Lodi (Pashtun tribe)
Lodi or Lodhi (Pashto: لودي), also Lodhi (Persian: لودی) is a Pashtun tribe from the Bettani tribal confederacy mainly found in Afghanistan and Northern Pakistan.
In the 15th century, a branch of the Lodhi's founded the Lodi dynasty. Lodhi or Lodi (Persian: لودی) (Pashto: لودي) is a tribe mainly found in Afghanistan and Northern Pakistan. The Lodhi's were the first Afghan Pashtun tribe to rule India.
Most historians acknowledge that the origin of the Pashtuns have seen invasions and migrations, including by Ancient Iranian people, the Medes, Persians and Greeks of antiquity, Hephthalites, Arabs, Turks, Mongols, and others. In recent times, people of the Western world have explored the area as well.
Looking for the origin of Pashtuns and the Afghans is something like exploring the source of the Amazon. Is there one specific beginning? And are the Pashtuns originally identical with the Afghans? Although the Pashtuns nowadays constitute a clear ethnic group with their own language and culture, there is no evidence whatsoever that all modern Pashtuns share the same ethnic origin. In fact it is highly unlikely.
The theory of Pashtun descent from Israelites is traced to Maghzan-e-Afghani who compiled a history for Khan-e-Jehan Lodhi in the reign of Mughal Emperor Jehangir in the 17th century. Therefore, Pashtuns could be descendants from the lost tribes of Israel.
Lodhi (or Lodi; Pashto / Persian: لودي) is a Pashtun tribe of 2 million people, most likely a sub-group of the larger Ghilzai tribe of Afghanistan and Pakistan. They were part of a wave of Pashtuns who pushed east into what is today Pakistan. Often accompanying the Timurids who conquered South Asia, the Lodhi established themselves during the Islamic period as a Muslim ruling class and were valued warriors.
Legend has it that the tribe derives from a descendent of Qais Abdur Rashid, who married a Turkish prince. The term Lodhi is said to be a corruption of the Pashto word loy dha (meaning big person)
Members of this tribe established the Lodhi dynasty, which ruled over the Delhi Sultanate and included the prominent ruler Ibrahim Lodhi. The "Lodhi" family name is often linked with the title "Khan" in the form "Khan Lodhi" or "Khan-Lodhi". Sometimes only the "Khan" or "Lodhi" is retained. "Khan" is a title denoting nobility, and does not necessarily mean its bearer is a Lodhi or of Lodhi extraction.
History
Lodi dynasty
The Lodhi's were Afghans who ruled India from 1444-1526. The sultans of this dynasty were Buhlul Lodi, Sikandar Lodhi and Ibrahim Lodhi. They spread Islam in South Asia, in particular Sufism. They established themselves during the Islamic period as a Muslim ruling class and were valued warriors. The Pashtun Lodi dynasty replaced the Turkic rulers in Northern India. The Lodhi's were part of a wave of Pashtuns who pushed east into what is today northern Pakistan. Often accompanying the Timurids who invaded Northern India. Legend has it that the tribe derives from a descendent of Qais Abdur Rashid (the legendary patriarch of all Pashtuns). The term Lodhi is said to have evolved from the Pashto word loy da (meaning honored person). Members of this tribe established the Lodhi dynasty, which ruled over the Delhi Sultanate and included the prominent ruler Ibrahim Lodi. The Lodhi's who migrated to Pakistan after partition speak Pashto and Urdu. Lodhi Pashtuns (Pathan) are predominantly an Eastern Iranian people, who use Pashto as their first language, and live in Afghanistan/Northern Pakistan. Pashtun nationalism emerged following the rise of Pashto poetry that linked language and ethnic identity. Pashto has national status in Afghanistan and regional status in neighbouring Pakistan. In addition to their native tongue, many Pashtuns are fluent in Dari, Persian, Urdu and English. Throughout their history, poets, prophets, kings and warriors have been among the most revered members of Pashtun society. Early written records of Pashto began to appear around the 16th century. Today, Lodhi are mainly found in Afghanistan and some parts of Pakistan.
Lodhi Pashtuns
The Pashtun people are generally classified as Eastern Iranian who use Pashto language and follow Pashtunwali, which is a traditional set of ethics guiding individual and communal conduct.