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Birote is a town in the Circle Bakote area of Abbottabad District in Pakistan, between the borders of Punjab and Kashmir^[1]. With two boys and higher secondary schools, five religious schools, 75 mosques, Bank, Post office, Upper Dewal Kohala Road and New Kohala Bridge, it is a very beautiful area Of Hazara Division.

Contents 1 Etymology 2 Population 3 Geography 4 Infrastructure 5 Government 5.1 Union Council Heads 6 Birote Kalan and Birote Khurd 6.1 Abbasian 6.2 Notable people of Basian 6.3 Kahoo 6.4 Termuthean 6.5 Navli 6.6 Naker Mojwal 6.7 Kanair 7 Education 7.1 Early Educational Institutes 7.2 Boys High School Birote 7.3 Modern Education 8 Damage due to earthquake 9 Historical notes 10 See also 11 References

There are several theories for the origin of the word Birote, all of which are based on combinations of words in the Dhondi language. ^[2] One theory holds that it is derived from beer (wrestler) and wet (place); in the past, Birote was famous for wrestling and related sports. These eventually evolved to become Bi+rote or bee+rote. Another explanation is that Birote is a combination of bee (twenty) and rote(bread).

• On one part of Birote territory, the people are know as Bermang. This word is also a combination of two words, one is Bahr means edge of field (khaitur) and mang means demand. The full meaning shows that in ancient time people of Birote walked in other areas on the edge of fields openly and with dignity and did not used Klea (inside shadow stone wall of field). The ancient name of Birote is historically was Barmang prior to the arrival of the Dhonds. The site of Birote was previously called Bermang, meaning "very beautiful place". It was also known as Danna, which means "high place".

The total population of Birote is 23,000 as of the 1998 census. The main ethnic tribe of the area is Dhond Abbasi, and its sub-tribes Beghaal, Khanals, Kutbals, Mojwals, Bankal, Murtal, Kamal, Tehreal, Miral, Mehral, Changsa, Baghiberal, and Rakheal. The Dhond Abbasi tribe has been a feudal and ruling tribe in the area for five centuries. The founder of the Dhond tribe of Birote was Lahr Khan, who died in 1233 and is buried in Sunblanean, Termuthean.

Other tribal groups in the area include Alvi Awan, Syeds, Mughals, and Bhati Rajpoot. The Alvi Awan of Birote are Naik Mohammedal family of Birote and Taj Mohammedal, Seyeds, and Qureshies tribes are the religious and leading intellectual class. The Bati Rajputs, Mughals, Kathwals are working-class tribes.

Birote is surrounded by the areas of Bakote, Nathia Gali, Ayube Reala, and the Union Council Dewal Sharif in Murree (Tehsil). It is located on the banks of the Jhelum River. The highest place in Birote is the peak, called Samannat, of the Mukeshpuri mountain, ^[3] located approximately 90 kilometres north of Islamabad. Mukeshpuri is 2800m / 9100 feet high and covered with pine trees. It is an attractive hiking place for tourists but, in winter, is extremely inhospitable due to constant snow cover. Manwan ni hell is the lowest place in Birote. It is located on the right bank of the Jhelum River, at the provincial borders of the North-West Frontier Province, Punjab, and Azad Kashmir.

Birote has forty-three mosques, eight medaris, forty primary schools, and two higher secondary schools (one for boys and the other for girls). It also has a bank, post office, and a telephone exchange of 30,000 lines.

There are two roads that link to Birote: the Kashmir Highway and the Upper Dewal Kohala Road, also known as Khaqan Abbasi Road. Other roads linked with Birote are Swar Gali Bakote Road, Basia Malkote and Bakote Road, Choorean Lower Dewal Road, Termuthean Malkote Road, and the newly-built Termuthean Lower Dewal Road.

Bus service on the Rawalpindi Srinagar Road started in the first decade of the 20th century. The first transporter was Mohammad Amin Khan, who later founded Allied Chiraghddin Transport Company. Srinagar Rawalpindi Transport Company was also pioneered on this route.

In 1961 the Ayub Khan administration as part its local government reforms replaced the lamberdari system with local bodies namely: Union Councils, Tehsil Councils, and district councils. As a result, the Union Council of Bakote was formed and included Bakote, Birote and Birote Khurd as its wards. According to the 1961 census the population of Bakote Union Council was 18,000 and Birote's was 10,000. In 1981, General Zia implemented a new regime and in 2000, President General Pervez Musharraf enforced a new local bodies system. The current nazim of Birote is Mohammed Afaq Abbasi.

• Sardar Mohammed Irfan was the first Union council Bakote Chairman from 1961 to 1965. He Was an influential person with a large crowed of bradrimen. He formed a committee for construction of Govt Middle School building in Merra Kahoo Sharqi. All Union Council said YES and the collect money for this noble cause from Peshawar to Karachi. Land for school gifted by Ayub Khan (Father of Mohammed Nawaz Khan Shopkeeper near School and building of school was completed within two month. District Agriculture Department sprayed and cooperated with local Apple growers and they produced world class GOLDEN AND KING AMRI APPLE on his demand Said department also constructed dams on nullas. He died in 1983 in Rawalpindi.
• Sardar Azad Khan was second chairman of Union Council Bakote/Birote. He elected in 1966 election and got vote of confidence from UC councillors. He also gained educational upgradation of Government Middle School Birote as High School in 1969. New classes were started in 1970. A shed was constructed in premise of school for technical education on his recommendations, that flew in 1972 by heavy wounds. He was a contractor and he started second bus service from Basian to Rawalpindi in 1977. He died in 1988 in Rawalpindi. He was uncle of Zoake Akhter Abbasi (General Councillor) and father in law of Najib /abbasi, younger brother of Zafir Abbasi (Journalist of Birote).
• Haji Mohammed Azam Khan was the first Chairman of Union Council Birote that separated in first time from Bakote in 1981. He has no contributions in any field. He is only a trader and he tried to restoration of high status of Kohala after flood of 1991 but Government refused his appeal and constructed New Kohala Bridge at the last end of Union Council in north.
• Qazi Sajawal was the first and last Chairman of Union Council Birote Khurd during 1981 to 85. He belonged to Mojwal Family of Mohrha Birote Khurd. He constructed a way from Mohrha to Birote Kalan but the leader of construction party was assassinated there in 1984. He is engaged in business in Karachi.
• Ghulam Irfan Khan was second chairman of united Union Council possessed office from 1985 to1988 of Birote. He worked for electrification, water supply scheme and telephonic interaction during his tenure. He got funds from District Council and constructed Hotrerhi Choke to Mohrha road first time. Najib Abbasi of Julial, Shaheen Haider Abbasi of Basian and Abd-ul-Gafoor nickname Khushi Mohammed of Kahoo were his councillors. He died in 1992 in Birote.
• Tahir Fraz Abbasi was the first high educated Nazim of Birote during President Musharraf's term in office. He belonged to Kahoo Khanal sub-tribe and a high educated family. His uncle Haji Sarfraz Khan was first Accountant General of Pakistan, Nasir Fraz Abbasi DRO (NADRA) Muzaffarabad is his elder brother.The people of Union Council Birote very like to him due to his lot of services and honesty and Rawalpindi MNA Hanif Abbasi is his cousin. He practicing as a lawyer in district courts Abbottabad. Politically he if a worker of ruling party Pakistan Muslim League (Q). He constructed Choorean Sindhwari Hell to Hotrerhi Pull Link road, Chorean Juleal Road. He lost his seat in Birote in 2005 as Nazim but he played a very constructive role in Birote politics. Among others Gulestan Abbasi (Naieb Nazim), Khushi Mohammed, Shaheda Islam Abbasi and Shamim Akhter Abbasi were in his cabinet.
• Mohammed Afaq Abbasi is the second Nazim of Birote. He is worker of Ex-Chief Minister and vice president of Pakistan Muslim League (N) NWFP Sardar Mehtab Ahmed Khan and elected due to his Dhond Abbasi sub-tribe Kamalaal majority. he belongs to a learned and educated family of Musaddiq Abbasi, a brigadier of Pakistan Army and ex-lumberdar Sardar Feroze Khan (died 1972) but he is only matriculate wealthiest man from Japan. He never attend the house of UC Birote monthly meeting and have no time for his UC fellows. He enjoys sevior winter in his bungalow in Islamabad suspend all contacts with his tribe, sub-triobe and other voters. He have no medal in honour of development of his UC, he only inaugurated epithet of development projects of his predecessor and high qualified lawyer Tahir Fraz Abbasi.

Main articles: Birote Khurd and Berote Kalan

The Birote area is divided into two sections—Birote Kalan ("greater Birote") and Birote Khurd ("lesser Birote")—which comprise more than one dozen villages. The entire area runs from Abbasian (formerly Basian) in the north, to New Kohala Bridge in the west, to Tarmuthean in the south along the NWFP, Punjab, and AJK borders, and to the last Union Council of NWFP in the southeast part of the province. ^[4]

Abbasian (formerly called Basian, derived from the Sanskrit word Bas, which means "fragrance of flowers")^[5] is an ancient village of Birote from the Vedic age. The population of Abbasian is 1,580, many of whom are among the most wealthy in the NWFP. This village is well known for its Hindu temple and a merget (a Hindu place for burning the dead) on the west bank of the River Jhelum. This place was the first home of Ratten Khan, whose real name was Sardar Abdur Rehaman, an ancestor of the Ratnal Dhonds of Birote and Abbasian. An old cemetery tells the stories of tribes centuries before. A considerable number of residents are transporters and drivers. Abasian also has a very beautiful mosque similar to the Al-Faisal Mosque of Islamabad but without minarets and a Quranic school. There are two private schools and one primary and middle government schools for both sexes.

• The first meeting of Ibrahim Khan and Sardar Qayume was held in Basian at Dewan.
• Muhammad Yaqoob Khan Abbasi (Kashmir Movement leader) who fought against Hinduism defeating the Hindus Phagri Mahaz near Muzafarabad. He was considered a very noble person and one of the most patriotic leaders of Abbottabad. He was murdered by Haider Khan father of Shahin Abbasi ex-councilor.
• Qazi Zafeer-ul-Haq Alvi Chishti was a religious scholar, teacher and hakeem (auovadik doctor). His father Qazi Mohammed Zaman Qureshi migrated Chlattan, Birote Khurd in 1935 and settled at Thala. He taught in High School Osia, Murree, Bakker and in 1951 he migrated to Rawalpindi with his family. He was personal physician of late Gen. Zea-ul-haq in 1985 to his death in Bahawalpur C 130 crash. Renowned poet and composer of Pakistan National Song Hafiz Jalindhry was his close friend and stayed in his house when he came in Rawalpindi. He establish his clinic at Pull Shah Nazar near Raja Bazar of Rawalpindi. He died in 1997. He buried in Eid Gha graveyard in Rawalpindi.
• Azad Khan is another renowned personality of Basian who was the second Chairman of Union Council of Bakote cum Birote during 1965-70. He was a contractor and constructed third pillar of Kohala Bridge in 1953. He died in 1985. -->

Kahoo is in between Birote and Termuthean, starting from Bandi in east to Nakkar Qutbal and Ram Kot in the west. Kahoo means olive tree in local Dhondi/Kareali language. One Sufi Gull Baba shrine is located in the eastern edge of Kahoo, near Ayobia forest. The first high qualified and lawer Tahir Firaz Abbasi, First Accountant General of Pakistan Haji Sarfraz Khan and three journalists M O Alvi, Fida Abbasi and Sajjad Abbasi belonged to Kahoo. The other areas of Kahoo are Choorean, Sarran, Bandi Chandalan, Barhi Barhi, Jandran ni Dahri, Naker Qutbal, Ramkote, Sindhwari Hell, Tangan, Chotay na Gand, Mesiti Nan Bagla and Lahoore.

Termuthean located on the boundary of NWFP, Punjab and Azad Kashmir. Termuthean means THIRTY HANDS JOINED in local language. Former name of Termuthean was SUMBLANEAN where encestor of Lahrals, sub tribe of Dhonds Sardar Lahr Khan.

Lower Birote is also called NAVLI, means a lowest warm place.

This place is famous for Mohyo Khan, encestor of Mojwals Dhond Abbasies. It is located at Birote Khurd.

Kanair is nullah between Birote Kalan and Birote Khurd and running more than ten millinums. This nullah played a main role in the construction old Birote Society. Many families belonged to working class were living on the right edge of Kanair nullah. They were running water mills. A tribe called Rakheal or guards of Birote also lived there. Word Kanair is derived from the name of a botinical herbal plant used in Auo-vadic medicines.

Birote is a relatively well educated Union Council with a population of 30,000, it has two higher secondry schools, two middle schools, 58 primary and mosque schools and more than one dozen religious institutions. The traditional religious education by the religious scholars and teachers of this area has for centuries been influenced by the older Vedic tradition. The old society of Circle Bakote was disturbed by the Sikh invasion in the first decade of the 19th century and all of the old religious families were expelled from this area. This lead to a loss of educational environment that affected the individual names of both sexes because Sikh soldiers destroyed the local human values as well as culture. This continued until the downfall of Sikh Army in Rawalpindi, Haripur and Hazara Division. The local people initially welcomed British Raj instead of Sikhashai but also fought War of Independence against them in 1857 and paid a huge loss of lives and properties.

British Government stepped forward to modernize Murree Hills and Circle Bakote according to recommendation of Major Abbott (founder of Abbottabad city and chief of Boundary Commission in 1846-62). He recommended his officials that only Zimindari school needed to provide clerks, revenue staff and lower class local servants. The Osia High School is a first educational institute that established this area in 1887. The first Vernacular Primary School established in Bakote, Khanaspore/Reala and Boi in 1898 but with the lack of interest Reala School came on the verge of closedown. Chives of Birote take serious notice of mentioned position and a caravan under the leadership of Haji Qalander Khan met educational authorities and requested to shift this school to Birote. They offered to provide building, teachers accommodation free of cost. This request of Birotians accepted and Reala Vernacular Primary School shifted to Birote in March 1903, the first teacher was Molana Ismail Alvi, first student was Nazar Mohammed Khan (Fader of Raja Haiderzaman) and first class four was Abdul Karim Khan in building of late Bulaqi Khan (Grand grand father of ex General Councilor Khushi Mohammed Abbasi of Kahoo Sharqi).

Primary school Birote was upgraded in 1958 and became Government High Shool [1] in 1967. Ex Chief Minister of NWFP Sardar Mahtab Ahmad Khan[2] further upgraded this educational institution as Higher Secondary School in 1997 with new building that constructed by contractor Raja Haiderzaman Abbasi with cost of Rs. four million and eight thousand. This educational institution was constructed by the monitory contribution of Birotians all over the country and rest of the world in 1966 but now it is a in bad condition and not able to manage as school.

In last decade of 18th century, Seyed Masoom Ali Shah of Juleal introduced a mobile private school in Birote and all first batch of teachers were provided by him in 1903. After his mission in eighties of previous century, Bashir Abbasi of UC Bakot established Yasin Public School in Birote first time. Saeed Ahmed Abbasi, a lawyer had founded Seyed Ahmed Shaheed Academy in Central Birote in 1984 and changed in to a chain of schools. It was a milestone of modern education in Birote and it create a religio-modern and political thoughts in student's minds. A new way of learning and with modern Western syllabus introduced by SEEDA School System in 2002 in Birote and gained a high popularity among educated parents of students. The owner of this school is also a high educated fellow named Iftekhar Abbasi, an ex employ of Seyed Ahmed Shaheed Academy and now he established two campuses. Other modern institutions of Birote are Suddam Model School and Aeries Model School.

The area was affected by the 2005 Kashmir earthquake - a year after the quake an Earthquake Reconstruction & Rehabilitation Authority (ERRA) team visited Birote to resurvey damaged houses damaged by earthquake and to pay relief cheques. A five-member delegation of Circle Bakote, headed by Abdul Rehman Khan Abbasi, met with federal ministers and the constituency leader, Amanullah Khan Jadoon on 23 Oct 2006, about the unavailability of earthquake relief funds^[6].

• Birote was a part of Bakote until 1981 when a separate Union Council was formed.
• Birote was first mentioned in a book of a British tourist Legacy To Kashmir published in 1891 (reprint by Sang-e-Mil Publishers Lahore).
• Birote was a part of Hazara constituency in the 1936 elections when only 7 landowners cast their votes.
• This area was well known throughout the province for its golden apples, but now Rawalpindi supplies apples to the area.
• Prisoner of Conscience: Journalist Zafir Abbasi of Birote was arrested by Bakote Police and locked in Abbottabad Jail for a week on the order of Ex-Chief Minister of NWFP Sardar Mahtab Ahmad Khan Abbasi in June 1997.
• Professor Ghulam Kibrea Abbasi of Kahoo was the first journalist who published weekly Tarjuman Karachi as the first news-magzine of Circle Bakote.
• Molana Abdurehman was the first Martyere of Circle Bakote who embraced martyredom in Srinager in 1931, belonged to UC Birote.

• Abbottabad District
• Circle Bakote
• Manwan ni hell