Afzal Khan Qizilbash (J. G. Lorimer, 1912)

Afzal Khan Qizilbash

6. On tour I was the guest at Karbala of Afzal Khan, the local agricultural manager of the Qizilbash family of Lahore (India), and had an opportunity of studying the capabilities of their magnificent estate of many thousands of acres near Karbala. If I am not mistaken the new Hindiyah Barrage will raise the level of the water in the Husainiyah Canal by about two metres and convert these lands, of which at present only a few hundred acres are irrigated with doubtful profit, into a veritable gold mine.

The local Turkish officials are still bent on an old scheme of saddling these Qizilbash proprietors, most unjustly, with a large proportion of the recurring expense of protecting Karbala against floods, floods which do not originate in their lands, which in fact frequently devastate their property, and which the Turkish Department of Public Works could, by the expenditure of a comparatively small sum, put an end to for ever. I have reported on this question before in a special memorandum*. I was sorry to learn that there is a boundary dispute, involving hundreds of acres of future fine land, between the Qizilbash family and some neighbouring proprietors who are Turkish subjects. The enormous enhancement of values, now impending, may soon render such differences unadjustable by friendly agreement. There is also a difficulty, probably of less importance, regarding a main water channel from the Husainiyah Canal, which Afzal Khan states was constructed entirely by himself, and to a share in which a neighbour now lays claim.

I have written privately to the Qizilbash Nawab of Lahore, with whom I am personally acquainted, suggesting that he would be wise to revisit this country at no distant date and take stock of the new situation which is arising.

7. There is now a good Indian school at Karbala, which was founded about two years ago and has been maintained up to the present time by the voluntary subscriptions of Indians. Its existence first came to my knowledge about a year ago, and I saw it for the first time on a recent tour to Karbala in March.

There are over 100 pupils, mostly Indian orphans; and ordinarily the masters are four in number. Hindustani, Persian, Arabic and English are taught, besides other ordinary school subjects and drill. The boys look happy and intelligent, and discipline and good order prevail. Altogether the school makes a bright spot in the moral gloom of the town. Education in the school is altogether free, even stationery, books, etc, being supplied to the pupils gratis. On the 16^th of March a prize distribution was arranged by the Managing Committee, at which an excellent little programme of songs and addresses was gone through, and my wife presented the prizes.

As an instance of self-help on the part of the Indian community at Karbala this school is remarkable. The Karbala Committee of the Oudh Bequest have now decided to grant it a small subsidy so long as its work is satisfactorily carried on, and during my visit to Karbala a considerable sum was collected for it in extraordinary subscriptions, which was banked and will assure its financial position for some time to come.

Efforts are being made to find a good English teacher, and a suggestion on my part that Turkish should be added to the curriculum was well received. Promising Indian boys, who receive their first education in the Karbala school, might be sent, hereafter, to continue their studies in the Church Missionary Society’s school at Baghdad, where they would be taught English and Turkish thoroughly and so qualified for official employment. It would be a great advantage if this Residency, and the British Vice-Consulates under its superintendence at Karbala and Musal, could be staffed entirely with local British subjects, which is not the case at present.

* See my letter No. 186 to the Government of India and despatch No. 185-8 to His Britannic Majesty’s Ambassador, Constantinople, dated 10^th March 1911.

I.C.S. J. G. Lorimer, Summary of events in Turkish ‘Irak for the months of March and April, 1912 // Turkish Arabia Summaries (Nov 1911-Jul 1914), p. 16.