woven cloth is manufactured here known as “Khamta”. This is a specialty of the area and is famous all over Pakistan. The common shoes are made of leather known as ”Saplay”. Charsadda has assumed a special status as a center for some of the finest shoes made in the country. These shoes known as “Saplay” in Pushtoo are commonly known as “Peshawari chappal”. The price may range from 200/- to 800/-