The Katir [ka 'tɘ] or Kata Kafir group was numerically the most dominant group of the Siah-Posh (Persian "Black Wearer/Clothed") tribes. They owned approximately forty villages in the Bashgul valley and numbered about 40,000 (1890).
The upper part of the Bashgul Valley of Nuristan (Afghanistan) is known as Katirgul. It is called Lutdeh in Chitrali and Kantozi in Pashto.
According to George Scott Robertson, the Katir Siah-Posh clan settled in Katirgul valley was called Kamtoz (or Camtoz) in Pashto and Lutdehhchis in Chitrali (The Kafirs of the Hindu Kush, p 71). But American investigator Richard Strand's website suggests that the name Kamtoz/Kamtozi may apply to all Katirs of the former Siah-Posh group, including the Ramguli and Kulam Katirs .
Alternative names for Kamtoz are Camtozi, Kantozi. Despite their fiercely independent nature, the Katis, together with the Kom tribe, were tributary to the Mehtar of Chitral. The nature of this tributary relationship was inconsistent because the Katis and Koms would often raid Chitrali territory for livestock and head-hunting. In retaliation the Mehtars would invade the Bashgul Valley and enslave entire villages. During the reign of Mehtar Aman-ul-Mulk the relationship was formalized and the Kafirs would pay an annual tribute of slaves.
Numerous scholars have connected the names Katir/Kator/Kata and Kam/Kom with ancient Kambojas and identified the Kafirs, especially the Siah-Posh Kafirs, as having descended from ancient. The Kata Tribe also lives in Chitral and very much mixed with Chitralies. There is a popular stone by the name of Kata Boht situated in Ozhore (Juwara) Valley Chitral. The Kata Tribe also lives in Ozhore and also other part of Chitral. The other fact is the tribe lives in Gram; gram is a Nuristani word (of Indo-Aryan origin) meaning "village" (as a "community"). In ancient times, people were considered rich according to their ownership of animals or land. As the Kata tribe in Chitral was considered to be relatively rich, over time, Chitrali speakers began to use kata to mean "rich" or "big".[1]
History
Kafiristan is a mountainous region of the Hindu Kush that was isolated and politically independent until the conquest by Afghan conquest of 1896. The region became a refuge of an old group of Indo-European people probably mixed with an older substratum, as well as a refuge of a distinct Kafiri group of Indo-Iranian languages, forming part of the wider Dardic languages. The inhabitants were known as "kafirs" due to their enduring polytheism (closely related to Vedic religion) while other regions around them became Muslim. However, the influence from district names in Kafiristan of Katwar or Kator and the ethnic name Kati has also been suggested. The Kafirs were divided into Siyah-Posh, comprising five sub-tribes who spoke Katɘ language while the others were called Safed-Posh comprising Paruni, Waigeli, Wamai and Ashkun.[2]
The Nuristani/Kafir people practiced a form of ancient Hinduism, infused with accretions developed locally.[3] Kafirs represent non-Rigvedic Aryans, identical with the Dasas. That their ancestors were pre-Rigvedic Aryans can be inferred from lingusitic, ethnological and theological evidence. The Kafiri/Nuristani languages contain certain phonetic features not found in Indo-Iranian languages. Their chief deity is Imra i.e. Yamaraja which was brought there by the Dasas who worshipped Asuras especially Yama and Varuna. Their primary goddess was Disani. They also worshipped Indra or Inder.[4]
Invasion of Timur (1398)
On his way to India, Timur attacked the Siyah-Posh in 1398 A.D. after receiving complaints from the trading city of Andarab by raids from Kafirs. He penetrated it from Khawak pass and restored an old fortress there.[5] Timur personally proceeded against the Kator/Katwar and sent a detachment of 10,000 soldiers against Siyah-Poshas under Burhan Aglan and had the fort of Kator/Katwar deserted by Kafirs destroyed while the houses of the city were burnt.[6]
The Kafirs took refuge on top of a hill and many were killed in the ensuing clash. Some held out for three days but agreed to convert after Timur offered them the choice between death and Islam. They however soon apostatised and ambushed Muslim soldiers in the night. They were however repelled and a number of the Kafirs were killed, with 150 taken prisoner and later executed. Timur ordered his men "to kill all the men, to make prisoners of women and children, and to plunder and lay waste all their property." His soldiers carried out the order and he directed them to build a tower of skulls of the dead Kafirs. Timur had his expedition engraved on a neighboring hill in the month of Ramazan. His detachment sent against Siyah-Posh however met with disaster with Aglan routed and fleeing. A small detachment of 400 men under Muhammad Azad was sent and defeated the Kafirs, retrieving the horses and armour Aglan lost. Timur captured a few places later, though nothing more is stated, presumably he left the Siyah-Posh alone. He then proceeded to exterminate the rebellious Afghan tribes and crossed the Sindhu river in September 1398.[6]
Conversion to Islam (late 19th century)
The territory between Afghanistan and British India was demarcated between 1894 to 1896. Part of the frontier lying between Nawa Kotal in outskirts of Mohmand country and Bashgal Valley on outskirts of Kafiristan were demarcated by 1895 with an agreement reached on 9 April 1895.[7] Emir Abdur Rahman Khan invaded Kafiristan in the winter of 1895-1896 and captured it in 40 days according to his autobiography. Columns invaded it from the west through Panjshir to Kullum, the strongest fort of the region. The columns from the north came through Badakhshan and from the east through Asmar. A small column also came from south-west through Laghman. A small number of Kati refugee's escaped across the border into Kalash territory which was on the British side . Villages were founded in a number of valley's with Brumbutal in the Bumboret valley and Kunisht in a neighbouring Kalash valley ,however these to would become Islamic within a generation .[8] The Kafirs were converted to Islam and resettled in Laghman while the region was settled by veteran soldiers and other Afghans. Kafiristan was renamed as Nooristan.[9]
The former Kafiristan's people were renamed Nuristani (The Enlightened Ones) from the proper noun Nuristan (Land of Enlightment). Presently they are known by Nuristani Kata or simply Kata.[citation needed]
^H.H. Wilson, M. Elphinstone, Bombay Gazetteer, D. Wilber, M. C. Gillet, W. K. Fraser Tytler, R. L. Mitra, H. C. Raychaudhury, J.R.A.S. 1843, J.A.S.B. 1874 etc.
^ A former Kafir tells his tragic story-notes on the Kati Kafirs of northern Bashgul- Afghanistan - Max klimburg - East & West vol 58 - no 1/4 December2008-pp 391-402- published by Istituto Italiano Per I'Africa e l'Oriente (lSlAO)
^Percy Sykes (10 July 2014). A History of Afghanistan: Volumes 1 and 2, Volume 1. Routledge. p. 195. ISBN9781317845874.
^Enhet i mangfold? 100 år med religionshistorie i Norge 1898-1998. Wlodek Witek, With Camera to India, Iran and Afghanistan: Access to Multimedia Sources of the Explorer, Professor Dr. Morgenstierne 2012-03-23 at the Wayback Machine (1892-1975), National Library of Norway, Oslo.
The Kafirs of Hindukush, 1896, George Scott Robertson
An Account of the Kingdom of Caubol, London, M Elphinstone
Tribes of Hindukush, Craz (Austria), 1971, J Biddulph
"The Kâta". Retrieved July 4, 2006, from Richard F. Strand: .
·کشمکش های تاریخی و سرنوشت قبیله الکته ۱۴۰۰
January 31, 2023
kata, people, katir, also, spelled, kati, kator, kata, nuristani, tribe, afghanistan, pakistan, contents, etymology, history, invasion, timur, 1398, conversion, islam, late, 19th, century, also, referencesetymology, editthe, katir, kata, kafir, group, numerica. The Katir also spelled Kati Kator and Kata are a Nuristani tribe in Afghanistan and Pakistan Contents 1 Etymology 2 History 2 1 Invasion of Timur 1398 2 2 Conversion to Islam late 19th century 3 See also 4 ReferencesEtymology EditThe Katir ka tɘ or Kata Kafir group was numerically the most dominant group of the Siah Posh Persian Black Wearer Clothed tribes They owned approximately forty villages in the Bashgul valley and numbered about 40 000 1890 The upper part of the Bashgul Valley of Nuristan Afghanistan is known as Katirgul It is called Lutdeh in Chitrali and Kantozi in Pashto According to George Scott Robertson the Katir Siah Posh clan settled in Katirgul valley was called Kamtoz or Camtoz in Pashto and Lutdehhchis in Chitrali The Kafirs of the Hindu Kush p 71 But American investigator Richard Strand s website suggests that the name Kamtoz Kamtozi may apply to all Katirs of the former Siah Posh group including the Ramguli and Kulam Katirs 1 Alternative names for Kamtoz are Camtozi Kantozi Despite their fiercely independent nature the Katis together with the Kom tribe were tributary to the Mehtar of Chitral The nature of this tributary relationship was inconsistent because the Katis and Koms would often raid Chitrali territory for livestock and head hunting In retaliation the Mehtars would invade the Bashgul Valley and enslave entire villages During the reign of Mehtar Aman ul Mulk the relationship was formalized and the Kafirs would pay an annual tribute of slaves Numerous scholars have connected the names Katir Kator Kata and Kam Kom with ancient Kambojas and identified the Kafirs especially the Siah Posh Kafirs as having descended from ancient The Kata Tribe also lives in Chitral and very much mixed with Chitralies There is a popular stone by the name of Kata Boht situated in Ozhore Juwara Valley Chitral The Kata Tribe also lives in Ozhore and also other part of Chitral The other fact is the tribe lives in Gram gram is a Nuristani word of Indo Aryan origin meaning village as a community In ancient times people were considered rich according to their ownership of animals or land As the Kata tribe in Chitral was considered to be relatively rich over time Chitrali speakers began to use kata to mean rich or big 1 History EditKafiristan is a mountainous region of the Hindu Kush that was isolated and politically independent until the conquest by Afghan conquest of 1896 The region became a refuge of an old group of Indo European people probably mixed with an older substratum as well as a refuge of a distinct Kafiri group of Indo Iranian languages forming part of the wider Dardic languages The inhabitants were known as kafirs due to their enduring polytheism closely related to Vedic religion while other regions around them became Muslim However the influence from district names in Kafiristan of Katwar or Kator and the ethnic name Kati has also been suggested The Kafirs were divided into Siyah Posh comprising five sub tribes who spoke Katɘ language while the others were called Safed Posh comprising Paruni Waigeli Wamai and Ashkun 2 The Nuristani Kafir people practiced a form of ancient Hinduism infused with accretions developed locally 3 Kafirs represent non Rigvedic Aryans identical with the Dasas That their ancestors were pre Rigvedic Aryans can be inferred from lingusitic ethnological and theological evidence The Kafiri Nuristani languages contain certain phonetic features not found in Indo Iranian languages Their chief deity is Imra i e Yamaraja which was brought there by the Dasas who worshipped Asuras especially Yama and Varuna Their primary goddess was Disani They also worshipped Indra or Inder 4 Invasion of Timur 1398 Edit On his way to India Timur attacked the Siyah Posh in 1398 A D after receiving complaints from the trading city of Andarab by raids from Kafirs He penetrated it from Khawak pass and restored an old fortress there 5 Timur personally proceeded against the Kator Katwar and sent a detachment of 10 000 soldiers against Siyah Poshas under Burhan Aglan and had the fort of Kator Katwar deserted by Kafirs destroyed while the houses of the city were burnt 6 The Kafirs took refuge on top of a hill and many were killed in the ensuing clash Some held out for three days but agreed to convert after Timur offered them the choice between death and Islam They however soon apostatised and ambushed Muslim soldiers in the night They were however repelled and a number of the Kafirs were killed with 150 taken prisoner and later executed Timur ordered his men to kill all the men to make prisoners of women and children and to plunder and lay waste all their property His soldiers carried out the order and he directed them to build a tower of skulls of the dead Kafirs Timur had his expedition engraved on a neighboring hill in the month of Ramazan His detachment sent against Siyah Posh however met with disaster with Aglan routed and fleeing A small detachment of 400 men under Muhammad Azad was sent and defeated the Kafirs retrieving the horses and armour Aglan lost Timur captured a few places later though nothing more is stated presumably he left the Siyah Posh alone He then proceeded to exterminate the rebellious Afghan tribes and crossed the Sindhu river in September 1398 6 Conversion to Islam late 19th century Edit The territory between Afghanistan and British India was demarcated between 1894 to 1896 Part of the frontier lying between Nawa Kotal in outskirts of Mohmand country and Bashgal Valley on outskirts of Kafiristan were demarcated by 1895 with an agreement reached on 9 April 1895 7 Emir Abdur Rahman Khan invaded Kafiristan in the winter of 1895 1896 and captured it in 40 days according to his autobiography Columns invaded it from the west through Panjshir to Kullum the strongest fort of the region The columns from the north came through Badakhshan and from the east through Asmar A small column also came from south west through Laghman A small number of Kati refugee s escaped across the border into Kalash territory which was on the British side Villages were founded in a number of valley s with Brumbutal in the Bumboret valley and Kunisht in a neighbouring Kalash valley however these to would become Islamic within a generation 8 The Kafirs were converted to Islam and resettled in Laghman while the region was settled by veteran soldiers and other Afghans Kafiristan was renamed as Nooristan 9 The former Kafiristan s people were renamed Nuristani The Enlightened Ones from the proper noun Nuristan Land of Enlightment Presently they are known by Nuristani Kata or simply Kata citation needed Georg Morgenstierne visited the Bumboret Valley in 1929 during his field work on Nuristani Kafir languages He encountered the two last remaining unconverted Kafir priests of the region called Bagashai and Kareik Bagashai deceased after 1935 10 Around 1890 the Katir Kafir division was further sub divided as under The Katirs of Bashgul Valley The Katirs or the Kti Valley The Kulam Katirs of the Kulam country and The Ramguli Katirs of Ramgul Valley The Kata of Chitral Gobor Rumbur Bumboret citation needed The Jana Matongdir Katirs of Ozhor Valley See also EditHindukush Kafir people Kom Kata vari Katirs Kamtoz Kam Kafirstan Katawar Nurestan Nuristani people Nuristani languagesReferences Edit H H Wilson M Elphinstone Bombay Gazetteer D Wilber M C Gillet W K Fraser Tytler R L Mitra H C Raychaudhury J R A S 1843 J A S B 1874 etc C E Bosworth E Van Donzel Bernard Lewis Charles Pellat eds The Encyclopaedia of Islam Volume IV Brill Publishers p 409 Richard F Strand 31 December 2005 Richard Strand s Nuristan Site Peoples and Languages of Nuristan nuristan info Annals of the Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute Poona Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute 2003 pp 109 110 Vasily Bartold 14 July 2014 An Historical Geography of Iran Princeton University Press p 85 ISBN 9781400853229 a b R C Majumdar 1951 The History and Culture of the Indian People The Delhi Sultanate Allen amp Unwin p 113 Vasily Bartold 17 October 2013 An Historical Geography of Iran Princeton University Press p 85 ISBN 9781107662094 A former Kafir tells his tragic story notes on the Kati Kafirs of northern Bashgul Afghanistan Max klimburg East amp West vol 58 no 1 4 December2008 pp 391 402 published by Istituto Italiano Per I Africa e l Oriente lSlAO Percy Sykes 10 July 2014 A History of Afghanistan Volumes 1 and 2 Volume 1 Routledge p 195 ISBN 9781317845874 Enhet i mangfold 100 ar med religionshistorie i Norge 1898 1998 Wlodek Witek With Camera to India Iran and Afghanistan Access to Multimedia Sources of the Explorer Professor Dr Morgenstierne Archived 2012 03 23 at the Wayback Machine 1892 1975 National Library of Norway Oslo The Kafirs of Hindukush 1896 George Scott Robertson An Account of the Kingdom of Caubol London M Elphinstone Tribes of Hindukush Craz Austria 1971 J Biddulph The Kata Retrieved July 4 2006 from Richard F Strand Nuristan Hidden Land of the Hindu Kush کشمکش های تاریخی و سرنوشت قبیله الکته ۱۴۰۰ Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Kata people amp oldid 1117692610, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
