CHAPTER IX
DIFFICULTIES
In order to make a correct estimate of the true worth of the Marshal's achievements and to understand the full value of the part that he and his energetic brothers played in this drama of national deliverance, let us make a brief study of the various difficulties which they had to face at every step. Their courage and heroism were frequently put to severe tests; and they were called upon to make many sacrifices during the period of six long months at the end of which they at last succeeded in bringing about the fall of that cruel autocrat, the Bacha, and restoring peace and order in a country torn to shreds by the incessant civil war of nearly a year's duration. Several times were they repulsed, and strong military posts were lost. More than once were they nearly deserted by their followers. To the outside world—nay even to the Afghans themselves—at times it appeared probable that ere long they would give up the apparently
95


unequal struggle and leave their country-
men to their fate. But Marshal Nadir Khan
and his brothers were of sterner stuff than
to leave their country and take refuge in
foreign lands. They were resolved to win
or die.

One of their greatest difficulties was
money. The Marshal and his brothers, even
in the earlier days of prosperity were by
no means affluent. All the members of their ثروت
family, throughout their careers, had held
high and responsible posts, but they had
the expenses of a large family to defray, پرداختن
and what they could spare was spent in
acts of charity and benevolence of a national
character. The Marshal when he was Com-
mandar-in-Chief had founded the National
School—Maktab-i-Milli—and nearly half of
his pay and more than half of the income
from his estate went to meet its expenses, by
no means a small drain on his meagre income.
No member of this family had ever attempted اندوختن
to amass wealth by the usual unfair means.
When they entered the Southern Province
they were penniless and could not even
feed those who had hastened to flock round

96


them. And unfortunately they had stepped into the poorest province of the country. In Kabul, Herat, Kandahar, or any other important town, they would have had no difficulty in obtaining money. But they were far away from these trade centres; and in place of money had to put to the best use they could the influence and the prestige won in the days when they had worked there as officers. Without any means of transport, with no commissariat مخزن قشون and insufficient arms and ammunition, they boldly stepped into the arena and trusted to luck. میدان مبارزه

On the other hand, we find that the enemy was in possession of the capital and the public treasury. The whole of Koh Daman in the north—that land of fine and غیور dauntless soldiers—was at his back. The wealthiest parts of the country and the best magazines were in his power. He also had in his iron grip the richest people in the land whom he could squeeze to the last farthing whenever it pleased him. Due to his resources, he had easily succeeded in maintaining a large standing army, well disciplined and well organized, whose number

97 G


at the time exceeded fifty thousand. The
major portion of this formidable army with
the best officers to command them was
stationed in the strong military posts facing
the Southern Province. The Bacha seems
to have studied the situation thoroughly and
had nothing to fear from other quarters.
Only two thousand men sufficed for the
Kandahar front; a few thousand rupees had
frustrated the plans of Wali Ali Ahmad Jan,
and with only a handful of men his agents
Mohammad Qasim and Abdur Rahim Khan
had marched straight up to Mizar-i-Sharif
without meeting the slightest resistance. But
خواب گران the southern problem was a nightmare to
the Bacha and his counsellors, for they
knew the general popularity of the Marshal
and his brothers. They were not ignorant
of their military skill. They also knew
fully the warlike character of the southern
tribes. But with their vast resources they
felt hopeful of ultimately bringing the
تسلط Southern Province under their sway. The
best soldiers and most experienced officers—
the pick of Bacha's army—were despatched
to the south. Mohammad Siddiq, Sher Jan's
brother, a general of no ordinary capacity,

98


was appointed commander of these regiments. He succeeded in buying over some of the local tribes, who greatly multiplied the Marshal's difficulties by opposing his advance at every step. Among these tribes the Dari Khel stands out too prominently to be overlooked. Sardar Nadir Khan, while proceeding to Gardez, had to pass through their territory. The narrow valleys, the rugged خشن ناهموار mountains and the desperate opposition of the treacherous people, made his passage through this land next to impossible, and it was only after much difficulty and timely use of his diplomatic skill that he was ultimately able to cross that portion and proceed to Gardez.
Another difficulty, and no less harassing, was the false rumours concerning the Marshal's aim. By virulent سخت شدید propaganda the Bacha was trying to keep the tribes away from Marshal Nadir Khan. The only plausi- صورت حق بجانب ble charge that Saqao could find against him was the fact that he had been the ex-King's Commander-in-Chief and could thus be supposed to be working in his interest, to re-establish him on the throne. At every step the Marshal had to make it clear
99


to the people that his sole aim was to
release his country from the cruel grip of the
بد بخت شقی ignorant miscreant and that he himself
belonged to no party. He had to tell them
that if he succeeded in driving out the Bacha,
he would leave the election of the king to
the nation itself to be discussed in a Grand
Assembly, in which representatives from all
parts of the country should take part. He
had no desire to become a dictator—he
نفرت داشتن loathed the idea—or to force a king upon
them. Then the people would insist that if
he was not fighting for the ex-King he should
himself make a bid for the throne. This
the Marshal was not willing to do. He
openly declared that he had no desire to
become king and that if the question of
kingship was settled except by the Grand
Assembly, there was no chance of a perma-
nent peace in the country. It was not easy
to make the illiterate people, who from cen-
turies were accustomed to autocratic rulers,
عادات comprehend these democratic notions and
realize their true value. The tribes still
believed that the Marshal was fighting for
Amanullah Khan and so bitter was the
feeling against the ex-King that some of them,

100


preferring even Bacha's rule, began to oppose the Marshal. In spite of his repeated declarations and pamphlets explaining his object and his attitude towards this question, some of the powerful tribes such as the Sulaiman Khel and Dari Khel sided with the Bacha.
Another difficulty—and of a different nature—which the Marshal and his brothers had to face very often was due to the diversity اختلاف of opinions among the various tribes assembled round them. Some of these had long-standing jealousies and animosities among themselves and were always on the look-out for a chance to avenge their grievances. To settle their differences was not an easy job, because no side would give way; each would insist on deciding the question by use of arms. Thus at every step there was danger of a civil war, bringing into clash these tribes. It required all the Marshal's sagacity and diplomacy to keep this heterogeneous mass together.
In spite of all these obstacles and hindrances, the Marshal and his brothers decided to push on and to fight to the last, either to win or to lay down their lives in the
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MAP SHOWING THE
LINE OF ACTION OF H. M. KING MOHD. NADIR SHAH
FROM KHOST TO KABUL.

ROADS
RIVERS
VILLAGES
TOWNS

LINE OF ACTION
HALTING STATION
FIELDS OF BATTLE
DURAND LINE


[BLANK PAGE]


attempt. They knew they were fighting for
the national cause. For them it was a war
between right and wrong, where the goal on
one side was peace, progress and prosperity,
and on the other side cruelty, oppression and
tyranny. And in their faith they found
strength, and hope inspired their actions and
proved to be their greatest equipment.

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CHAPTER X
LINE OF ACTION

Soon after his arrival in Khost, Marshal Mohammad Nadir Khan sent letters to the tribal chiefs telling them that he had come to work with them in turning out the Bacha, and to do his best in restoring peace and order and thus saving Afghanistan from ruin and destruction. He asked them to assemble in a certain place and hold a meeting where these problems and the future line of action should be discussed.

On the 13th March—the 1st day of Id—all the tribes went to the golf links to توپ زنده say their prayers. After the ceremony, the Marshal got up and made a very pathetic رقت بار speech, telling them that that Id was the most unlucky day for the nation; a day of lamentation rather than of festivities. He explained to them all that had come to pass and the annihilation that threatened the nation. He asked them to lay aside their tribal jealousies so that they might be able to turn out the brigand whose very name was a disgrace to the nation, and had already lowered the

103


prestige of the country to a great extent.
Such was the effect of this speech on the
audience that there was general lamentation
in Khost, and the happy day of Id actually
became a day of mourning.
In Khost not a single day passed without
seeing a large number of the tribal men
answering the call of help. On the second
day of Id a batch of 1,000 men made its
appearance. The Marshal with his brothers
went out to meet them. Such was their
enthusiasm at seeing him that they danced
and sang for joy. Their number daily
increased and everybody began to hope that
this tribal lashkar would soon be able to
extirpate the cruel regime. But unfortunately
the many difficulties, some of which we have
already discussed in the previous chapter,
made immediate action nearly impossible.
Dispute between the Wazir Refugees
and the Southern Tribes.—It was at this
time that the news reached the Marshal
that there was imminent danger of a
serious fight between the Wazir Refugees
and the Southern Tribes. These Waziris,
whose real home was in Waziristan, had left
their territory and taken refuge in the
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Southern Province during the reigns of Amir
Habibullah Khan and King Amanullah Khan.
They had been given some lands in the Khost
District, but the southern tribes did not like
to see them on their soil, and waited for an
opportunity to drive them out. Now, when
the chance came, they surrounded these
Wazir refugees and asked them to leave their
lands or be prepared for war. The Waziris
were not willing to give up their rights and
the danger of a civil war was hourly
increasing. When the Marshal was informed
of this, he despatched a few of the influential
chiefs to settle the matter amicably. This
mission at last prevailed upon the Waziris
to give up their rights and the contending
parties took a solemn oath that thenceforth
they would co-operate with each other and
would relinquish their tribal jealousies.
There was a general rejoicing on all sides,
for every one was fully aware of the ugly
turn that the affair might have taken. If a
single bullet had been fired from either side,
the matter would have been beyond control
and the Waziris of the Trans-border would
have felt obliged to assist their brethren.

Ahmadzais' Lashkar.—On the 21st of

105


March, Mir Ghaus-ud-Din Khan, son of Jahandad Khan, the well-known Khan of Ahmadzais with some other tribal chiefs and six hundred men reached Khost. The Marshal according to the Afghan custom went out to meet them.

The Jirgah.—On the 22nd March a Jirgah was held in which all elders and tribal chiefs took part. The Marshal opened the proceedings. He briefly described the revolution and the object of his arrival in Afghanistan. Then he threw open to them for discussion his suggestions for action and for coping with the difficulties. After much discussion the tribes unanimously proposed as follows:—"Realizing the dangerous aspect of our country and with a view of relieving the nation from this catastrophe, we all propose that you should be our leader. We demand that before leaving this place you should accept our allegiance and give us full assurance that in case of success none but yourself would be our king. Specially we ask you to promise that you will have no connection whatsoever with Amanullah Khan who, as we have come to know, is now in Kandahar and is making preparations for an attack on Kabul, for we

106


have lost all faith and trust in him, and any connection with him is regarded by us as a great offence." But the Marshal would not accept kingship. He said, "My aim is not to take the throne, but I desire to settle the dispute that has arisen regarding the kingship. I advise you and those who are not present here that you should never pay allegiance to any one who has not been universally elected by the people. Otherwise civil war and disunion will never end. My sole object is the removal of these differences and the establishment, with your help and approval, of a Government on a firm and sound basis."
The refusal to accept the throne was not received without a murmur. But the Marshal was at last able to convince them and make them accept his view-point and it was unanimously agreed that they should proceed to Gardez and there invite the chiefs of all the tribes to a general assembly to discuss these problems.
Difficulty in the Distribution of Arms and Ammunition.—Within a fortnight of his arrival, the Marshal had easily succeeded in having round him a large lashkar consisting of various tribes who, in view
107


of the national catastrophe, were bent
upon fighting to the last. But their old
jealousies and rivalries would often create
difficulties. And the first problem to be
solved after the close of this Jirgah was
how to distribute arms among these tribes,
because every one of them insisted upon having
the lion's share. Moreover, the behaviour of
a few clearly indicated that they had some-
thing up their sleeve and were probably
bribed by Mohammad Siddiq to delay the
departure of this lashkar.
But the personal influence of the
Marshal once more prevailed and the arms
were distributed in such a way that all parties
were satisfied with it. The next problem
was the line of action—how to proceed and
by what route. Nobody doubted that the
lashkar would reach Gardez without difficulty,
but the Marshal knew that some of the
tribes en route would try to put obstacles
in his way, so he proposed to take a route
whereby he could avoid their territory. Finally
it was decided that the Marshal himself
with the Jadrani Lashkar should proceed
via Jadran, Sardar Shah Wali Khan at the
head of Manglis via Mangal and Shah
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Mahmud Khan who had recently returned should advance via Jaji.
Next day, when all was ready for departure, news arrived that a lashkar of some six thousand Mangals was coming to their help. The Marshal as usual went out to receive them. As soon as he appeared on the scene, the Mangals overjoyed at seeing him, fired a volley in air and a light shower of rain and peals of thunder added a note مسرت of jubilance to the scene. The Marshal, in spite of the rain, went round and met their leaders, and addressed them for 20 minutes, explaining his intentions and his plan of action.
After he had finished his speech, a man from among the new-comers stepped forward and having expressed the heartiest welcome to the Marshal and his brothers narrated the causes that had brought about the revolution and the national catastrophe, emphasizing that all was due to the maladministration, luxury and negligence of the ruler and his immoral and irreligious steps towards the so-called reforms. He, therefore, requested that the Marshal should give them a solemn

109


assurance that he would in no way side with or work for him. Once more the Marshal was obliged to reiterate his views. As for the throne, he repeated, that whosoever occupied it should be duly elected by the representatives of the nation who should meet for this purpose in a Grand Assembly. In the end he told them that according to the decision of the last Jirgah, he was proceeding to Gardez, in order to hold a general Jirgah there, and that he would abide by the decision of that assembly, and carry out its behests to the best of his ability. A few hours later, the Sabari Lashkar also came to their help.

Tribal Clash—At half past four every one was alarmed at the sound of rapid firing on all sides. The Ahmadzais who were inside the camp took the usual precautionary measures of defence. A few men were sent to find out the cause of the disturbance and discovered that the Mangals and Sabari tribes who had long-standing enmity were now bent upon avenging their grievances. But the Marshal

110


was again successful in settling the matter
amicably.
Another dispute arose between the two
Jadran clans, but the matter was again settled
without recourse to arms.

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CHAPTER XI
PREPARATIONS—I
To Gardez.—The Marshal at the head of his lashkar left Khost for Gardez on the 27th March, but this distance of only fifty miles took him more than a fortnight—17 days, to be exact—because he had to pass through the lands of some hostile tribes, who would not let him cross their territory, offering as a plea for their hostility the fear that the Marshal was working on behalf of the ex-King. It, therefore, became necessary for the Marshal at every step to enter into explanations in order to allay fears and doubts. The first day's march lay through the lands of the Dari Khels, who were not slow in showing their animosity and offered stubborn resistance. It was proved beyond all doubt that this tribe was instigated by Mohammad Siddiq and that a passage through their land could not be effected without danger. The Marshal was thus obliged to call a halt and encamp in the strong fort of Babrak Khan. A few elders were sent to the tribal chiefs to explain to them the aims and objects of the Marshal
113
H


and his lashkar. But the Dari-Khels were
obstinate and refused passage. They were
under the influence of a dervish, Levannai
by name, who was in the Bacha's pay, and
such was his hold over the tribes that none
dared oppose him.

During this time the Marshal was busy
day and night in publishing pamphlets
explaining his objects and asking the tribes
to co-operate and join hands against their
common enemy, and thus save their country
from utter annihilation.

The negotiation with the Dari-Khels
continued for full three days. The only
argument they offered for their opposition to
the Marshal was that he was a partisan of
the ex-King and was working on his behalf.
When it was found that these people would
not listen to reason and could not be prevailed
upon to accept even the assurances of a
Jirgah, the Marshal was obliged to use force,
much against his will. After a few hours of
hot and contested fighting, the Dari Khels
were beaten and the Marshal was able to
proceed towards Gardez. Nothing of any
importance occurred for the next few days.
The lashkar found no difficulty in reaching

114


Chankhawah via Orgoon and Zirak. At Chankhawah the Marshal was informed that all the tribes of Zurmat and Sari Roza had held a Jirgah in which they had resolved to oppose his advance putting forward the hackneyed معمولی plea that he was fighting for the ex-King. The strength of these tribes was well-known and it was impossible to force a march through them in the face of their combined resistance. The Marshal, therefore, despatched a few chiefs to remove misapprehensions. Negotiations dragged on for days but finally they were satisfied and not only repented of their rash action but promised to help the Marshal with men and money.

On the 5th April, he reached the military post of Orgoon. The local military force had come out to meet him, and as he passed through their ranks, he was greeted and welcomed with loud cheers. Large companies of tribal men also came to show their devotion for him. Some of their leaders went up to him and kissed his hands after the Afghan custom. His appearance was hailed with gun-fires, loud cheers and national dances. Wherever he went he found crowds awaiting to receive him. The Marshal was pleased to

115


know that the military force of Orgoon had
held out in spite of severe threats from the
tribes and had not surrendered their arms
and ammunition. He promised to reward
them handsomely for their sincere services
and their brave resistance against such heavy
odds.

Next day the lashkar left for Sari Roza.
Rumours were heard that the Sulaiman Khel
tribes meant to oppose their advance. The
Marshal did not like the idea of effecting a
passage through them by force, for that meant
waste of time and energy, and dissipation of
forces. Negotiations per proxy,he knew, could
not solve the problem. He, therefore, invited
some of their leaders and personally talked
over the matter with them. He had to
declare his policy once more. He said,
"At such a critical time when the welfare,
prestige and honour of our nation are in
danger, how is it possible for any one of
us to think of his personal welfare or
individual interests. The present deplorable
state of the nation demands that all of us
should sacrifice our personal interests for
the national cause. Let me tell you plainly
that I am working neither for myself nor

116


for anybody else. My sole object is to serve my motherland, and to see it once more in perfect peace and order. Regarding the question of the future king of the country, I have to repeat my previous declarations that it entirely rests with the people. I have no right, nor am I willing to force any one upon you as your king. The election of a king is the right of the nation itself. Let the representatives from all parts consider this problem after the peace is restored. Till then let us work together and co-operate in bringing about the fall of our enemy. It was simply with this view that I left my sick-bed far away in France and have come to do my duty to my native land."
The speech had the desired effect upon the audience. All of them were won over and most of them repented of their rash and unwise actions and promised that not only they would allow him a free passage through their lands but would assist him with men and money to the best of their resources.
The next day's march lay through Zurmat. The local tribes began to show signs of hostilities. It was at first decided that the lashkar should proceed straight
117


through their lands to the famous fort of
Neknams, situated in the heart of the district,
but Mohammad Rafique Khan, its owner,
realizing his dangerous position, informed
the Marshal about the evil intentions of
the people, telling him that his advance in
that direction would be strongly opposed
by the local tribes, and requesting him
to avoid the route and proceed by some
other way. The same evening the lashkar,
after so many hardships, reached the village
of Ibrahimkhel—at a distance of some eight
miles from Gardez. It was here that
Levannai, the notorious Dari Khel dervish,
with a few of his disciples came to meet
the Marshal. He expressed sorrow at his
past hostilities and promised to help him
with his men in return for some money and a
sufficient quantity of arms and ammunition.

Next day the lashkar left for Baladeh,
the chief village of the Ahmadzai tribe,
at a distance of some three miles from
Gardez. There the Marshal called a halt
and determined to make this village his
headquarters for the time being. He did
not choose Gardez, because it was then held
by Mohammad Siddiq and his men, most

118


of whom were Kohdaminies, who were the
Bacha's partisans. In Baladeh, the Marshal
called a Jirgah of the southern tribes. All their
chiefs were invited to this meeting. Invitations
were also sent to Mohammad Siddiq, to the
Governor of Gardez and to other influential
local chiefs, all of whom responded except
Mohammad Siddiq, who had no desire to
discuss such matters. But it was at this
time that Allah Nawaz Khan somehow
succeeded in making his entry into the
Gardez fort. He won over some of the
chiefs to his side, and asked them to compel
Mohammad Siddiq to take part in the meeting
and if he refused, to threaten him that they
would withdraw their help. They at last
prevailed upon Mohammad Siddiq who was
obliged to leave for Baladeh, but he took with
him some three hundred men fully armed.

On the 15th April, S. Shah Wali Khan,
who had left Khost by a different route, also
reached Baladeh, where this heterogeneous
host manned from widely divergent and
mutually inimical tribes was massed together.
Mohammad Siddiq, not slow to realize the
possibilities of such a mixed army, succeeded
at last in bringing about a clash among

119

مخالف


the various rival tribes. In the evening, all
of a sudden, there was rapid firing all round
with fatal results. Who the enemy was,
no one could definitely make out. It was, how-
ever, generally believed that Mohammad Sid-
diq was at the root of all this disturbance,
because soon after the outbreak his three
hundred men had secretly left for their
headquarters. But in a state of panic every-
body suspected everybody else. The dis-
turbance did not last more than thirty
minutes, but even in this short space of
tjme many had lost their lives. When night
fell, quiet was restored. Suspicion having
rested very strongly on Mohammad Siddiq,
and the Governor of Gardez, they were
حفاظت taken into custody, and the next day the
Marshal appointed Sayed Mohammad Khan
and Abdul Ghani Khan to be the Governor
and the Military Commander of Gardez
respectively.

120


CHAPTER XII
PREPARATIONS—II

Gardez and the East.—We have already
noticed that on entering Afghanistan the
Marshal had sent Sardar Mohammad Hashim
Khan to the Eastern Province. It will be
remembered that this province was the first
that took up arms against the ex-King and
that it was mainly through their activities
that Amanullah Khan finally lost his throne.
But once the war lust حرص و جوش of the Afghan is
roused, he cannot easily subdue it. After
the expulsion اخراج of Amanullah Khan, the tribes
remembered their old jealousies and rivalries
and began to fight against one another,
making the prospect of peace very uncertain.
It was at a time like this that the Marshal's
brother made his appearance among them.
He went from place to place, advising them
to give up this internecine warfare and to
combine their forces against the common
enemy of the nation. Most of the tribes
withdrew from the civil war, but some had
been bribed by the Bacha and continued to
fight and thus obstruct the plans of Sardar

121


Mohammad Hashim Khan, whose task was,
therefore, made extremely difficult. However,
after incessant efforts on his part, their
leaders at last agreed to send a mission
to the Marshal with offer of help. This
mission from the east consisting of 130
elders under the command of Mohammad
Gul Khan, the well-known Mohmand chief,
met the Marshal in Baladeh on the 19th
April. People from all sides flocked to see
them and learn their views on the question
of the day. It was for the first time in
the history of the country that representa-
tives from the two rival provinces forget-
ting their tribal feuds منازعات قومی had come together
with the object of combining their forces
against a common foe. The southerners were
greatly pleased to see their allies and there
was great rejoicing on all sides. A jirgah
was held in which the mission submitted
a written document containing the views
of the eastern tribes. The first few items
dealt with the causes of the revolution, and
their justification for taking up arms against
the ex-King. Then the situation of the day
was fully discussed. The document declared

122


the Bacha to be an outlaw and a public enemy, one who was bent upon the destruction of the country and its people, and, therefore, considered it necessary that all the tribes should work together in expelling him and preserving national integrity. They suggested that the two provinces should, as a first step, send a joint mission to the Bacha informing him of their views and of the destruction that he had brought about and asking him to vacate the throne immediately, failing which he should be prepared for a combined attack from both the provinces.

All the eastern tribes had solemnly promised to ignore their mutual jealousies and enmities for the time being and to work unitedly towards the achievement of their common object, the turning out of the Bacha and his men. And finally the representatives from the Eastern Province keeping in view the past national services of the Marshal requested him to lead them in the field of battle in case of a war, as in their opinion no other person had the capacity for this respons- ible office. All the proposals were literally

123


accepted by the representatives of the southern tribes and the meeting ended.

Copies of the proceedings of this meeting were sent round to all the tribes. All except the Sulaiman Khel tribes answered the call. They would not agree and said they were busy. Furthermore, they demanded that if the Marshal was not working for the ex-King, he should send one of his brothers to them to lead them in their march towards Ghazni, where the ex-King was at the time busy in making preparations. This demand the Marshal was not willing to accept. His aim was to see the fall of the usurper غاصب and to restore peace and order; he was neither for nor against the ex-King; and on the very first day of his arrival he had openly and emphatically declared his policy. But the Sulaiman Khels would not agree. Their reply was astounding حیران کننده. They sent word that in their eyes Amanullah Khan was more dangerous than the Bacha and that only after they had succeeded in turning him out, would they turn their attention to the Bacha; and if in their opinion he was undesirable, there would be no difficulty in

124


bringing about his fall. The Marshal felt
disappointed at the receipt of such a foolish
reply and decided to proceed without
them.

The Bacha on his side was not slow
in realizing the danger from the south. He
knew that every day that passed lessened
his chances and lowered his prestige in the
public eye. He could not bear to see the
Marshal and his brothers working in the
south. True, Amanullah Khan was advanc-
ing towards Ghazni, but he had no apprehen-
sion from that quarter, as he was aware
of the waning prestige of the ex-King and
also counted on the timely help of his
powerful allies—the Sulaiman Khels. In the
south, too, he had allies and powerful ones,
but here he had to face an experienced general
—a man of exceptional ability and held in
great esteem. He was, therefore, compelled
to devote his immediate attention to this
side. An army about ten thousand strong,
well equipped and well supplied with arms,
was ordered to proceed straight towards
Gardez and take the Marshal and his men
by surprise. Another was sent via Khushi

125


to march towards Jaji where Sardar Shah
Mahmud Khan was busy in collecting a
lashkar.

There was no time to be lost. The
Bacha had at his disposal motor cars and
lorries and Gardez was only a day's journey
from Kabul. The Marshal left Shah Wali
Khan in Gardez and himself at the head
of his lashkar marched towards Logar. He
had with him only two guns, four machine-
guns and eleven boxes of cartridges. The
first night he passed at Safed Qillah—the
White Fort—at the entrance of the Tirah
Pass. In the morning Zalmae Khan, at the
head of his Mangali lashkar, left for Logar.

On the 24th of April at 9-30 in the
morning the Marshal and his brother left
for Charkh, a well-known place in Logar.
He reached the top of the pass at about
two in the afternoon. Here he was informed
that some of the Bacha's men were encamped
in Darvesh and more could be found in
the suburbs of Bedak or Charkh. At about
seven in the evening he reached Charkh. Mir
Ghaus-ud-Din, the commander of the
vanguard, on the pretext that he was not

بهانه - عذر

126


on good terms with the people of Charkh had gone to another village, Dabar, to pass the night. The Marshal did not favour hasty action. He wanted first of all to inform the Bacha of the resolutions passed in the last jirgah where representatives from the Eastern Province also had taken part and secondly he wished in the meantime to see the chiefs of Logar and discuss the situation with them. Next morning all the elders of Charkh came to see him. The Marshal gave them a cordial reception and then made a speech enumerating the various calamities of the nation and explaining his object in coming to his motherland. Then the resolutions of the last jirgah were read out, and the elders unanimously agreed to carry them out to the letter, and in testimony thereof put their seals and signatures on the document. A copy of the resolutions passed at this meeting was sent through Turrah Baz Khan to Pinin Beg, the Bacha's commander at Darvesh.

The Battle.—At this time the Marshal got word from Mir Ghaus-ud-Din who was then at Dabar, about two miles ahead of the lashkar, that the Bacha's men were on

127


him and that he was running short of ammunition. The Marshal was greatly annoyed to receive this news. He did not like fighting to commence so soon. He had sent a protest to the Bacha and his men and had so far received no reply. This behaviour of Mir Ghaus-ud-Din clearly showed that he was not to be relied upon. He had not put up at Charkh as desired by the Marshal, and had commenced fighting without waiting for orders from him. But the present situation left the Marshal no choice. He proceeded to Dabar to join in the fighting which lasted the whole day, and did not cease even at night. On the 26th April in the morning the Marshal himself entered the field of battle and began to fire from one of the guns at the enemy's forts. After a few well-aimed shots one of the forts was totally demolished. By midday the Saqaoists were everywhere repulsed, and all the important places had been occupied. But at noon the enemy got sufficient reinforcements, their artillery fire increased and they began to assume the offensive from many directions. For one hour they continued their advance, but after this there was a pause, and then

128


the lashkar made an assault and succeeded in re-occupying the lost places. Unfortunately they ran short of ammunition at this time. The demand was insistent and the Marshal was hard put to it to meet it. He managed at last to purchase a small quantity from the local people. Next morning there was a strong rumour that the Ahmadzai lashkar under Ghaus-ud-Din was dispersing in all directions and some of them had already crossed the Tirah Pass on the way to their respective homes. This treachery on the part of the Ahmadzai chief discouraged the lashkar very much. It began to retreat pell-mell in all directions. Some of the nomadic tribes who had been mere spectators of the scene now fell upon the retreating lashkar, slaying and looting whoever they could lay their hands upon. The Marshal did not lose heart. He tried to make a stand against the formidable hosts but in vain. He was almost deserted and with only a handful of men forced his way through the enemy, now in overwhelming majority. It was more by luck than anything else that he succeeded in reaching safely the Altamoor Pass, whence he proceeded to Sijinak.

129
175


Before leaving for Logar, the Marshal had sent word to general Shah Mahmud Khan in Jaji asking him to proceed via Dobandi and attack the enemy from the Khushi side. This was admirably carried out by the General. He succeeded in taking Khushi, where a large quantity of arms and ammunition, so badly needed, fell into his hands. From there he advanced on Zarghoon Shehr via Barg and Surkhab. After a few hours' fight, the Saqaoists were compelled to vacate the place and the General was planning an attack on the Wagha-Jan Pass at night, when he received the sad news that the Saqaoists had succeeded in taking Khushi and thus cutting off his retreat, and that the Marshal, owing to the treachery of Ghaus-ud-Din, had been obliged to retreat and was then at Sijinak. This was a very shocking news. The General saw that he was surrounded on all sides and even a retreat was well-nigh impossible. He became desperate and with a handful of men attacked the enemy at Khushi. But the lashkar was so disheartened that they had no desire to fight any longer; so the General was, like his brother,

130


obliged to fall back and it was after many
hardships and forced marches that at last
he succeeded in meeting the Marshal at
Sijinak.

The Marshal was in no way dismayed به هراس و خوف افتادن
or disheartened. Even at this time in spite
of the discouraging rumours that all was lost,
he kept his head. He would say, "I cannot
lose heart by such ordinary repulses. I have
determined to fight to the last. Even if
there be nobody to help me, I, with my
rifle, will continue single-handed to fight
the enemy, with the idea of doing my duty
and averting باز داشتن from my nation this catastrophe.
Either I will achieve my object or lay down
my life in the attempt to secure national
peace and prosperity." Once more he
invited the tribal chiefs to a jirgah, telling
them that the repulse was not due to smaller
numbers or military skill but to the treachery
of Ghaus-ud-Din, who was secretly in the
Bacha's pay; and that they should not
think of giving up this fight for the noble
cause of national deliverance, for he was
sure success would crown their efforts in
the long run.

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[BLANK PAGE]


CHAPTER XIII
PREPARATIONS—III

Sijinak.—The repulse at Charkh so much
disheartened the tribal lashkar that the
situation appeared desperate and hopeless.
To make a fresh attack seemed impossible.
Stories of the overwhelming strength of the
enemy were circulating everywhere. Every-
one was in a panic and disinclined to continue
a losing fight. But the old veteran and
his brave and faithful brothers were full
of hope and courage. Marshal Mohammad
Nadir Khan had foreseen that the usurper
and his blood-thirsty followers were no match
against an organized and united offensive
from the south. The discomfited lashkars شکست خورده
were encouraged to rally once more. They
were made to understand the importance
of a sustained effort and were also shown
the dark future that awaited the nation in
case of their delay in taking immediate and
bold action. Their confidence was once more
gained and they were prevailed upon to make
a fresh attack. Every one vowed to expel

133


جاسوس ها - قاصد ها
the usurper at all costs. Emissaries were
despatched to all the southern tribes inviting
their representatives to assemble in Sijinak
to attend a jirgah on the 12th May. The
response was encouraging. The jirgah, how-
ever, sat for several days without arriving
at a definite decision. They were divided
in opinion, some holding that renewal of
hostilities would be heading for disaster.
But on the last day of the jirgah the
Marshal stood up to make his momentous
and epoch-making speech. He depicted the
horrors of the day and the untold miseries
of the people who were starving and suffering
at the hands of the bandits. He called upon
the audience in stirring language to stand
up for the national emancipation. Every آزادی
one was moved, fresh enthusiasm was infused
in them and they promised to do their best
in raising a fresh lashkar for the common
cause.

Mohammad Siddiq Commanding the
توطئه سازی  Southern Division.—Due to his machinations
دسییه  and intrigues Mohammad Siddiq, as we have
already observed, had been imprisoned. In
the confusion that followed the discomfiture
شکست - هزیمت
134


at Charkh he made good his escape. He
soon joined the Bacha and advised him to
pursue the retreating lashkar, allowing it no
time to rally again. The Bacha and his
counsellors lost no time in turning this
opportunity to their advantage. Mohammad
Siddiq was at once put at the head of the
Southern Division, 15,000 strong. The army
proceeded at a rapid pace towards Gardez.
Passing the Altamoor they soon occupied
the White Fort facing Gardez, thus gaining
an important strategic position. Mohammad
Siddiq was himself a trained and experienced
soldier. When the revolution broke out,
he was at Gardez where he had been in
command of the southern force for the
last five years. He knew all the southern
tribes very well. He was not ignorant of
their military skill, but he was also aware
of their weak points, of their tribal jealousies
and long-standing enmities, which he wanted
to use to his advantage. He tried to find
friends and allies amongst them, and his
efforts in that direction were to a large
extent fruitful. The Sulaiman Khels and
the Dari Khels promised him full support.

135


fell into the hands of the Bacha, he came
to Kabul and entered the service of the
bandit. He soon gained the Bacha's confi-
dence and became one of his favourites.)
The contents of the letter were interesting
indeed. The Marshal was asked to give up
the fight and to send his allegiance. He was
promised in return any post that he would
like to have, and the full benefits of his
property. Failing this, it was threatened
that all the members of his family, sixty-
one in number, who were then in Kabul,
would be at once put to death. Besides
this, Abdul Latif also brought the message,
that if the Marshal had any ambition for
the throne, the Bacha agreed to decide the
matter by drawing lots on the Marshal's
arrival at Kabul. The Marshal in the
presence of all read out the letter, and the
audience could not help bursting into
laughter, specially at the strange concession
that the Bacha was ready to offer. The
Marshal's reply was in the following terms :—

To, Habibullah, the son of a water-
carrier,

I got your message and the offer it

137


contained. It seems to me that so far you are quite ignorant of my purpose and intention, and that your counsellors too have misguided you in this respect. My object in returning to my motherland at such a time is neither to have the throne, nor to share it with you. I have come here simply to do away with internal unrest, and put an end to this bloody civil war, which is corroding [فاسد کرده] the foundation of the nation. This national catastrophe has been brought about by you. Although due to your ignorance you do not realize the damage you have done to the nation, yet the sensible world lays all the blame at your door, and the day of reckoning is not far. Myself and my companions wish to see Afghanistan enjoying peace and prosperity, and on the path of progress. This is my goal and whosoever crosses my path, I would look upon him as a national enemy and would do my best to remove him from my way.

A few days ago I sent you a message duly signed by the representatives of the east and the south. It was clearly pointed out to you that so long as you held the

138


reins of the Government, it was impossible to
see peace in the country. You were, therefore,
called upon to retire. You had the audacity جسارت گستاخی
to refuse. Even now I am willing to give
you a chance, for I have come for peace,
and have no desire to shed blood. Nothing
would give me greater pleasure than to
restore peace in the country, without recourse
to arms. But I am sure that so long as
an ignorant person like you remains on the
throne, the nation cannot enjoy peace or
happiness. You are not fit for the respons-
ibility that you have assumed, and no one
is willing to accept you as king. I, therefore,
once more advise you to vacate the throne
and to let the people have a king of their
own choice. If, however, you are obstinate
and crazy about the throne, you will be only
aggravating the existing troubles of the
country, and I will be compelled to fight
you to the last. I am going to hold a
second jirgah in the course of a day or two
and the decision arrived at will be communi-
cated to you at once.
Regarding your threats to kill my relatives
who are now in Kabul, in case I refuse to

139


accept your sovereignty, let me tell you frankly that you again misjudge me. If in the cause of national welfare I were to lose all my relatives or even myself, I will feel proud of such a noble sacrifice. Remember, O tyrant! that these threats cannot deter me from my determination.

. . . . .

On the 17th May, the tribal representatives assembled again. All the tribes promised to send in their levies after a month as they were at the time busy cultivating their lands. But the Marshal could not wait, as Mohammad Siddiq was already on his way to Gardez. Something had to be done to check his advance. He, therefore, sent necessary instructions to Sardar Shah Wali Khan, who was then in charge of the Gardez garrison, and promised to send him help soon. Sardar Shah Mahmud Khan moved towards Jaji in order to divert the Bacha's attention. It was at a critical time like this that the Bacha sent another message to the Marshal through Sardar Ali Shah Khan and the notorious Abdul Latif. Ali Shah Khan, a cousin of the Marshal, did not hesitate to tell the truth and related the manifold atrocities of the Bacha
متعدد
140


and his men in the presence of a full audience
including Abdul Latif. He told the Marshal
that although all their relatives in Kabul
might perish at the hands of the tyrant yet
this should in no way affect his programme.
He added that they would all prefer death to
an ignominious agreement, detrimental to
the general welfare. The Marshal had once
more to repeat his previous message, which
enraged the brigand ruler to such an extent
that all the members of his family were
thrown into dungeons.

Attack on Gardez.—Mohammad Siddiq,
realizing the weakness of the Gardez garrison,
advanced rapidly. Before beginning bom-
bardment, he gave the garrison the
choice of unconditional surrender by 3 P.M.
The few men who were inside the fort
were in no way prepared to meet the
onslaught of this formidable host. Sardar
Shah Wali Khan was at his wit's end.
He knew that there was no time to lose, the
enemy was already knocking at the door. He
held a hurried meeting to discuss the problem,
but few agreed to fight. All hope was lost,
when suddenly Abdul Ghani Khan, a brave

141


and energetic man, got up and made a short speech, telling them that he would in no case submit to the Bacha whose very name was a national disgrace, the blackest spot on the history of the Afghans. He said that he was determined to fight to the last, and if none joined him, he would face the enemy single-handed. Saying this he took up his rifle and left for the front. His brave words and bold example worked a miracle. He was at once followed by sixty men. The overwhelming host of the invaders now began to press on all sides, but these sixty men put up a heroic fight. Much blood was shed and the defenders in spite of heavy losses held on. They were hourly reinforced but at no time did their number exceed six hundred. At this critical time, the Ahmadzai lashkar arrived to the rescue of the beseiged. Fortunately, a cavalry of Totakhels and Mangals of Mirzaka sent by the Marshal appeared on the scene. The tables were now turned and the Saqaoists were dispersed. At nine in the evening the rout was complete. The enemy could not keep themselves even in the White Fort and had to cross the Altamoor

142


Pass. Large quantities of ammunition and hundreds of prisoners fell into the hands of the victorious lashkar. Mohammad Siddiq, the commander, who was severely wounded in the thigh, managed to escape. He, with four hundred men, took shelter in Sahak—six miles from Gardez.

The victory was complete; but the danger was not yet over. When the Marshal learnt of the outcome, he, apprehensive as he was of a counter-attack from Kabul, sent about eighty men to watch the Altamoor Pass and a message was sent to Jaji asking Sardar Shah Mahmud Khan, either to attack Logar pesonally via Dobandi or to send a detachment there with necessary instructions and come to Sijinak himself. As foreseen, the Bacha, on hearing of the plight of his army, collected a large force immediately, and himself at its head, marched towards Gardez. It was in the Altamoor Pass that he was fired at by the eighty men already stationed there as a precautionary measure. The neighbouring tribes also came to their help, and the Bacha soon found himself hemmed in. It was with great difficulty that he managed to reach

143


Kabul in his car. Once more large quantities of arms and ammunition fell into the hands of the lashkar.

Sardar Shah Wali Khan held a jirgah at Gardez in order to discuss the immediate line of action. Some were in favour of an attack on Kabul via Logar; others suggested that so long as Mohammad Siddiq was at Sahak, such a step could not be taken without danger. They proposed to send an ultimatum to the Sahak tribes asking them to hand over the Saqaoist general or to turn him out. To this the Sardar would not agree; he knew it was rather dangerous to send such a message. This would make these and the other local tribes take up arms against him. But very much against his wishes he was obliged to comply with their request. The Sahakis on receiving the message bluntly refused either to hand over Mohammad Siddiq and his men or to turn them out. A battle was now unavoidable. Both parties made preparations and soon afterwards the battle commenced. At first the Sahaki lashkar was beaten back and they were willing to sign an agreement, and to turn out the Saqaoists. But as ill-luck

144


would have it, just at this time they got
reinforcements from Kabul and the Sulaiman
Khel tribes and immediately assumed the
offensive. Gardez was soon in danger and the
inhabitants began to vacate, flying for shelter
to the far off villages. Sardar Shah Wali Khan
held out till the end. He sent a touching
letter to the Marshal telling him that he would
soon be obliged to bid good-bye to the Gardez
Fort. He was already surrounded by foes on
all sides, but even so he did not leave the
fort till its residents who had so faithfully
stood by him were carried to safety.

145
J


His Majesty King Mohd Nadir Shah
with H.R.H. Prince Mohd Zahir Khan.


CHAPTER XIV
THE FALL OF KABUL

With the disastrous مصیبت آور fate of Gardez due mainly to the unwise and rash actions of the tribes and their mutual discord, the مخالفت greatest stronghold of the south was lost. The Bacha was now in possession of nearly the whole country. Very little hope was left. From Gardez, the heart of the province, the Bacha could easily extend his tentacles شاخ حشرات in all directions. He would have no difficulty in establishing direct contact with the tribes. He would first try to bribe them and if that device proved useless he could use force, and would have little difficulty in bringing them to their knees.
The Marshal, however, contrary to the apprehensions خوف of everybody, was still hopeful of success. With the remaining few men, he repaired to Jaji, where Sardar Shah Mahmud Khan was busy in collecting a lashkar. The journey lay through a very wild and desolate ویرانه و متروک tract of land. It took the Marshal full two days to reach his

147


destination. During these days he could hardly take any rest. Once only on the way, at a place called Hazar Darakht, "One Thousand Trees", he stopped to take food. The elders of Jaji had come out to receive him at Shiga, where he was given a cordial reception. Great rejoicings with tribal dances and beating of drums soon made them forget the hardships of the journey.
Immediately a meeting was held. The Marshal was the first to speak and explain the causes that brought him to Jaji. He briefly dealt with the situation of the day, his aims and objects and the causes of the fall of Gardez. In the end he asked them to give up internal discord and work unitedly otherwise there was no hope of national salvation. Then one of the chiefs, representing the tribes, made a speech. He said, "All the Jaji tribes are extremely thankful for all the troubles that you have undergone for the sake of this country and appreciate very much your past services to the nation. They express their deep sorrow on the behaviour of some of the tribes who, due to their ignorance, failed to realize the true
148


value of your sacrifices. We consider ourselves fortunate to see you amongst us. This is the happiest day of our life and we will never fail to commemorate the anniversary of this day. We promise to abide by your orders and carry out your commands. Our lashkar is quite prepared and only awaits your instructions. We wish that under your guidance we may be able to rescue the nation." The Marshal thanked them for their sincere wishes and said that he was not in favour of hsaty steps. He would first try to bring about, the union of the various tribes, for in his opinion that was more important at the time than bringing about the fall of the usurper, and unless that was brought about, there could not be any permanent peace in the country, and all their efforts would be frustrated. بیهوده He, therefore, asked them to do their best to unite the various tribes at war with one another. He suggested that missions be sent to them explaining the urgent need of giving up their tribal jealousies and of making a united effort for the extirpation of the cruel بربادی کامل regime, and the restoration of peace.
149


Consequently two missions were sent, one to Gardez and the other to the Eastern Province. A lashkar of some 2,500 Jajis under the command of Sardar Shah Mahmud Khan was sent to watch the Dobandi Pass, leading to Logar and to try to win over some of the local chiefs to their side. On the 30th June, the two missions left for their respective destinations. During this interval the Marshal kept himself busy with propaganda work. A cyclostyle was procured and a weekly paper Islah—the Reformation— was published which in the course of a few weeks began to prove very useful.

The mission sent to Gardez met the representatives of the tribes in the village of Totakhel. The tribes repented of their past behaviour, their selfishness and rash actions. They expressed their deepest sorrow on the departure of the Marshal and his brothers. They entered into a solemn contract promising to give up their mutual jealousies and rivalries and exert themselves under the guidance of the Marshal.

The General Condition of the Country at this Time.—Kabul, the seat of government,

150


for the last eight months had been groaning
under various oppressive measures. The
nobles and the high officials were either
shot dead or were suffering tortures in
dungeons and prisons. Most of the people
were unemployed and did not know how
to procure their daily bread. Shops were
generally closed and trade was at a stand
still. Afghanistan was entirely cut off from
the outside world. The Bacha and his men
thinking themselves now masters of the
country with none to dispute their rights
had increased their atrocities. Independence
Day arrived and was celebrated at Deh
Mozang near Kabul with great ceremony
and rejoicing.

Kandahar had submitted to the Bacha
and was governed by one Abdul Qadeer.
Abdul Latif, the notorious Kohati and the
messenger of Bacha, was in charge of the
Police Department. The whole of the
Kandahar Province was now part of Bacha's
dominion. But the Kandaharis had by this
time realized their folly. During the days of
King Amanullah Khan they wanted a change
of Government; but the change, when achieved,

151


proved to be for the worse. Some of the
pamphlets and a few copies of the Islah found
their way to Kandahar and had a salutary effect مفید
in rousing the people. One of the Achakzai
قوی ۔ فوری leaders, Mehr Dil Khan, was strenuously
exerting himself to shake off Bacha's yoke.
Gradually he won a large number of
adherents from amongst the tribes and the
Bacha's military posts were taken and the
garrison massacred. Feeling the general
weakness of the Bacha's Government and
the universal hatred of the people for him,
he determined to march on Kandahar.

In the north the Bacha was very
successful. His agents Mohammad Qasim
Khan and Abdur Rahim Khan took the
whole province without having an army
at their command. Such was the general
hatred of the people for the ex-King and
his officials that the soldiers everywhere
شورش کردن mutinied, killed their officers and sent their
allegiance to the Bacha. Abdul Aziz Khan,
the Governor of Mazar-i-Sharif, had to flee
for his life. But soon the tables were turned.
Ghulam Nabi Khan, a brother of Abdul
Aziz Khan, with a handful of Turkomans

152


and other Muslim tribes of Central Asia
swooped down upon the country from the
north and within a few days was able to
take Mazar-i-Sharif and other important
places as far as the Hindu Kush. Even
Sayed Hussain who was sent to oppose
his advance had to take shelter in Qataghan.
But at this time Ghulam Nabi Khan heard
of the flight of the ex-King, and was so
disappointed that he at once made up his
mind to give up the struggle. Collecting
everything that he could lay his hands on,
he repaired secretly to Russia, leaving the
north once more to the mercy of Sayed
Hussain, who did not fail to avenge his
past grievances. The whole of the north
from the Zulfiqar Pass in the west right
up to Sar-i-Kul in the east was now in the
grip of the Bacha and his men.

In the east, Sardar Mohammad Hashim
Khan was going from place to place asking
the tribes to give up their internecine warfare.
He had been able to restore order and
to form a temporary Government whose
seat was at Kajja. At last he collected
a small lashkar. It was sent to attack

153


Kabul from the east simultaneously with
the attack of the lashkar from the south.
But unfortunately the southern lashkar had
to fall back and the Bacha had time to
control the situation; and the eastern
expedition failed to do anything. The Bacha
بلندترین was at this time at the zenith of his power.
He was now the master of the whole country.
Even Gardez, the strongest military post of
the south, was in his possession. Yet he
could not feel at ease. The Marshal with
his brothers was still in Jaji busy with his
work in uniting the tribes and organizing
a lashkar. The Bacha managed to collect
a large army, about 50,000 strong, with the
intention of attacking Jaji from different
شروع کرد points. But before he was able to embark
on his expedition at the head of this
formidable force, the Marshal thought of
a plan of dividing his forces. Sardar Shah
Mahmud Khan commenced his advance on
Gardez, thus keeping busy the Bacha's
garrison there. The enemy was obliged to
station an army of about 10,000 at Karez-i-
Darvesh on the Kabul-Gardez Road.

In the east Sardar Mohammad Hashim

154


Khan was asked to prepare another lashkar
and to threaten the Bacha's eastern flank,
with the result that the Bacha had to send
a large portion of his army to the east.
Hamidullah, Bacha's younger brother, was
made the commander of this section. After
a short resistance, Sardar Mohammad Hashim
Khan began to retreat and the enemy thinking
themselves victorious made a hot pursuit.
But their difficulties increased daily. Every
day brought new troubles. If one tribe was
subjugated, another in a different quarter
would rise and more reinforcements had to be
sent from the capital.

The Marshal, on the other hand, watched
the course of events very carefully. He
also made preparations on a larger scale.
Invitations were sent to some trans-border
Afghan tribes. The Orakzais were the first
to respond. But as their way lay through
British territory, they could not come to Jaji
without the consent of that Government.
H. Mohammad Akbar Khan was sent to
consult the Political Officer at Parachinar.
But the Government of India declaring its
strict neutrality refused passage. The

155


Waziris were next approached. A mission consisting of Allah Nawaz Khan, Nawab Khan, Jan Gul Khan and Abdul Rahim Khan left Ali Khel on the 5th August. Meanwhile, the Marshal collected stores of provisions at different places for the expected lashkar and at the same time worked busily with the cyclostyle. Soon lashkars from all sides began to pour in Ali Khel. The Chamkani lashkar under the command of General Shah Mahmud Khan left for Mirzaka. This journey took him three days. On reaching the place, the General began to win over the local tribes to his side, with a view to attack Gardez. The Ahmadzais and Totakhels sent in their men. The Saqaoists, annoyed to see such a state of affairs so close to Gardez, fell upon them, but after a contested fight of two days, took to their heels. They were closely pursued by the lashkar. But due to rapid artillery fire and the strong position of the fort, Gardez could not be taken. The next day, the Saqaoists were greatly reinforced. They once more came out to meet the lashkar in the open field. A fight took place

156


in the suburbs of Tor and Speen, and
lasted for two days. Both sides suffered
heavy casualties. The Saqaoists were again
beaten, leaving a large number of prisoners,
and plenty of arms and ammunition.

The Dash for the Capital.—At this junc-
ture the Waziri lashkar arrived, and the
Marshal thought of making a dash for the
capital from a direction which the Bacha
could have little imagined. Sardar Shah
Wali Khan was ordered to proceed via
Dobandi to the Logar Valley. He com-
menced his memorable march on the 29th
September. His first objective was the post
of Khushi, which he had little difficulty in
occupying. From this place as his head-
quarters he sent a detachment of some 1,000
men to attack the Wagho-Jan Pass—the key
to Kabul. In the evening the lashkar reached
the pass, and attacked the enemy. The
battle lasted all through the night, and when
the dawn broke, the Saqaoists found them-
selves surrounded, and had to yield. Besides
prisoners, a large quantity of arms and
ammunition fell into the hands of the victors.
The lashkar returned to Khushi with the

157


booty. The Sardar was highly pleased to
learn of their success but immediately sent
تعداد another batch to guard the pass, which had,
however, been reoccupied by the enemy in
the interval. A second fight had to be fought.
At the same time another lashkar under
Allah Nawaz Khan was sent to attack the
Saqaoists at Mohammad Agha. The place
was stormed; large quantity of arms and
ammunition were taken. Another detach-
ment proceeded to the help of those who
were fighting for Wagho-Jan Pass, and
attacked the enemy from the other side.
The Saqaoists lost heart and dispersed. The
pass was occupied and a guard posted there.

For the last forty-eight hours since the
commencement of the battle, the Sardar
had no rest. He was busy in sending men,
ammunition and provisions wherever needed.
But he was hopeful of his success as he
was aware of the growing hatred of the
people for the Bacha and his reign, and
the demoralized condition of his army.
Kabul was 20 miles to the north—a
distance of five hours' march. He knew it
was the right time to strike. After his initial

158


successes at Mohammad Agha, Allah Nawaz
Khan was ordered to proceed towards Char
Asia, which he occupied the next day, and
he was soon joined by the Sardar with all his
men. The Sardar now divided his lashkar into
two parts. One batch under Allah Nawaz Khan
and Mohammad Gul Khan was ordered to pro-
ceed via Sang-i-Navishta and Bini Hisar and
he himself at the head of the other division
advanced on Kabul by way of Char-Deh.
He had no difficulty in reaching Chehl-Stoon,
about two miles to the south of Kabul. All
the points of strategic importance near Kabul
were taken. The Bacha in the meantime
was not idle. He fortified the Asmai, Sher
Darwaza and the Maranjan Hills, command-
ing the Arg and the city of Kabul; and
all the members of the Marshal's family
were taken to the Arg and put into dungeons.

از گرسنگی تلف شده The Night of Suspense.-The panic-
stricken and famished people of the capital
were too excited to sleep that night. Impa-
tiently they peered into the darkness, intently
listening for the first sounds of the invading
army's approach; the consternation of the وحشت
Bacha and his men adding to their secret joy.

159


The Dawn of Hope.—The day dawned and the lashkar from the Bini Hisar began to advance. The Bacha himself went to Maranjan Hill and offered resistance. Thrice the lashkar attempted to enter the city but each time the heavy artillery fire from the enemy compelled them to retreat. The following night the lashkar again made an attempt and after a few hours' fighting succeeded in breaking their lines and reached the Chaman-i-Hazoori, the playgrounds on the outskirts of the city. At the same time Sardar Shah Wali Khan also entered the city in the face of heavy artillery fire (October 9th, 1929). The Saqaoists were beaten at every point and most of them left for Koh Daman, while a few took shelter in the Arg where the Bacha was making his last stand. There was general rejoicing in the city. The Bacha's officials decamped and the Sardar had no difficulty in restoring order and peace. Everywhere the citizens came out to meet him, and congratulated him on his success. Bands were played, drums beaten and songs sung in his honour. But the Sardar knew that

160


the danger was not yet over. The most
critical time had yet to come. The Bacha
with his chosen adherents was inside the
Arg, and all the members of the Marshal's
family were kept there to be put to death
as soon as the Arg was bombarded. The
Bacha sent word that each bullet fired in
that direction would find one of his relatives
as its victim. Sardar Shah Wali Khan had
to communicate with the Marshal on this
point. In the evening, Purdil, the Bacha's
Commander-in-Chief with all the men at
his command, attacked the city from the
Paghman side. Sardar Shah Wali Khan
and General Shah Mahmud Khan with a
handful of men went out to meet him.
Near Shehr Ara, the old Habibia College
building, a decisive battle was fought, and
fortune once more favoured the heroes;
Purdil himself was mortally wounded.
On the 11th October, the Sardar received
a reply to his letter sent to the Marshal.
This letter showed how the Marshal was ready
to make the heaviest sacrifice for the sake
of his motherland. He ordered his brother
to commence bombardment immediately.
161
K


منظره کابل


The Marshal in the Balahissar, Kabul.


The letter ran thus :-" At this crisis when the choice lies between the safety of my relatives and the safety of the nation, I do not hesitate to sacrifice the former. I, therefore, command you to begin bombardment of the Arg immediately without the slightest consideration for our dear ones." The Sardar on receiving the order did not flinch for a moment. With tears in his eyes, he began to bombard the Arg. During the night a fruitless assault was made, for the artillery fire of the enemy held them back. Next day the bombardment was resumed. The magazine inside the castle caught fire. The garrison soon lost heart. Even the Bacha realized that his days were numbered. Under cover of darkness he made good his escape. The lashkar now entered the burning Arg and were relieved to find all the members of the Marshal's family safe. But the major portion of the beautiful Arg was burnt to ashes. The news of this success was at once communicated to the Marshal in Ali Khel. People from all parts of the country flocked to the capital. On the 16th October, the Marshal reached Chehl Stoon and at 10 the

162


next morning he entered the city. Thousands
of the people of all tribes stood on either
side of the road to greet him. He was
received with the shouts of "Long live the
Saviour of the Nation."

The Marshal proceeded straight to the
Salam Khana-the Hall of Reception.
Representatives from every part of the
country had gathered there. One of them
got up and thanked the Marshal and his
brothers for their innumerable services. The
Marshal made a brief speech, telling them
that they should realize the national losses
and do their best to recoup them. All جبران خسارت
the representatives earnestly implored the
Marshal to accept the throne, but the Marshal
was unwilling to go so far. He said that his
aim had been achieved and his duty was
done. He wanted to return to private life at
Aliabad-two miles from Kabul. But the
people who had realized the true worth of
the Marshal would on no account leave him.
His remonstrances were in vain. He was
their saviour and so he must be their king.
The hall resounded with the repeated shouts
of "Long live King Mohammad Nadir Shah."

163


The Marshal wanted to speak but for a long
time he was given no opportunity to do so.
تخفیف دادن At last when the enthusiasm abated a little
the Marshal stood up. To an audience that
was respectfully hushed, he addressed these
words, "Gentlemen," he said, "my object
was only to free you from the cruel hold of
the Bacha and to put an end to the Reign
of Terror, and this by the grace of God and
by your co-operation has been achieved.
Now, I hope, you will kindly permit me to
retire and take rest. It is for you now to
choose a king. Let your choice fall on
some worthy person who is in your opinion
fit for this task. As for myself, to tell you
the truth, I am not in a position, nor am I
سخت willing, to take up this onerous duty. Long
ere this I made my aims and objects clear to
you." On this the chiefs were all the more
پر غوغا clamorous in their demand. All of them
with one voice declared that no one was
worthier to be their king; and that his
refusal would plunge the country into worse
troubles. In the name of the love and
honour of the country, that was so dear to
him, they requested the Marshal to accept.

164


Taking advantage of the Marshal's hesitation
the people again shouted, "Long live
King Mohammad Nadir Shah, the Saviour
of the Afghans and the Liberator of the
country." Although aware of the poor
condition of the country and the heavy task
that lay before the Government, the Marshal
was so much pressed that he had to yield.
The audience were overjoyed to hear his
acceptance and for a long time the hall rang
with shouts of :-
"Long live King Mohammad Nadir
Shah"
"Long live the Saviour of the Nation"
"Long live the Independence of the
Country."

165


[BLANK PAGE]


CHAPTER XV
RECONSTRUCTION

It is not by his military genius and his crowning achievement in saving his country from the iron grip of the cruel and relentless tyrant or by his innumerable national services in the past alone that we should estimate the greatness of this august per- [همایون] sonality. As later events have shown, this sovereign of the Afghans deserves our esteem and commands our admiration from another point of view also, viz. as a brilliant administrator and a highly talented organizer. To appreciate to the fullest extent the wonderful achievements of His Majesty, it is necessary to compare the state of affairs on the day when he was obliged to assume the responsibilities of Government with the situation to-day. At the age of 45, he embarked on a task that might have daunted the bravest and wisest of diplomats. In the history of no other nation do we find a sovereign so financially handicapped at the start. It was probably the first case

167


of a national exchequer خزانه being absolutely
bankrupt, unlined with even a silver coin.
The finances of the state, therefore, demanded
the first and the most vigilant care of the
King. Though every measure of injustice
and extortion, which could bring the last
خزینه farthing of his subjects into the coffers of
the state, had been adopted by the Bacha,
yet upon his explusion from the Arg, the
public treasury was totally exhausted, so much
so that King Mohammad Nadir Shah had
no means to defray even the current expenses
of the Government. It was literally the case
of a monarch ruling at Kabul without
possessing so much as even the price of a
meal for himself. Even under these dis-
tressed and difficult circumstances he had
بلند همتی the magnanimity to remit all the oppress-
ive rates and taxes which had told so
heavily upon the poor classes and also
پس مانده to cancel the arrears due from people and
forego the unjust claims of the treasury,
declaring in a royal decree that he was
better satisfied to govern and administer a
poor country with justice and equity than
to acquire riches by means of tyranny and

168


oppression. Economy and industry he con-
siders as the true sources of wealth. The
expenses of the royal household were
immediately reduced to a minimum, that
is, to less than one-fourth of the budgets
of the previous kings. All the estates, that
had been considered the property of the
crown and whose revenue went directly to
the king's purse, were declared to be public
property. The royal firman to the effect
reads thus:-

To,

The Minister of Finance.

WHEREAS according to information
received, the royal private property of
Afghanistan is not personal in the real sense
of the word, in other words, the private
property has been so altered that from the
beginning uptil now a great deal has every
now and then been taken from the public
treasury and added to it; and as it stands
to-day, the area of lands, the number of
shops and factories, etc., requires for its
correct upkeep an office as big as the Ministry
of Finance, and the whole affair has assumed

169


Hockey Match, Military Club v. British Legation, Independence Day, 1932.


Hockey Winners, Independence Day Celebrations, 1932
H.R.H. Sardar Shah Mahmud Khan, Minister for Defence (centre) takes a keen interest in all sports.


معلق
such an intricate form that it is impossible to distinguish the real property from that added afterwards. We, therefore, considering all such properties as rightly belonging to the public treasury, ordain that all such lands, shops, etc., which now are included in the private royal assets be transferred to the public treasury of the nation and the office relative to the private property be abolished.
(Sd.) H. M. THE KING.

2 Aqrab 1308.
(25th October 1929).

قناعت In addition to this frugality and the reduction of the expenses of the royal house-hold, the King had the generosity to issue
مدر معاش another firman granting liberal stipends to the brothers and relatives of the ex-King. Another noteworthy proclamation of the King known as the Khat-i-Mashi deals with the future programme of his Government. The previous kings of the country did not work under any definite programme; one day one thing was done, and the next day another; and the will of the king could undo either. There was no goal or aim to be achieved.

170


But King Mohammad Nadir Shah on the very day of his coronation issued a proclamation which contained briefly his aims and objects, and the line he proposed for the conduct of the Government. This firman is the foundation-stone of a constitution for the country. It runs thus :—
(1) —The present Government shall direct and conduct the affairs of state in strict accordance with اساسات دولتی the tenets of the holy and sacred religion of Islam, according to the Hanafi School; and the Shoora-i-Milli (The Afghan Parliament) and Ministry of Justice shall be responsible for the enforcement of Islamic Law in the country. The department of Ihtsab shall be an essential feature of the Government, and shall be conducted in a systematic way in accordance with the articles of faith. The in-habitants of Afghanistan shall without distinction of race or creed have equal rights and shall be as brothers to one another. Purdah
171


shall be observed in accordance with the Islamic Law.
(2) Prohibition of Bribery and Intoxicants.—All the employees of whatever grade or rank shall, in the Ministry of Justice, swear by the Holy Koran and promise that they will not accept bribes or presents from the people and shall conduct themselves in the discharge of their duties with clean minds; and from now onwards shall never give way to dishonesty, but will carry out their duties honestly and sincerely. Punishment for drinking shall be according to the Islamic Law. Sale of liquor, public or private, is prohibited in the whole country, and the inhabitants are not allowed to brew liquors. If liquors are manufactured in any house, or offered for sale in any shop and this fact be proved to a certainty, the articles used for the purpose shall be confiscated and the persons
172


A Military Review by H. M. King Mohd Nadir Shah.


foreign countries as they were in the reign of H. M. King Amanullah Khan. The present Government wishes to establish relations of goodwill with adjacent countries and is prepared to make treaties of friendship in order to maintain and strengthen the Independence of the country.

(5) Home affairs.—The Home Ministry shall devote its full attention to the appointment of governors and subordinates for the various provinces and districts, so that the work of Government may be entrusted to suitable hands. It shall present a list of candidates before a selection committee for approval and sanction. It shall also try to make satisfactory telephone, telegraph and postal arrangements and shall give early attention to the construction of bridges and roads for motors and other vehicles.

174


(6) The Ministry of Finance.—The Ministry of Finance shall control revenues efficiently and shall try to collect instalments from the various provinces as previously. Custom duties shall be charged as before, and the dues that have accrued shall be collected; but facilities shall be provided for making payments so that the people may not be burdened unnecessarily and the Government may not suffer any loss. Remissions عفو و تخفیف granted by previous governments shall be recognized.

(7) Trade and Agriculture.—Afghanistan feels the need of these departments more than ever before; and, therefore, desires to establish commercial relations with Persia, Italy, France, Britain, Russia, America, Belgium, Germany, Japan and other countries, and Afghanistan would take advantage of the improvements made in all the civilized countries. The

175


present Government wishes to start railways, work mines and construct canals for irrigating lands, and also wishes to introduce into the country modern methods of agriculture as used in the civilized countries of the world.

(8) Education and Arts.—Education and arts for religious and secular دنیوی advancement are considered very essential; and as soon as the Shoora-i-Milli (Parliament) is inaugurated and representatives from different provinces gather, ways and means shall be discussed, so that the nation may be educationally equipped for its safety and defence.

(9) The Parliament.—Representatives from all parts shall assemble at the centre, the people selecting them from among those who are learned, wise, faithful and have the good of the country at heart, and in whom the nation can fully put their trust. The ministers and

176


governors shall be responsible to the representatives; and the President of the Parliament shall have rights of scrutiny or investigation, and shall be elected by the representatives.

(10) The Prime Minister shall be selected and appointed by the King, and he shall organize a Cabinet of Ministers and submit its constitution to the King for approval and sanction.

During the short space of nine months the terrible Saqaoists had spread devastation and ruin all over the country; from the سرحدات confines of Herat in the west right up to the Indian border in the east, pestilence ناخوشی ها and famines, robbery and dacoity were the order of the day. There was no order, no law, save that might was right. When the present King took Kabul, he found the whole country in a chaos, بی نظمی tribal wars raging on all sides, trade and agriculture badly crippled, people half starving and diseased, and many dressed in rags with their skin showing through the rents and imploring for food,

177
L


نمای از عمارت [ILL]


Fawaid-i-Ama (P.W.D) Ministry, Kabul.


villages deserted, houses burnt, thousands
of people rendered homeless, schools and
colleges entirely closed, some of them burnt
and demolished, the students having taken
shelter in far off and remote places to avoid
the wrath of this ignorant tyrant, who
خارجي regarded them as renegades. Kabul, like
all the other cities, was scarred and eaten
away with fire. On all sides blackened ruins
تنفر آور gaped as if in horror and the loathsome
remains of public executions were to be
انبار غله found everywhere. The granaries were
empty, and the grain fields had been neglected
مدهش for reaping the gruesome harvest of human
lives. To add to these even the elements
seemed to be bent upon destruction. The
cold winter—the coldest during a period of
some thirty years—threatened to last for
ever.
To heal as far as possible the wounds
دردناک inflicted by the hands of tyranny was the
melancholy task of this King, who took it
up with the earnestness and solicitude
of the humblest of workers. The innocent
victims who yet survived were recalled
from exile, or released from the prison,

178


and were restored to the full enjoyment
of their previous honours and fortunes.
Unburied corpses of the unhappy victims
of the tyrant were taken out from the
ditches round the Arg, and buried in
the grave-yards of their ancestors, and every
consideration was shown to the bereaved and محروم شده گان
afflicted families. Within the space of a
few months he was able to quell all the
internal disturbances, to punish the robbers
and outlaws, and to restore peace and order
in a country that was on the brink of total لبه
annihilation.
After the tyrant's death his formidable
army acknowledged the authority of the
King from necessity rather than from choice.
Nevertheless, as soon as he received their
oath of fidelity, he issued a proclamation
ordering his lashkar to give up the pursuits
and addressing the Saqaoists in terms of
mildness and moderation, lamenting rather
than arraigning the wildest disorders of the
time and assuring them that they would
enjoy the full benefits of their property and
that they need not have any apprehension
of chastisement for their past conduct. But
179


متکبر مغرور
nothing could reconcile the haughty spirit
of the Saqaoists. They still lived in the
infamous past when the Bacha was at their
head and they were in full possession
of the public treasury, which they could
enjoy to their hearts' content. They ignored
the King's clemency and broke out in an
open rebellion at a time when the King
had little regular army and insufficient arms
and ammunition. But they had soon to
learn that those, who were now masters
of the capital, were not ordinary men—
they were masters of the art of governing
and administration. Within a week the
insurrection was beaten down, and the ring-
leaders of the insurgents were caught and
court-martialled. The rest were once more
allowed to settle down in their respective
places,and encouraged to follow some honest
pursuit. King Mohammad Nadir Shah on
the very day that he entered the capital
turned his attention to internal reforms. But
much had yet to be done to return even
to normal conditions. There were evils
enough to be eradicated before reconstruction
could begin. He soon made it known that

180
مرحم
بیخکن کردن


he would not shirk from the onerous task
of leading his people towards civilization
and progress, and would do his best to
eliminate the plague of corruption and
bribery. His desire has always been for
permanent peace, to enable his people to
continue in paths of industrial progress and
thus preserve the national honour and
prestige. He and his brothers applied them-
selves vigorously to reconcile the warring
chiefs. The tribes, who thought once more
of securing deliverance from the Central
Government, learnt for the first time that
they could no longer continue their once
profitable occupation of looting and plunder-
ing neighbouring villages. The most pressing
need of the country was to unite different par-
ties and factions. Through the incessant [مخالفین]
efforts of these national heroes, we find that to-
day the provinces are once more united under
one constitution and are making steady
progress. They might occasionally suffer
from the partial abuse of delegated authority,
but the general principle of Government
is wise, simple and beneficent. Every body
enjoys freedom of speech. All have

181


An Afghan Lancer.


An Afghan Soldier.


equal rights and enjoy equal chances of being exalted by just degrees to posts they deserve.

REFORMS.

The Army.—After pacification and unification of the tribes, the first great field for reorganization was the army. Due to lack of funds the Government at first was unable to make any progress in that direction. It was therefore that the army, which must always come first in importance in such a country, could not for many months be organized. But it was the first item that claimed the immediate attention of the newly formed Government. There were still bandits and opportunists who might imitate the example of the Bacha and with their men swoop down upon the capital at any time. Indeed, for the time being, King Mohammad Nadir Shah, though he could rely on the loyalty of the lashkar and on his own general popularity, had little organized protection against such dreaded foes. In the first chapter the readers were given an idea of the wretched condition of Amanullah Khan's army. They were ill-kept and ill-fed.

182


The cantonments were no better than stables. Sanitation was in a deplorable condition. There were no military parades. The military school existed in name only. We have also seen the results of this state of affairs. When the revolution broke out none was willing to offer his services, and the few, who were forced to go to the front, were so demoralized and dissatisfied that they did not offer strong resistance. King Nadir Shah knew all this. He had himself been a Commander-in-Chief. He was fully aware of the wide-spread corruption among officers, and the various grievances of the soldiers. He had more than once protested in vain against the unwise steps of the ex-King's Government. He was not in favour of the Makoolat system, by which the Government supplied food to soldiers and deducted expenses from their salaries. He knew that this would go to enrich those who were in charge of the supply. He wanted that the soldiers should be paid their full salaries in hard cash. But the misguided ruler had not accepted these friendly counsels.

183


H. M. King Nadir Shah, now that he was at the head of the state, benefited by his personal knowledge and experience. He enhanced the salary of the soldier to twenty-five rupees a month, besides granting him جیره ration allowance. He is paid regularly on the first of every month. In addition to the Central Military Hospital, every cantonment is provided with a dispensary and a qualified doctor. The old and ruined cantonments are repaired and the new ones on the latest models are being built all over the country. Every cantonment is supplied with وسیع spacious playgrounds, and great impetus is given to sports. A large club has been opened for the soldiers who are now better dressed and decently equipped. They undergo regular training. Punctuality is strictly observed. Military laws and regulations are strictly carried out. There is a military school and a military college, besides special arrangements for the instruction under experienced European experts on modern lines of officers already in service. Recently the foundation-stone of a military college has been laid in the historic fort of Bala

184


Hisar. When completed, this will be one
of the grandest buildings of its kind. Nor
is this all that has been done for the army.
The soldiers are contented and satisfied, a
spirit of brotherly comradeship has been
created among them and there is far great
cohesion amongst them than had ever been
achieved before.

Education.—Side by side with the
development of the army, the King devotes
much of his attention to the education of his
countrymen. He considers that the true
happiness of his people can only be achieved
through education and peace. He himslef
is a man of great learning and is a great
linguist, commanding considerable fluency in فصاحت
six languages. Though the major portion of his
life has been spent in the army and diplomatic
service, he does not lack the genius of a great
man of letters.

One of his first acts after taking Kabul
was the re-opening of schools and colleges,
and each year witnesses the establishment
of new educational institutions. One of the
latest is the Faculty of Medicine (the first
medical college of the country), where the

185


Medical College Students, with their Principal in the centre.


[BLANK PAGE]


medium of instruction is Persian. A medical
school was started in the second year of
H. M.'s reign providing junior medical
instruction to many young men of the
country. All the expenses of the various
institutions are borne by the Government.
No fees are charged and nearly 20% of the
students, besides getting the benefits of
free tuition, free books and other materials,
are paid handsome stipends. Every Habibya
College student without exception gets 20
Afghanis per mensem for the first year, 30 for
the second and 40 for the third year. Faculty
students, in addition to their monthly stipends
of 50 Afghanis each, get free meals and
clothing. Great care is taken of the health
of the students. The Ministry of Education
has a well-equipped dispensary and a qualified
doctor. The students are properly examined
and treated; no charge is made either for
consultation or for treatment. In serious
cases students are sent abroad on Government
expense. While writing about the medical
aid for the students, it will not be out of
place to mention the medical arrangements
made for the general public. Many hospitals

186


including hospitals for mental diseases have been opened in various parts of the country. A tuberculosis sanatorium on modern lines, epuipped with all modern conveniences, has been erected at Ali Abad. The Government maintains an orphanage where children are carefully looked after, fed and clothed and adequate arrangements have been made for their education.

Government lends a very sympathetic ear to the directors of sports. Every school and college is provided with playgrounds, and supplied with all the materials without any charge. Competitions and tournaments are held, where members of the Royal Family and sometimes the King himself attends and distributes prizes. The Scout movement, the latest novelty for the Afghans, has been introduced in the country. The annual prize distribution is held under the auspices of the King himself. Promising students after passing the final local examination are sent abroad to U. S. A., England, France, Germany and Turkey on state expense.

Another club has been started for the

187


students, which, besides being equipped with arrangements for all sorts of indoor and out-door games, possesses a fine, free and well-equipped reading-room. All the expenses are borne by the Government.

Technical education to fit students for various walks of public life and different branches of industry is also fully provided for, and there is no career in which even the humblest of H. M.'s subject cannot hope to enter, equipped with a complete training entirely at state expense. A great stimulus is given to literary research and production by the establishment of a special department, Darul Talif—Bureau of Education, under qualified professors of different nationalities, helped by the Afghan graduates themselves. Due to this encouragement many journals have come into being in different cities of the country. In Kabul alone there are about half a dozen, of which "The Kabul" issued by the Anjuman-i-Adabi deserves special mention. "The Iqtisad" or the Economic Journal is another, and deals with various economic problems and provides information about home industries. In all the colleges

188


there have been started 'Debating societies' which have produced a very healthy effect on the student community. Historical meetings to commemorate important events of Islamic history in general and national in particular have been occasionally held and greatly appreciated by the Government.

In order to offer facilities to people desirous of learning foreign languages, evening classes have been started, in which free instruction is given in German, French and English and have proved very popular.

The King himself is a connoisseur of ماهر متخصص تمیز art and gives it every encouragement, as in his opinion, it contributes to the happiness of the people.

Legal.-The King has from the begin-ning set himself about legal reforms and تأدیبی punitive measures. Tortures and all forms of cruel punishments formerly in vogue have been totally abolished. The old dungeons and insanitary prison-houses have been demolished, and new ones are being built on modern lines. Slavery is no longer allowed مجاز and a transgresser متجاوز is severely dealt with. One of the most recent proclamations made by

189


His Majesty's Guard of Honour,
with the Commandant, Sardar Asadullah Khan in the centre.


خلاصه کردن the King epitomizes the new spirit. It
مثبت ـ صریحاً categorically details the freedom of the
subjects, the liberty of vote and the democracy
of the new system of the Government.
A new department—Jamiat-ul-Ulama, the
Assembly of the Learned, has been established
to look into legal problems and submit their
opinions on the new laws that are being
passed from time to time.
Constitutional.—The constitutional re-
forms introduced by His Majesty must be
regarded as his most praiseworthy act, a
measure by which he parted with his autocratic
powers and transferred them to the representa-
tives of the people. During the last days of
King Amanullah Khan's reign, we heard of a
بازیچه، شوخی parliament, but it was a mere farce, more for
purposes of show than any real utility. The
King was head-strong and obstinate, and did
not like to give it any real power.
King Mohammad Nadir Shah, realizing
that no people can in these days make any
progress without participating in the affairs
of their own Government, established a regular
Council of State. This Majlis, as the
Afghan Parliament is called, consists of two
190


houses, the House of Peers (Majlis-i-A'yan),
and the House of Representatives, Majlis-i-
Shura-i-Milli. The former is composed of
sixty members who hold their seats by right of
birth or by nomination by the King. Most
of them are men who have rendered great and
meritorious services to the country. The شورای ملی
House of Representatives consists of 120
members elected by ballot from among the
voters in each constituency. Suffrage is not
restricted by any property qualification, and
is extended to all people over twenty years of
age, possessing sound moral character.
A general meeting (Loya Jirgah) must be
held at least once in every three years. No
new taxes can be imposed or new laws framed
without the consent of the Loya Jirgah. But
large powers are reserved for the King ; this
being an absolute necessity in a country
where democratic institutions are yet in their
infancy and which has yet to learn the art of
Government by experience. Only the King
can declare war or negotiate for peace with
the enemy or enter into treaties. No laws
passed by the Majlis can become operative
until his sanction has been obtained. He

191


can, in times of emergency, issue an urgent ordinance which temporarily overrides any or all existing laws. In the constitutional law of the country, the independence of the state is put down as of primary importance and every King at the time of his coronation has to take a solemn oath to respect it and to preserve it at all costs. Immunity of the individual from unnecessary interference by state officials has been given emphasis. Indeed, it is for the first time in the history of the country that such freedom has been granted to the subjects. and they are allowed to choose their own representatives and be governed by them.

We give below His Majesty King Nadir Shah's inaugural address at the first sitting of the new Afghan Parliament (July 6th, 1931) :—

"I open this Assembly of Moslem Counsellors in the name of God, the Omnipotent, the Powerful, who is the dispenser of happiness in this world and the next. And I pray, for the guidance of the

192


nation of Afghanistan unto God
the Great so that under the
shadow of the holy Laws of the
Prophet Mohammad (may bless-
ings and peace be on him)
they may render high and
especial services to this holy
land of Islam and once again
glorify the religion of God and
to assist in the advancement and
progress of Afghanistan.
My beloved people! may God be
praised, that we see Afghanistan
once again emerging safe and
sound from the difficulties and
distress born of dissensions and
civil wars. With mind at ease
and heart full of hope I begin to
lay the foundation of this In-
stitution of National Counsellors
and proceed to explain to you
the meaning of National
Assembly. May God be praised
that you and I are Musalmans.
Conferences are the foundation
of all our actions. By the in-
junctions of the Holy Quran we

193
M


Military Cadets, 1922


H. M. King Mohd Nadir Shah at the new Military College Constructions, Bala Hisar
Kabul


were, and are, bound to hold
consultations and in future too
it shall be incumbent on us
to act accordingly. Prophet
Mohammad (may prayers and
peace be on him) used to hold
consultations for the solutions
of problems. The rightly-guided
Khalifas (may God be pleased
with them) used to carry on their
affairs by consultation. The
Khalifas of the Bani Umayya
Dynasty also held consultations.
But it was the Khalifas of the
House of Abbas who gave to
such consultations a solid
foundation in the procedure of
their affairs. The representa-
tives of the people used to be
present at the Court of the day
and held consultations with the
representatives of the Nation in
all affairs relating to the State.
Subsequent to the Abbassi
Khalifas the rulers of Islam,
considering consultations to be
the negation of their power and

194

واجب - لازم


prestige, paid less attention to
this institution. Consequently,
many periods of disruption of تفرقه ، جدائی
changes and convulsions took ناآرامی
place in the Moslem world.

In Afghanistan conferences were held
from remote antiquity, since we قدیم الایام
can consider the Afghan Jirga
as the just ruler of the Afghans.
For us consultation is no new
thing. If the previous sovereigns
did not hold conferences, the
nation in their tribes and clans
at any rate have not abandoned
to this day their Jirga system.
Amanullah Khan formed the
Council of State and the Repre-
sentatives of the Nation used
to be present at the centre of
the Government; but that
Council or jirga of Afghanistan
did not prove to be advantage-
ous.

I pray to God that such dark happen-
ings may not occur again in
Afghanistan and that He may

195


A portion of the New Bazaar


Darrah-i-Shikari Road.