Vandalism of Victor of Maiwand's Tomb

Rashid Khattak

Publishing Date: Tuesday, June 15 2010

Perhaps it seems odd to thejournalists to report an incident of theft involving only few piecesof marbles in the present circumstances when killings of scores ofpersons in a single incident have become routine news items. The newsitems about little things also cannot attract, shake or alert thereaders, as they are accustomed to more horrible incidents takingplace on daily basis.

But, the marbles in this case were notordinary ones, as these were decorating the last abode of SardarMohammad Ayub Khan, the Victor of Maiwand. Stillthe desecration of his tomb at the hands of unidentified thieves wentunnoticed. Journalists, social workers and political activists didn’tbother to take notice of the incident. As far as the government isconcerned, it has failed feels it difficult to protect living personswhat to talk of graves and tombs.

Zahir Babari, the culturalattaché at Afghan Consulate in Peshawar, who was the movingspirit behind the renovation of the tomb of the Victor of Maiwand,expressed his heartfelt sorrow over the incident through an articleuploaded on a website. But, it seems that his article also failed toattract the attention of those at the helm of affairs.

Hethinks that after the bombing of the mausoleum of the great mysticpoet Rehman Baba, the vandalism and theft from the tomb of the Afghanwarrior is second attack on the culture, history and norms ofPakhtuns.

“Idon’t know what the thieves would have made out of the marblepieces, they stole from the tomb. It only manifests the contempt ofsome people for the heroes of Pakhtuns,” said a Pashto writer,commenting on the incident.

He said that every strata of lifewas facing deterioration. “The thieves also had some norms andprinciples in the past. But now all the norms and values seemvanished as thieves have started robbing the dead,” he added.

According to another poet the sadincident must be made subject of a package by one of the dozens TVchannels, airing news about every important and not-so-importanthappenings and incidents.

SardarMohammad Ayub Khan shot to prominence during the second Anglo-AfghanWar in 1880 when he inflicted an embarrassing defeat on British Armyat Maiwand.

He was the son of the King Ameer Sher Ali, whoruled Afghanistan from 1863-1878.

The battle at Maiwand wasfought on July 27, 1880 when Ayub Khan successfully led 6,000 men andintercepted the British Army at this place in order to thwart theirinvasion of Afghanistan. The victory is often cited perhaps the onlyinstance where an Asian leader won a pitched battle fought against afar more superior European army.

He died on April 7, 1914 andwas buried in Peshawar in the Durrani Graveyard near Wazir Bagh, justoutside the old walled city of Peshawar.

The construction ofhis mausoleum was commissioned by the government of Afghanistanduring the reign of King Habibullah Khan. Other dignitaries buried inthe Durrani Graveyard compound include his mother (wife of Ameer SherAli and queen of Afghanistan), Sardar Ibrahim Khan (brother), SardarJalaluddin Khan.

The government of Afghanistan renovated thegraves in 2004 under the supervision of Mr Babari. But about twomonths ago unidentified thieves took away the marble pieces and othervaluables from all the graves. The tombs, renovated in more than twomonths time were destroyed and defaced in a single night.

Accordingto Mr Babari, he has met the authorities concerned in KhyberPakhtunkhwa government and informed about the sad incident. But, hedoesn’t know who want to insult the national hero of Afghan.

Pakhtun intellectuals, nationalist parties and writers alsoneed to take notice of the insult committed against the hero, still asource of inspiration for many. The government should also take someeffective steps to avoid any such incident in the future.

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Notes

• All images credit: Dr. Ali Jan.

• The tomb is located in Durrani graveyard near Wazir Bagh road, south of the walled city.

• This article first appeared in Dawn on 6 June 2010.

• Also see earlier article published in March 2007 in the News, “Here lies Victor of Maiwand” by Dr. Ali Jan.

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