# Bara Bandai

Bara Bandai (برہ بانڈئ) is a village in Swat, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan, known as an area crossed by Alexander The Great during his invasion of the subcontinent. The people of village Bara Bandai belong to subsection Naikpikhel of Yusufzai the biggest and largest tribe of Pashtun or Pakhtun tribes. It is one of the Provincially Administered Tribal Areas (PATA) of Pakistan. The village contains a small series of mountains and a forest, residential area starting from meadows of mountainsand merge with river swat on right bank, a village market, vast land for crops, number of canals, and a part of the Swat river. Mountains of the village include Usmani Sar, Kafar Ghat and Najia Top.

## Etymology

The village was renamed by Yusufzai Pakhtuns after capturing it. The name Bara means "Upper" and Bandai means "Meadow", hence was named Bara Bandai due to its locality. On the West side of Bara Bandai is the neighbouring village Kuza Bandai which means The Lower Meadow. The names were basically given by their greenery, comparing the distances of both villages from Mingora the main city of Swat Valley, and by comparing their distances from the upper hilly areas of Swat such as Kalam and Bahrain. The ancient names of these villages are not known as they are just mentioned by locations in old times books and scripts.

## Location

Bara Bandai is about 8 Kilometers away from Mingawara or Mingoara, the main city of Swat Valley and 10 Kilometers from Saidu Sharif the Capital of the Yousufzai State of Swat (Princely State). Situated on the left bank (North side) of Suvastu or The River Swat and is important and one of the large village of Nikpikhel. Nikpikhel is a sub tribe of Akozai and Khudizai Yousufzai and their area stretches in North to Godamanai bordering directly with Dir district, Ningolai is on the East, Dadahara and Shamozai on the West. On the South side of Nikpikhel is The River Swat ([Suvastu]). Bara Bandai is about 80 Kilometers from Kalam, the famous tourist spot of North Pakistan. Bara Bandai comes under the PK-9 constituency of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Provincial Assembly and NA-4 constituency of National Assembly of Pakistan.

## Division

The village residential areas are divided into subunits known locally as Cham (Pashto: چم) or Mohallah.

## Photos

* Peach Trees, Bara Bandai
* Peach Trees, Bara Bandai
* Greenery, Bara Bandai

## Ethnics and Historical Land Division

Total population of village Bara Bandai is 19374 (2009). Which makes it one of the largest villages in the Swat valley. There are number of sub-tribes (clans) of Yousafzai, migrated groups and other groups (tradesmen castes) who are known by their trade.

### Yousafzai Tribes

The Yousafzai Pashtuns of the village were historically led by Awdal Khel and Nasir Khel, belonging to Nikpikhel major tribe. Historically, Awdal Khel and Nasir Khel held leadership roles in the community, Awdal Khel being Khans, and Nasir Khel being Malaks, both titled local leaders.

#### Lands Division and Unit

The Awdal Khel and Nasir Khel tribes governed an area of approximately two million square feet historically, measured locally in a unit known as 'Rupees and Paisa,' used by the Yousafzai tribes. Two million square foot of land equals to 40 Rupees in local units. The lands were first divided into two main tribes, Ali Khan Khel and Nasir Khel, each receiving 20 Rupees of land in area, called "Shalla", which translates to twenty in Pashto. The land was distributed among the tribesmen as their estates. In many instances, tribal leaders, such as Khans or Malaks, would receive a disproportionately larger share of resources or benefits in exchange for offering patronage, protection, and assistance in resolving tribal matters.

#### Yousafzai Tribes of the Village

* Ali Khan Khel
** Awdal Khel
** Bucha Khel
** Bar Khan Khel
** Burhan Khel
** Adam Khel
* Nasir Khel (parent tribe of the same name)
** Nasir Khel
** Ajo Khel
** Tawas Khel
** Shado Khel
** Mandarn Khel

### Sayyid and Mulan (Qazi Khel)

A larger group of the residents are Sayyid, and also Qazi Khel Mulan.

### Tradesmen

Sources:
Several occupational tribes in the region are traditionally identified by their trades. These include the Parachas and Khwajgan (traders), Zargar (goldsmiths), Kasabgar (hairdressers and messengers), Tarkarn (carpenters), Kolal (potters), Shah Khel (rope makers), Gujjars (farmers and herdsmen), and Jalawal (boat operators). Many of these clans are believed to have Aryan ancestry.
The Yousafzais adopted the Aryan or Hindu calendar, already used by the Gujjars of the area which is a group of Aryan descent. The Gujjars, known for their expertise in farming and livestock management, introduced this calendar to the Yousafzai, who did not have a distinct calendar of their own.

### Migrated Tribes

Malochwal or Malochian, who claim to be of Haider Khel ancestry also reside in the village. They migrated in 1960s from Maloch village of District Swat.

### Ghaznavids

One of the groups residing in the village claims descent from the Ghaznavids, a dynasty of Turkic origin, specifically Mamluks. However, the Ghaznavids are not ancestrally linked to the Yousafzai or any Pashtun groups.

## Languages

All the residents speak Pashto as their native language. Gujari language is spoken by some local Gujjars, however it is almost extinct.

## Education

The village consist of 1 high, 3 govt boys primary schools and 1 middle govt school for girls along with a number of schools in private sector.

## Health

Bara Bandai has its own Basic Health Unit (BHU), numerous clinical laboratories and a number of clinics in private sector which provide healthcare facilities to the residents.

## Administration

Administratively, the village is part of Union Council of the same name, Union Council Bara Bandai. It is further divided into two Neighbourhood Councils, namely Bara Bandai I & Bara Bandai II. Each neighbourhood council has its own administrative office in their respective Neighbourhood Council with a Village Council Secretary to supervise and oversee the implementation of development schemes and other council activities. Elected members of the councils are elected in Local Government elections under Local Government Act 2013 of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Current elected Chairmans of the Neighbourhood council Bara Bandai I and II are Muhammad Tariq Khan Awdal Khel and Riaz Ahmad Zargar, respectively.

## Climate

The weather of the village is cold in the winter season and moderate during summer. Snowfall in winter intensify its beauty.

## Agriculture

Swat Valley is known for peach production. The village has numerous private peach orchards.
The village climate made it favorable for many crops and fruits. The village not only fulfill their own need but also supply its product to other areas. Among these onion and peach are commonly produce.

## Notable figures

Nawab Sultan Ameer Khan(Late) { Khan Of all Asha Khel Tribe} (Awdal Khel)
Ramzan Khan (Also Known As Waleed Sultan) {Awdal Khel} The Current Khan of Bara Bandai
Idrees Khan {Martyred} by Taliban (Awdal Khel)
Aimal Khan (a renowned Volleyball player belonging to Awdal Khel tribe). Aimal Khan captain of Pakistan National Volleyball team.
Shaykh Abu Eesa Niamatullah (a Yousafzai of Nasir Khel tribe, an internationally acclaimed religious scholar)
Sultan Room (Member of Provincial Assembly, PK-9)