Welcome
This site is a structured, documentary-style overview of the Sudhan people, a historically significant tribe centered in the Poonch District of the western Himalayas and in today's Azad Kashmir of Pakistan. It brings together material from encyclopedias, historical works, colonial sources, modern scholarship, and community narratives.
The goal is not advocacy for or against any particular narrative, but rather a careful mapping of what has been written about Sudhans, how Sudhans describe themselves, and where sources agree or disagree.
Scope of the Site
- Identity, names, and self–description of the Sudhan people
- Homeland, geography, and global diaspora
- Historical timelines, from early mentions to the modern era
- Culture, language, religion, customs, and social organization
- Economy and livelihoods, past and present
- Notable figures in politics, scholarship, and the diaspora
- Critical perspectives, biases, and scholarly debates
Featured Timeline (Very High Level)
Gradual formation of Sudhan identity in the hill regions around Poonch, with traditions of both Afghan–Pashtun and Rajput–Pahari connections.
Incorporation into Dogra–ruled Jammu and Kashmir. Rising tensions over revenue, autonomy, and military obligations contribute to a reputation for resistance.
Sudhans play a major role in political mobilization and armed uprisings in the Poonch region that precede and accompany the 1947–48 conflict over Jammu and Kashmir.
Sudhans remain a key tribe within Azad Jammu and Kashmir, with significant representation in politics, the military, civil service, and overseas communities.
Start with an Overview
Learn how Sudhans are described in different sources: who they are, what names they use, and where they are located today.
Go to OverviewExplore the History
Follow a chronological narrative from early mentions through the Dogra period, the Poonch uprisings, and contemporary politics.
Go to HistoryUnderstand the Debates
See how different authors portray the Sudhans, including critical or biased accounts, and how those claims compare.
Go to DebatesMethod and Sources
This project treats sources as data rather than as unquestioned truth. Where possible, it notes the author, time period, and perspective behind a claim. Contradictions are not hidden; they are placed side by side and discussed in a dedicated section on controversies and biases.
Readers are encouraged to treat this site as a starting point for further research, not as a final verdict. Primary sources, academic works, and community testimony all have a place here, but they are marked and, where appropriate, questioned.