323rd death anniversary of Khushal Khan Khattak

PESHAWAR: Popular Pashto poet Khushal Khan Khattak's 323rd death anniversary is being observed with literary fervour, Geo News reported.

Born in Akora Khattak in Nowshera district, Khushal Khan’s ancestors had migrated from Teri in Karak. His great grandfather was the chief of the Khattak tribe. After the death of his father Malik Shahbaz Khan Khattak, he became the tribe’s head at the age of 27.

Khushal Khan’s life can be divided into two important parts. Most of his life he was engaged in the service of the Mughal King but during his old age he was preoccupied with the idea of the unification of the Pakhtuns. He was an intelligent and bold person since childhood. He fought the first war at the age of 13 along with his father. He was also a scholar, thinker, philosopher and boisterous poet. His forefathers were officers in the service of the Mughal Empire.

After the death of his father, the Mughal emperor Shahjehan appointed him as the tribal chief at the age of 27 in 1641. When Shahjehan died, Aurangzeb arrested Khattak and put him behind bars in the Gwalior Fort.

After release, he rebelled against the Mughals and later launched resistance against them. He also contacted other Pakhtun tribes like Mohmand, Afridi and Yousafzai and with the support of his people started offering resistance to the Mughals. During his imprisonment, the Yousafzai tribe with which he had fought wars gave shelter to his family.