Life of the Amir Dost Mohammed Khan of Kabul
With his Political Proceedings towards the English, Russian, and Persian Governments, Including the Victory and Disasters of the British Army in Afghanistan

In this two-volume 1846 work, Mohan Lal describes the life of Amir Dost Mohammed Khan (1793–1863), ruler of Afghanistan.

Mohan Lal (Author)

9781108046596, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 26 April 2012

446 pages, 11 b/w illus.
21.6 x 14 x 2.5 cm, 0.56 kg

In this two-volume biography of 1846, Indian diplomat and author Mohan Lal (1812–77) describes the life of Amir Dost Mohammed Khan (1793–1863), the ruler of Afghanistan. The work also includes an eye-witness account of the disastrous First Anglo-Afghan War. Lal, who was attached to the British mission to Kabul, had prepared an account in English and Persian which was lost during the chaos of the war, but he later put the story together again. In his Preface, Lal apologises to the reader for his abundant errors both in grammar and idiom and explains that anecdotes about the Amir's adventures and morals were generally communicated to him second-hand. However, the book, which contains illustrations and draws personal correspondence, is a fascinating account of the ruler himself and of his political dealings with the English, Russian and Persian governments at the time of the 'Great Game' in Central Asia.

Dedication
Preface
1. Sons of Abdal
2. Brothers of Dost Mohammed Khan
3. Brothers envy Dost Mohammed Khan
4. Succession of Habib-ullah Khan
5. Haji Khan joins the Sardar
6. Preparations for a new expedition against the Sikhs
7. Difficult situation of the Amir
8. The Amir fears the Hazarahs
9. The wives of the Amir
10. Connexion of the British with Afghanistan
11. A Persian envoy arrives at Qandhar
12. The British mission leaves Kabul
13. Reluctance of the Indian government to interfere with Captain Vikovich.

Subject Areas: Asian history [HBJF]