The Tribal Sikhs

Omar Afridi

BBC Urdu

Publishing Date: Monday, August 11 2003

Five year old Guljeet Singh of Malak Din Khel Bagh in Tirah; one of the most inaccessible areas of Khyber Agency was busy playing with his sister in his father; Hoti Singh's shop. When I said "Sat Siri Akal" after meeting them, they replied with customary Sikh answers.

But Hoti Singh increased my knowledge about these Tribal Sikhs when he said, "Our Kalma is different from theirs (the Indian Sikhs)". He was holding empty packets of 'Supari' (an Indian sweet) with pictures of Osama Bin Laden on them. Maybe a businessman took advantage of Osama's popularity in the tribal areas and manufactured his 'Supari' in this manner to increase revenue.

When I asked Guljeet Singh who this person in the Supari packet was, he innocently replied, "He's your prophet". At this his 8 year old sister scolded him and said, "Not your prophet but simply a pious person". I can't be certain whether the girl learnt this from her parents or heard it from the other Muslim children. But whichever Sikh I talked to in the Tribal Areas showed hatred for America and love for Taleban and Osama.

Sikhs have been living in Tirah valley since generations. Their accent and manners are similar to the tribals but still they have managed to keep their separate identity. These Sikhs had a strong grip on virtually all of the trade carried on in the valley thirty to forty years ago. Unlike their Indian counterparts; who are reffered to as 'Sardar Ji', these Tribal Sikhs are reffered to as 'Sett or Settan'. Their trading history could be the reason why they are referred to with this title.

There are at least four main trading centres in Tirah Valley where their shops and homes are located. Collectively, they comprise of at least 200-250 families.

Hoti Singh has a shop in this village which was established by his grandfathers. He comments that the bygone days were better because the trading was good. Although the poor were much poorer but they were more honest. But nowadays people take a loan and never return it. Even our 'Naik' (sustainer) does not listen to us when we complain to him despite the fact that we pay him 100 rupees per year as tax. (The Sikhs live amongst the Tribals as Hamsaya of the Tribals thus calling them as Naik's). According to Tribal law, no foreigner can live amongst Pashtoon tribes unless and untill he is a Hamsaya of some local. This local is responsible for his protecter, sustainer, and representative.

Later on when I narrated Hoti Singh's concern to one of my friend from Tirah, he answered that one girl from Hoti Singh's family embraced Islam and married a local. According to tribal custom, a girl is not allowed to marry somebody without the consent of her parents. If the girl does marry without her parents consent, then both the boy and girl are shot dead. When the Sikhs demanded return of the girl, the local tribesmen refused on the grounds that the girl had accepted Islam. The Sikhs considered this decision as a blow to their honour. Since then their family is objecting that the Tribal laws are different for some and different for others. In Tribal society, such differences constantly prop up.

In contrast to this, Maan Singh of Mamozai Sama Bazar is leading a happy life. Maan Singh is running a 'Kariana' store (general goods) with his brother and two sons. Maan Singh had this to say, "I was born here and also grew up here. We are 40-50 families living here and nobody bothers us".

Many other Sikhs were also content with living here; saying they experienced no problems or discrimination. Their business is running good, they have a sense of security, and they have religious freedom. But when Indo-Pak tensions start to boil, they start worrying because in such a case, neither can they visit their religious places in India, nor can they visit their loved and dear ones across the Wahga border.

In Tirah, they they have their own properties and lands, they have made Gurdwaras inside their homes, and their womenfolk observe Parda and wear the Burqa just like other women. Some time back they used to read and write in Gurmukhi but are now slowly learning Urdu as well due to their growing trade related interactions with people from the rest of country.

These Sikhs, unlike other tribesmen, are not allowed possession of a weapon. There is also a small population of Hindus living in the area. According to tribal law, it is compulsory for the Hindus to patch a yellow or red cloth on their hats or dress for the purpose of differentiating them from other tribesmen. The Sikhs however are exempt from this.

Tribal wars fought between families do not touch, harm, or engage with these Hindus and Sikhs. Concerned Tribes are themselves responsible for keeping the honor, and safety of this minority even if it means taking up a weapon to defend them.

Their is also another interesting fact about these Sikhs. When the subcontinent was divided and the new nations of India and Pakistan were born, both countries witnessed a killing campaign with Muslims killing Hindus and Sikhs in Pakistan and Hindus killing Muslims in India. But unlike the rest of Pakistan, Tirah was the only place where the Sikhs lived in peace along with other tribesmen.