Akhund Abdul Ghaffur

Akhund Abdul Ghaffur
Tomb Of Saidu Baba
Born	1793 Jabrai, Upper Swat
Died	1878
Resting place	Saidu sharif
Ethnicity	Gujjar
Known for	Ruling Swat area

Akhund Abdul Ghaffur (Pashto: اخوند عبدالغفور‎), commonly known as Saidu Baba (Pashto: سيدو بابا 1878-1793‎), was from the Khatana Gujjar tribe settled in Swat area, and a prominent religious Mullah or priest, from Barr Swat. (Akhund (or Akhond, akhoond, akhwand or Akond) is a Persian honorific for "a religious leader, teacher, or scholar",  (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)); it is defined variously in the citations as local 'priest', 'old Man of the law' and 'village schoolmaster'.) Akhund Ghaffur was a supporter of the Afghan Emir Dost Mohammad Barakzai, and opposed the Sikh and British forces.

Akhund Ghaffur was an influential mullah and his residence in Swat was the destination for numerous pilgrimages by his disciples to consult him. Akhund Ghaffur was succeeded by a notable line of other mullahs and theologians.

Biography

Saidu Baba was born at Jabrai Matta, upper Swat valley in 1793 AD. He got his early education from Mian Brangola. Later, he went to Mardan, Nowshehra and Peshawar for completion of his education. In 1835, he returned back to Swat and settled in Baligram (now Saidu Sharif). In 1836, when the British tried to annex Swat valley, at that time Saidu Baba united the people against them and called for Jihad of Ambela , which discouraged the British expansion to the region.

Battles against Sikh and British forces

In 1831, when the Muslim activist Syed Ahmad Barelvi was killed by the Sikhs along with hundreds of Barelvi's mujahideen in the battle of Balakot, many of his mujahideen stayed in Buner under the protection of Akhund Ghaffur. They started a new uprising against the British Empire under Akhund Ghaffur's leadership in 1862.

In 1834, Akhund Ghaffur cooperated with the Afghan Emir Dost Mohammad Barakzai in the battle against the Sikh Empire and brought a number of Ghazis and Talib al-'Ilm to the battle of Peshawar. In return, the Afghan Emir awarded Akhund Ghaffur with lands in Swat, Lundkhwar and Mardan among the Yusufzai Pathans, despite being an ethnic Gujjar. Eventually, when Akhund Ghaffur was about 43 years old, he permanently settled in Saidu Sharif and gradually turned it into a thriving city.

In 1863, Akhund Ghaffur lead the Yusufzai and other groups in a battle at the Ambela Pass against the British forces (see Ambela Campaign).

Establishment of a united Islamic state of Swat

Akhund Ghaffur conferred a scheme for a united throne of Swat. In 1849, he nominated Sayyid Akbar Shah, a descendant of Pir Baba, as the emir of the Islamic state of Swat. After Akbar Shah's death in 1857, Akhund Ghaffur assumed control of the state himself till his own death in 1878.

Religious rivalry

Akhund Ghaffur's greatest conflict was with Sayyid Maruf Bey Kotah Mullah, a supporter of the British-sponsored Emir Shah Shujah who had opposed the Barakzai Emir Dost Mohammad in the battle against the Sikhs. Akhund Ghaffur referred to Kotah Mullah as a disciple of Pir Roshan and practitioner of heretical rituals, and managed to convince the Yusufzai of Buner to push Kotah Mullah out of the village where he was being hosted.

Literary allusions

• Edward Lear's "The Akond of Swat"
• George T. Lanigan (1846–1886) wrote "The Ahkoond of Swat" on hearing of the Akhund's death in 1878.
• Ken Nordine's rendition of the Lear piece in his 'Word Jazz' radio show.

External links

• Anon, "The (British Raj) Indian Frontier", The Times, Issue 29100, (15 November 1877); p. 4; col D.
• Our own Correspondent, "India", (Article contains the text: "The death of the Akhoond of Swat is announced"), The Times, No.29157, (Monday 21 January 1878), p. 5; col A.