Custodians of Malakand
Publisher: Shamsur Rahman Shams
Published: 2003
Place of publication: Peshawar Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
Language: eng
Format: Hard Cover
Number of pages: 220
Table of contents: title: CUSTODIANS OF MALAKAND; title: My late father Alhaj Mohammad Khan had served in the Indian Army during the World War II and had obtained Burma Star for his meritorious services as an instructor and expert in the corps of signals. In 1945, after the war, the British government announced forced reduction in the Indian Army, and as a sequel to that Alhaj Mohammad Khan re-signed from the army. Later he joined the Malakand Levies where he retired in the rank of subedar.; title: He would always narrate stories of his experiences in the Indian Army and his asso-ciations with the British soldiers and officers peculiarly under trying and challenging situa-tions.; title: When he achieved the Subedar rank, I was a student of 8th class. I can fully remem-ber the days when people in my surroundings would extend their fathomless consideration to me for the fact that I was the scion of an offi-cer of the Malakand Levies. In the days by gone, service in the Malakand Levies was a singular honour, for which everyone aspired.; title: Later, due to socio-political constraints of the force, its prestige dwindled badly, which developed the habit of laziness and lethargy among the Levies men. The Levies sepoys would then perforce prefer to work at the resi-dences and offices of the high officers rather do active duty. Political approach and recom-mendations were to be made for the purpose to reach anyoneÄ†Â¢Äâ€šÂ¬Äâ€žÂ¢s kitchen and abandon field duty. Moreover, the pay and allowances were so negligible and meagre that it became rather impossible for the Levies personnel to have both ends meet, which forced them to resort to unfair means for their survival.; title: After implementation of the Ä†Â¢Äâ€šÂ¬Ä–Âœdevolution planÄ†Â¢Äâ€šÂ¬Äâ€žÂ¢ in the country, reorganization of the Malakand Levies became an inescapable ne-cessity. The government was planning to in-troduce police force in Malakand but the local populace relentlessly opposed the proposal and instead demanded that the existing Lev-ies force be aptly restructured so as to obviate the need for the police force.; title: With this end insight, Lt.-Col. (Retd) Said Rasool, an upright, dedicated and vi-sionary officer, with vast command experience was appointed as Commandant of Malakand Levies. In the annals of Malakand Levies, Lt. Col (Retd) Said Rasool, has earned for posterity a singular place for being the first military brain and brawn to come to grips with the reorganization of this rudderless force. With the cooperation of the higher hierarchy and his zeal for perfection as a gunner officer, this force is well on the way to become an outfit to be reckoned with. Before him every Political Agent of Malakand would have the additional charge as Commandant of Levies, which later shifted to the District Coordination Officer, an un-natural anomaly meriting no clarification.; title: After assumption of command, Lt.-Col. (Retd) Said Rasool expressed his unflinching desire to convert the Malakand Levies as a disciplined and active force. Consequently, he has taken many bold initiatives and initiated fundamental cases of inescapable nature with the district, provincial and central govern-ments to jump start solution of the prevailing teething problems.; title: Initiation of this booklet on the Malakand Levies was one of the desires he wanted to fulfil to motivate the drive. The name Ä†Â¢Äâ€šÂ¬Ã…â€œCusto-dians of MalakandÄ†Â¢Äâ€šÂ¬Ä€Â¯ was his choice. He dis-cussed the matter with me. His acumen and sagacity touched me the most and I fully backed his idea and assured him of doing the job by myself. The effort is with a view to bring to limelight the role of the Malakand Levies force in establishing the writ of the govern-ment and as well as their pitiable monetary emoluments.; title: This booklet contains some basic infor-mation about Malakand in terms of its histori-cal significance, episode of the British era on this soil, brief introduction of historical places in Malakand, the gallant deeds of Pakhtoons for the sake of their motherland, establishment of Malakand Agency, its people and their pro-fessions, establishment of Malakand Levies and as well as issues that come within the province of matters associated therewith.; title: It also contains latest photographs of the places of historical importance in Malakand and suggestions and recommendations for re-suscitation of the Levies force.; title: The booklet will be of interest for those who wish to learn about Malakand, its people and the Malakand Levies.; title: An effort has been made to unveil the historical and archaeological splendours of Malakand as very few are abreast with the subject matter. An attempt has also been made to highlight the existing problems, hur-dles and futuristic prospects of the Malakand Levies.; title: I would like to thank specifically Lt.-Col (Retd) Said Rasool who extended full coop-eration to me in compiling and publishing the booklet. Without his encouragement, guidance and un-bounded support; it would not have been possible to compile this treatise.; title: I also thank the District Nazim, Mala-kand, Engineer Mohammad Hamayun Khan for his encouraging message and acknowle-dging remarks on the compilation of the book-let. I specially thank the respected Col. Ihsa-nullah Khan of Thana who got great pains in going through the manuscript and making cer-tain better amendments, which made the booklet more informative.; title: Suggestions for further improvement of the book are wholeheartedly solicited and shall be aptly acknowledged and incorporated in subsequent editions.; title: SHAMSUR RAHMAN SHAMS,; title: MA(Journalism), MA(Pashto), LLB, PGD(Journalism); title: The author; title: E-mail: edoinfo@yahoo.com, shamsmalakand@gmail.com; title: Web Site: www.malakand.8m.com; title: www.malakand1.com