Khan Of Dir Muhammad Sharif Khan With Levies In Service Dress, 1897 (c).
8th Ruler Ist Nawab Khan Muhammad Sharif Khan (1895 - 1904). In 1895 The Britain Established Malakand Agency And Malakand Was Considered As Capital Under A Political Agent. The State Of Dir And Chitral Was Bound To Political Agent According To the Agreement Of 12 December 1895. Khan Muhammad Sharif khan Was Considered As First Nawab Of Dir State, He Was Honored With 400 Riffle Guns, 10,000rs Of Annual Allowance And Gave Him 25000rs For Standing With Them Against Omra khan. And He Was Bound To The Dargai Agreement.
Picture Courtesy - Muhammad Khattak
A rare historical photograph shows Khan Muhammad Sharif Khan, the ruler of Dir, standing with his Levies force in service dress around 1897. This image reflects the early administrative and military structure of Dir State during the late 19th century under British influence in the North-West Frontier region.
Khan Muhammad Sharif Khan is regarded as one of the early rulers associated with the formal establishment of Dir’s political structure under British colonial arrangements. He ruled during the period approximately from **1895 to 1904**.
During his rule, Dir became increasingly involved in British frontier administration, especially after the establishment of new political arrangements in the region.
In 1895, the British Government established the **Malakand Agency** to administer and control the strategically important frontier areas, including Dir and Chitral.
Under the agreement of **12 December 1895**, Dir and Chitral came under the influence of the British Political Agent stationed in Malakand. Malakand was considered an important administrative center for frontier governance.
This arrangement marked a major shift in the political structure of the region, as local rulers operated under British oversight while maintaining internal authority.
During this period, Khan Muhammad Sharif Khan maintained relations with the British administration. Historical records suggest that he was provided financial support and military assistance as part of frontier policy arrangements.
It is noted that he received:
* Honorary support in the form of arms (including rifles)
* Annual financial allowance
* Additional funds to support alliances against regional rival leaders such as Umra Khan
These arrangements were part of the British policy of indirect rule in the frontier regions.
The photograph also shows members of the **Levies force**, who were responsible for maintaining law and order in the state. The Levies system was an important part of frontier administration and consisted of locally recruited personnel under the authority of the ruler.
Their service dress reflects early attempts to organize semi-formal security and administrative forces in Dir during this period.
This image is historically important for several reasons:
* It documents one of the earliest known rulers of Dir State.
* It shows the structure of local forces (Levies) in the late 19th century.
* It reflects the political relationship between Dir State and British frontier administration.
* It provides visual evidence of early governance systems in the region.
Such photographs are valuable for understanding the transformation of tribal and princely governance into more structured administrative systems under colonial influence.
Khan Muhammad Sharif Khan’s period represents an important early phase in the history of Dir State. The establishment of British frontier administration in 1895 significantly influenced the political and administrative development of the region.
The photograph of Sharif Khan with Levies in service dress serves as an important historical record, highlighting the early governance structure, military organization, and political environment of Dir during the late 19th century.
Preserving such historical materials helps researchers and readers better understand the evolution of governance in the North-West Frontier region.
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