Pir Roshan

Pir Roshan b. 1525 d. 1582/1585 (پیر روشان) one of the controversial figures of Pashtun history, starting from his name. His real name is Bayazid Ansair, however he is renowned as Pir-e-Roshan. This is usually translated as "the enlighened one" while the actual meaning of this name is "the Pir of Roshan" based on the Mount Roshan where he spent some years of his life. He started a revolution from the mountainous belt in the region of Pak-Afghan border. During the nineteenth century when orientalists translated Pashtu and other regional texts termed the movement as a "sect", a mistake which persists to this day amongst many of the European researchers. The major focus of this movement was to create an equality between men and women e.g. like right to learn and listen to lectures of scholars (a revolutionary thought at the times) and fight against Akbar after his proclamation of Din-i-Ilahi.

Background

A major figure in Pashtun history and literature of direct arab descandt. He led an armed struggle against the Mughals, after continuous military agitations against him and his people from Akbar. Seeing the spiritual and religious hold of Pir Roshan over a large portion of Pashtuns Akbar brought in number of religious figures against the struggle, most notably Akhund Darweza. It is mistakenly reported that Akhund Darweza also wrote a book in Pashtu, thrashing Pir Roshan's ideas and movement and called him Pir Tarik (the dark one). In actuality the book was written after the death of Akhund Darweza and after some considerable time, since it misspells even the name of Pir Roshan.

The struggle continued for nearly a hundred years with Pir Roshan's grand and great grand children.

Family genealogy

Bayazid belonged to the Arabs of Sindh who became prominent in the 7th century under the name of Rashiduns.

Early life

Bayazid was born in 1525 at Jullundur in Punjab.

Exile and rebellion

Bayazid belonged to a religious family and his father was a Qazi of Waziristan area. However, Bayazid himself was against many of the customs which prevailed in his time and specifically in his family. These were usually the fringe benefits which his family received being considered as scholarly and religious. Once this led to a heated argument with his brother and upon intervention of his father he was given the choice of either he left or his father. He opted to leave and started spreading his ideas away from his home. He found ears in the Mohmand tribesmen, from there he went to the Peshawar valley and started spreading his message to the Khalils and Muhammadzais. However when he and his followers started spreading word of their movement amongst the Yousafzais he went into direct confrontation with the orthodox followers of Pir Baba of Buner. Despite the initial reversal he established his base in the Tirah valley where he rallied other tribes to his cause. He eventually raised the flag of open rebellion to the Mughal Emperor Akbar after his proclamation of Din-e-Ilahi and although he led his army successfully in several skirmishes and battles against Mughal forces, they were eventually routed in a major battle in Ningrahar by the Mughal General Muhsin Khan.

Roshanniya Movement

Roshanniya Movement (as it came to be known) is the set of teachings of Pir Roshan which his people followed. The movement had one focal teaching; equality of every man and woman. This included the idea that based on birth no one could become a religious leader or King. These titles are to be earned in one's life through hard work. Having access to only two books on Pir Roshan all of the English translations associated incorrectly Pir Roshan to have started a spiritual sect who believed in the transmigration of souls and in the representation of God through individuals. This incorrect information also led some writers to associate the movement with everything from Ismailis to Kharijites to Shia or Sufi influences.

Contribution to Pashto literature

Besides his reputation as a revolutionary Pir Roshan is credited with writing the first ever book in Pashto language; Khair-ul-Bayan and thus sowing the seed of Pashto literature. He wrote nearly a dozen books, although less than half of these have survived to modern days, mostly in private and family libraries.

References

* The transformation of Afghan tribal society: tribal expansion, Mughal imperialism and the Roshaniyya Insurrection, 1450-1600. Dept. of History (March 31, 1988). v., 354 l. Supervisor: Prof. John F. Richards. Ph.D./A724A/1988, DAI 49-08A, p. 2355.
*Olaf Caroe, "The Pathans"

ee also

* Faqir of Ipi