pashtuns in thailand

[gadoonwal]

Pashtuns enjoyed great relationship with the people of southeast asia such as singapore ect and spacaily with the people of Thailand also known as Saim.
Some of them came to thailand even in 19th century.
However most of them came in the start of the 20th century and that continue to the late 70s.
Almost all the pashtuns came to thailand from present day pashtunkhwa .
Many of them were from swabi,buner,gadoon,batagram,mardan,nokhar,jahangir ai,swat,pakly,madakhel,hasanzai and peshawar.Few came from tribal areas but in very small numbers.
One syed pashtun of kunar province afghanistan also came in the 1920s but do,nt know his full name.
These pashtuns helped their newly migrated brothers and they set up this system from the start.
That was the reason many pashtuns were very successful in thailand.
Hospitality was in their blood.Daily gathering of pashtuns in their deras in bangkok and serving them with food ect was part of daily life.
They helped eachother in business and most them were very successfull.
They participated in all parts of life..There was wrestler name ,,thembar kaka who defeated many sikhs in fight.He was from our area.
Pashtun settlements in Thailand have been common throughout the provinces. There is even a Thai-Pashtun Friendship Association. Because the Pashtuns are fiercely independent, they often are well treated and respected by the Thai locals.
At one stage their community was more then 10000 through out thailand.
Some of the famous pashtuns of the past in thailand are Bhai khan kaka of jahangirai kalay settled in sarabori thailand.He was one of the most powerfull man of thailand at one stage.Top businessman,landlord and very influentail in thai affairs.
He was very close to the thai king.
Some other famous pashtan mashrans of thailand were amir khan kaka of kalu khan swaby,sherin kaka of amazo gary,jahangir khan kaka of gadoon,shah nazar aka of amazai,nor khan kaka of topi and many more.
Nor khan kaka of topi was awarded a bravery award by the govt for his contirbution to the country,s interests in the 40s war.
Kesha khan a thai born pashtun of jaangir dara khadokhel swaby/buner was the super star of thai cenima.He is now in his 60s.
Most of them are invoved in business and very successfull.
Shamroz khan another influentail pashtun of bangkok now dead.
The pashtuns came to thailand were true followers of pashtunwali and pashtunyath.
Today most of them are dead and their 2nd and 3rd generation still follow their way of elders.
They fly from one corner of the country to another to attend funerals and weddings.
Thai-pashtun friendship is still active and every year the group discuss the on going issues and developments.
Through out thailand pashtuns are well known not just to the people but to the govt.Their contribution is recognised and culture respected.
The pashtuns their built many mosques and hujras like the way back home.
One of the main reason of thier success was unity and living in asian country.

[Dervaish]

In early September of 1964, I was traveling to Hong Kong to attend a seminar, but had to stay for 4 days in Bangkok in a hotel on the airline expense, because there was a severe typhoon in Hong Kong. All the passengers of the airline were grounded in Bangkok. In the evening I went out for a walk on a street just to kill time. A gentleman stopped me and said 'slamalekum' and asked me “Are you pakhtun?” and I said “Yes.” He hugged me in our usual Pakhtun way and took me to his dera which was not far from the hotel, I was staying. That gentleman was Bhai Khan of Jahangirai. We talked for hours. He told me stories of his adventure, his family, his business and of Pakhtuns living in Thailand. The next three days in Bangkok were really a pleasure because of Bhai Khan.
Thanks Gadoonwal, for reminding me that forgotton encounter with Bhai Khan.

[jakhan78]

The names you mentioned in pakhtoon mashran of thailand is Amir khan kaka of kalu khan ( His correct name is Amir gul khan). Amir gul baba lived in bangkok for almost 33 years, when he came back he died soon in early 70s. That man was my grandfather. One of the Eid Greeting card from Bhai Khan and company sent to my grand father is still preserved with me. I remain unlucky when I visited Bangkok in 2007 and could not find out his friends.
thanks Gadoonwall.

Request: Gadoonwall do you have any contact numbers of Bahi khan baba relatives. if yes, please do share with me.

[gadoonwal]

jakhan78,stari mashay,
bahi khan kaka died in 2003.I met him before that.
He was living in saraburi around 80 miles from bangkok.
His family members are still there.He was the richest among pashtun community.
I do not have any contact number for his relatives.
The pashtuns of thailand set up an great example of unity and pashtunwali.
They help eachothers and were successfull.
Today most of them are dead .i think non of them left now but their children and grand children still follow the way of their elders and are very much united and helping eachother.
Bahi khan kaka,amir khan kaka,jahangir khan kaka,shah nazar kaka,yaqub kaka,sarfaraz khan kaka,aslam khan etc are some of the famous names.
Among them sarfaraz khan kaka of thoro suk of buner is still alive.
Some of them even came before the 20th century.
Everywhere in thailand pashtuns are known to locals and respected.
they build up many mosques and hujras.