During my visit to a friend it had been a point of question about Umara Khan of Jandool that he was called ‘ Napolean of Asia’ by a British officer in his diary. I was not then mentally in a fresh position to discuss in detail as I had many other points to discuss about Chitral and silently avioded the answer. The question about Umara Khan of Jandool was to highlight the valour of the Khan and his outstanding role ina hostile world involving the Amir of Kabul, The British imperialists, the Mehtar of Chitral and finally the ousted Nawab of Dir.Thye speaker wanted to lionise the Khan but the phrase ‘ Napolean of Asia’ was coined as a metaphor; nicknaming him to compare the short sightedness, political imprudence and rashness of the two figures in their wild decisions under taken in clear adverse conditions, doing foolish things and bringing upon themselves the examplary destructions that led to their fall and elimination. Meanwhile another columnist used the same phrase in another context and wanted to give the impression that the Khan was a great success but that success is nowhere to be seen in the pages of history.
The valour shown by the Khan was an open stupidity trusting the pledges of Amirul -Mulk when Sher Afzal appeared on the scene unexpectedly which compelled him to stop at Drosh after rceiving the ultimatums from Robertson- commander of the British troops in Chitral- which he least preconceived and in frenzy had marched over Lowari Pass in mid January toface an enemy whom he had rarely engage in his life . Though he had successfully eliminated his real brothers but Chitralis were not his friends nor so ‘ yellow’ to surrender to him at his first call. He failed to take a step above Drosh town , stayed there for a couple of weeks, gauged the speed of political adherence and decided not to march to Chitral but sent his commanders after Sher Afzal’s departure and waited for a response from the British Empire that baffled him but the arrest of two British officers at Reshun by treacchery was his only good luck that he snatched from Sher Afzal and used them politely to compensate for his blunders and save his skin from the British who had by then moved up from Nowshehra and that particular startegy put him into consternation that made him flee back to his fort and keep the officer for a bargain. Got his freedom by the good offices of the captured officers and was allowed to escape to Afghan territory where he was least welcome but there was no alternative. The destruction invited by him in cold winter got him the nick name of ‘ Napolean of Asia’ for all his eccentricities but not forhis valour. H e was not a man of principles but a wild boar devoid of thinking power.
