Zaida, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

Zaida is a village and Union Council in Swabi District of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. It is located at 34°4'0N 72°28'0E with an altitude of 306 metres (1007 feet).

Zaida is in close proximity to the ancient region of Gandhara. The Gandhara civilization was an ancient civilization that existed in the region from the 6th century BC to the 11th century AD. The region was home to a mix of different cultures and religions, including Buddhism, Hinduism, and Greek culture. Today, the region of Gandhara continues to be an important center of cultural and religious heritage, attracting tourists from all over the world to explore its rich history and art. Zaida, as a town in the region, is an important part of this heritage and provides a link to the ancient civilization of Gandhara.

During the Mughal period in the 16th and 17th centuries, Zaida was part of the Yusufzai Pashtun confederacy. The Yusufzai were known for their fierce resistance to the Mughal Empire and played a prominent role in the Pashtun resistance movement against the British in the 19th century.

History

Zaida is one of the oldest trading centres of the area and its bazaar is one of the oldest in the district. The history of Zaida and its Khans dates back to the pre Islamic era.

Khan of Zaida was a hereditary title given to the rulers of the Zaida village in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan. The Khans of Zaida were influential lords who played a significant role in the politics of the region. Zaida is inhabited by the Yusufzai Pashtun tribe. The Khans were themselves Yusufzai and were considered to be the most powerful and influential leaders of the tribe.

The Khans had power over a huge territory that encompassed not just the Zaida region but also swaths of the neighbouring territories. People in the area appreciated them and were aware of their courage. They had a reputation for being ferocious combatants and had fought in multiple battles.

The Genealogy of the Khans of Zaida:

• Dargahi Khan
• Sikandar Khan
• Himat Khan
• Hashim Khan
• Ibrahim Khan
• Shah Wali Khan
• Muhammad Azam Khan Azam
• Rana Khan
• Zabita Khan
• Letaf Khan
• Muhammad Ashraf Khan
• Khan Sakhi Arsalah Khan
• Bahram Khan
• Nawab Muhammad Ibrahim Khan
• Khan Bahadur Khan Abdul Ghafur Khan
• Khan Saheb Abdul Hameed Khan
• Khan Abdus Sallam khan

The name of the progenitor of the Khans of Zaida was Ballar Khan. Daraghi is said to be his progeny in the eighteenth generation.

Notable People from the Village of Zaida

• Nisar Muhammad Yousafzai, War Hero of the 1919 Anglo-Afghan War
• Abdul Aziz Khan Kaka, Khudai Khidmatgar Politician who defeated the Imperial Crown's Political Agent, Sir Sahibzada Abdul Qayyum Khan in the elections of 1936
• Mohammed Sadiq, Political Scientist, served as Ambassador of Pakistan to Afghanistan

References

• "Zaida, Pakistan" on Geonames.org ([1])

• "Gandhara" on Britannica.com ([2])

• "Yusufzai" on Britannica.com ([3])

• "Yusufzai Revolt of 1857-58" on Storyofpakistan.com ([4])

• The Khans of Zaida and their genealogy "The Yusufzais: The Khans of Zaida" on Gandhara.com.pk ([5])