Defending the Empire: Military traditions in Colonial Mianwali

Abstract

. This paper brings into focus the military traditions in Mianwali District in Colonial era. Due to its proximity to Salt Range areas of Jhelum, chakwal, and Shahpur districts, the recruits in this region were considered ideally suited for the harsh military conditions, primarily owing to their physique. An increasingly large number of recruits served in the colonial army in order to supplement their agricultural income derived from haphazard cultivation. Mianwali is a region inhabited by various tribes, kinship or biradaries as it is put in local parlance. The district had overwhelmingly Pathan population along with other communities including Jats, Baluch, Rajputs and Khattaks. Tribes and castes not only symbolized strength and power but also served as the identity marker. Ethnic prejudices and sense of superiority of one clan over another were the defining features among Pathan clans. Economic interests and ethnic prejudices had fostered inter-tribal rivalries and stunted mutual harmony and social cohesion. Tribes lie at the heart of rural identity. Tribal identity itself served as a wedge, precluding unity among the tribes. The British recognized the social and political importance of this tribal structure to strengthen colonial rule in this region. Colonial interests were served by the policy of cooption of rural elite, who served as intermediaries in the colonial hierarchy of power. A class of landowners was created in the district to serve as a nexus between state and people by means of lucrative grants. Hence a tribally based local administration was conjured up. The rural leaders legitimized their authority through their lands, an insignia of power and prestige and their connection with the British officials. The local leaders emerged from the Khawanins of Isa Khel, Nawabs of Kalabagh, landed aristocrats of Piplan,Wan Bhachran, Bhakkar, Where as other tribes faced economic marginalization. This gap subsequently exacerbated the inter-tribal misgivings. The colonial state and rural elite developed a nexus to relegate the district to economic marginalization, as a result enlistment in army was left as the only alternative for subsistence. Mianwali was not accorded substantial significance in the colonial system as it had a peripheral location in the Punjab and was essentially located as a recruiting region. The main tribes who were recruited in the army were Bhangi Khels and Khattaks from Isa Khel although small in number, supplied excellent warriors to several regiments of the Frontier Force. Awan tribe living on the fringe of Talagang Tehsil and the Zangeza Balochs in the Dab region joined 15th Lancers in large proportion. The Bhidwals, another Jat clan, inhabiting the south-east of the Bhakkar Thal had a natural inclination towards military service. The Baloch constituting considerably large part of the population of the Bhakkar Tehsil, joined Cavalry Regiment specially to the 35th Scinde Horse. Niazi Pathans of Pai Khel, Bori Khel, Musa Khel, Tari Khel and Moch had long been associated with the military service. Baluch who constituted large part of cavalry were known as camel riders. They held pride in their sword and warrior tendencies so they preferred army as their choicest inclination. They had a distinct tribal and political organization and were largely migrated to cis-indus tract in east of Thal under their chiefs and leaders. The eastern Thal region was not agriculturally rich which drove them towards army as only alternative. Bhangi Khels and Khattaks were settled in IsaKhel, were a fine manly race. They had warlike nature and had been involved in feuds for centuries. They were industrious and good cultivators but they possessed stony and unfertile tract with very meager economic resources. This economically marginalized tribe secured economic shelter in army. The Rajput’s presence in colonial army could also be seen in the context of their feudal instinct. They preferred pastoral to agricultural pursuits as they despised agriculture and all manual labour was looked upon as derogatory. Military exposed all these warrior tribes to an opportunity to satisfy their martial self-image apart from economic security. In a socially conservative society of Mianwali, the tradition of military service came to be perceived as a mark of social status and not as a career. In the district which was overwhelmingly constituted by Pathan population, the desire to maintain a warrior tradition among certain tribes e.g Rajputs, Baluch and Khattaks was there, however, there were equally important economic factors that motivated enlistment in the army, which can be considered as fundamental push factors. Military service promised a regular pay, pension and land grant too. Many families were dependent on military earnings. According to Tan Tai Yong, “Military service offered an escape route from the ecological impasse.” The Salt Range tract including Mianwali was agriculturally disadvantaged and the people found an easy outlet to seek future in the army. The study also reveals how substantial was the role of rural elite as recruiting agents in war efforts to raise the level of recruitment in the district. The rural elite had developed a nexus with military command to help in enlisting men in the army and also provided economic assistance to the colonial government. The Niazi pathan tribes figured significantly in the district but they had a meager presence in the army which does not corroborate the widely believed British assumption of pathan as a martial race. The reluctance on the part of pathans to join army was seen as resistance against state’s authority.