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| Shilmani |
Shalmani's predominantly live in Shalman Valley in Khyber Agency near
Peshawar where they share their land with the Afridi's, Shinwari's and
Malagori's. Their sub-tribes are the Alim Zai, Tarak Zai, and Kam Shalman. These
people have strong relationships with Mohmand's. The Shalmani's are divided into
two parts, Kam Shalman and the Loy Shalman, of which Loy Shalman has a
population of more than 30,000 and is located 25 km from Landi Kotal.
According to Khan Roshan
Khan of Swabi in his famous book "Tazkira-e-Pathan", Shalmani are of 'Banu Bakhtar'
lineage from Israel who were living in an area called "Shalman" in Syria. These
Banu Bakhtar were landlords of Shalman, Ainab, and Baisood in Syria but were
soon exiled by Assyrian King Shalmaneser I, II, III and IV to Khorasan.
The period of exile of Israel from Syria was 771 B.C to 597 BC. Shalmaneser here refers to Shalman according to the Bible (Hosea: 10-14). They
were also known as Shalmani in Khorasan because of their ancestry in Syria.
The Bible states in Hosea:10-14 "as Shalmaneser destroyed betharbel". Many
Christian and Jewish historians opine that Shalman is a contracted form of
Shalmaneser. Hence Shalmaneser and Shalman are one entity. Shalmaneser himself
was an Assyrian King(s). There were four Assyrian kings were Shalmaneser I, II, III and IV.
The same name for all the king's denote that Shalmaneser was the name of their
tribe and not their original names. According to well known Jewish Historian Dr.
M. D. Magee, Shalman is jewish for "Solomon" the son of David (Hazrat Daud AS).
In the present Kurdistan of Iran, there is an area “Shalman”, which means
that, it is that ancient name of Shalmanis’ residency (Shalman) in Syria, and
that they were brought this name with them when they exiled by Assyrians and
Babylonians. Another proof of the exile of Shalmanis from Syria’s Shalman is
that, there are four largest rivers in Iran and one of them is the river "Shalman
Rud". In Persian and Pashto (Pakhto) language "Rud" means the river, therefore
it is known as river Shalman.
Shilmani's also live in other places like Peshawar, Hashtnagar,
Malakand Agency, Swat, Shangla, Dir, Bajaur, Buner, Haripur in Pashtunkhwa,
Kabul, Karman & Tora Bora in Afghanistan, and Tehran, Isfahan and Gilan in
Iran. There are some well known scientists
in Iran & Pakistan in different fields like chemistry, biology & nuclear
sciences. In Iran's Atomc Energy Commission are known scientists A. M. Shilmani,
A Kuchaki Shilmani, & Manzour Shilmani. Similarly, important Shilmani's in
Pakistan include former MPA Nek Amal Khan, Jahangir Khan, Rahat Khan and Senator
Abdul Malik Shilmani. Many Shilman's serve in the Militia force (FC) and the
Pakistan Army. When Pakistan had not yey come into being, Bacha Khan Shalmani of
Sakha Kot Malakand Agency, was the prominent figure of the Shalmani tribe and
was a famous politician. Up to this day shalmani's are going side by side with
other Pashtun tribes and are serving the Pakhtoon nation and the humanity in
different fields like politics, education, economy, religion, defence and
agriculture etc.
References:
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