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Muzaffar ul-Mulk

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Muzaffar ul-Mulk
The Mehtar of Chitral
Reign30 July 1943 – 12 January 1949
PredecessorMehtar Nasir ul-Mulk
SuccessorMehtar Saif-ur-Rehman
BornMuzaffar ul-Mulk
(1901-10-06)6 October 1901
Chitral, British India
Died12 January 1949(1949-01-12) (aged 47)
Chitral, Pakistan
Burial
Chitral Fort
Urduمظفر الملک
Khowarمظفر الملک
DynastyKatoor Dynasty
FatherMehtar Shuja ul-Mulk
Military career
AllegianceBritish Raj 1943–1947
Pakistan 1947–1949
Battles / warsThird Anglo-Afghan War

Indo-Pakistani War of 1947

His Highness Muzaffar ul-Mulk (6 October 1901 – 12 January 1949) was the Mehtar of Chitral who reigned from 1943 to 1949.[1][2][3][4][5] He took the important decision of Chitral's accession to Pakistan in 1947.[6][7][8] He also dispatched his army into Gilgit in August 1947, to help secure that territory for Pakistan.[9][10][11]

Life prior to accession

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Muzaffar ul-Mulk was born on 6 October 1901. He was the second son of Mehtar Sir Shuja ul-Mulk.[12][13] He was given over for foster care at a young age and spent the early part of his childhood at his foster home.[14] He received education from Islamia College Peshawar, ultimately ending up with an F.A.[15][16] During the Anglo-Afghan War of 1919 he served with the Chitral State Bodyguards under the command of his brother Nasir ul-Mulk, in fending off the Afghan attack.[17] In 1924 he returned to Chitral and became the Chief Secretary to his father Mehtar Shuja ul-Mulk.[18] In 1930 he became the administrator of Torkhow region in Chitral. The designation was formally termed the Governor of Torkhow. In 1939 he accompanied Nasir ul-Mulk on pilgrimage to Mecca. Meanwhile, Muzaffar was to retain his administrative post until his unforeseen accession as Mehtar in 1943.[19][20][21]

On 29 July 1943 Mehtar Nasir ul-Mulk died of a stroke.[22] He had two daughters but no sons.[23] As fate would have it, he died without leaving a natural heir. Thus the seat of power passed on to Muzaffar ul-Mulk, who was the Mehtar's immediate younger brother.[24][25] The Political Agent of the Malakand Agency came to Chitral and formally recognised the new ruler.[26]

Reign (1943–1949)

[edit]

After his accession as Mehtar, Muzaffar ul-Mulk embarked on an initiative to replace the existing administration, with his own appointees. He established a separate office for the Wazir-e-Azam Chitral and delegated to the office many administrative functions.[27] In January 1944, the British Government presented Muzaffar ul-Mulk with a gift of 4 large cannons and 106 Martini–Henry Rifles.[28]

By this period Muzaffar's health had steadily declined, in May 1946 it was discovered that the reason for his ailing health was diabetes. The effect of this reflected itself in his administration, which grew inoperative. By early 1947 large scale protests were held across the state, which entailed the Political Agent Malakand to come to Chitral and persuade the ailing Mehtar to dismiss some of the officials whose negligence had contributed to the situation. Some of the legitimate demands of the protesters were acceded to, resulting in the protests fading.[29]

In early 1947 it was clear that it was a matter of time before the British would leave the subcontinent and two independent sovereign states would emerge. Conscious of this, Muzaffar ul-Mulk sent a delegate to Muhammad Ali Jinnah to convey that he wholeheartedly supported the cause of Pakistan and would in due time exercising his right under the Indian Independence Act 1947 accede to Pakistan. He also deposited Rs 40,000 into Mr Jinnahs Pakistan Fund.[30][31][32][33]

In May 1947 Indian Secretary for Frontier and Tribal Affairs visited Chitral. Muzaffar ul-Mulk conveyed to him Chitrals plans of acceding to Pakistan and asked that the intention be formally conveyed to the authorities.[34][35][36] Chitral became the first princely state to announce that it would accede to Pakistan. Although formal accession and signing of the Instrument of Accession occurred in November 1947.[37][38][39][40] Thus Chitral became a part of Pakistan and a constitutional monarchy.[41][42][43]

Meanwhile, it became clear that the Maharaja of Kashmir desired to accede to India. Considering this a betrayal of the Muslim majority populace of Kashmir, Muzaffar telegraphically conveyed to Maharaja Hari Singh that such a decision would provoke aggression from Chitral.[44]

With the endorsement of Muzaffar ul-Mulk many mujahideen left Chitral to fight a jihad in Kashmir and be part of the conflict which had arisen. The jihadists were followed by the Bodyguards and the Chitral Scouts led by Mata ul-Mulk and Burhan-ud-Din. The Chitral forces fought for 4 months laying Siege to Skardu and returning with triumph.[45][46][47]

Death

[edit]

On January 12, 1949, Muzaffar ul-Mulk collapsed to his illness and died.[48][49] He was succeeded by his eldest son Saif-ur-Rehman as Mehtar.[50][51][52][53]

References

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  1. ^ Central Asia, Issues 3-4. University of Michigan: Area Study Centre.
  2. ^ Steinberg, S. (28 December 2016). The Statesman's Year-Book: Statistical and Historical Annual of the States of the World for the Year 1949. Springer. p. 197. ISBN 9780230270787.
  3. ^ Memoranda on the Indian States. Manager of Publications. 1 January 1939. p. 208.
  4. ^ Israr-ud-Din (1 January 2008). Proceedings of the Third International Hindu Kush Cultural Conference. Oxford University Press. p. 339. ISBN 9780195798890.
  5. ^ The London Gazette. H.M. Stationery Office. 1 January 1947. p. 5070.
  6. ^ Wilcox, Wayne Ayres (1 January 1963). Pakistan. p. 230.
  7. ^ Epstein, M. (28 December 2016). The Statesman's Year-Book: Statistical and Historical Annual of the States of the World for the Year 1946. Springer. p. 178. ISBN 9780230270756.
  8. ^ Commissioner, Pakistan Office of the Census (1962). Population Census of Pakistan, 1961: Dacca. 2.Chittagong. 3.Sylhet. 4.Rajshahi. 5.Khulna. 6.Rangpur. 7.Mymensingh. 8.Comilla. 9.Bakerganj. 10.Noakhali. 11.Bogra. 12.Dinajpur. 13.Jessore. 14.Pabna. 15.Kushtia. 16.Faridpur. 17.Chittagong Hill tracts. pp. 1–19.
  9. ^ Singh, K. Brahma (1 January 1990). History of Jammu and Kashmir Rifles, 1820-1956: The State Force Background. Lancer International. p. 268. ISBN 9788170620914.
  10. ^ Palit, D. K. (1 January 1972). Jammu and Kashmir Arms: History of the J & K Rifles. Palit & Dutt. p. 299.
  11. ^ Gen.), K. K. Nanda (Lieut (1 January 1994). Conquering Kashmir: a Pakistani obsession. Lancers Books. p. 103. ISBN 9788170950455.
  12. ^ Memoranda on the Indian States. Manager of Publications. 1 January 1939. p. 208.
  13. ^ Branch, India Manager, Government of India Central Publication (1 January 1931). Memoranda on the India States, 1930: (Corrected Up to the 1st January 1930). p. 101.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  14. ^ Ghufran, Mirza Muhammad (1962). Nayi Tarikh-e-Chitral. Translated by Murtaza, Ghulam. Peshawar: Public Art Press. p. 444.
  15. ^ The Times of India Directory and Year Book Including Who's who. Bennett, Coleman. 1 January 1948. p. 460.
  16. ^ The Muslim Year Book of India and Who's who: With Complete Information on Pakistan, 1948-49. Bombay Newspaper Company. 1 January 1948. p. 468.
  17. ^ The Times of India Directory and Year Book Including Who's who. Bennett, Coleman & Company. 1 January 1945. p. 1297.
  18. ^ Ghufran, Mirza Muhammad (1962). Nayi Tarikh-e-Chitral. Translated by Murtaza, Ghulam. Peshawar: Public Art Press. p. 444.
  19. ^ Gibson, Jack; Sharma, Brij (15 August 2008). An Indian Englishman. Lulu.com. p. 98. ISBN 9781435734616.
  20. ^ Scott, Ian Dixon (1 January 1937). Notes on Chitral. Manager, Government of India Press. p. 8.
  21. ^ The London Gazette. H.M. Stationery Office. 1 January 1947. p. 5070.
  22. ^ Baig, Rahmat Karim (1994). Hindu Kush study series. pp. 49–51.
  23. ^ Appalachia. Appalachian Mountain Club. 1 January 2008. pp. 66 and 67.
  24. ^ Indian Information. 1 January 1943. p. 152.
  25. ^ Swat), Sir Abdul Wadud (Wali of; K̲h̲ān̲, Muḥammad Āṣif (1 January 1963). The Story of Swat. Ferezsons. p. 142.
  26. ^ Ghufran, Mirza Muhammad (1962). Nayi Tarikh-e-Chitral. Translated by Murtaza, Ghulam. Peshawar: Public Art Press. p. 440.
  27. ^ Ghufran, Mirza Muhammad (1962). Nayi Tarikh-e-Chitral. Translated by Murtaza, Ghulam. Peshawar: Public Art Press. p. 440.
  28. ^ Ghufran, Mirza Muhammad (1962). Nayi Tarikh-e-Chitral. Translated by Murtaza, Ghulam. Peshawar: Public Art Press. p. 440.
  29. ^ Ghufran, Mirza Muhammad (1962). Nayi Tarikh-e-Chitral. Translated by Murtaza, Ghulam. Peshawar: Public Art Press. p. 441.
  30. ^ Long, Roger D.; Singh, Gurharpal; Samad, Yunas; Talbot, Ian (8 October 2015). State and Nation-Building in Pakistan: Beyond Islam and Security. Routledge. p. 81. ISBN 9781317448204.
  31. ^ Zaidi, Z. H.; Project, Quaid-i-Azam Papers (1 January 1993). Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah Papers: The States : historical and policy perspectives and accession to Pakistan. Quaid-i-Azam Papers Project, National Archives of Pakistan. p. 6. ISBN 9789698156138.
  32. ^ Sultan-i-Rome (1 January 2008). Swat State (1915–1969) from Genesis to Merger: An Analysis of Political, Administrative, Socio-political, and Economic Development. Oxford University Press. p. 158. ISBN 9780195471137.
  33. ^ Ghufran, Mirza Muhammad (1962). Nayi Tarikh-e-Chitral. Translated by Murtaza, Ghulam. Peshawar: Public Art Press. p. 441.
  34. ^ Asian Recorder. 1 January 1956. p. 885.
  35. ^ Bangash, Yaqoob Khan (1 January 2015). A Princely Affair: The Accession and Integration of the Princely States of Pakistan, 1947–1955. Oxford University Press. ISBN 9780199066490.
  36. ^ Ghufran, Mirza Muhammad (1962). Nayi Tarikh-e-Chitral. Translated by Murtaza, Ghulam. Peshawar: Public Art Press. p. 441.
  37. ^ Wilcox, Wayne Ayres (1 January 1963). Pakistan. p. 230.
  38. ^ Pakistan. Pakistan Publications. 1 January 1955. p. 270.
  39. ^ Axmann, Martin (1 January 2008). Back to the Future: The Khanate of Kalat and the Genesis of Baloch Nationalism, 1915–1955. Oxford University Press. p. 272. ISBN 9780195476453.
  40. ^ Ghufran, Mirza Muhammad (1962). Nayi Tarikh-e-Chitral. Translated by Murtaza, Ghulam. Peshawar: Public Art Press. p. 442.
  41. ^ The Bihar information. Director of Public Relations. 1 January 1965. p. 8.
  42. ^ The Crisis in Perspective. G.P. 1 January 1965. p. 11.
  43. ^ Indian and Foreign Review. Publications Division of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India. 1 January 1965. p. 9.
  44. ^ Ghufran, Mirza Muhammad (1962). Nayi Tarikh-e-Chitral. Translated by Murtaza, Ghulam. Peshawar: Public Art Press. pp. 442–443.
  45. ^ Chibber, Manohar Lal (1 January 1998). Pakistan's Criminal Folly in Kashmir: The Drama of Accession and Rescue of Ladakh. Manas Publications. p. 138. ISBN 9788170490951.
  46. ^ Bloeria, Sudhir S. (31 December 1997). The battles of Zojila, 1948. Har-Anand Publications. p. 72. ISBN 9788124105092.
  47. ^ Mahajan, Skumar (1 January 1973). Debacle in Baltistan. (sole distributors) A. K. Corporation, New Delhi. pp. 107 and 148.
  48. ^ Central Asia. Area Study Centre (Central Asia), University of Peshawar. 1 January 1979. p. 44.
  49. ^ Swat), Sir Abdul Wadud (Wali of; K̲h̲ān̲, Muḥammad Āṣif (1 January 1963). The Story of Swat. Ferezsons. p. 142.
  50. ^ Martin, Frederick; Keltie, Sir John Scott; Renwick, Isaac Parker Anderson; Epstein, Mortimer; Steinberg, Sigfrid Henry; Paxton, John (1 January 1955). The Statesman's Year-book. St. Martin's Press. p. 213.
  51. ^ Nalanda Yearbook and Who's who in India and Pakistan: An Indian and International Annual of Current Statistics, Events and Personalities. Nalanda Press. 1 January 1951. p. 641.
  52. ^ The Table. 1 January 1949. p. 105.
  53. ^ The Constituent Assembly (Legislature) of Pakistan Debate: Official Report. Manager of Publications. 1 January 1953. p. 84.
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