Tiwana family of Shahpur

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The Tiwana family of Shahpur is a Punjabi Muslim feudal family part of the Tiwana Rajputs clan [1][2] They are one of the largest landowning families in the Punjab and have played an influential role in Punjabi politics since the 17th century. Shahpur District was once headed by Council Member Mehr Khan Tiwana in 1862, while his predecessors include Major Ishaq Tiwana ( a decorated pre-partition officer from Royal Indian Army and famous for his exceptional horse-riding skill, honesty and valour), Mr. Razzaq Tiwana ( current Lambardar of Shahpur and a retired bureaucrat), Chief Engineer Mumtaz Tiwana ( famous Merchant Navy Commander), Aasim Tiwana ( a well-reckoned bureaucrat and current affairs anchor on national media), Malik Khuda Baksh Tiwana (former minister), Malik Ghulam Muhammad Tiwana (former MNA), Malik Ehsan Ullah Tiwana (MNA) and Ms. Sidra Tiwana (a federal bureaucrat of Pakistan). Other notables of Tiwana clan of Shahpur include Khaliq Yar Tiwana (deceased army and later police officer), Asim Yar Tiwana (fashion designer), Shokat Tiwana ( retired senior Prisons Officer) and Shehzadi Omarzadi Tiwana (former minister) who is also daughter of former Premier of Punjab Sir Khizar Hayat Tiwana, son of General Omar Hayat Tiwana.

Background[edit]

Origins[edit]

Mir Ali Khan, the founder of the family, settled at Okhali Mohlah in the district of Khushab in the mid-17th century.[3] In around 1680 his son Mir Ahmad Khan built Mitha Tiwana.[4]

18th century[edit]

Mir Ahmad Khan's successors Dadu Khan and Sher Khan continued to build up Mitha Tiwana helping it to become a thriving town in the region. Sher Khan considerably enlarged his territory at the expense of neighbouring Awan tribes and refused to pay tribute to his governors at Dera Ismail Khan.[5] In 1745 he founded the village of Nurpur Tirwana.[6] He later rebelled against Inayat Khan of the Jhang Sials who had placed him in charge of the village of Mari, driving the Sials out of Khai and laying siege to Kot Langar Khan.[7] Inayat Kan would later defeat Sher Khan when he sent an army to relieve the siege. Sher Khan died in 1757, leaving two sons Khan Muhammad Khan and Khan Beg Khan.

Khan Beg Khan usurped his brother Khan Muhammad Khan as chief, when the latter had gone to Jhang to visit kinsmen. Khan Muhmmad subsequently raised an army from Nurpur Tirwana, defeated his brother and imprisoned him.[8] Khan Muhammad was engaged in constant battles with neighbours. He marched on Lal Khan, the Chief of Khushab, opening fire on the town and tying prisoners to the guns to divert the fire of the enemy.[9] Lal Khan called Mahan Singh Sukharchakia, an old friend of Khan Muhammad, to his aid, and Mahan Singh bought a large force compelling Khan Muhammad to retire.

Sikh Empire[edit]

Towards the end of his reign Khan Beg once again took up arms against Khan Muhammad. In 1803, Khan Muhammad agreed to pay Maharajah Ranjit Singh a subsidy of one lakh of rupees to defeat Khan Beg.[10] Despite this victory over his brother, in 1804 he was compelled by his son Ahmad Yar Khan to yield the chiefship to him.[11]

In 1817, Maharajah Ranjit Singh sent a force under Misr Diwan chand against Ahmad Yar Khan, who subsequently submitted to his authority, and was granted the jagir of Jhawrian worth around ten thousand rupees.[12] Hari Singh Nalwa was granted the jagir of Mitha Tiwana in 1819.[13] In 1821, Ahmad Yar Khan marched with the Maharajah against his old enemy the Nawab of Mankera. The Maharajah, impressed by the Tiwana Horse, insisted on a troop of fifty horsemen returning with him to Lahore.[14] Ahmad Yar Khan's brother, Khuda Yar Khan was appointed rough rider to the Maharajah, and superintended his hunting expeditions until his death in 1837.[15] Khuda Yar Khan's son Fateh Khan rose to prominence first serving under Hari Singh Nalwa and then through the patronage of Raja Dhyan Singh. He was involved in the murder of Pashaura Singh alongside Chattar Singh Attariwalla.[16] He was killed at the outset of the Second Anglo-Sikh War by mutineers at his fort of Dalipnagar in Bannu.

British India[edit]

A number of members of the family achieved recognition for assistance provided during Indian Rebellion of 1857.[17] Fateh Sher Khan rendered service at Hissar and Jhajjar, whilst his cousin Sher Muhammad Khan assisted in the Doaba, Oudh and Bareilly. Each were rewarded with jagirs and the title Khan Bahadur.[18] A further cousin Sahib Khan was also elevated to Khan Bahadur, granted nearly nine thousand acres of land in Kalpi and a jagir worth 1,200 rupees.[17] Sahib Khan's son Umar Hayat Khan became a decorated soldier in the British Indian Army and was elected to the Council of the Secretary of State for India.[17] His son Khizar Hayat Tiwana would be the last Premier of the Punjab in British India.

Notable family members[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Jinnah, M.A.; Wavell, A.P.W.E.; Garewal, S.M. (1986). Jinnah-Wavell Correspondence, 1943-47. Publication (Research Society of Pakistan). Research Society of Pakistan, University of the Punjab. Retrieved 2023-07-25. Khizr Hayat Khan, b. August 7, 1900; belonged to Tiwana (Jat) family of Sargodha
  2. ^ Sir Roper Lethbridge, The Golden Book of India: A Genealogical and Biographical Dictionary of the Ruling Princes, Chiefs, Nobles, and Other Personages, Titled Or Decorated of the Indian Empire, Aakar Books, 1893
  3. ^ Rishi Singh, State Formation and the Establishment of Non-Muslim Hegemony: Post-Mughal 19th-century Punjab, SAGE Publications India, 23 Apr 2015
  4. ^ Rishi Singh, State Formation and the Establishment of Non-Muslim Hegemony: Post-Mughal 19th-century Punjab, SAGE Publications India, 23 Apr 2015
  5. ^ Rishi Singh, State Formation and the Establishment of Non-Muslim Hegemony: Post-Mughal 19th-century Punjab, SAGE Publications India, 23 Apr 2015
  6. ^ Rishi Singh, State Formation and the Establishment of Non-Muslim Hegemony: Post-Mughal 19th-century Punjab, SAGE Publications India, 23 Apr 2015
  7. ^ Rishi Singh, State Formation and the Establishment of Non-Muslim Hegemony: Post-Mughal 19th-century Punjab, SAGE Publications India, 23 Apr 2015
  8. ^ Sir Roper Lethbridge, The Golden Book of India: A Genealogical and Biographical Dictionary of the Ruling Princes, Chiefs, Nobles, and Other Personages, Titled Or Decorated of the Indian Empire, Aakar Books, 1893
  9. ^ Sir Roper Lethbridge, The Golden Book of India: A Genealogical and Biographical Dictionary of the Ruling Princes, Chiefs, Nobles, and Other Personages, Titled Or Decorated of the Indian Empire, Aakar Books, 1893
  10. ^ Sir Roper Lethbridge, The Golden Book of India: A Genealogical and Biographical Dictionary of the Ruling Princes, Chiefs, Nobles, and Other Personages, Titled Or Decorated of the Indian Empire, Aakar Books, 1893
  11. ^ Sir Roper Lethbridge, The Golden Book of India: A Genealogical and Biographical Dictionary of the Ruling Princes, Chiefs, Nobles, and Other Personages, Titled Or Decorated of the Indian Empire, Aakar Books, 1893
  12. ^ Lepel H. Griffin, The Punjab Chiefs, 1865
  13. ^ Lepel H. Griffin, The Punjab Chiefs, 1865
  14. ^ Lepel H. Griffin, The Punjab Chiefs, 1865
  15. ^ Lepel H. Griffin, The Punjab Chiefs, 1865
  16. ^ Lepel H. Griffin, The Punjab Chiefs, 1865
  17. ^ a b c Talbot, Ian (16 Dec 2013). Khizr Tiwana, the Punjab Unionist Party and the Partition of India. Routledge. p. 1136790292.
  18. ^ Sir Roper Lethbridge, The Golden Book of India: A Genealogical and Biographical Dictionary of the Ruling Princes, Chiefs, Nobles, and Other Personages, Titled Or Decorated of the Indian Empire, Aakar Books, 1893
  19. ^ "Profile". www.pap.gov.pk. Retrieved 20 February 2021.