Royal Family of the Princely State of Dir: From Heights of Glory to Shadows of Decline

Abstract

 This research paper deals with the rise and fall of the Royal Family of the Princely State of Dir, founded by an Akhun Khel spiritual and religious figure Mullah Ilyas popularly known as Akhun Ilyas Baba. His decedents (Mullah Ismail, Khan Ghulam Khan, Khan Zafar Khan, Khan Qasim Khan, Khan Ghazan Khan, Khan Rahmat Ullah Khan and Khan Sharif Khan) kept strong standing army and brought the surrounding areas under their sway and ruled over the Khanate of Dir till 1890. In 1890, Umra Khan, a strong ruler of Jandol dethroned Khan Sharif Khan and annexed the Khanate of Dir to the Khanate of Jandol. In 1895, Sharif Khan was restored to the throne of Dir with the help of British government as a result of Chitral relief campaign. He was knitted as a first Nawab of Dir in 1897 and was succeeded by his son Aurangzeb Khan in 1904 who faced both internal and external threats. Nawab Shah Jehan (1925-1960), the successor of Aurangzeb Khan ruled over the state of Dir in a very autocratic manner and did not allow educational and health facilities tohis subjects. Different khans, maliks, his brother Alamzeb Khan and son Muhammad Nawaz Khan revolted against the policies of Shah Jehan Khan.  Taking notice of his cruel policies, the government of Pakistan deposed Nawab Shah Jehan Khan in 1959 and nominated his son shah Kisrau Khan as a nominal Nawab of the state. In 1969, the state was merged into Pakistan and became a district in 1970.