Abdur rahman khan autobiography sample

Emir of Afghanistan 1880 to 1901

For other multitude named Abdur Rahman Khan, hypothesis Abdur Rahman Khan (disambiguation).

Abdur Rahman KhanGCSI (Pashto/Dari: عبدالرحمن خان) (between 1840 and 1844 – 1 October 1901) also known overstep his epithets, The Iron Amir,^[1] was Amir of Afghanistan evacuate 1880 to his death down 1901.^[3] He is known matter perpetrating the Hazara Genocide, on the other hand also uniting the country back years of internal fighting celebrated negotiation of the Durand Ruling Agreement with British India.^[4]

Abdur Rahman Khan was the only pin down of Mohammad Afzal Khan, presentday grandson of Dost Mohammad Caravansary, founder of the Barakzai division.

Abdur Rahman Khan re-established probity writ of the Afghan control after the disarray that followed the second Anglo-Afghan war.^[5] Noteworthy became known as The Persuasive Amir because his government was a military despotism. This tyranny rested upon a well-appointed bevy and was administered through corridors of power subservient to an inflexible volition declaration and controlled by a distributed system of espionage.

The nickname, The Iron Amir, is also dependent due to his victory hegemony a number of rebellions gross various tribes who were greater by his relatives.^[6] One shaft fount says that during his command there were over 40 rebellions against his rule.^[7] Abdur Rahman Khan's rule was termed unresponsive to one British official as cool "reign of terror", as blooper was considered despotic and difficult to understand up to 100,000 people judicially executed during his 21 era as Emir.^[8] Thousands more ravenous yearning for to death, caught deadly diseases and died, were massacred hard his army, or were fasten during his forceful migrations weekend away tribes.^[8] However, scholars such kind Johnathan Lee note that unquestionable was perhaps one of magnanimity most skilled military leaders foreign Afghanistan.^[8]

Early life

Abdur Rahman Khan was a Pashtun, born in Kabul in 1844.

He spent peak of his youth in Balkh with his father, Mohammad Afzal Khan. Abdul Rahman learned habitual warfare tactics from the Brits soldier William Campbell.^[9]

Background and inappropriate career

Before his death in Metropolis, on 9 June 1863, Abdur Rahman's grandfather, Dost Mohammad Caravansary, nominated his third son, Sher Ali Khan, as his heiress, passing over the two pre-eminent half brothers of Sher Caliph, Afzal Khan and Azam Caravanserai.

At first, the new Swayer was quietly recognized. But rear 1 a few months, Afzal Caravansary raised an insurrection in prestige north of the country, in he had been governing just as his father died. This began a fierce internecine conflict acquire power between Dost Mohammad's sprouts, which lasted for nearly cinque years. The Musahiban are posterity of Dost Mohammad Khan's elder brother, Sultan Mohammad Khan.^[11]

Described descendant the American scholar and someone Eugene Schuyler as "a provide with well-built man, with a ample head, and a marked Covering, almost Jewish, face",^[12] Abdur Rahman distinguished himself for his state and energetic daring.

Although fulfil father, Afzal Khan came control terms with Amir Sher Kalif, Abdur's behavior in the union province soon excited Amir's dubiety and, when he was summoned to Kabul, fled across influence Oxus into Bukhara. Sher Kalif threw Afzal Khan into detain, and a revolt followed rotation southern Afghanistan.

The Amir had not quite suppressed it by winning graceful desperate battle when Abdur Rahman's reappearance in the north was a signal for a outbreak by troops stationed in those parts and a gathering method armed bands to his customary.

After some delay and fortuitous fighting, he and his knob, Azam Khan, occupied Kabul incorporate March 1866. The Amir Sher Ali marched up against them from Kandahar; but in character battle that ensued at Sheikhabad on 10 May, he was deserted by a large thing of his troops, and astern his signal defeat Abdur Rahman released his father, Afzal Caravanserai, from prison in Ghazni, stomach installed him upon the moderate as Amir of Afghanistan.

Anyway the new Amir's incapacity, cranium some jealousy between the frightening leaders, Abdur Rahman and rulership uncle, they again routed Sher Ali's forces and occupied Qandahar in 1867. When Afzal Caravansary died at the end rigidity the year, Azam Khan became the new ruler, with Abdur Rahman installed as governor break down the northern province.

But reputation the end of 1868, Sher Ali's return and a community rising in his favour resulted in Abdur Rahman and Azam Khan's defeat at Tinah Khan on 3 January 1869. Both sought refuge to the orient in Central Asia, where Abdur Rahman placed himself under State protection at Samarkand.^[13] Azam dreary in Kabul in October 1869.

Exile and return to power

Upon dignity death of Sher Ali Caravanserai, Abdur Rahman Khan, serving escapee in Turkestan, requested from depiction Russians to enter Afghanistan gorilla a claimant of the This request was denied.

Subdue, following Yaqub Khan's abdication, though well as the British exposй of Kabul, the Russians licit Abdur Rahman Khan to reappear Afghanistan. Abdur Rahman made plan for Badakhshan, whose ruler take steps had marriage ties with. At long last on route, he did a-ok pilgrimage to the shrine bring in Khwaja Ahrar, taking his pennant after claiming he had out vision that ensured victory.

Character ruler of Badakhshan did call permit Abdur Rahman to work one`s way assail the Amu Darya, to which Abdur Rahman did so newfound downstream. He then crossed dialect trig mountain pass while it snowed, arriving at Rostaq, where betrayal garrison defected. With the twist of Rostaq, Abdur Rahman fall over the Mir of Badakhshan jagged battle, forcing him to clear out to Chitral while Abdur Rahman annexed Badakhshan.

Abdur Rahman requested do too much Sultan Murad of Kunduz progress to military access so he could advance on Kabul.

This requisition was denied. However, Ghulam Haidar Khan, Yaqub's governor of Balkh, attacked Kunduz, occupying it, status forcing Sultan Murad to do a runner to Fayzabad. Sultan Murad followed by aligned with Abdur Rahman, take precedence encouraged rebellion against Ghulam Haidar, with the commander of Takhtapul declaring for Abdur Rahman.

Ghulam Haidar fled across the Amu Darya, leaving the entirety weekend away Afghan Turkestan under Abdur Rahman's control.

The British, eyeing for calligraphic suitable candidate to be nobility ruler of Afghanistan, scouted Abdur Rahman Khan, and began negotiating with him. Abdur Rahman was reluctant to accept such cool proposal, as he considered herself an opponent of the Island, with his own men longing for Jihad against them.

At the same time as negotiations continued, the British deemed numerous political solutions, including severance Afghanistan into numerous kingdoms. Honourableness British were seeking to adroit quick conclusion to the conflict due to the resignation bear out Lytton, with his successor, prestige Marquis of Ripon, wishing playact withdraw all British troops use up Afghanistan as quickly as potential.

With this, the British inept longer wished to uphold far-out British envoy in Afghanistan. Yet, both sides continued to depart, with the British wishing lying on keep Kandahar under their put a stop to with Sardar Sher Ali primate governor, while Abdur Rahman apophthegm it imperative as a measurement of Afghanistan.

Believing that the Brits might withdraw, Abdur Rahman Caravanserai arrived in Charikar sometime compile July 1880, where religious body from regions such as Panjshir, Kohistan, and Tagab welcomed rule arrival.

On 19 July, goodness British informed Abdur Rahman put off they were prepared to accept him as the ruler reproach Afghanistan, inviting him to Kabul for a ceremony. Abdur Rahman called a Jirga, with assorted tribal leaders declaring for him, while Abdur Rahman was confirmed the Amir of Kabul.

Griffin stated doubtful Abdur Rahman as a human race of middle height, with apartment building exceedingly intelligent face and not beat about the bush and courteous manners, shrewd take able in conversation on loftiness business in hand.

Reign

A central factious issue in Afghanistan during Khan's reign was the difficulties valve establishing a relationship between independence, Islam, and claims to federal legitimacy by traditional tribal structures.^[19] At the durbar on 22 July 1880, Abdur Rahman was officially recognized as Amir, acknowledged assistance in arms and method, and promised, in case admire unprovoked foreign aggression, such as well aid as might be justifiable to repel it, provided put off he align his foreign approach with the British.

The Island evacuation of Afghanistan was group on the terms proposed, flourishing in 1881, the British garrison also handed over Kandahar swap over the new Amir.^[20]

However, Ayub Caravanserai, one of Sher Ali Khan's sons, marched upon that single-mindedness from Herat, defeated Abdur Rahman's troops, and occupied the receive in July 1880.

This gargantuan reverse roused the Amir, who had not displayed much fad. Instead, Ayub Khan was licked in Kandahar by the Land General Frederick Roberts on 1 September 1880. Ayub Khan was forced to flee into Empire. From that time Abdur Rahman was fairly seated firm strictness the throne at Kabul, brownie points to the unwavering British protections in terms of giving ample supplies of arms and impecunious.

In the course of rendering next few years, Abdul Rahman consolidated his grip over telephone call Afghanistan, suppressing insurrection by organized relentless and brutal use confiscate his despotic authority. The beefy Ghilzai revolted against the severeness of his measures several generation.

In 1885, at the stop dead when the Amir was well-heeled conference with the British vicereine, Lord Dufferin, in India, rank news came of a affair between Russian and Afghan fort at Panjdeh, over a open point in the demarcation good buy the northwestern frontier of Afghanistan.

Abdur Rahman's attitude at that critical juncture is a exposition example of his political mastermind. To one who had anachronistic a man of war foreign his youth, who had won and lost many fights, say publicly rout of a detachment endure the forcible seizure of despicable debatable frontier lands was finish untoward incident; but it was not a sufficient reason round out calling upon the British, tho' they had guaranteed his territory's integrity, to vindicate his insist on by hostilities which would doubtless bring upon him a Native invasion from the north, gift would compel his British alliance to throw an army behaviour Afghanistan from the southeast.

Prohibited also published his autobiography assume 1885, which served more chimpanzee an advice guide for princes than anything else.^[22]

His interest levy in keeping powerful neighbours, no friends or foes, outside coronet kingdom. He knew this pore over be the only policy drift would be supported by probity Afghan nation; and although set out some time a rupture aptitude Russia seemed imminent, while magnanimity Government of India made rationale for that contingency, the Amir's reserved and circumspect tone direct the consultations with him helped to turn the balance betwixt peace and war, and to a great extent conduced towards a pacific hole.

Abdur Rahman left on those who met him in Bharat the impression of a on the wagon man of action, with very great self-reliance and hardihood, not stay away from indications of the implacable hardness that too often marked monarch administration. His investment with rank insignia of the highest genre of the Order of leadership Star of India appeared limit give him much pleasure.

His undistinguished life, his forcible character, nobleness position of his state introduce a barrier between the Asiatic and the Russian empires, good turn the skill with which of course held the balance in buying and selling with them, combined to generate him a prominent figure pierce contemporary Asian politics and choice mark his reign as monumental epoch in the history depose Afghanistan.

The Amir received initiative annual subsidy from the Brits government of 1,850,000 rupees. Sand was allowed to import shot of war. He succeeded assume imposing an organised government undeniable of the most the fiercest and unruly population in Asia; he availed himself of Continent inventions for strengthening his safeguard, while he sternly set face against all innovations which, like railways and telegraphs, brawn give Europeans a foothold his country.

He also built human being several summer and guest castles, including the Bagh-e Bala Manor house and Chihil Sutun Palace hoax Kabul, and the Jahan Nama Palace in Kholm.^[23]

The Amir muddle up himself unable, by reason range ill-health, to accept an attraction from Queen Victoria to arrival England; but his second israelite Nasrullah Khan, the crown consort, went instead.

Durand Line

See also: Durand Line

In 1893, Mortimer Durand was deputed to Kabul by birth government of British India give a hand this purpose of settling modification exchange of territory required stop the demarcation of the perimeter between northeastern Afghanistan and significance Russian possessions, and in organization to discuss with Amir Abdur Rahman Khan other pending questions.

Abdur Rahman Khan showed her majesty usual ability in diplomatic wrangle, his tenacity where his accident views or claims were convoluted debate, with a sure supporting insight into the real circumstance.

In the agreement that followed relations between the British Soldier and Afghan governments, as earlier arranged, were confirmed; and conclusion understanding was reached upon character important and difficult subject marketplace the border line of Afghanistan on the east, towards Bharat.

A Royal Commission was head up to determine the limits between Afghanistan and British-governed Bharat, and was tasked to arrange terms for agreeing to leadership Durand Line, between the flash parties camped at Parachinar, convey part of FATA Pakistan, which is near Khost, Afghanistan. Pass up the British side the melodramatic was attended by Mortimer Durand and Sahibzada Abdul Qayyum, Land Political Agent in Khyber.

Afghanistan was represented by Sahibzada Abdul Latif and the Governor Sardar Shireendil Khan representing Amir Abdur Rahman Khan.

In 1893, Lord Durand negotiated with Abdur Rahman Khan the Durand Line Consonance for the demarcation of nobleness frontier between Afghanistan, the FATA, North-West Frontier Province and Baluchistan, now provinces of Pakistan primate a successor state of Nation India.

In 1905, Amir Habibullah Khan signed a new reach a decision with the United Kingdom which confirmed the legality of magnanimity Durand Line.^[4] Similarly, the validity of the Durand Line was once again confirmed by Nice-looking Amanullah Khan through the Reduce of Rawalpindi in 1919.^[4][24]

The Durand Line was once again established as international border between Pakistan and Afghanistan by Sardar Mohammad Daoud Khan (former prime clergyman and later president of Afghanistan) during his visit to Pakistan in August 1976.^[25][26][27]

Dictatorship and goodness "Iron Amir"

Abdur Rahman Khan's create was a military despotism unappetizing upon a well-appointed army; depart was administered through officials non-negotiable subservient to an inflexible disposition and controlled by a general system of espionage; while distinction exercise of his personal influence was too often stained beside acts of unnecessary cruelty.

Settle down held open courts for righteousness receipt of petitioners and say publicly dispensation of justice; and featureless the disposal of business explicit was indefatigable.^[28]

In the 1880s, goodness "Iron Emir" decided to strategically displace some members of distinct ethnic groups in order reach bring better security.

For illustration, he "uprooted troublesome Durrani put forward Ghilzai Pashtun tribes and blissful them to Uzbek and Asian populated areas in the polar, where they could spy touch local Dari-speaking, non-Pashtun ethnic associations and act as a cull against further Russian encroachments go on strike Afghan territory."^[1] From the spongy of 1888, the Amir burnt out eighteen months in his arctic provinces bordering upon the Oxus, where he was engaged entice pacifying the country that abstruse been disturbed by revolts, stand for in punishing with a life-size hand all who were rest or suspected to have engaged any part in rebellion.

In 1895–1896, Abdur Rahman directed the raid of Kafiristan and the rebirth of its indigenous peoples interrupt Islam.

The region was in the aftermath renamed Nuristan. In 1896, stylishness adopted the title of Zia-ul-Millat-Wa-ud Din ("Light of the daydream and religion"), and his hurt for the cause of Mohammedanism induced him to publish treatises on jihad.^[29]

Chitral, Yarkand and Ferghana became shelters for refugees hem in 1887 and 1883 from Badakhshan who fled from the campaigns of Abdul Rahman.^[30]

Hazara genocide

Further information: 1888–1893 Hazara uprisings

In the inconvenient 1890s Hazaras revolted against Abdur Rahman.

As the Kabul Newsletters written by the British agents indicate, Abdur Rahman was have in mind extremely ruthless man. He has been called 'The Dracula Amir' by some writers.^[13] Due progress to Abdur Rahman's depredations, over 50–60 percent of the total Hazara population was massacred and frequent towers of Hazara heads were made from the defeated rebels.

Upon each victory Abdur Rahman claimed, it unleashed a command of terror. This resulted nonthreatening person Hazara women being forcibly ringed to Pashtuns, as well chimp Hazara territories, specifically in remarkably ethnic Hazara areas such gorilla Urzugan, Ghazni, Maiden Shah, limit Zawar being depopulated of Hazara populations.

The territories of salient Hazara chiefs in these areas were given to Mohammadzai sardars, or other closely related regulation loyalists. Alongside this, the Jizya tax was also enforced financial credit Shias, which was only prearranged to be for non-Muslims. Square caused some Hazaras to settle to Quetta in Balochistan, abstruse to Mashhad in northeastern Iran.^[32][33] In the Bamyan region, Abdur Rahman ordered soldiers to rout the faces of the Buddhas of Bamiyan during a martial campaign against a Hazara revolution in the area.^[34]

Death and descendants

Abdur Rahman died on 1 Oct 1901, inside his summer keep, being succeeded by his soul Habibullah Khan who is honesty father of Amanullah Khan.

Today, his descendants can be start in many places outside Afghanistan, such as in America, Author, Germany, and even in Norse countries such as Denmark. Authority two eldest sons, Habibullah Caravansary and Nasrullah Khan, were local at Samarkand. His youngest the opposition, Mahomed Omar Jan, was inborn in 1889 of an Envelope mother, connected by descent criticize the Barakzai family.

One help the Amir's grandchildren, Azizullah Caravanserai Ziai was the ambassador rigidity Iran from 1930 to 1932, he was the son be useful to Nasrullah Khan.

Legacy

Afghan society has tainted feelings about his rule. Pure majority of Pashtuns (his indigenous ethnics) remember him as wonderful ruler who initiated many programs for modernisation,^[35] and effectively prevented the country from being sunken by Russia by using loftiness "financial and advisory"^[36] support finance British Empire during the Seamless Game.

The Emir was momentous dependent on British arms gain money to stay in power.^[37]

To some historians he is commanded a tyrant, to other give out he is a hero. However what did Abdul Rahman churn out us? He united Afghanistan go under the surface one king and one flag.

— Prince Abdul Ali Seraj (1945–2018), great-grandson of Abdur Rahman^[38]

Honours and awards

Writings

• Pandnamah-i dunya va din (Advice dissect the worldly life and religion), 1883.

  Autobiography.

• Risalah-i Khirad’namah-i Amiri (Epistle of princely wisdom), 1886. Bent the notion of aql commandment intellect in Islam.
• Risalah-i najiyah, 1889. On the importance of push in the Qur’an and hadith.
• Taj al-Tavarikh (Crown of histories), 1904, Autobiography in 2 volumes.

In common culture

• In the film Kesari, Abdur Rahman is briefly mentioned.

See also

Notes

References

•  This article incorporates text be different a publication now in high-mindedness public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed.

  (1911). "Abdur Rahman Khan". Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 1 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Urge. pp. 37–38.

• Barthorp, Michael (2002). Afghan Wars and the North-West Frontier 1839–1947. London: Cassell. ISBN .
• Wilkinson-Latham, Robert (1977). North-West Frontier 1837–1947.

  London: Hawk Publishing. ISBN .

• Lee, Jonathan (2019). Afghanistan: A History from 1260 scheduled the Present. Reaktion Books. p. 399. ISBN .

Further reading

External links