Forestry in the Princely State of Swat and Kalam (North-West Pakistan) A Historical Perspective on Norms and Practices Sultan-i-Rome NCCR North-South Dialogue, no. 9 2007 The present study was carried out at the following partner institution of the NCCR North−South: IP DSGZ of WP2 (Livelihoods and Globalisation), Development Study Group Zurich (DSGZ) Department of Geography University of Zurich Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI), Islamabad, Pakistan The NCCR North-South (Research Partnerships for Mitigating Syndromes of Global Change) is one of twenty National Centres of Competence in Research established by the Swiss National Science Founda- tion (SNSF). It is implemented by the SNSF and co- funded by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), and the participating institutions in Switzerland. The NCCR North-South carries out disciplinary, interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary research on issues relating to sustainable develop- ment in developing and transition countries as well as in Switzerland. http://www.north-south.unibe.ch Forestry in the Princely State of Swat and Kalam (North-West Pakistan) A Historical Perspective on Norms and Practices Sultan-i-Rome NCCR North-South Dialogue, no. 9 2007 [20051] Citation Sultan-i-Rome. 2007. Forestry in the Princely State of Swat and Kalam (North-West Pakistan). A Historical Perspective on Norms and Practices. 2nd edition [20051]. NCCR North-South Dialogue, 9. Bern, Switzerland: NCCR North−South. Note on earlier version The first edition of this publication was entitled Forestry in the Princely State of Swat and Kalam (North-West Pakistan): A Historical Perspective on Norms and Prac- tices (NCCR North−South Dialogue. Bern: NCCR North- South). Editing Theodore Wachs, NCCR North−South Cover photo The Swat Valley with Mingawara and Upper Swat in the background. (Photo by U. Geiser) Distribution The PDF version of this paper can be downloaded from: http://www.north-south.unibe.ch under “Publications” © Sultan-i-Rome and NCCR North−South Contents Abbreviations 10 Glossary 11 1 Introduction 15 2 Political History 19 2.1 Geography 19 2.2 Early history 20 2.3 Genesis of Swat State 23 2.4 Expansion of the State 25 2.5 Brief history up to the merging of the State 27 3 Land Ownership in the Pre- and Swat State Periods 31 3.1 The traditional wesh system 31 3.2 Abolition of the traditional wesh system 34 3.3 When did permanent settlement take place? 37 3.4 Misconceptions about the wesh system and the Permanent Settlement 38 3.5 Land ownership in Indus and Swat Kohistan 41 4 Forest Use in the Pre- Swat State Period 45 4.1 Ownership and privileges 45 4.2 Traditional use 47 4.3 Past system of management 48 5 The Walis Period (1917-1947) 57 5.1 Forests declared state property 57 5.2 The state claim of proprietorship 58 5.3 Steps taken by the colonial government 60 5.4 Obstacles to proper conservation 62 5.5 Steps for conserving the forests 66 5.6 Some other points 70 5.7 Cutting is continued 72 5.8 The forest service 72 5.9 Rights and concessions 73 6 Kalam Tract 77 6.1 Agreement with the Gawri Tribes 78 6.2 Past system of management 81 6.3 Survey of the forests and recommendations 83 6.4 Complications 87 6.5 Occupation by Swat State 94 7 The Walis Period (1947-1969) – An Overview 99 7.1 Instrument of accession 99 7.2 Change of ruler 101 7.3 Supplementary instrument of accession 101 7.4 Forest management service 102 7.5 Rights and concessions 103 7.6 Control 104 7.7 Illegal cutting and smuggling 104 8 Conclusion 105 9 References 113 Acknowledgements 124 About the Author 125 Figures Figure 1: The Princely State of Swat, Kalam, and its surroundings 17 Figure 2: The principle of early land ownership in Swat. 43 7 Past, Present and Future of Watershed Management Project Forestry in the Princely State of Kalam (North-West Pakistan) Dedication: To Abdul Halim, Advocate (Ghaligay, Swat) 8 9 Past,Forestry Present in the and Princely Future State of Watershed of Kalam Management(North-West Pakistan)Project Abbreviations BN Bundle Number CC Chief Commissioner CCAGG Chief Commissioner and Agent to the Governor General CCF Chief Conservator of Forests CCOP Files of the Chief Commissioner’s Office, Peshawar, at the Directorate of Archives and Libraries, Peshawar CNWFPD Confidential North-West Frontier Provincial [Political] Diary COP Files of the Commissioner’s Office, Peshawar, at the Directorate of Archives and Libraries, Peshawar CS Chief Secretary DCOP Files of the Deputy Commissioner’s Office, Peshawar, at the Directorate of Archives and Libraries, Peshawar DCF Deputy Conservator of Forests DFO Divisional Forest Officer DO Demi Official DSC Dir, Swat and Chitral FN File Number FO Foreign Office FPD Foreign and Political Department FS Foreign Secretary GG Governor General Govt Government GI Government of India GP Government of Pakistan IA Interview by the Author IGF Inspector-General of Forests JS Joint Secretary MSFR Ministry of States and Frontier Regions NWF North-West Frontier NWFP North-West Frontier Province NWFP: RBA The North-West Frontier of Pakistan: Report on the Border Administration PA Political Agent PRFANWFP Progress Report on Forest Administration in the North-West Frontier Province PRFA-WF Progress Report on the Forests in West Pakistan PS Political Secretary RABNWFP Report on the Administration of the Border of the North-West Frontier Province RC Revenue Commissioner Secy Secretary SCC Secretary to the Chief Commissioner SDSC Spedding, Dinga Singh and Company (Timber Merchants and Contractor) SFRD States and Frontier Regions Division S.N. Serial Number TARC Tribal Affairs Research Cell, Home and Tribal Affairs Department, Gov-ernment of North-West Frontier Province, Peshawar 10 Glossary Glossary The meanings of local terms are given in the text. This glossary contains only terms that are either used more than once or could not be explained in the text for reasons of space. Ajars: The Ajars are a sub-group of the Gujars. Unlike the majority of Gujars, they practiced nomadism by proceeding to the lowland plains in winter, along with their cattle and belong- ings, and to the uplands and high pastures (Bandas) in the summer. They possessed cattle, a few ponies (for transport- ing their be-longings and foodstuff), dogs for protection, and small numbers of goats. Bacha/Badshah: A king, emperor, or monarch. Banda: (plural: Banday/Bandajat): Hamlet; a remote pasture in the hills with few dwellings Dala: Party or faction. Traditionally the Swat’s Pukhtuns and the other areas that later became part of Swat State, as well as the inhabitants of Swat and Indus Kohistan, were divided in- to two rival factions or parties, each known as dala. However, “party” and “faction” do not give the real sense of the term dala. Dawtar: also spelled daftar/dafter: The land liable to re-allotment in the traditional wesh system. The owners of dawtar had pro- portionate shares in all land categories in the village or lo- cality where they had their shares in the dawtar, and other re- lated privileges and obligations as well. Garzinda Wesh: Literally, a moving distribution/allotment, meaning non- permanent; the wesh system under which the dawtar land- owners had to shift from one local-ity/village to another at regular intervals and take shares in the new place for the next period. Ghair Qalangi Banday: Those bandas whose pastures are not rented but utilised by the owners and concerned right-holders or village members free of rent. Gujars (Gujran): Gujars are a non-Afghan sub-group of the Jat or Rajput group. They did not possess a hereditary share in the land, and remained mere vassals to the dawtar and serai landown- ers. On the whole, they possessed cattle, i.e. either cows and/or buffalo, and sometimes also one or more goats. They were not necessarily nomads. They are now a powerful group found in all walks of life. 11 Past,Forestry Present in the and Princely Future State of Watershed of Kalam Management(North-West Pakistan)Project Hakim, Hakimi: This was a relatively large administrative unit in Swat State. It consisted either of a few small Tahsils or one Tahsil when the Tahsil consisted of a lar-ger area. In this case the unit was called Hakimi instead of Tahsil. Hakim was the administra- tive-cum-judicial-cum-executive-cum-financial officer in charge of the Hakimi. A Hakim was superior in rank and sta- tus to the Tahsil-dar. When the Hakimi comprised more than one Tahsil, the Hakim was posted in one Tahsil, where he performed the duties of both Tahsildar and Hakim for that Tahsil and was the officer immediately superior to the Tah- sils and Tahsil-dars associated with the particular Hakimi. The Hakim appointed over more than one Tahsil was also the appellate court for judgement of the Tahsildars under his ju- risdiction. Jarga/Jirga/Jargah: Jarga means consultative assembly; forum; council; council of the tribal chiefs. It has other meanings, composition, func- tions, and uses in differ-ent contexts. Khan: The meaning of the word “Khan” depends on the sense in which it is used on a particular occasion. It is used as a title for a chief; for addressing and show-ing respect to a land- owner; sarcastically for an unworthy person; and is given as a personal name. In this study it refers to the tribal chief. Kohistan: A mountainous county; a hilly tract; a high land. Lashkar/Lakhkar: The tribal force taking the field under the tribal banner at a time of need, without payment and also at its own cost to supply arms and ammunition.