Abdur Rahman was content with repression whereas Amanullah hoped

for conversion.

leon b. poullada 1

[’Aman Allah Khan] admitted... that ever since he came to the throne he

has been impelled by an uncontrollable desire to bring about the complete

modernisation of his country during his own lifetime.

sir francis humphrys 2

A

mir habib allah Khan’s body was brought to Jalalabad the

day after he was assassinated and interred on the golf course he

had built for his enjoyment. On the following day, 21 February

1919, Saiyid Naqib Gailani, Hazrat of Chaharbagh, proclaimed Nasr Allah

Khan as Amir with the support of Nadir Khan, Commander-in-Chief of

the army, and Loynab ‘Ali Ahmad Khan. ’Inayat Allah, the heir apparent,

and his younger brother, Hayat Allah Khan, were powerless to prevent this

putsch and they too swore allegiance to their uncle.

The accession of ’Aman Allah Khan

News of the Amir’s death was telegraphed to Kabul early on the day

after the murder, whereupon ’Aman Allah Khan, backed by Tarzi and

the Young Afghans, took control of the Dilkusha Palace and the state

treasury, and secured the support of the Kabul army by promising to

substantially increase their pay. ’Aman Allah Khan then held a hastily

assembled darbar where he was proclaimed Amir by Fazl Muhammad

Mujadidi, Hazrat of Shor Bazaar, and Akhundzada Hamid Allah Safi, the

Mullah of Tagab. During his inauguration ’Aman Allah Khan publicly

denounced his uncle, Nasr Allah Khan, for masterminding Habib Allah

Khan’s assassination and condemned his half-brothers’ oath of allegiance

to him as treason.

ten

Dreams Melted into Air, 1919–29