Umra Khan of Jandul, Afghan Napoleon By Uzair Yousafzai There was one Pashtun hero, Umra khan The people of Dir proudly narrate his life story and exploits, glorifying his personality through folk songs and poetry. ده جنډولې عمراخانه تا نه منله ده فرنګیانو کلنګونه کابل ته لاړې [Shared by a very dear comrade Muhammad Zaki (for which I insisted to share it with me via WhatsApp)]. Many British writers, including Winston Churchill, have written about Umra Khan but HC Thomson’s book, The Chitral Campaign gives the most detailed and objective account of his life. Umra Khan was born in about 1860, in a place called Barwa (renamed as Samar Bagh in the 1980s) in Jandul, Lower Dir. At that time, different areas in Bajaur and Dir were ruled by Khans. His father, Aman Khan, ruled the valley of Jandul. On his death, in 1879, Umra Khan’s elder brother succeeded him. Fearing for his life, Umra Khan fled Jandul, performed Hajj and then went to Peshawar. He stole a rifle from a British regim...
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