The Chained Banyan Tree of Pakistan

While not magical, I am a huge fan of history and the strange and the world is a strange place where we often come across things that have absolutely no logic. One of these is a banyan tree in Pakistan, fettered in chains. Not only is it one of the most absurd things to see, but the story behind it is also just as ridiculous. Pakistan’s Landi Kotal army cantonment area is home to a huge banyan tree that is kept chained to prevent it from moving. The tree is shackled with chains, extending from its myriad branches to the ground. The tree was arrested in 1898, 122 years ago, when the offended Victorian British officer, James Squid, became heavily drunk and felt that the multi-limbed banyan tree was somehow lurching toward him. The officer became scared and due to the alcohol, decided to teach a lesson to the criminal tree. He ordered his mess officer to arrest and take the tree into custody. The tree was chained to stop it from approaching Officer Squid and has remained chained even today. Ever since then, no officer has been able to overturn the order and the tree continues to bear the weight of the oppressive colonial period after 122 years.

For many, the chained tree in Landi Kotal, a town near the Torkhan border, is a symbol of the draconian Frontier Crime Regulation — a black law that governed the seven tribal agencies and six Frontier Regions during the British Raj. Under the regulations, an officer could order the arrest of any tribesman for any reason, and the person had no right to appeal. Many in Khyber see this act of the British officer as a manifestation of a dictatorial mindset that has nothing to do with any rules, regulations or law. Historian Mubarak Ali said that trees enjoy special importance in all religions and to target a tree in such a way is to send a clear message.

According to some locals, through this act, the British signaled the tribal people that they would meet a similar fate if they went against the government. This chained, century-old tree in Pakistan is a perfect metaphor for colonialism. Whatever the reason may be, the tree in captivity has made the area popular among people who come to have a look at one of the most random acts ever.

Despite the fact that Pakistan gained its independence from British colonial rule in 1947, a board on the tree still reads: “I am under arrest. One evening a British officer heavily drunk thought that I was moving from my original location and ordered mess sergeant to arrest me since then I am under arrest.”

Just imagine if a British officer could put a tree in chain then how were treating the locals of that era? So there it stands — rooted to its native soil, blameless yet punished, and fettered by bonds it still can’t shake. In the world of weird criminal charges, this Banyan tree’s arrest is definitely up there.