State of Swat Pashto:رياست سوات | |
|---|---|
| 1849–1969 | |
 Flag | |
 | |
| Status | Princely state in alliance withBritish India (1918–1947) Princely state ofPakistan (1947–1969) |
| Capital | Saidu Sharif |
| Religion | Islam |
| Wāli of Swat | |
| History | |
• Established | 1849 |
• Merged intoNorth-West Frontier Province | 28 July 1969 |
| Area | |
• Total | 2,934 sq mi (7,600 km2)[1] |
| Currency | Rupee,Pakistan Rupee (after 1947) |
| Today part of | Pakistan · Khyber Pakhtunkhwa |
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| This article is part of the series |
| Former administrative units of Pakistan |
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One-unit provinces |
State of Swat (Urdu:رياست سوات) was a state established in 1849 by theMuslim saintSaidu Baba, also known asAkhund of Swat,[2][3] and was ruled by Walis of Swat. It was recognized as aprincely state in alliance with theBritish Raj between 1918 and 1947, after which the Akhwandacceded to the newly independent state ofPakistan. Swat continued to exist as an autonomous region until it was dissolved in 1969,[4] and incorporated intoKhyber Pakhtunkhwa province (formerly North-West Frontier Province). The area it covered is now divided among the present-day districts ofSwat,Buner,Kohistan andShangla.
The Swat state was established by a religious leader,Saidu Baba, who was born in a MuslimKhatanaGujjar[5] family of the upperSwat Valley in 1794.[6] He began his life as a shepherd and then left the village at the age of 18 to settled in the village of Mian Brangola, where he got his early education and learnt the fundamentals ofIslam.[6]
Saidu Baba ultimately settled in 1849 atSaidu Sharif, gradually turning Swat into an independent state.[7]: 40 However, after his death in 1877, Swat fell into abeyance till 1915, whenAbdul Jabbar, a descendant ofPir Baba was elected as leader. In 1918, the grandson of Saidu Baba,Miangul Abdul Wadud became the Wali of Swat. Soon Swat was recognized by the British government as aprincely state. In 1947, Miangul Abdul Wadud acceded his state to Pakistan.
The Wāli of Swat (Urdu: والی سوات) was the official title of the leader (wāli) of the Miangul dynasty that ruled over the state of Swat between 1857 and 1969.
The state of Swat was founded bySaidu Baba, religious leader also known as Akhund of Swat, in 1849. After his death in 1878, the state fell into abeyance until 1915, whenSyed Abdul Jabbar Shah, a descendant ofPir Baba gained power with the title of Badshah. The grandson of Saidu Baba,Wadud of Swat was elected as monarch of Swat in 1918. This title was changed to "Wali" in 1926, when Swat became a princely state in asubsidiary alliance with theBritish Indian Empire.[8]
Upon Pakistan's independence in August 1947, Swat became a fully independent princely state until 3 November, when it acceded toPakistan as one of the autonomousPrincely states of Pakistan, and the Wali continued to rule.[9] The Wali ceased to rule in 1969, when the state of Swat was incorporated into theNorth-West Frontier Province of Pakistan (nowKhyber Pakhtunkhwa). The region comprising the former princely state today covers parts of theSwat,Buner andShangla districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Today, the title is used unofficially as a courtesy title by heirs of the Miangul family of the former Wali of Swat. The whole dynasty founded by the Abdul Wadud Badshah, also called itself by this title. The Wāli of Swat, Miangul Abdul Wadud, acceded his state to Pakistan on 3 November 1947. The last Wali, Miangul Jahan Zeb (1908 to 1987) continued to exercise absolute rule until Pakistan took control, when on 28 July 1969, Yahya Khan announced the full integration of Swat,Chitral, andDir into Pakistan.[citation needed]
The title was made honorary after 1969 when the monarch was replaced by a civil administration.
Under the rule of Miangul Jehanzeb, who assumed the role of Wali in 1949, Swat experienced a remarkable growth in educational opportunities. He founded several schools and colleges, most notably Jehanzeb College in 1952. Education was offered at no cost, and scholarships were made available to students, resulting in a substantial rise in literacy rates.[10][11]
Miangul Jahan Zeb implemented a judicial system that combined traditional practices with modern governance. A network of qazis (judges) was established to ensure swift justice. Law and order were maintained through a combination of local jirgas (councils) and state enforcement, leading to a significant reduction in crime.[12]
Under the leadership of Miangul Jahan Zeb, Swat's economy experienced diversification, becoming recognized for its handicrafts such as woolen blankets (Sharai), shawls, rugs, and intricate embroidery. Additionally, marble and emerald mining played a significant role in boosting the local economy.[13]
Miangul Abdul Wadud made investments in the preservation of culture and the development of architecture. TheWhite Palace inMarghuzar, constructed in 1940, functioned as a summer retreat and stands as a symbol of the area's architectural legacy.
In 1969, Swat State was incorporated into Pakistan, joining theKhyber Pakhtunkhwa province. This change signified the conclusion of the princely state's self-governance, yet it established a legacy of advancement and forward-thinking policies.[14]
The rulers of Swat held the titleAmir-e Shariyat and from 1918 were known asBadshah; the title changed toWali in 1926 when it became a Princely State of theBritish Raj. Since 1969 the former princely state has been under a civil administration as part of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.[4]
| State of Swat | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | Name | Reign begin | Reign ended | Notes | |
| 1 | Syed Akbar Shah | 1849 | 11 May 1857 | A descendant ofPir Baba, a renownedSufi saint fromBuner, he was chosen as the inaugural ruler of Swat through tribal agreement. | |
| 2 | Akhund Abdul Ghaffur | 11 May 1857 | 1878 | A notable religious figure, led Swat with his spiritual influence, ensuring peace and stability by enforcing Islamic law and utilizing tribal agreement.[15] | |
| – | Interregnum | 1878 | 1915 | After the death of Saidu Baba, Swat entered a phase of political turmoil characterized by a lack of centralized governance, resulting in the distribution of power among local Khans and tribal leaders. | |
| 4 | Syed Abdul Jabbar Shah | April 1915 | September 1917 | Previously Prime Minister ofAmb State, he was appointed as the leader of Swat by tribal elders in 1915.[16] | |
| 5 | Miangul Abdul Wadud | September 1917 | 12 December 1949 | Grandson of Saidu Baba, he brought unity to Swat and was acknowledged by the British as the Wali (ruler) in 1926.[12][13] | |
| 6 | Miangul Jahan Zeb | 12 December 1949 | 28 July 1969 | He succeeded his father and advanced modernization initiatives with a significant emphasis on education, healthcare, infrastructure, and economic development. He willingly joined Pakistan, leading to Swat's incorporation into West Pakistan in 1969. | |
| Titular Head | |||||
| 7 | Miangul Aurangzeb | 1969 | 3 August 2014 | Held ceremonial title following the merger; held the position of governor in several provincesBalochistan and theNorth-West Frontier Province, which is now known as Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. | |
| 8 | Miangul Adnan Aurangzeb | 3 August 2014 | 30 May 2022 | An engineer and former member ofNational Assembly of Pakistan from 1997–1999. He represented the Royal family at cultural and civic events before dying in a car accident in 2022. | |
| 9 | Miangul Mahmood Aurangzeb | 30 May 2022 | – | Perpetuates the family's tradition of ceremonies and participation in local matters. | |
This is a list of rulers of Swat princely state:
| Tenure | Rulers of Swat |
|---|---|
| 1849–1857 | Akbar Shah |
| 1857–1878 | Saidu Baba |
| 1878–1916 | state in abeyance |
| 1919–1926 | Abdul Jabbar Shah |
| 1926–1949 | Miangul Abdul Wadud |
| 1949–1969 | Miangul Jahan Zeb |
| 1969–1987 | Miangul Jahan Zeb |
| 1987–2014 | Miangul Aurangzeb |
| 2014–2022 | Miangul Adnan Aurangzeb |
| 2022–present | Mahmoud Aurangzeb |
...Akhund of Swat... was arguably the region's most beloved personality of the nineteenth century. Originally from a poor family of Gujjar, at age eighteen he devoted himself to religious studies.