The one who went to Thailand from Bitgram a century ago is proud to be a Pathan

How did a Pathan reach Thailand 130 years ago from a remote mountainous area like Butgram in Pakistan? What is its third generation doing there now? I went to Thailand to find out.

There are also Pathans in Thailand and they are written as ‘Patan’ on their national identity cards.

With the help of a kind friend, Fayyaz Khan, a two-hour drive from the capital city of Bangkok, Ayutthaya, rich in archeology, was reached. There are no high rise buildings like Bangkok and no rush. It was evening time, so we could not move around much and Fayyaz Khan showed us a couple of historical ruins outside.

It is here on a farm that Somkhet Rongot lives, whose grandfather Rehman Wali arrived 130 years ago from Batagram by land to Bengal and then to Thailand, or Siam at that time. A number of vehicles were parked inside a large compound and one side was taken to a residential building that begins with a British-style verandah.

On the front wall were two large wooden bull heads and in the middle was a large solid heavy wooden dining table. We sat around that for a chat. In the same premises, the imam of the mosque, who had gone from Pakistan, and some other youths from Butgram also sat down to listen to us.

Pakistanis are known to be found in every corner of the world. This impression is true to some extent, but this series did not start today. Even before the establishment of Pakistan, the people of this region kept migrating in search of better conditions.

We were told that Rahman Wali’s grandson, Somkhet Rongot, is an early sleeper, so rather than ramble on, we thought it best to get straight to the point. Somakht does not know English or Urdu, so I was helped by his grandson in translating his words.

Asked why his grandfather finally came here? Somkhat said that in his opinion economic conditions were not good in united India even 130 years ago (at that time). Pakistani people were struggling a lot. They wanted to do something new, to make a fresh start.

Not satisfied with the short answer, I asked again what made Rahman Wali leave the world and come to Thailand?

Somkhut humbly said that he could not answer that because ‘we could not meet him in his lifetime. We can say about the Pathans who came from Pakistan that they loved adventure more. My grandfather came to Thailand via Nepal, Bangladesh and Myanmar.

‘My grandfather married a Thai Muslim girl who is also called Malayan because she is from Malaysia or Indonesia. Then he came to Ayutthaya and started business here.

Today, the first and second generations of Rahman Wali are managing the business he started.

‘From what I heard my grandfather was the first person to come. I haven’t found a migrant older than my grandfather here. The Pathans coming to Thailand are only from Butgram, Mardan, Swabi and Bonaire. No one came from Peshawar.’

Somkhat said that I went to Batagram for the first time with my friends 34 years ago after my father’s death. ‘So far I have been four times but now I must go once a year.

‘I go because we belong to this place. Many places in the world would be more attractive but we have nothing to do with them. There (bitgram) is our heart.

He said that he had never heard any story of Dada from his father. ‘Just one day I thought that let’s go and see Bitgram. I fell in love (with Bitgram) the first time I went. Now my children also keep going.

Why did grandfather not hold Pakistani citizenship?

“If you ask us whether we want Pakistani citizenship or not, we would like to get it but there are government issues. When grandfather came, he didn’t have much documentation so it will be difficult for us to get citizenship.’

A few young Pakistani relatives brought from Bitgram also work at the cow farm. Most of those we have brought here are our relatives, Somkhut said. ‘They include our cousin’s cousins, if they can’t find work there, we bring them here. Even now six Pakistanis are working on my farm. The work is going on because of the blessings of Allah Ta’ala.

‘The Pathans and local laborers from there cannot be contested. These Pakistanis are our relatives, family members.

Somkhat said that his father never went to Bitgram but his uncle and aunt did.

Proud to be a Pathan?

Somkhut said that if he was not proud, why would he go to Pakistan again and again. ‘All of Thailand respects Pathans. What struck me the most when I first visited Batagram was their hospitality. I want the Pathans to keep this tradition strong.’

His translator grandson said that he has also been to Bitgram twice and has also married a Pakistani girl from Chitral. He said that his connections with Pakistan are still strong.

“My grandfather had 16 children but half of them did not survive,” said Somkhat, describing the family background. Four brothers and four sisters survive. The elder sister got married in Bitgram and is now settled there.’

Snuff, the favorite of the Pashtuns, is not available in Thailand, but an herbal food made from herbs makes up for its absence.

During a break in the conversation, Somkhut showed the animals of his farm, but also the batagrams lying in the room. He says that he liked them so much that he brought two or three for himself. He said that if the Turkhans of Thailand opened them, they could not recreate them like this, so they brought Bani Bani.

He also showed the picture during one of his visits with late religious leader Samiul Haq of Akora Khattak. At the time of departure after the meeting and group photos, seeing the Pakistani flag at the main gate of Somkhet’s farm and house, I was sure that he was really proud of Pakistan.