MULLAS, BABAS AND THE FORMATION OF SWAT STATE: UNDERSTANDING THE STRUGGLE OF SANDAKAI BABA

Abstract

Sandakai Baba, a religious figure, was an active actor during the initial years of the formation of Swat state. He was widely respected and owing to his unbounded influence he is regarded one of the founding figures in the formation of Swat state. He participated in most of the affairs that culminated in the formation of Swat state. In this article two common terms i.e. Mullah and Baba has been defined in the context of Swat to understand their proper roles and to relate the debate with the emergence of Sandakai Baba. His forceful campaign, fighting capability and spiritual influence made him a political and religious actor to be reckoned with. This paper investigates the role of religious figures with special reference to the struggle and services of Sandakai Baba in the politics and society of Swat. It would be examined in the article that what were the objectives, strength and achievement of his struggle? What kind ofstrategy he adopted and how he persuaded other influential figures in accepting his strategies and plans which culminated in the establishment of Swat state. Mostly, primary and authentic secondary sources have been utilized to build a coherent and lucid argument in the article.