Dehradun: Their ancestors set up Afghanistan’s last dynasty, was exiled to India by England and underwent their days at Doon Valley.
Now, in a quiet Dehradun pocket, seven descendants of Afghan Royals, who introduced Basmati to Dehradun, live as a farmer family.
The first trail that led from Kabul to Mussoorie returned to 1840, a year into the first Anglo-Afghanistan war, which will set a stage for what continues to be a struggle for power.
England has secured a victory in Ghazni and Dost Mohammad Khan, founder of the Barakzai dynasty and the ruler of Kabul, Peshawar and Kashmir, surrendered.
He “hurryed” to Mussoorie.
“He lives in what is now the school Wynberg Allen.
It was later known as Hissar Estate Local Bala, referring to the fort in Kabul,” said his grandson Mohammad Ali Khan, 51, Doon school alumni.
While Dost Mohammad found his way back to the throne in Kabul in 1842, his grandson Yaqub Khan found himself in the same situation about four decades later.
It was after the second Anglo-Afghan war – he was pushed out of Kabul by England.
“He came to Dehradun in 1879,” Khan said.
“He likes hunting and hill.
He found it here.
He will go to Raiwala to hunt.” Two Afghan Royals, said historians, introduced Dehradooni Basmati.
“Dost Mohammad Khan liked him and missed him during his exile.
He brought Basmati to the Doon Valley and was credited by increasing his genetic variety,” said Dehradun historian and Heritage Lokesh Lokeshi activist Ohri.
“His grandson Yaqub Khan continued.
He gave Basmati’s bases to Bazaar Paltan traders and asked him to process him in Dehradun.
Strangely, the weather Doon Valley fits rice and turns out to be better than variations in Afghanistan.”