Ghazi Mir Bacha Khan Medal Explained

Ghazi Mir Bacha Khan Medal
Awarded For:civil and military officials of allied countries in recognition of their work to promote peace and security, and further economic and social development in Afghanistan.
Presenter:Afghanistan
Country:Afghanistan
Year:1982
Year2:2021 (last reported)

The Ghazi Mir Bacha Khan Medal is both a civilian and a military award, designated a High State Medal, in Afghanistan. The medal is named in honor of Ghazi Mir Bacha Khan, an ethnic Tajik from Mir Bacha Khan district, on the Shamali Plain, located to the north of Kabul city. The district was named for Mir Bacha Khan and people called him “Ghazi Mir Bacha Khan Kohdamani”. He a hero of the Second Anglo-Afghan War, 1878-80. The award is a tribute to Ghazi Mir Bacha Khan's legacy and his lifelong commitment to non-violent resistance and social justice.

First and Second Anglo-Afghan Wars

A brief biography of Mir Bacha Khan, which especially accounts for his service in the Second Anglo-Afghan War, is included in the book by William Dalrymple (historian), "Return of a King: the Battle for Afghanistan" first published in 2013.[1]

Ghazi Mir Bacha Khan is sometimes confused with Mir Masjidi Khan, a leader in the First Anglo-Afghan War, 1839-1842. Mir Masjidi Khan, who was from Kohistan district, Kapisa province, also on the Shamali Plain, opposed the installation of Shuja Shah Durrani (or 'Shah Shujah') as Emir of Afghanistan by the Government of British India. Mir Masjidi Khan was a religious figure and scholar of Persian literature. Mir Masjidi Khan led local Tajiks against the British army in the First Anglo-Afghan War. He was killed in 1841. Dalrymple also briefly covers Mir Masjidi Khan in "Return of a King".

Both Ghazi Mir Bacha Khan and Mir Masjidi Khan are two of the many celebrated Afghan resistance leaders from Shamali Plain who opposed the installation of Shuja Shah Durrani as Emir of Afghanistan.[2] [3] [4]

High State Medals

The High State Medal of Ghazi Mir Bacha Khan (Madal Dawalati Ghazi Mir Bacha Khan) recognizes the historical stature and role of Ghazi Mir Bacha Khan and is one of Afghanistan's highest awards. A further award, and one of the nation's highest civil awards for dedicated public service, is the High State Medal of Mir Masjidi Khan, in recognition of the historical stature and role of Mir Masjidi Khan.[5] [6]

Awarding of the High State Medal of Ghazi Mir Bacha Khan

Established on 17 May 1982 by President Babrak Karmal, the High State Medal of Ghazi Mir Bacha Khan is awarded to both military and civilian recipients to recognize outstanding service in defensive sections of the country, the implementation of peace and security and also for other civilian and military tasks, including further economic and social development in Afghanistan. Notably, the Afghan President awarded the medal to senior NATO military commanders and senior officers. Civilian recipients of the High State Medal of Ghazi Mir Bacha Khan have included those who have made contributions in the areas of education, social work, human rights, public service and community development. It is not reported as to whether the awarding of the medal has continued under the Taliban regime.[7] [8] [9]

Description of the Medal

The High State Medal of Ghazi Mir Bacha Khan is circular in shape, and gold in appearance. The medal is suspended from a ribbon which is pale blue-red-pale green stripe. The obverse features the bust of Ghazi Mir Bacha Khan. The reverse carries raised words in Dari language "مدال دولتی غازی میربچه خان" which translates to "Ghazi Mirbacha Khan State Medal”. Dari is the Afghan dialect of Farsi (Persian language).

Recipients of the High State Medal of Ghazi Mir Bacha Khan

Notes and References

  1. Darlymple, W. 2013, Return of a King: The Battle for Afghanistan
  2. Web site: Ghazi Mir Bacha Khan Medal. Leon. Jensen.
  3. Web site: Ghazi Mir Bacha Khan Medal Archives.
  4. Web site: UoP ceremony: 13 get Afghan Presidential Awards. November 15, 2018. The Express Tribune.
  5. Web site: Verde Valley - . 2012-04-20 . dead . https://archive.today/20120716091227/http://vvsaz.org/news/detail/?id=890 . 2012-07-16 .
  6. Web site: National Medal of Ghazi Mir Bacha Khan. Medalbook.
  7. Canada Commonwealth and Foreign Honours, https://www.canada.ca/content/dam/themes/defence/caf/militaryhistory/dhh/honours/commonwealth-foreign-honours.pdf
  8. Web site: 2019-10-08 . Saudi Arabia's Prince Turki Al-Faisal receives one of Afghanistan's highest honors . 2023-08-25 . Arab News . en.
  9. Web site: National Medal of Ghazi Mir Bacha Khan. Medalbook.
  10. Web site: Kabul's Ghazi Stadium Reopens . 2023-08-25 . TOLOnews . en.
  11. Web site: 2019-10-08 . Saudi Arabia's Prince Turki Al-Faisal receives one of Afghanistan's highest honors . 2023-08-25 . Arab News . en.
  12. Web site: Australian Honours Search Facility . 2023-08-25 . honours.pmc.gov.au.
  13. Web site: 2007-04-02 . Afghan President Karzai honors Air Force surgeon . 2023-08-25 . Air Force . en-US.
  14. News: 2018-06-25 . President Ghani Confers Medal on Senior NATO General in Afghanistan . en-US . Khaama Press . 2023-08-25.
  15. Web site: 2017-10-18 . President Ghani Confers State Medal On Lt. Gen. Rosario Castellano - Bakhtar News Agency . 2023-08-25 . bakhtarnews.af . en-US.
  16. Web site: Afghan Wahid Wais Chairman of Afghan Post Received Medal Of Ghazi Mir Bacha Khan Afghanpost . 2023-08-25 . afghanpost.gov.af.
  17. Canada Commonwealth and Foreign Honours, https://www.canada.ca/content/dam/themes/defence/caf/militaryhistory/dhh/honours/commonwealth-foreign-honours.pdf
  18. Web site: 2018-11-15 . UoP ceremony: 13 get Afghan Presidential Awards . 2023-08-25 . The Express Tribune . en.
  19. Web site: 2016-11-18 . Pushto singer gets highest Afghan civilian award . 2023-08-25 . Daily Times . en-US.
  20. Web site: 2021-06-04 . Preparing for a Post-Departure Afghanistan: Changing political dynamics in the wake of the US troop withdrawal announcement . 2023-08-25 . Afghanistan Analysts Network - English . ps-GB.
  21. Web site: 2020-06-05 . President Ghani Awards State Medal of Ghazi Mir Masjidi Khan to the Outgoing German Ambassador - Bakhtar News Agency . 2023-08-25 . bakhtarnews.af . en-US.
  22. Embassy of Afghanistan Washington DC 2007, https://www.embassyofafghanistan.org/06-06newsusgsearthquake/
  23. Web site: Afghan Boxer Challenges Rahimi to Fight . 2023-08-25 . TOLOnews . en.

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Ghazi Mir Bacha Khan Medal".

Except where otherwise indicated, Everything.Explained.Today is © Copyright 2009-2024, A B Cryer, All Rights Reserved. Cookie policy.