During the British rule in India, India practically comprised of two parts or separate entities: one was called British India and the other Indian States or Princely States. The two entities were ruled and governed differently.
British India was under the direct control of the British Crown while the Indian States were under its suzerainty and were governed under special rules, regulations and administrative system. The British Indian Government had entered into treaties with most of the Princely States under which the rulers of the States, on the whole, recognised the paramountcy of the British Government and surrendered powers in some spheres such as external affairs, currency, post and telegraph.
The British Crown and Government, however, had no direct say in the Princely States' internal administration and affairs, except for those provided specifically by the treaties entered into by both sides. As a result, the rulers of the Princely States ruled the States according to their will and administrative systems.
In this scenario, the political organisations or parties formed in British India had their primary and main concern with the affairs of British India only. Being formed and permitted under British Indian rules and laws and having their main concern with the affairs of British India, these political organisations obviously set their aims and objectives in relation to the affairs of British India and its subjects. Of these organisations, the All India Muslim League (AIML) (f. 1906) emerged, in course of time, as the most important political bodies on the all India level.
These parties played a significant role in shaping and manipulating events to an extent that these bodies liberated India from British yoke and got the subcontinent divided into two independent States, in August 1947. In the process they also affected the Indian States.
One of the States affected by independence and partition was Swat which had come into being in the NWFP in 1915. After being formed by a Jarga (Tribal Council) of some cantons of the right-bank Swat, Sayyad Abdul Jabbar Shah (1880-1956) was called from Sithana (situated on the right side of the river Indus) and installed as the ruler of the State. The Jarga, however asked him due to a number of causes, to relinquish power and leave Swat in September 1917. Therefore, the Jarga installed Miangul Abdul Wadud (1883-1971) a grandson of Abdul Ghafur alias Saidu Baba (1794-1877), as the new ruler of Swat State. Miangul Abdul Wadud not only consolidated the State and his own power but also extended the boundaries of the State and made it a model state.
He also entered into an Agreement with the British Indian Government on 3 May 1926 and the latter recognised the Swat State with Miangul Abdul Wadud as its ruler.
Although the youngest of the Princely States of India, Swat became prominent and significant among the Frontier States, due to its internal developments, peace, security, progress and cordial relations with the British Indian Government. Having cordial relations with and loyal to the British Government, since his early life, Miangul Abdul Wadud co-operated with the colonial authorities in suppressing the agitation and activities of the Khudai Khidmatgars, termed as Red Shirts by the colonial authorities.
The AIML, since its founding, however, did not take any direct part in the affairs of the Princely States, confining itself to British India. Thus the Muslim Population in the Princely States remained outside the domain of the AIML's objectives and activities.
AS ITS 11-12 APRIL 1936 SESSION, THE AIML DECLARED IN A RESOLUTION THAT:
The League is clearly of the opinion that the All India Federal Scheme of the Central Government, embodied in the Government of India Act of 1935, is fundamentally bad, it is most reactionary, retrograde, injurious and fatal to the vital interests of British India vis-a-vis the Indian States [italics mine], and it is calculated to thwart and delay indefinitely the realisation of India's most cherished goal of complete responsible government and is totally unacceptable.
Despite this lack of interest in the Princely States' affairs, the AIML showed some concern over the condition of the Muslim subjects in states ruled by non-Muslim rulers, concerning them and had adopted and passed resolutions at its various meetings.
Although the rulers of the North-Western Frontier States had neither been members of the Chamber of Princes nor were directly involved in the political developments, activities and affairs on an all India level, the ruler of Swat State, having an anti-Congress and anti-Khudai Khidmatgar Movement background due to their anti-colonial Government roles and activities, opted to cooperate with the AIML, when the Muslim League became active in the North-West Frontier Province.
The last Wall of Swat State, Miangul Jahanzeb alias Wali Sahib, reports that when independence was approaching, relations between the Khudai Khidmatgar Movement and the Muslim League became very strained, and the Khudai Khidmatgars "knew that we were for the Muslim League. So they stayed away and never contacted my father [ruler of the State] or me [heir-apparent and Commander-in-Chief of the State] for any support or request."
The account of Miangul Abdul Wadud alias Bacha Sahib also points out that the AMIL represented Muslims and hence his sympathies were with the Muslim League. "And we were the supporters of the Muslim League for we were convinced that it was the party which was striving, at the time, for the cause of the Indian Muslims.
My intention in stating about my support is not to blow my own trumpet or boast of the help which I gave, but when I guided five lakhs Muslims (subjects of the State) towards the Muslim League, as the Ruler of Swat State, I thought that I did my duty in the right manner. At the time of the Referendum in the North-West Frontier Province when leaders of the Muslim League asked for monetary support, I gave one lakh and ten thousand rupees cash to the Muslim League.
Then at the time of Referendum, I sent my personal envoys to different areas of the Frontier Province, namely District Kohat, District Bannu and the Waziristan areas, so as to announce my message to the people of those areas to cast their votes in favour of the Muslim League (meaning thereby in favour of joining Pakistan).
Being murids (disciples) of my grandfather we have influence over the people of the said areas, and I can say that the result of my said message and instructions went in favour of the Muslim League (ie in favour of Pakistan). We had supported the Muslim League with money, and by influencing our murids, the followers of Saidu Baba, all along the Frontier, from here [Swat] to Bannu."
In his account of the 'Role of Swat in Pakistan Movement', Sher Afzal Khan Barikoti speaks of the role played by the Pir of Manki in the success of the Muslim League in the N.W.F.P. He refers to the Pir of Manki's relations with the Ruler of Swat and says that the family of the Ruler of Swat is the Pir Khana (family of the Pir) of the Pir of Manki, which the Pir of Manki greatly respected. He, moreover, contends that if the Ruler of Swat had opposed the Muslim League at this juncture, the opposition would certainly have brought some adverse results because of the stature of the Ruler of Swat in the sight of masses of the province.
Sher Afzal Khan Barikoti also claims that the Government of Swat sent responsible officers to different places in India so as to highlight the importance of the Muslim League to the Swati residents residing in those places and to induce them to participate in the Pakistan Movement - in particular the students of the religious institutions and the religious scholars in Delhi, and the Pathan residents in Bombay, Karachi and Hyderabad (Sind).
The Swat State ruler rendered not only help and services to the AIML cause before independence, but also continued his assistance after the emergence of Pakistan as well. He donated Rs 200,000 to the Quaid-i-Azam Relief Fund; a sum total of Rs 800,000 to different Pakistani funds from time to time; and brought a "Fury" fighter aircraft for Pakistan, on the request of Iskandar Mirza: the then Defence Secretary, at the cost of Rs 125,000 and named it Jahanzeb, after the name of the heir-apparent. He also did not claim the Annual Subsidy of Rs 10,000 formerly paid by the British Indian Government and now by the Pakistan Government, forever.
Thus Miangul Jahanzeb, the last Ruler of Swat rendered invaluable services to the AIML before Independence, and helped Pakistan monetarily after its birth. - Courtesy Journal of Pakistan Historical Society.