Martial Clan

There is a lot of pride in this name 'Matial Clan'. Pride is deeply embedded in the soil of Attock. Pride appears to be a strong force in  binding & moving this group forward.
In absence of this true/false pride, we are niether martial nor clan.
Originally, in Attock, we were strong hardworking Punjabi Musalman farmers. British categorised Indian soldiers in to martial & non-martial races to enroll 'useful soldiers'. Greenhut, Jeffrey (1984) Sahib and Sepoy: an Inquiry into the Relationship between the British Officers and Native Soldiers of the British Indian Army. (In: Military Affairs, Vol. 48, No. 1 (Jan., 1984), p, states, 'The doctrine of 'martial races' postulated that the qualities that make a useful soldier are inherited and that most Indians, with the exception of the specified groups, did not have the requisite traits that would make them warriors'. It was the body strength of Punjabi Musalman farmers that allowed them to fight better than non-martial races. Hardwork at farming made them strong & better survivors. British succesfully Regimented them in to Martial Race like few other regions of Indian sub-continent which produced strong & useful soldiers. Probably, over time, Regimented life has become a norm of life.. Funny thing is that currently we are not as strong bodily as our elders were. We don't work hard like them plus we eat wrong food. As it stands, if British were ruling over us now, for their inability to produce useful soldiers, number of martial race territories would have considerably reduced in present count. However, lately, some of us who get better educational environments, end up being officers of Pakistan Army like all of us at this Forum. Being officer at an efficient army (including soldiery) is a sheer privilege yet martial race seems to be title given by a British officer who looked up the dictionary for an esteemed synonym of 'useful soldiers' which is a disbraging reason for existence of this title.
We are not a clan either. We are a proud clan for the same true/ false pride. Otherwise, there are multiple clans & castes within geographic boundaries of Attock. And do they not differ from each other from Chhachh to Pindi Gheb & from Attock Khurd to Fateh Jang & from Jand to Hasan Abdal, its a geographic monster. Across any diagonal point in this District, people would even struggle to understand each others' language. However, they are much the same, decendents of strong hardworking Punjabi Musalman farmers. We have not grown as a clan, Attock is among backward districts of Punjab. Entire district elected Major Tahir Sadiq who in retaliation of neglect on his national portfolio supported Noon League in by-elections. Price of his egotistic madness will be paid by people because this decision has put development in Attock on hold for another five years. Major Tahir puts his wounded false ego above Attock. Its warrants declaration of leadership crises in this furtile land of useful but proud soldiers. Its not a politically motivated post, its just how it is.
Martial Clan group is vitually becoming a cut & paste informational forum. Members are only familiar with those whom they previously know. In order to make it more useful we need to collect & maintain data of members. Also need to form a structure. Need mentors & patrons from elders & nominate course reps. We need to meet more often even if in smaller groups & plan an occasional grand gathering. People with problem/ issues may put them across & those who can may step forward & help out.
End of the day titles like Hardworking Punjabi Musalman Farmers, Useful Soldiers & Martial Clan, are there to group people together on common pride. Utility of a group of people is directly proportoinal to its usefulness to others & we can do better than cut & paste informarion sharing.
Only Allah knows the whole Truth.
PS:
This blog entry is specific this group & has only been shared on this forum. Secondly, writing is habit, entire content may not necessarily be agreeable or true.
Regards
Major (R) Asad Jamal