Swat (princely state)

State of Swat (Urdu: رياست سوات; locally called as Dera Swat) was a kingdom established in 1849 by the Muslim saint Akhund Abdul Gaffur, more commonly known as Saidu Baba,[1][2] that was ruled by chiefs known as Akhunds. It was then recognized as a princely state in alliance with the British Indian Empire between 1926 and 1947, after which the Akhwand acceded to the newly independent state of Pakistan. Swat continued to exist as an autonomous region until it was dissolved in 1969,[3] and incorporated into Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province (formerly called NWFP). The area it covered is now divided between the present-day districts of Swat, Buner and Shangla.

This article is about the former princely state. For other uses, see Swat.

State of Swat
Pashto: رياست سوات
1849–1969
Flag of Swat
Flag
CapitalSaidu Sharif
Religion
Islam
GovernmentPrincely state in alliance with British India (1858–1947)
Princely state of Pakistan (1947–1969)
Wāli of Swat 
History 
• Established
1849
28 July 1969
CurrencyRupee, Pakistan Rupee (after 1947)
Today part ofPakistan
 · Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
State emblem of Pakistan
This article is part of the series
Former administrative units of Pakistan
Original provinces
Princely states
One-unit provinces
Other subdivisions

History
Main article: Swat, Pakistan § History

The modern area of Swat was ruled sporadically by religious leaders, who variously took the title of Akhund.

Saidu Baba was born at Jabrai, a village in the Upper Swat valley in 1794 AD.[4] He is locally said to be of Gujjar origin,[5][6] while the family claims belonging to the Safi branch of the Mohmand tribe.[5] Beginning his life as a shepherd, he left the village at the age of 18 and settled in the village of Mian Brangola, where he got his early education and learnt the fundamentals of Islam.[4]

Saidu Baba conferred a scheme for a united throne of Swat. In 1849, he nominated Sayyid Akbar Shah, a descendant of Pir Baba, as the emir of the State of Swat. After Akbar Shah's death in 1857, Saidu Baba assumed control of the state himself till his own death in 1878.[7]: 40 

Government
Main article: Wali of Swat

The rulers of Swat held the title Amir-e Shariyat and from 1918 were known as Badshah; the title changed to Wali in 1926 when it became a Princely State of the British Raj. Since 1969 the former princely state has been under a civil administration as part of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.[3]

TenureRulers of Swat
1849 - 11 May 1857Sayyid Akbar Shah
11 May 1857 - 1878Akhund Abdul Ghaffur (Saidu Baba)
1878–1916State in abeyance, no proper accepted ruler
1916 - September 1918Syed Abdul-Syed Abdul Jabbar Shah Shah
September 1918- 12 December 1949Miangul Abdul Wadud (Badshah Sahib)
12 December 1949 – 28 July 1969Miangul Abdul-Haqq Jahan Zeb

See also

References
  1. S.G. Page 398 and 399, T and C of N.W.F.P by Ibbetson page 11 etc
  2. Fredrik Barth, Features of Person and Society in Swat: Collected Essays on Pathans, illustrated edition, Routledge, 1981
  3. Claus, Peter J.; Diamond, Sarah; Ann Mills, Margaret (2003). South Asian Folklore: An Encyclopedia : Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka. Taylor & Francis. p. 447. ISBN 9780415939195.
  4. Inam-ur-Rahim; Viaro, Alain M. (2002). Swat: An Afghan Society in Pakistan : Urbanisation and Change in Tribal Environment. City Press. pp. 77–79. ISBN 978-969-8380-55-7.
  5. Inam-ur-Rahim; Viaro, Alain M. (2002). Swat: An Afghan Society in Pakistan : Urbanisation and Change in Tribal Environment. City Press. p. 69. ISBN 978-969-8380-55-7.
  6. Beattie, Dr Hugh; Beattie, Hugh (16 December 2013). Imperial Frontier: Tribe and State in Waziristan. Routledge. p. 312. ISBN 978-1-136-83957-3.
  7. Haroon, Sana (2011). Frontier of Faith: Islam, in the Indo-Afghan Borderland. Hurst Publishers. ISBN 978-1849041836.

Further reading

<ref.yousafzai ki sargazishit by allah bakhash yousafi>

This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.