Chitral (princely state)
This article has multiple issues. Please help improve it or discuss these issues on the talk page. (Learn how and when to remove these template messages)
|
State of Chitral Khowar : ریاستِ چھترار | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1320–1972 | |||||||||
Khowar (court, de facto language)[4] | |||||||||
Government | Monarchy | ||||||||
Mehtar | |||||||||
History | |||||||||
• Established | 1320 | ||||||||
• Disestablished | 1972 | ||||||||
| |||||||||
Today part of | Pakistan Khyber Pakhtunkhwa |
This article is part of the series |
Former administrative units of Pakistan |
---|
Chitral or Chitrāl (Persian: چترال) was a princely state in alliance with British India until 1947, then a princely state of Pakistan in 1972.[5] The area of the state now forms the Upper and Lower Chitral Districts of the NWFP, Pakistan.
During the reign of Mehtar
History
Since the early 19th century, local chroniclers have been documenting the history of Chitral and are considered the main source on the subject. The Nai Tarikh-i-Chitral, written by Ghulam Murtaza, son of the historian at the court of Aman-ul-Mulk, the ruler of Chitral during the British period, has come to be seen as the official historiography of Chitral, and is largely accepted by international scholarship.[8] However, it has been criticized on weak chronologigal ground, as it traces back the advent of Islam in Chitral around the 7th century, and sought to legitimize the Kator rule by anticipating its beginning.[8]
According to the account, the history of Chitral is divided into three main periods: the Kafir period, the Rais period, and the Kator period.
Wolfgang Holzwarth conducted a recent investigation that challenges the account's reconstruction of the Rais period, claiming that it fails to acknowledge the spread of Islam in Chitral and Gilgit.
The investigation by Wolfgang Holzwarth indicates that Kator rule may not have been established in Chitral until the mid-18th century, as documented in the Manchu annals.[8] Holzwarth also suggests that the first seven rulers of the Rais period may be a recent invention, as there is no mention of them in any known source or oral tradition.[8] The last three rulers are likely historical, and conflicts between the Kator and Khushwaqte branches of the same dynasty are described in more detail in the NTCH after the defeat of the Rais.[8] Despite this, the chronology of events in the NTCH remains unreliable, and there is an effort to stretch the Kator rule back to the early 17th century, even though the first confirmed Kator ruler, Mohtaram Shah I, likely ruled in the early 18th century.[8] Dynastic wars also continued to occur between close relatives of the Kator family to gain the throne.[8]
Mehtar Aman ul-Mulk (1857-1892)
Aman ul-Mulk, Shah Afzal's younger son, succeeded his brother in 1857. After a brief dispute with Kashmir, in which he laid siege to the garrison at Gilgit and briefly held the Punial valley. He accepted a treaty with the Maharaja of Kashmir in 1877. Aman ul-Mulk was such a strong ruler that no serious attempt to challenge his authority was made during his reign.[10] During the course of his rule Aman ul-Mulk met encountered many British officers some of whom have noted him in the following words.
His bearing was royal, his courtesy simple and perfect, he had naturally the courtly Spanish grace of a great heredity noble
— Algernon Durand
Chitral, in fact, had its parliament and democratic constitution. For just as the British House of Commons is an assembly, so in Chitral, the Mehtar, seated on a platform and hedged about with a certain dignity, dispensed justice or law in sight of some hundreds of his subjects, who heard the arguments, watched the process of debate, and by their attitude in the main decided the issue. Such 'durbars' were held on most days of the week in Chitral, very often twice in the day, in the morning and again at night. Justice compels me to add that the speeches in the Mahraka were less long and the general demeanour more decorous than in some western assemblies.
— Lord Curzon, [11]
For forty years his was the chief personality on the frontier.[12] After a relatively long reign, he died peacefully in 1892.[13]
Wars of Succession
Without any law of succession, a long war of succession ensued between Aman ul-Mulk's sons after his death. Aman's younger son, Afzal ul-Mulk, proclaimed himself ruler during the absence of his elder brother. He then proceeded to eliminate several of his brothers, potential contenders to his throne. This initiated a war of succession, which lasted three years. Afzal ul-Mulk was killed by his uncle, Sher Afzal, the stormy petrel of Chitral and a long-time thorn in his father's side. He held Chitral for under a month, then fled into Afghan territory upon Nizam ul-Mulks return. Nizam, Afzal ul-Mulk's eldest brother and the rightful heir, then succeeded in December of the same year. At about that time, Chitral came under the British sphere of influence following the Durand Line Agreement, which delineated the border between Afghanistan and the British Indian Empire. Nizam ul-Mulk's possessions in Kafiristan and the Kunar Valley were recognised as Afghan territory and ceded to the Amir. Within a year, Nizam was himself murdered by yet another ambitious younger brother, Amir ul-Mulk. The approach of the Chitral Expedition, a strong military force composed of British and Kashmiri troops prompted Amir to eventually surrender, his patron, the Umra Khan fled to Jandul.[14]
The reign of Shuja ul-Mulk (1895–1936)
The British had decided to support the interests of
Shuja reigned for forty-one years, during which Chitral enjoyed an unprecedented period of internal peace. He journeyed outside of the
Mehtars after Shuja ul-Mulk (1936–1966)
Nasir ul-Mulk succeeded his father in 1936. He received a modern education, becoming a noted poet and scholar in his own right. He took a deep interest in military, political and diplomatic affairs, and spent much of his time on improving the administration. Dying without a surviving male heir in 1943, his successor was his immediate younger brother, Muzaffar ul-Mulk. Also a man with a military disposition, his reign witnessed the tumultuous events surrounding the Partition of 1947. His prompt action in sending in his own Bodyguards to Gilgit was instrumental in securing the territory for Pakistan.
The unexpected early death of Muzaffar ul-Mulk saw the succession pass to his relatively inexperienced eldest son, Saif-ur-Rahman, in 1948. Due to certain tensions he was exiled from Chitral by the Government of Pakistan for six years. They appointed a board of administration composed of officials from Chitral and the rest of Pakistan to govern the state in his absence. He died in a plane crash on the Lowari while returning to resume charge of Chitral in 1954.
Accession and dissolution
At the time of the
Administration
The
Mehtar
The ruler's title was Mitar which is pronounced as Mehtar by outsiders.
The Mehtar was an influential player in the
Civil Administration
Tribes in Upper
The Mehtar was the source of all power in the land, the final authority on civil, military and judicial matters. To function effectively, he built an elaborate administrative machinery. From Chitral, the Mehtar maintained control over distant parts of the state by appointing trusted officials. From the Chitral fort, which housed the extended royal family, the Mehtar presided over an elaborate administrative hierarchy.[16]
State flag
The state flag of Chitral was triangular in shape and pale green in colour. The wider side of the pennant depicted a mountain, most likely the Terich Mir peak. In the later Katoor period, this flag served as a symbol of the Mehtar's presence and flew above the Chitral fort. It was hoisted every morning, accompanied by a salute from the State Bodyguard Force, and taken down each evening after another salutation.[16]
Royal Fort, the Shahi Mosque and the summer residence
The forts of Chitral were both
Descendants of the royal family of Chitral
The descendants of the
Politics
The family continues to be one of the strongest political forces in the district, although it has not consistently aligned itself with any particular party in the district.[36] Shahzada Mohiuddin, grandson of Shuja ul-Mulk, served as the Minister of State for Tourism in the 1990s.[37] He was twice elected as chairman of District Council Chitral, once as District Nazim, and four times as Member National Assembly of Pakistan (MNA).[38] Shahzada Mohiuddin also served as chairman of the National Assembly Standing Committee on Kashmir Affairs and Northern Areas (KANA).[39] [40] The current head of the family, Fateh-ul-Mulk Ali Nasir, was elected to the provincial assembly of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa during the 2024 provincial elections.[41]
Notable members of the royal family
Mata ul-Mulk, one of the youngers son of
Colonel Khushwaqt ul-Mulk, one of the younger sons of
Taimur Khusrow ul-Mulk, grandson of Shuja ul-Mulk, and son of the daughter of the Nawab of
List of rulers
The rulers of the Kator dynasty with the date of their accession [60]
|
See also
- Chitral Royal Family
- Chitral Fort
- Chitral Scouts
- Chitral Bodyguard
- Katoor Dynasty
- Princely states of Pakistan
- His Highness Shuja ul-Mulk
- Chitral Expedition
References
- ISBN 978-92-3-103876-1.
- ISBN 978-1-107-66209-4.
- )
- ^ Pastakia 2004, p. 39.
- ^ a b "Brief History of Ex Mehter Chitral HH Prince Saif ul Mulk Nasir - News Pakistan". Archived from the original on 25 September 2018. Retrieved 15 May 2018.
- ^ "Chitral: A Bloody History and a Glorious Geography". Archived from the original on 2 June 2015. Retrieved 26 October 2013.
- ISBN 9781444324419.
- ^ ISBN 978-88-6323-149-6.
- ISBN 978-0-472-06783-1.
- ^ Gurdon, Lieut.-Colonel B.E.M. "Chitral Memories". The Himalayan Club. Archived from the original on 8 March 2016. Retrieved 26 October 2013.
- ^ "Democratic to the Core". Archived from the original on 21 December 2013. Retrieved 10 November 2013.
- ^ Durand, Algernon. "A Month in Chitral by Algernon Durand (London 1899)".
- ^ "The Siege and Relief of Chitral".
- ^ "Imperial Gazetteer of India, v. 10, p. 302". Archived from the original on 29 October 2013. Retrieved 26 October 2013.
- ^ "Chitral". Project Gutenberg.
- ^ a b c d Pastakia 2004
- ^ "CHITRAL NEWS...Chitral Pakistan, News, Views, Travel, Tourism, Adventure, Culture, Lifestyle, Chitral". Archived from the original on 27 January 2013. Retrieved 15 May 2018.
- ^ Kuldip Singh Bajwa, Jammu and Kashmir War, 1947-1948 (2003), p. 141
- ^ W. A. Wilcox, Pakistan: The Consolidation (Columbia University Press, 1963), p. 82
- ISBN 9783537876683.
- ^ Umbreen Javaid, Politics of Bahawalpur: From State to Region, 1947-2000 (2004), p. 115
- ISBN 9780195471137.
- ^ The North-west Frontier Province Year Book. Manager, Government Ptg. & Staty. Department. 1 January 1954. p. 229.
- ^ "Familial glory: In Chitral and Swat, what's in a name? - The Express Tribune". 24 April 2013.
- ISBN 9781317448204.
- ^ "A Princely Affair". oup.com.pk. Archived from the original on 13 May 2016.
- ISBN 978-92-3-103876-1.
- ISBN 978-1-107-66209-4.
- ^ Lines, Maureen (1 January 1996). The Kalasha people of North-Western Pakistan. Emjay Books International. p. 10.
- ^ (Pakistan), Population Census Organisation (1 January 1999). 1998 District Census Report of [name of District].: Chitral. Population Census Organisation, Statistics Division, Govt. of Pakistan. p. 22.
- ^ Woodburn, Bill. "Forts of the Chitral Campaign of 1895". Archived from the original on 25 October 2013.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ISBN 9781741045420.)
{{cite book}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link - ^ "Chitral". Archived from the original on 26 October 2013.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ^ "Brief History of Ex Mehter Chitral Prince Saif ul Mulk Nasir". Chitral Times. 25 October 2013. Archived from the original on 29 October 2013. Retrieved 25 October 2013.
- ^ "Brief History of Ex Mehter Chitral Prince Saif ul Mulk Nasir". Archived from the original on 29 October 2013. Retrieved 25 October 2013.
- ^ Cutherell, Danny. "Governance and Militancy in Pakistan's Chitral district" (PDF). Center for Strategic and International Studies. Archived from the original (PDF) on 18 May 2013. Retrieved 26 October 2013.
- ^ "Future of five devolved PTDC motel employees uncertain". Chitral Today. 21 July 2013. Archived from the original on 29 October 2013. Retrieved 26 October 2013.
- ^ "Familial glory: In Chitral and Swat, what's in a name?". The Express Tribune. 23 April 2013.
- ^ "MNA elected NA Committee Chairman". Chitral News. Archived from the original on 27 January 2013. Retrieved 26 October 2013.
- ^ "Iftikhar Uddin". Election Pakistan 2013. Archived from the original on 29 October 2013. Retrieved 26 October 2013.
- ^ "Independent Candidate Fateh Ul Mulk Ali Nasir Wins PK-02 Election". Urdu Point. 9 February 2024.
- ISBN 9788170490951.
- ISBN 9788170236498.
- ^ Journal of the United Service Institution of India. United Service Institution of India. 1 January 1988.
- ^ "Remembering Burhanuddin". Chitral News. Archived from the original on 13 August 2018. Retrieved 26 October 2013.
- ^ "Colonel Khushwaqt-ul-Mulk". The Telegraph. 17 March 2010.
- ^ "Shahzada Col (R) Khushwaqt ul-Mulk laid to rest in Mastuj". Archived from the original on 29 October 2013. Retrieved 26 October 2013.
- ^ "Battle for the high ground: saving the polo festival at the world's highest pitch". 7 August 2010.
- ^ "No quarter given in world's highest polo match".
- ^ "Shandur Polo Match". The Guardian. 11 July 2009.
- ISSN 0261-3077.
- ^ "26 beautiful photos you won't believe were taken in Pakistan". The Telegraph.[dead link]
- ^ Khan, Rina Saeed (3 August 2015). "Chitral floods: Why melting glaciers may not be the cause". Dawn.
- ISSN 0261-3077.
- ^ "Pakistani Relief Expert to Speak at Cambridge". University of Cambridge. 3 February 2011.
- ISBN 9781480900004.
- ISBN 9780974732312.
- ^ "Punjab governor's PS removed - The Express Tribune". 8 October 2011. Retrieved 24 June 2016.
- ^ APP (1 August 2015). "Accountability offices in Fata". Retrieved 24 June 2016.
- ISBN 9789698141691.
Bibliography
- Pastakia, Firuza (2004). Chitral: A Study in Statecraft (1320–1969) (PDF). Peshawar, Pakistan: OCLC 61520660. Retrieved 5 October 2016.
Further reading
- History of Chitral: An Outline
- Tarikh-e-Chitral
- Chitral States Judicial System
- Tribes of the Hindoo Koosh by John Biddulph