CHITRAL: Shahzada Khush Ahmad-ul-Mulk, the last surviving son of the former ruler of Chitral Sir Shujaul Mulk, died here in early hours of Saturday aged 97.

Family sources said he died after brief illness at his home situated in Ayun, the beautiful village gateway to the Kalash valleys. Later, he was laid to rest in his native graveyard. His funeral was attended by a large number of people from all parts of the district.

Born in 1920 to the royal family of Chitral, Shahzada Mulk was educated at Dheradun India after which he joined the British Army as second lieutenant and retired from Pak Army in late 60s as a major.

He was one of the 15 sons of the former ruler and was the only surviving prince of Shujaul Mulk while his elder brother, Khush Waqtul Mulk, (second last prince), dies six years ago.

Shazada Mulk spent a busy life after his retirement and contested the elections of National Assembly from Chitral in 1970 as a nominee of Pakistan Democratic Party and lost to Ataliq Jafar Ali Shah.

He served as district administrator of Afghan refugees for a decade after which he lived a private life but he proved to be a consummate poet of his genre who portrayed the environmental issues in Khowar (Chitrali language) for the first time, while he also discussed social issues in his poetry and published his collections as Gilayo Jawab Gilaye.

Above everything else, he was a diehard environmentalist. Being an ardent conservationist he promoted horticulture throughout his life. His garden retreat officially recognised worldwide as “Fall Colours Botanical Garden” at Ayun Fort was an extension of his personality, multifaceted and rich in many colours. Each shrub and flower tended by him is a living testimony of love’s labour. He pioneered the idea of attracting tourism to local botanical gardens.

He firmly believed that the seasonal variation in colours and shades of Chitral’s gardens had no parallel in the world.

He was survived by two sons, Shahzada Masoodul Mulk, the chief executive officer of Sarhad Rural Support Programme, and Shahzada Maqsoodul Mulk, who works in tourism industry.

Published in Dawn, June 4th, 2017