Those of us in charge of countries could learn from the mistakes of Amanullah Khan. If you want to change a nation, don’t do it too quickly and don’t mess with what people put on their heads.
King of Afghanistan from 1919 to 1929, Amanullah’s reign started well. He went to war with the British. His demand, not an unreasonable one, was that they keep their imperialist noses out of Afghanistan’s affairs. Fortunately for him, the British soldiers were a little fatigued - this was the third Anglo-Afghan war - and Amanullah won. He became a national hero and set about “modernising” his country.
He abolished slavery, promoted education, introduced a tax system, wrote a constitution, built roads and parks and bridges, and encouraged women out of seclusion. Alas, not everyone was happy. The policies cost money, while tribal chieftains and Islamic conservatives opposed many of the changes on principle.
Amanullah weathered a revolt in 1924 and then clearly felt he deserved a holiday. His trip round Europe was a very grand tour indeed. Alleged to have cost $1million, it convinced the king of the need to press on with his reforms. But there was trouble looming. His huge building programme, which included constructing a new capital called Darulaman (Abode of Peace), had virtually bankrupted the treasury.
And his sartorial meddling was not too popular. He urged men to wear sweaty western suits and insisted his officials abandon their turbans for European hats - there is a rumour that he took a shine to bowlers. This, coupled with his dislike of the veil for women, was just too much. (Of course, the abolition of polygamy probably didn’t help either.) Tribal leaders put their feet down.
In 1929, Amanullah fled to Italy and hung up his crown. Meanwhile, back home the men took off their hats and the women put on their veils.
