Lodi (Pashtun tribe)

This article is about the Bettani Pashtun tribal confederacy. For the Ghurghakhti Pashtun clan with the same name, see Ludin.

Lodi (Pashto: لودي), also Lodhi, is a Pashtun tribe from the Bettani tribal confederacy mainly found in Afghanistan and Northern Pakistan.

In the 15th century, a branch of the Lodhi's founded the Lodi dynasty, the last Pashtun dynasty to rule the Delhi Sultanate.

History

Lodi dynasty

Main article: Lodi dynasty

The Lodhi's were Pashtuns who ruled India from 1444-1526. The sultans of this dynasty were Buhlul Lodi, Skandar Lodhi and Ibrahim Lodhi. They spread Islam in South Asia, in particular Sufism. They established themselves during the Islamic period as a muslim ruling class and were valued warriors.

The Pashtun Lodi dynasty replaced the Turkic rulers in Northern India. The Lodhi's were part of a wave of Pashtuns who pushed east into what is today northern Pakistan. Often accompanying the Timurids who invaded Northern India. Legend has it that the tribe derives from a descendent of Qais Abdur Rashid (the legendary patriarch of all Pashtuns). The term Lodi is said to have evolved from the Pashto word loy da (meaning honored person).

Lodhi Pashtuns

The Pashtun people are generally classified as Eastern Iranian who use Pashto language and follow Pashtunwali, which is a traditional set of ethics guiding individual and communal conduct.

Modern-era Lodi

Pashtun nationalism emerged following the rise of Pashto poetry that linked language and ethnic identity. Pashto has national status in Afghanistan and regional status in neighbouring Pakistan. In addition to their native tongue, many Pashtuns are fluent in Dari, Urdu, and English. Throughout their history, poets, prophets, kings and warriors have been among the most revered members of Pashtun society. Early written records of Pashto began to appear around the 16th century.

Today, Lodhis are mainly found in Afghanistan and Northern Pakistan, with some also settled in parts of North India.