Great personality- Amanullah Khan

 Amanullah Khan and his reforms in Afghanistan… 

Introduction-

Amanullah Khan a ruler of Afghan from 1919-1929, who led his country to full independence from Britain influence was son of Amir Habibullah and Sarwar sultanah born on June 1st 1892 in Paghman near Kabul . 

Amanullah Khan was the governor of Kabul as well as was in  control of the army, treasury also gained allegiance of most of the tribal leaders during the reign of his father. 

Background

Amanullah Khan became ruler after his father was assassinated on 20th feb of 1919 during a hunting trip. Within a few months the new Amir had gained the allegiance of most tribal leaders and established control over the cities. 

Being a wise person Amanullah Khan recognized the broken down condition between Russia and Britain following the 1917 Russian Revolution as an opportunity. So used the aliation to gain Afghanistan's independence over its foreign affairs. 

Amanullah attacked the British in May 1919 in two attacks, taking them by surprise. Afghan forces achieved success in the early days of the war as Pakhtun tribesmen on both sides of the border joined forces with them.

He was crowned in Kabul over the prior claims of his uncle Narullah. He demanded a revision of the Anglo-Afghan agreements concluded by Abdur Rahman which left Britain in charge of Afghanistan's foreign relations in exchange for protection from unprovoked Russian aggression and a subsidy in money and military material. 

The military action soon ended and the British recovered from their initial surprise. 

They virtually dictated the terms of the 1919 Rawalpindi Agreement;Afghan started self -determination in foreign affairs. Before final negotiations were made in 1921 Afghan had already begun to establish it's own foreign policy, including diplomatic relations with the new government in the soviet Union in 1919.During 1920 Afghan established diplomatic relations with most major countries. 

British accepted the change in the status because of armed attacks of Afghan & culminating in the start of the 3rd Anglo- Afghan war on 3rd May of 1919.

In short the British fought 3 times with Afghanistan. The first Anglo-Afghan war in 1839-1842 followed with the second Anglo-Afghan war in 1878-1880 and the third war was in 1919 which led to the independence of Afghanistan… 

 کون کہتا ہے اسمان میں سراخ نہیں ہو سکتا

ایک پتھر تو دل سے اچھالو یاروں۔۔۔۔۔۔ 

King Amanullah Khan announced Afghanistan's independence from foreign interventions on 19 Aug 1919 at Eidgah Mosque in Kabul. 

First he ruled as Amir and after 1926 as Shah. 

He ruled from 1919-1929 and was the first leader who attempted to modernize Afghanistan . 

Reforms under King Amanullah . 

Starting in May 1919,Amanullah ten years initiated a period of dramatic changes in Afghanistan including both domestic and foreign changes. He became a national hero and focused on reforming and modernizing his country. Amanullah reforms reached different dimensions like political, social, economical and education. 

1.  Social reforms

Social reforms included a new dress code which permitted Kabul women to go unveiled and encouraged official to wear western dress 

Modernization proved costly for Afghanistan and was resented by the traditional Kabul society. 

Requiring women dress in Western in Kabul & elsewhere, discouraging veil & seclusion of women, abolising slavery and forced labour. 

Amanullah built a new Capital named Darulaman(Dar-al-Ameen: Abode of Peace) which includes a monumental parliament and other government buildings as well as villas of prominent Afghans. 

And he promulgated a Constitution which guaranteed the personal freedom and equal rights of all. 

2. Educational reforms

Amanullah created a new cosmopolitan school for boys & girls in the regions of Afghanistan. 

He founded a school in which French, German and English were major languages. 

He introduced secular education, adult education classes and educating nomads. 

He also met with many Baha'is in India and Europe and he brought back lots of book that are still to be found in the Kabul library. 

He adopted a solar calendar. 

3. Economic reforms

Economic reforms included restructuring, re-organising and rationalizing the entire tax structure,anti - smuggling,anti -corruption campaign, a live stock census for taxation purposes.

 In 1922 he implemented a metric system in his first budget (which did not take hold) . 

In 1923 the Afghanis introduced a new currency unit. 

In 1928 he established the Bank-e-Mili (National Bank ).

He established diplomatic and commercial relations with major European &Asian states. 

4. The political & Judicial reforms. 

The political and judicial reforms under Amanullah were equally radical for the time and included :-

Creation of Afghanistan's constitution , 

guarantee of civil rights (firstly by decree later constitutionally), 

National registration and identity card for the citizen , 

a court system to enforce civil penal and commercial code,

prohibition of Blood Money,abolition of subsidies and privileges for tribal chiefs and the royal families. 

5. Afghanistan's foreign policy

Amanullah already started to begun its foreign policy, including diplomatic relation with the Russian Soviet. 

The rivalry of the great power in the Government of Moscow brought by the Bolshevik Revolution of 1917 they wants to establish relation with neighbouring Muslim States. 

In his attempt to unlase British Centre Afghanistan foreign policy Amanullah Sent an emisary to Moscow in 1919 was welcome warmly and responded by sending a soviet representative to Kabul to offer aid to Amanullah's government. 

In short Afghanistan Foreign Policy was primarily concerned with rivalry between Soviet Union and United Kingdom. Each attempted to gain the favour of Afghanistan and spoil attempts of other. 

This effect was inconsistent but generally favourable for Afghan. Amanullah was even able to established in limited Afghan Air Force consisting of donated soviet planes. 

6. Amanullah policy towards Women. 

Amanullah's wife Queen Soraya Tarzi played a huge role in this and became the face of Amanullah Khan reform in regard to women. 

Amanullah created new model influenced by western dress and etiquette.

Gave women more right and allowing freedom of press through publishing.

So on… . 

Conclusion

Amanullah Khan was no doubt great reformers who brought drastic change in a car or change the he  freed Afghan's foreign affair from Britain and ensure everyone right and equality.

Howevet in 1928 a revolted started inside Afghan in Jalalabad by Shinwari Pashtun which made this greatest and patriotic personality exile to Italy then Switzerland untill his death. Amanllah Khan died in 1960 and burried in Jalabad near his father's tomb.