Silk Road Books & Photos

Afghanistan

307

Shah, Sirdar Ikbal Ali

Afghanistan of the Afghans

Photos: King Amanullah, Shah Jahan's Mosque Garden of Babur Kabul, Emperor Babur's grave, Safed Koh Mountains, Panorama of Kabul, fornt cover showing Islamic Crescent emblem and front cover and spine.

Great Grandson of Jan Fishan Khan the Sadaat of Paghman, exiled to India the Sirdar’s family fought on the Brit side in India during 1857 and were rewarded with an estate at Sardhana. The Sirdar published this book in 1928 during the reign of the progressive Afghan King Amanullah. Shah's son was the famous Sufi Writer Idries Shah and his grand daughter Sara Shah is a journalist/documentary maker who is author of the book about afghanistan entitled "story teller's daughter return to a lost homeland" and produced the anti Taleban "Behind the Veil" documentary in 2001.

BOOK CONDITION: Corner cloth with marginal wear, very tight clean copy, spine slightly faded due to age/sun shine. Not Ex library, no ownership inscriptions or other pen marks.Very Good condition. First Edition.
introduction:
I offer as much apology in writing this book on Afghanistan as many an English gentleman if he were to write about England. THe country of the Afghans, too, is attracting now more than ordinary interest in Europe; on account of the labour that has been adopted by King Amanullah Khan for the entire reformation of the country. The work of reconstruction there is a task of Titan, and the world has already attested to the fact that the young King of Kabul has proved equal to the task.

The importance of this Afghan awakening lies in the fact that King Amanullah is too wise to drench the rather conservative Afghan mind with a sudden and wholesale dose of foreign culture. And above all, he is careful to strain the draught through the muslin-mesh of Afghan customs carefully adapting each innovation to teh peculiar requirements and mentality of the people.

The chapters on folk-lore of the country and those dealing with the progress and policy of the Young Afghans will, I hope, assist the reader to understand how the present day Afghans are, blending the East and West.

Faqir Syed Ikbal 15th November 1927.

King Amanullah's Government was overthrown by a Brigand in 1929 for trying to bring  westernization to Afghanistan. The difficult balancing act between East and West continues to bedevil Afghan Governments throughout the last century and the 21st century.

CHAPTERS:
The geography of Afghanistan
The History of Afghanistan
Folk Life
Witchcraft and Necromancy in Afghanistan
Charms, spells a nd Divination
The Supernatural in Afghanistan
Popular songs and sayings of the Afghans
Hero Tales
Legends and Traditions
Trees, Plants, Insects and Animals
The Afghan conception of Sufism
Pan-Islamism and Afghanistan
Religion in Afghanistan
Race Movement in Afghan Turkestan
The Khyber Railway and Frontier Defence
Progress and Policy in Afghanistan
Afghan Treaties

£75

 

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