A revised edition of any text allows writers and publishers the golden opportunity to rectify any inadvertent errors and incorporate fresh ideas into it. Beyond these considerations, a new edition gives a much-needed facelift to an old title.
In the long years since Sultan-i-Rome’s Swat State (1915-1969): From Genesis to Merger was published, Swat Valley has grabbed international headlines -- albeit for reasons which aren’t particularly flattering. Apart from the military offensives in Swat to combat militancy, Swat is also known as the erstwhile home of Malala Yousafzai, a prominent activist who was shot and injured by the Taliban for advocating girl-child education.
Viewed against this backdrop, the publication of the second edition of Sultan-i-Rome’s well-researched, engaging magnum opus is likely to draw considerable attention. Owing to its temporal scope, Swat State doesn’t offer an incisive commentary on contemporary realities in the battle-hardened yet beautiful district. Instead, the author’s path-breaking treatise turns the clocks back and takes readers down the chequered paths of the region’s history. Indoctrination would have us believe that the past must be categorically forgotten if we are to embrace the future. However, the path to the future can be mapped out through a careful, comprehensive appraisal of historical events.
When it was first released, Swat State was lauded for presenting a thorough historical overview of how the princely state of Swat emerged, grew, and was subsequently integrated into the post-colonial state of Pakistan. The crowning glory of Sultan-i-Rome’s narrative lies in its spirit of objectivity, which is a welcome feature in history-writing. As the author points out in the book’s preface, the writings on the Swat State period were largely one-sided and depicted rulers through a utopic lens. Therefore, little or no attempt was made to critically evaluate the conduct of rules in keeping with the basics of historiography. “It needs to be emphasised that the rulers of [the] Swat State were human beings…and were not infallible,” Sultan-i-Rome writes. “So when they wielded absolute power and were unaccountable to their subjects or any forum, one way or the other, maybe inadvertently, they became more prone to absolutism, pitfalls, and wrongs.”
At its core, Swat State delves into the challenges and pitfalls involved in state-building over five decades. The emphasis on critical insights spares the text from becoming yet another biased account sponsored by the ruling elite.
Sultan-i-Rome delineates historical and political events with utmost clarity and precision. He doesn’t assume that readers have prior knowledge of the key concerns being discussed in Swat State. As a consequence, his narrative is devoid of esoteric insights. From a stylistic standpoint, the author avoids heavy jargon and effectively uses subheadings and footnotes to shine a revealing light on his subject.
Narrative simplicity shouldn’t be construed as a sign that Sultan-i-Rome’s treatise lacks scholarly depth. An extensive bibliography is an ever-present testimony of the painstaking research into this project. The text explores the complexities of governance in Swat over these decades in vivid detail. It raises pertinent points about the region’s constitutional status and the rationale for its merger with Pakistan. Swat State will resonate with readers who are curious about the intricacies of statecraft as it examines the development of the region’s judicial, civil, and financial apparatus.
Sultan-i-Rome’s contribution to our understanding of Swat’s historical landscape is unprecedented. It is, therefore, commendable that this text has now been made available in a revised edition for new audiences to discover and peruse.
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