Hazara Before The Christ

The complete ancient history of Hazara is shrouded in obscurity. Besides some salient points, repeated by different writers, historians have also not written much about it. Though some old caves discovered in the Khanpur area have been regarded by them as, of stone age of human civilization which means some 8000 years B.C, but their views seem to be controversial.

          The first authentic point, related with the ancient history of this area, is about the time of Alexander the Great,s Punjab campaign during 327 B.C. At the time Arsakas was the ruler of this land. Alexander was offered a lot of resistance during his passage through the present Khyber Pakhtoon Khawa(N.W.F.P). He also faced opposition of the wild tribes of lower Hazara, and for a time being, the subjugation of the Gandgar fort, according to Ahmad Hasssan Dani, was a hard task for the Greek Army.

           Hazara, even upto 1847 was divided in several fiefdoms of different chiefs and was controlled by different rulers at the same time. This was some at Alexander the Great,s arrival in this area. As the upper portion (Manshera district) of Hazarawals granted by the Greek invader to Abisara in 327 B.C, while Arsakas was the ruler of the lower part (Haripur district) of this area.

           But during the Budhist dynasty, this area for some time remained under the direct sway of the Governor of Taxila. And when in 272 B.C. Arsokavardhana, commonly known as 'Ashoka' ascended the throne and made this area and the Gandhara Valley as his main seats of Government. He was undoubtedly the greatest ruler of the Maurya dynasty. During his sway, Buddhism spread over a vast area and from the above mentioned places preachers of  this creed used to be sent to the far-flung lands.

  Besides his other achievements, he had left some enduring monuments in the forms of edicts, which according to Akbar.S.Ahmad, are amongst the most remarkable historical remains in the world. Ashoka's edicts, inscribed on rocks and pillars, 13 in number, have been found in different areas. Among them three were discovered near the base of Barrari hills, a mile to the west of Mansehra town. These in meanings are similar to those of Ashokans edicts found in Shahbaz-Garhi in Mardan Division. One of Ashokan Mansehra edicts declares:- Father and mother must be obeyed; equal respect for all living creatures must be enforced: truth must be spoken. These are the virtues of the Law of duty (Dharma) which must be practised. Similarly the teachers must be reverenced by the pupils and proper courtesy must be shown to the relations.

            According to Dr. Stein, the area where these edicts were found was a famous place of pilgrimage and a convenient  halting place for the pilgrims, on their way to the spiritual heights of Srinagar. These pilgrims can perform a local religious obligation to 'Shiv' by climbing up to the Barrari Peak. According yo local traditions, and stories, an annual fair was held there till 1947.