Mirwais Khan Hotak میرویس خان هوتک
Emir of Greater Kandahar
Sketch work of Mirwais Khan Hotak
Reign	Hotaki Empire: 1709 – 1715
Coronation	April 1709
Full name	Hajji Mirwais Khan Hotak
Titles	Khan, Shah, Mir, Sultan
Born	1673
Birthplace	Herat, Afghanistan
Died	November 1715
Place of death	Kandahar, Afghanistan
Buried	Kokaran, Kandahar, Afghanistan
Predecessor	Gurgin Khan
Successor	Abdul Aziz Hotak
Wife	Khanzada Sadozai
Dynasty	Hotaki dynasty
Father	Salim Khan
Mother	Nazo Tokhi
Religious beliefs	Sunni Islam

Hajji Mir Wais Khan Hotak, also known as Mir Vais Ghilzai (1673 – November 1715), was an influential tribal chief of the Ghilzai Pashtuns^[1][2] from Kandahar, Afghanistan, who founded the Hotaki dynasty that ruled a wide area in Persia and Afghanistan from 1709 to 1738.^[3] After revolting and killing Gurgin Khan in April 1709, he then twice defeated the powerful Safavid Persian armies in southern Afghanistan.^[4] He is widely known as Mirwais Neeka ("Mirwais the grandfather" in the Pashto language).^[5][6]

Early life[link]

Mirwais Hotak was born in a well-known, rich and political family in the Kandahar area. His family had long been involved in social and community services. He was the son of Salim Khan and Nazo Tokhi (also known as "Nazo Anaa"), grandson of Karum Khan, and great-grandson of Ismail Khan, a descendant of Malikyar, the ancient head of Hottaki or Hotaks. The Hottaki is a strong branch of Ghilzai, one of the main tribes among the Pashtun people. Hajji Amanullah Hottak reports in his book that the Ghilzai tribe is the original residents of Ghor or Gherj. This tribe migrated later to obtain lands in southeastern Afghanistan and multiplied in these areas.^[5] Mirwais was married to Khanzada Sadozai, who belonged to the rival Abdali tribe of Pashtuns.

Rise to power[link]

In 1707, Kandahar was in a state of chaos, fought over by the Shi'a Persian Safavids and the Sunni Moghuls of India. Mirwais Khan, a Sunni tribal chief whose influence with his fellow-countrymen made him an object of suspicion, was held as a political prisoner by Gurgin Khan and sent to the Safavid court at Isfahan. He was later freed and even allowed to meet with the Shah, Sultan Husayn, on a regular basis. Having ingratiated himself with the Persian Court, Mirwais sought and obtained permission to perform the pilgrimage to Mecca in Ottoman empire (after which he was known as Hajji). He has studied carefully all the military weaknesses of the Safavids while he spent time there in their court.^[2][4]

The Greater Kandahar region (Candahar) during the Safavid dynasty and Mughal period

While in Mecca, he sought from the leading authorities a fatwa against the Shia foreign rulers who were persecuting his people in his homeland. The Pashtun tribes rankled under the ruling Safavids because of their continued attempts to forcefully convert them from Sunni to Shia Islam.^[2] The fatwa was granted and he carried it with him to Iṣfahan and subsequently to Kandahar, with permission to return and strong recommendations to Gurgin Khan. In 1709 he began organizing his countrymen for a major uprising, and in April 1709, when a large part of the Persian garrison was on an expedition outside the city, he and his followers fell on the remainder and killed the greater number of them, including Gurgin Khan.^[4] After Gurgin Khan and his escort were killed, the Hotaki soldiers took control of the city and then the province.^[6] Mirwais entered Kandahar and made an important speech to its dwellers.

"If there are any amongst you, who have not the courage to enjoy this precious gift of liberty now dropped down to you from Heaven, let him declare himself; no harm shall be done to him: he shall be permitted to go in search of some new tyrant beyond the frontier of this happy state."^[7]

—Mirwais Hotak, April 1709

Mirwais and his forces then defeated a large Persian army that was sent to regain control over the area.

Several half-hearted attempts to subdue the rebellious city having failed, the Persian Government despatched Khusraw Khán, nephew of the late Gurgín Khán, with an army of 30,000 men to effect its subjugation, but in spite of an initial success, which led the Afgháns to offer to surrender on terms, his uncompromising attitude impelled them to make a fresh desperate effort, resulting in the complete defeat of the Persian army (of whom only some 700 escaped) and the death of their general. Two years later, in A.D. 1713, an­other Persian army commanded by Rustam Khán was also defeated by the rebels, who thus secured possession of the whole province of Qandahár.^[4]

—Edward G. Browne, 1924

Mirwais Khan became the Governor of the Greater Kandahar region, which covered most of present-day southwestern Afghanistan and part of Balochistan, Pakistan.^[8] To the northwest was the Abdali Pashtuns and to the east began the Moghul Empire. Refusing the title of a king, Mirwais was referred to as "Prince of Qandahár and General of the national troops" by his Afghan countrymen.^[9]

Death and legacy[link]

The mausoleum of Mirwais Hotak in the Kokaran section of Kandahar, Afghanistan.

Mirwais remained in power until his death in November 1715 and was succeeded by his brother Abdul Aziz, who was later killed by Mirwais' son Mahmud, allegedly for planning to give Kandahar's sovereignty back to Persia.^[8] In 1717, Mahmud took advantage of the political weakness of the Persian Shah (Sultan Husayn) and conquered Persia.

Mirwais is buried at his mausoleum in the Kokaran section of Kandahar, which is in the western end of the city.^[10] He is regarded as one of Afghanistan's greatest national heroes and admired by many Afghans, especially the Pashtuns. Steven Otfinoski referred to him as Afghanistan's George Washington in his 2004 book Afghanistan.^[6]

There is a neighborhood called Mirwais Mina as well as a hospital called Mirwais Hospital, a high school and a business center named after him in Kandahar. Not only in Kandahar but there are also schools and other institutions or places across Afghanistan built to honor him. A few direct descendants of Mirwais are living today among the Hotak tribe.

See also[link]

• Hotaki dynasty
• History of Afghanistan
• Safavid conversion of Iran from Sunnism to Shiism

References[link]

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Mirwais Hotak

• Encyclopædia Britannica Online – Last Afghan empire

v t e Pashtuns Key figures Amir Kror Suri · Ibrahim Lodi · Sher Shah Suri · Khushal Khan Khattak · Rahman Baba · Ghiasuddin Ghori · Shahabuddin Ghori · Ala'uddin Ghilzai · Bahlul Khan Lodi · Nazo Tokhi · Mirwais Hotak · Ashraf Hotaki · Mahmud Hotaki · Mahmud Hotaki · Ahmad Shah Durrani · Timur Shah Durrani · Zaman Shah Durrani · Azad Shah Afghan · Jamaluddin Afghan · Akbar Khan · Malalai of Maiwand · Ayub Khan · Abdur Rahman Khan · Mullah Powindah · Faqir of Ipi · Amanullah Khan · Nadir Shah · Bacha Khan · Zahir Shah · Daoud Khan · Abdul Ahad Mohmand · Samad Khan · Nur Muhammad Taraki · Hafizullah Amin · Wali Khan Culture Pashtunwali · Pashto language · Pashtun tribes · Pashtun dress · Loya jirga · Attan · Khattak Dance · Mahsud Dance · Adam Khan and Durkhanai · Yusuf Khan and Sherbano Poets Amir Kror Suri · Pir Roshan · Rahman Baba · Khushal Khan Khattak · Nazo Tokhi · Abdul Hamid Baba · Hussain Hotaki · Ahmad Shah Durrani · Hamza Baba · Malang Jan · Ajmal Khattak · Kabir Stori · Ghani Khan Topics and controversies Durand Line · Khudai Khidmatgar · Pashtunistan · Kalabagh Dam · Taliban · Names of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Battles and conflicts First Battle of Panipat · Battle of Gulnabad · Third Battle of Panipat · First Anglo-Afghan War · Battle of Attock · Battle of Multan · Battle of Shopian · Battle of Nowshera · Battle of Jamrud (1837) · Siege of Malakand · Second Anglo-Afghan War · Battle of Maiwand · Tirah Campaign · Battle of Saragarhi · Third Anglo-Afghan War · Soviet war in Afghanistan · War in Afghanistan (2001–present) · War in North-West Pakistan

There are multiple meanings for Mirwais:

• Mirwais Ahmadzaï a film-maker
• Mirwais (Nangarhar) a delegate to Afghanistan's Constitutional Loya Jirga

This disambiguation page lists articles about people with the same name. If an internal link led you here, you may wish to change the link to point directly to the intended article.

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Hotak is an Afghan royal family name among the Pashtun people.

The Hotaki (plural) started long ago as a rich and well known political family. The first king to take power in Kandahar, Afghanistan, was Mirwais Hotak (1673–1715). After his death many different Hotakis took the power of the throne, such as Mahmud Hotaki, Ashraf Hotaki, and Hussein Hotaki. But, the dynasty was lost because of betrayal and fights for power. The Hotaki tribe still exists today. Many of them are still in politics, but there are only some direct descendants of Mirwais. In fact only three elder ones are still alive. Only one remains in Afghanistan, Bismillah. Bismillah, currently living in Afghanistan and once was working for the Afghan police. He then resigned when American troops invaded Afghanistan. Bismillah is living Kabul, Afghanistan. He has two sons and a daughter. The sons, M. Naeem and Akhter are direct descendants of Mirwais khan Hotak. The other two are located in United States (Virginia and Connecticut). According to the government, Abdul Q. Hotak is a direct descendant of Mirwais Hotak, the first king of Afghanistan. Abdul is the only Hotak still working for the government of Afghanistan as a dipolmat. Abdul is currently living in Connecticut, and according to the census bureau, Abdul has seven children. The line of descent will only pass through these children. After Abdul and Bismillah pass away (Khuda na kaw Sta, God-forbid). The Hotak name will pass through their children. According to the census, Abdul has three boys that will carry the Hotak name. The oldest Mirwais, the middle Omar Farqoo, and the youngest Omar Mukhtar. Bismillah has two boys Mohmand Naeem and Akhter. These are the only people that will pass the Hotak name throughout the generations to come. But, as for the Hotak family in Virginia, the name has already faded away. "Shagul" Hotak, related to Abdul and Bismillah, married Amin-Arsala. After this the name of the Hotaks in her family became a recessive name. Shagul has one son, who has married an American women. The children are currently living in Virginia.

See also[link]

• Hotaki dynasty
• Mirwais Hotak
• Pashtun tribes

The one Amir of Hotak who related by Suleman Khel Ghilzai Hotak Abdur Rehman Khan Bahadur and Yahiya Khan and their followers migrates from Afghnistan and came to india in UP lucknow where they settled and built Khandhari bazar which remain till date after that they joined Army of Nawab of Lucknow and found Zamidari of 7 Villages in tehsil Malihabad Distt Lucknow Named Khalispur. The grandson of Amir Abdur Rehman Khan, Abdul Hamid Khan has Eight sons and three daughters there their sons and daughters are living in Malihabad One son of Abdul Hamid Khan Abdur Razzaq Khan published a Famous News paper from Culkatta Named Azad Hind Urdu Daily Rehman Khera was also built by Amir Abdur Rehman Khan. They are not direct descendants of Mirwais Khan Hotak but, are very close.

References[link]

External links[link]

• Hotak Family by Naval Postgraduate School
• Family Tree of the Hotak's
• Afghanland - Mirwais Khan Hotaki

Ahmad Wali (Pashto/Persian: احمد ولی‎) is a popular Ghazal singer from Afghanistan. He began his career in the 1970s, becoming popular in his native country before he was forced to flee by political upheaval in Afghanistan. He continued his work after resettling in Germany, performing throughout Europe and the United States.

Background[link]

The son of a Police Commander, Wali was born in Kabul.^[1] He began exploring music as a Tabla player at the age of 12, gradually expanding into singing. While a student at Habibia High School, he recorded a demo tape. This came to the attention of Radio Kabul director Ustad Zaland, who wrote the song "Chashman -e -Abee" for Wali. This and the Wali-penned tune "Mah-ruye-tu" brought him to the public eye. Wali performed live in Afghanistan until after his high school graduation, when he joined an international performance in Iran.

Career[link]

At that early stage in his career, Wali had not yet committed to life as a professional musician, and he enrolled in the Kabul Police Academy.^[1] He continued performing, however, and soon committed to music, being taken as a student by classical musician Ustad Sarahang. He developed a following in Afghanistan, with frequent appearances on television and radio as well as live performances.

After the Saur Revolution of 1978, life in Afghanistan became difficult, and in 1980, shortly after the invasion of Afghanistan by the Soviet Union, Wali—then a well-known musician in his homeland—fled the country with a forged passport.^[1][2] Wali's forged passport got him as far as India, where he obtained a Visa to Germany by faking an illness.^[2]

In Germany, Wali continued his career, performing there and throughout Europe and the United States.^[1]

References[link]