Sir George Scott Robertson, (22 October 1852 – 1 January 1916) was a British soldier, author, and administrator who was best known for his arduous journey to the remote and rugged region of
Kafiristan
Kāfiristān, or Kāfirstān ( ps, کاپیرستان, prs, کافرستان), is a historical region that covered present-day Nuristan Province in Afghanistan and Chitral District of Pakistan. This historic region lies on, and mainly comprises ...
in what is now northeastern
Afghanistan
Afghanistan, officially the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan,; prs, امارت اسلامی افغانستان is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central Asia and South Asia. Referred to as the Heart of Asia, it is bordere ...
and for his overall command of British Empire forces during the
Siege of Chitral. He chronicled his Kafiristan experience in the book ''
The Kafirs of the Hindu Kush
''The Kafirs of the Hindu Kush'' is a book written by Sir George Scott Robertson, illustrated by Arthur David McCormick, and published in 1896 by Arthur Henry Bullen, Lawrence & Bullen Ltd.
Significance and narrative
George Scott Robertson, Si ...
''. Some have suggested that Robertson's year-long expedition and subsequent book (originally published in 1896) provided background and inspiration for
Rudyard Kipling
Joseph Rudyard Kipling ( ; 30 December 1865 – 18 January 1936)''The Times'', (London) 18 January 1936, p. 12. was an English novelist, short-story writer, poet, and journalist. He was born in British India, which inspired much of his work.
...
's short story ''"
The Man Who Would Be King
"The Man Who Would Be King" (1888) is a story by Rudyard Kipling about two British adventurers in British India who become kings of Kafiristan, a remote part of Afghanistan. The story was first published in '' The Phantom Rickshaw and other Ee ...
"''. However, Kipling's work was originally published in 1888, predating Robertson's travels to the region.
Travels to Kafiristan
Robertson was born in London and received his education at the Westminster Hospital Medical School (now Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, London). In 1878 he entered the
Indian Medical Service
The Indian Medical Service (IMS) was a military medical service in British India, which also had some civilian functions. It served during the two World Wars, and remained in existence until the independence of India in 1947. Many of its officer ...
and served throughout the
Second Anglo-Afghan War
The Second Anglo-Afghan War (Dari: جنگ دوم افغان و انگلیس, ps, د افغان-انګرېز دويمه جګړه) was a military conflict fought between the British Raj and the Emirate of Afghanistan from 1878 to 1880, when the l ...
of 1878–80. In 1888 he was attached to the Indian Foreign Office and assigned as agency surgeon in
Gilgit
Gilgit (; Shina: ; ur, ) is the capital city of Gilgit–Baltistan, Pakistan. The city is located in a broad valley near the confluence of the Gilgit River and the Hunza River. It is a major tourist destination in Pakistan, serving as a h ...
, in northern India, now
Pakistan
Pakistan ( ur, ), officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan ( ur, , label=none), is a country in South Asia. It is the world's List of countries and dependencies by population, fifth-most populous country, with a population of almost 24 ...
. According to his book it was around this time, during the war and while in Gilgit, that Robertson became interested in the land and way of life of the Kafir people. He asked the Government of
India
India, officially the Republic of India (Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by area, the second-most populous country, and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the so ...
for permission to journey to Kafiristan, and by October 1889 was on his way, departing from
Chitral
Chitral ( khw, , lit=field, translit=ćhitrār; ur, , translit=ćitrāl) is situated on the Chitral River in northern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. It serves as the capital of the Chitral District and before that as the capital of Chitral ...
in what is now northwest Pakistan in the company of several Kafir headmen of the
Kam tribe. His journey lasted just over a year, ending in 1891, and providing Robertson with first-hand experience of what to him were the strange customs and colourful people of Kafiristan.
He was made a
Companion of the Order of the Star of India
The Most Exalted Order of the Star of India is an order of chivalry founded by Queen Victoria in 1861. The Order includes members of three classes:
# Knight Grand Commander (GCSI)
# Knight Commander ( KCSI)
# Companion ( CSI)
No appointments ...
in 1892.
Siege of Chitral
In 1893, after his travels in Kafiristan, Surgeon Major Robertson was reassigned to the then-independent
State of Chitral
, status = Princely state in alliance with British India to 15 August 1947;Fully independent: 15 August 1947 – 6 October 1947
, official_languages = Persian (official, literary, and administrative language) Khowar (cour ...
, this time as a political agent. In 1895 he brought a force of around 400 soldiers, under the direct command of Captain
Charles Vere Ferrers Townshend
Major General Sir Charles Vere Ferrers Townshend, (21 February 1861 – 18 May 1924) was a British soldier who during the First World War led an overreaching military campaign in Mesopotamia. His troops were besieged and captured at the Si ...
, from Gilgit to oversee the transfer of power in Chitral following the death of its ruler,
Aman ul-Mulk
Aman ul-Mulk (; 1 January 1821 – 30 August 1892) was the Mehtar of Chitral, Ghizer, Yasen and Ishkoman and Suzerain of Kafiristan. He ruled the State of Chitral from 1857 to 1892. His rule saw Chitral reach its territorial peak, extending from ...
. After his arrival, Robertson engaged in a series of complex political and military manoeuvres, during which hostility from local tribesmen led to his forces to move into
Chitral Fort
The Chitral Fort is a fortification in Chitral town, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. The fort is situated on the banks of the Chitral River. The fort has a commanding position on the river and is believed to have been built in 1774 during the reig ...
for protection. The six-week siege that followed included an unsuccessful sortie on 3 March 1895, when the British led forces took heavy losses. The siege was raised on 19 April when a relief force under
Colonel Kelly arrived and dispersed the armed tribesmen. For his service during the famous
siege
A siege is a military blockade of a city, or fortress, with the intent of conquering by attrition warfare, attrition, or a well-prepared assault. This derives from la, sedere, lit=to sit. Siege warfare is a form of constant, low-intensity con ...
Robertson was made a
Knight Commander of the Order of the Star of India
The Most Exalted Order of the Star of India is an order of chivalry founded by Queen Victoria in 1861. The Order includes members of three classes:
# Knight Grand Commander (GCSI)
# Knight Commander ( KCSI)
# Companion ( CSI)
No appointments ...
and appointed British agent in Gilgit. It was he who took the important decision of installing and recognising
Shuja ul-Mulk
His Highness Sir Shuja ul-Mulk KCIE (1 January 1881 – 13 October 1936) was the Mehtar (from fa, ) of the princely state of Chitral, and reigned it for 41 years until his death in 1936. He belonged to the royal Katur dynasty, which ruled t ...
as the provisional Mehtar of
Chitral
Chitral ( khw, , lit=field, translit=ćhitrār; ur, , translit=ćitrāl) is situated on the Chitral River in northern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. It serves as the capital of the Chitral District and before that as the capital of Chitral ...
, subject to approval of the Government. He later wrote a book by the title ''
Chitral; the Story of a Minor Siege
''Chitral; the Story of a Minor Siege'' is a book written by Sir George Scott Robertson on the Siege of Chitral and published by Methuen Publishing in 1898.
Overview
The book presents an account of Chitral's growing geographical significance ...
'' recounting the intense and dramatic events in Chitral.
Later years
Robertson continued in the Indian Service until his retirement in 1899. He then returned to Great Britain where he made an unsuccessful bid for political office as a
Liberal party
The Liberal Party is any of many political parties around the world. The meaning of ''liberal'' varies around the world, ranging from liberal conservatism on the right to social liberalism on the left.
__TOC__ Active liberal parties
This is a li ...
candidate in
Stirlingshire
Stirlingshire or the County of Stirling, gd, Siorrachd Sruighlea) is a Counties of Scotland, historic county and registration countyRegisters of Scotland. Publications, leaflets, Land Register Counties. of Scotland. Its county town is Stirli ...
at the
1900 general election,
but later was elected in
Central Bradford in
1906
Events
January–February
* January 12 – Persian Constitutional Revolution: A nationalistic coalition of merchants, religious leaders and intellectuals in Persia forces the shah Mozaffar ad-Din Shah Qajar to grant a constitution, ...
. He held his seat in the
House of Commons
The House of Commons is the name for the elected lower house of the bicameral parliaments of the United Kingdom and Canada. In both of these countries, the Commons holds much more legislative power than the nominally upper house of parliament. ...
until his death on New Year's Day, 1916.
He was elected a Fellow of the
Royal Botanic Society
The Royal Botanic Society was a learned society founded in 1839 by James de Carle Sowerby under a royal charter to the Duke of Norfolk and others. Its purpose was to promote "botany in all its branches, and its applications." Soon after it was es ...
of London in November 1902.
''The Kafirs of the Hindu-Kush''
In 1896, Lawrence & Bullen Ltd published ''
The Kafirs of the Hindu Kush
''The Kafirs of the Hindu Kush'' is a book written by Sir George Scott Robertson, illustrated by Arthur David McCormick, and published in 1896 by Arthur Henry Bullen, Lawrence & Bullen Ltd.
Significance and narrative
George Scott Robertson, Si ...
'' written by Sir George Scott Robertson. The book provided a detailed account of Sir George Robertson's tour throughout
Kafiristan
Kāfiristān, or Kāfirstān ( ps, کاپیرستان, prs, کافرستان), is a historical region that covered present-day Nuristan Province in Afghanistan and Chitral District of Pakistan. This historic region lies on, and mainly comprises ...
. Although its descriptions of the Kafirs of the
Hindu Kush
The Hindu Kush is an mountain range in Central and South Asia to the west of the Himalayas. It stretches from central and western Afghanistan, Quote: "The Hindu Kush mountains run along the Afghan border with the North-West Frontier Provinc ...
are written in an outdated and colonial (and, from the perspective of modern sensibilities, discriminatory) style, the work contains some of the only accounts of the region from that time period. The book is accompanied by illustrations by
Arthur David McCormick
Arthur David McCormick ( Coleraine 14 October 1860 – 1943) was a British illustrator and painter of landscapes, historical scenes, naval subjects, and genre scenes.
McCormick was born in Ulster and, after education at local schools, went ...
and was dedicated by the author to his wife.
References
Sources
*Robertson, George Scott (1896) ''The Kafirs of the Hindu-Kush.'' Lawrence & Bullen, LTD., London.
*Mohammad Afzal Khan ''Chitral and Kafirstan, a personal study.'' Peshawar, Pakistan.
*1911 Encyclopædia Britannica (11th Edition): ''Sir George Scott Robertson''
External links
*
*
The Káfirs of the Hindu-Kush(online book)
{{DEFAULTSORT:Robertson, George S
1852 births
1916 deaths
Indian Medical Service officers
British military personnel of the Second Anglo-Afghan War
British military personnel of the Chitral Expedition
Liberal Party (UK) MPs for English constituencies
UK MPs 1906–1910
UK MPs 1910
UK MPs 1910–1918
Politics of Bradford
Knights Commander of the Order of the Star of India