Afghan Medal

[taylorcoates]

Hello hello, 

I have this medal and I'm able to narrow it down to being Turkish based on the front inscription and (what I am to believe is the) Rumi calendar date. I've seen Turkish medals that look very similar but the back with the birds and horse(?). The ribbon is black, red and what appears to be a very faded yellow. If anyone knows anything about this medal that would be greatly appreciated! 

 

Thanks guys!

[paul wood]

Afghani but I cant remember exactly what it is for

Paul

[paul wood]

It is dated solar hejira 1328 CE 1950 and has the toughra of Mohammed Zahir Shah. It may well be a sporting prize medal.

Paul

[Bayern]

paul wood ,Mohammed Zahir Shah was your son ,No ?

[paul wood]

It's a buzkashi prize medal. Buzkashi is the Afghan national sport a sort of polo  involving the securing of  a goat carcass. It makes shinty and Australian rules seem like games for dainty girls.

Mohammed Zahir  Khan was the son of my avatar and hero Mohamned Nadir Khan , the only Afghan to defeat the British in the 3rd Afghan war.

Paul

[Bayern]

paul wood , Thats what I want to say . Buzkashi appears in one of the Rambo movies. Here in Argentina during colonial times the men played The Pato , the Duck. a horseback sport consisting in secure a basket with a live duck inside . later the basket was replaced with a leather ball with two handles . today is still played

[paul wood]

The best film for buzkashi is the horseman starring Omar Sharif. It depicts Afghanistan in the last days of the monarchy and portrays the full violence of the game and proves that wrapping injured legs with pages of the Quran is not an efficacious cure. The sheep fights towards the end of the film takes some beating, however many a Kiwi  and Taff has suffered  a coronary from overexcitement.

Paul

[paul wood]

Sorry the name of the film is the horsemen (1971) well worth a watch . I think I have watched it at least 8 times and I am sure I will watch it dozens of times in the future. Next to Zulu and the brilliant performance by Jack Hawkins it is my favourite film.

Paul

[Bayern]

I will  search the film to see it. Regarding our Pato horsegame,in the colonial era reached such extremes of violence that the Bishop of Buenos Aires established that those men who resulted dead in the course of the Pato game wil not be buried in sacred graveyard not receive funeral rites.the bishop thought these measures as disuasive

[paul wood]

Anyone killed in buzkashi  would have been given a hero's send off and there have been a good number of such incidents. 

A pox on the Bishop of Buenos Aires, typical of the Catholic church taking all the fun out of.life.

Paul

[Bayern]

Paul ,not only Catholic Church takes out the fun of life , In other order of things, my best and sincere wishes of a succesful operation and quick recuperation . till your return to the Forum !