Khushal Khan Khattak - Death and Tribute

Death and Tribute

Khushal continued to resist the Mughals on war fronts. These wars according to historians shook the foundations of the Mughal Empire. Khushal gave a romantic touch to his nationalist ideology, he visited the far flung areas, met with Pakhtoon tribal chiefs, particularly the Yousafzais, negotiated with them to bring about unity in Pakhtoon ranks against Mughals but failed in his efforts and returned broken hearted. After failing to unite the pashtoon tribes Khushal Khan retired as a warrior and used his pen to point to weaknesses of his society, he was not only a great warrior but had keen sense wordplay. Khushal Khan Khatak had written many poems mostly patriotic about his roots, about his tribe, about his nation and triumphs over invaders. Upon his retirement, his 57 sons began fighting for leadership. Meanwhile the Mughals had bribed his son Behram Khan to arrest or to kill Khushal. About this state, Khushal says, "my one demerit devours all my merits that I am Behram’s father and Behram is my son".Behram then sent his men to arrest his father as well. Upon the new of the army's advance, Khushal Khan at the age of 77 suited up in his armored suit, along with his only two brave sons, Nusrat Khan and Gohar Khan(only those two sons accompanied him till his death) and drew his sword and called out; "Whoever are men amongst you, come to the sword if you dare" The men returned to Bahram in shame. Bahram joined forces with Moghols set to capture his father, and before he could do so, Khushal Khan fled into Afridi territory assisted by his two sons Nusrat Khan and Gohar Khan. Khushal Khan passed away at the age of 78 on Friday, the 20th February 1689 at Dambara, after attempting for so many years to unite the various Pakhtun tribes together. It is believed that Khattak had gone on an expedition to "Tirah", a rugged mountainous area in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa where he died. People searched for him and found his dead body a number of days later with his sword and the carcass of his horse (known as "Silai" in Pashto, which means Wind). His death symbolises his courage and his love for his Afghan (Pakhtun) motherland.

The art of chieftainship thou hast not learned, bahram
in your time you have dishonored the chieftainship
from now on don't count yourself amongst my sons
that is the last prayer breathed by Khushal the Khattak

He desired before his death that he should be buried in a place where "the dust of Mughal horses’ hoofs may not fall on his grave." His whishes were carried out by his friend and his remains were laid at‘Esoori’ village in the Akora Khattak in Khattaks hills, where many Pashtuns continue to pay tribute and visit his tomb. His grave carries the inscription: "Da Afghan Pa nang mai watarala toora, nangyalai da zamanai Khushal Khattak Yam" (trans.: "I have taken up the sword to defend the pride of the Afghan, I am Khushal Khattak, the honorable man of the age.")

Allama Muhammad Iqbal was the only poet in the whole subcontinent who came to know about Khushal through the translations done by some orientalists. He not only highly appreciated his poetry but also developed a great respect for him. Iqbal called him the Hakeem and Tabeeb (physician) of Afghan Millat and Afghan Shanas. Maj: Roverty and certain other orientalists say that Khushal was not only Afghan Shanas but like Goethe and Shakespeare he was also a great Insan- Shanas (one who knows man) Iqbal expressed his desire that if he knew Pushto he would have translated Khushal’s poetry into Urdu or Persian. This is really a great tribute to a great Man by another great Man.

Khushal Khan was a practical man. He manifested all those qualities in his living conduct which he wanted to see in a man. Allama Muhammad Iqbal the great philosopher said about Khushal Khan Khattak:

That Afghan shanas (Khushal Khan Khattak) said well,

He expressed what he saw save any hesitation.
He was the Hakeem (Philosopher) of Afghan nation.
He was the physician of Afghan cause.
He stated the secrets of nation boldly.
He was rendering and said the right very wisely.

At another place he commends Khushal Khan Khattak in these words:

I am tribal and am lost in the unity of nation.
To elevate the name of Afghans
I love these young people who puts the halter on stars
This son of mountains is never less than the Mughals
O’companion! May I tell you the secrets of my heart?
Khushal Khan likes that grave where the dust of Mughal’s horse’s boots could not fall.

Khushal lived a life of misery and afflictive, but he never bowed to Mughals, he never compromised on principles, he remained committed to his ideal that even a poor independence is better than a kingdom. Few men in the history better deserve to be acclaimed as national heroes as Khushal. He is not only the Firdousi of Afghans but he also plays the role of Rustam in the Afghan history. Only very few personalities around the world may be a parallel to him. He was indeed a wonder personality. Khushal's critics differ about his greatness: some consider him the greatest with reference to his poetry. some consider him to be the greatest warrior, others confirm him to be the greatest Philosopher and statesman and still others consider him the great preacher of love and amity. He loved humanity, he loved Pashtoons, he loved knowledge and beauty in all its forms whether of mountains, trees flowers, birds and women. Born almost four hundred years ago (1613) he still lives in the memory and history, the time never ever seems to be able to humble his thoughts and vibrant personality, as the providence intends to keep him living. While expressing his nationalist theory and unfolding his philosophy of Pashto, he often resorts to seek help from his ideal man as Jangyal (Warrior), Toorzan (Bold and courageous), Miranay (Brave) Mard (the man) and Nangyal (committed to Nang-honour).Khushal Khan Khattak wrote excellent poetry in Pashto about such things as unity, honor, war, love, and everyday life. He also wrote about philosophy and ethics. His poetry is still widely read. Khushal faced the hard Life. The victim of old age, the hard life of wars and worries and his head on collisions with the Mughal imperial power had indeed eroded his strength and energy but his courage, bravery and perseverance was intact.. His major and principal aim and target was to snatch independence for Pakhtoons from the Mughals whose incentives and biog and attractive offers to reclaim him had repeatedly failed in breaking his will power. Khushal says: " That on becoming free I became impatient for revenge. All of a sudden disturbance appeared on this land and I also thought of retaliation. I converted the mere spark into a blazing fire and set it to the house of the Emperor Aurangzeb". However the Mughal diplomacy, bribes and intimidations succeeded in dividing the Pakhtoon tribes. The Mughals repaired their broken image and obviously Khushal had lost his war for independence. And the Mughals had win The disunity in Pakhtoon ranks helped in restoring the Mughal superiority. The great Khushal cleanly and unambiguously defined the Mughals hostile approach towards Pakhtoons.