Table of Contents
The word "Hazara"
The term "Hazara" is believed to came from the word "Hazar" - meaning one thousand.
The Hazaras
Hazaras are among few races on the face of the earth about whose origin so little is known. There are different theories about the origins of Hazaras. Many researchers believe Hazaras to be of Turko Mongol ancestary.
Another theory is that Hazaras were Buddhists that actually lived in Afghanistan for the known history at least since the time
of the Kushan Dynasty some 2000 years ago prior to the arrival of Islam. During the time of Kushan Dynasty, Bamyan was the home of one of the main hub of Buddhist civilization. This is obvious from the two of the World Tallest Buddhas statues that is carved in the
mountain in Bamyan, Afghanistan - the heart of Hazarajat region inhabited by Hazaras for at least 2000 years.
This similarity is also pointed out by the author of the famous book The Hazaras by Late Hassan Poladi.
See:
The Hazara land, Hazarajat
Hazarajat (also referred to as Hazaristan) is the land or the provinces (states) in Afghanistan which have historically been inhabited by Hazara people.
The historic boundaries of Hazara Jat was much larger than now. According to H.W.Bellew the area was " from the border of Kabul and
Ghazni to those of Herat in one direction and from vicinity of Kandahar to that of Bulkh in the other. (4)
It may be noted that after the defeat of Hazaras in 1893 (see more 1, and 2), Afghan ruler adopted a policy to plant Pushtun
nomads in fertile Hazara lands. According to Askar Mousavi's book Hazaras of Afghanistan (page 66) , now the Hazarajat area is reduced to 100,000 - 150,000 sq km.
Hazaras live in the following provinces in Hazarajat: (3)
Ghazni, Uruzgan, Ghore, Wardag, Bamyan , Parwan , Baghlan (Majority Ismali Hazaras inhabit)
Hazaras living in provinces out of Hazarajat: (3)
Samangan, Balkh , Jozjan , Faryab , Kabul , Badges (with Sunni Hazaras) , Kunduz (with mixed Shia and Sunni Hazaras),
Herat ( few number of Shia Hazaras)
The Hazargi Language
Hazara people commonly refer to their language as "Hazaragi." The dialect, Dari -- spoken in Afghanistan, is somewhat similar to Hazaragi.
The Hazara religion
Hazaras are predominantly Muslim and belong to Shia (Shiite), Sunni, Ismaili, sects of Islam.
The Hazara Population in Afghanistan
The real population of Hazaras are unknown. This is in part because in Afghanistan, where all Hazaras are from, there has never been any census. Hazaras are the most persecuted and discriminated against ethnic group in Afghanistan. For over 200 years, they have been brutalized by the ruling class of Afghanistan and systematically under represented.
The Father of Hazara nation:
Abdul Ali Mazari (1946-1995).
One of most respected and loved leader that united all Hazaras of the world. Hazaras out of respect, refer to him as "Baba Mazari" (Father).
Sources:
1. Hazaras in the view of British Diaries: "Diaries of Kandahar" (1884 - 1905)
Persecution and massacre of Hazaras documented by British news readers over a century ago
2. Hazaras vs. Taliban - Michael, UN.
traces the root of the conflict between Hazaras and Pushtuns and the de-population of Hazaras by the Pushtun rulers
3. Atlas of Peoples Democratic of Afghanistan Printed in Poland
4. "The Races of Afghanistan" , H.W. Bellew page no:113 Published in Pakistan in 1979.
5. Map of Genghis Khan's Empire in 13th Century.
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