Chitral; the Story of a Minor Siege

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Chitral; the Story of a Minor Siege
AuthorSir George Scott Robertson
CountryLondon, England
LanguageEnglish
SubjectSiege of Chitral
Published1898
Media type(Hardback)
Pages368

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.[1][2][3][4][5]

Overview[edit]

The book presents an account of Chitral's growing geographical significance during the Great Game and the British Government's policy towards the northernmost frontier of India. However much of the book recounts the events leading to the Siege of Chitral, followed by the siege and how it was lifted. The book presents an indepth analysis of the march by Colonel Kelly from Gilgit over the snow covered Shandur Pass and that of General Sir Robert Low from the south.[6][7][8][9]

Description[edit]

The book recounts how Chitral is a remote but strategically placed state stretching over 250 miles, high in the Hindu Kush. For well over three decades the state was ruled by Mehtar Aman ul-Mulk who had fostered friendly relations with the British. On 30 August 1892 the much aged Aman ul-Mulk suddenly died igniting a bloody war of succession which climaxes in 1895. The same year Surgeon-Major George Scott Robertson, recently appointed Political Agent by the British, arrived in Chitral.[10][11][12][13][14]

Shortly thereafter two groups representing different claimants for the right to rule arrived in Chitral. Sir George Robertson with the aid of a small British force managed to take control of the Chitral Fort but he and the forces were soon placed under siege by the native forces from the outside, and held as hostages. When news of the events reached Calcutta, the British High Command approved a military operation to lift the siege. One military group under the command of General Sir Robert Low with an accumulative strength of 15,000 strong left from the south (Peshawar) towards Chitral whereas the second smaller group commanded by Colonel Kelly marched from the north (Gilgit) towards the besieged. The march of the two forces eventually drove away the rival groups claiming power and Shuja ul-Mulk the youngest son of Aman ul-Mulk was recognised as the Mehtar. The march of the two forces in addition to lifting the Siege of Chitral enabled the British to establish their hold over Swat, Dir and Gupis. For his heroic services the author of the book George Scott Robertson was made Knight Commander of the Order of the Star of India by Queen Victoria.[15][16][17][18][19]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Robertson, George Scott. "Chitral - The Story of a Minor Siege by Sir George Robertson K.C.S.I First Edition Methuen 1898". Brought to Book Ltd. Retrieved 2017-06-17.
  2. ^ Gosse, Edmund (1899). "The Literature of Action". The North American Review. 168 (506): 14–23. JSTOR 25119122.
  3. ^ Robertson, Sir George Scott (1991-10-03). Chitral: The Story of a Minor Siege. R J Leach Military Publishers. ISBN 9781873050057.
  4. ^ "Full text of "Chitrál; the story of a minor siege"". Archive.
  5. ^ The Independent. proprietors. 1899. pp. 969 and 1243.
  6. ^ Robertson, Sir George Scott (2001). Chitrál: the story of a minor siege. Bhavana Books & Prints. ISBN 9788186505526.
  7. ^ Robertson, Sir, George Scott (1977). Chitral : the story of a minor siege. Karachi : Oxford University Press. ISBN 0195772482.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  8. ^ "Chitral : The Story of A Minor Siege (1898) by George Scott Robertson (2009, Paperback)". eBay.
  9. ^ The Literary World. S.R. Crocker. 1899. pp. 35. Chitral; the Story of a Minor Siege.
  10. ^ Robertson, George Scott (2016-01-02). Chitral the Story of a Minor Siege. Ishi Press. ISBN 9784871875288.
  11. ^ "Chitral: the story of a minor siege". Chessler Books.
  12. ^ Gurdon, B.E.M. "Chitral Memories: Himalayan Journal Vol.05/1". Himalayan Club.
  13. ^ Norman, C. B. (2012-03-30). Battle Honours of the British Army (1911). Andrews UK Limited. p. 394. ISBN 9781781507315.
  14. ^ Mount, Ferdinand (2015-03-12). The Tears of the Rajas: Mutiny, Money and Marriage in India 1805-1905. Simon and Schuster. p. 638. ISBN 9781471129452.
  15. ^ Robertson, Sir George Scott; Sloan, Sam (2016-01-04). Chitral The Story of a Minor Siege. S.l.: Ishi Press. ISBN 9784871875288.
  16. ^ Mines, Diane P.; Lamb, Sarah (2010). Everyday Life in South Asia. Indiana University Press. p. 536. ISBN 978-0253354730.
  17. ^ Robertson, Sir George S. (1899). Chitral, the story of a minor siege. Methuen and Co.
  18. ^ "Robertson, Sir George S. - Chitral, the story of a minor siege". Royal Collection United Kingdom.
  19. ^ Sketch: A Journal of Art and Actuality. Ingram brothers. 1899.

ISBN 4871875288