Prof. Sardar Muhammad Shafique Khan
Every year on November 11, public holiday is observed in Poonch district of Azad Kashmir, to commmemorate social, religious, economic, and political services of the legendary leader Col. (R)
Khan Muhammad Khan. This essay is a humble effort to acknowledge such contributions.
Col. (R) Khan Muhammad Khan, born in a village Chechan, Pallandri, AJK, in a very remote and
deprived area, inhabitants of which are now, by the virtue of, awareness and enlightment generated
by stalwarts like Col. Khan Muhammad Khan grabbing key positions in various professional field and yielding command and respect.
Despite modest educational background, prevailing massive ignorance and illiteracy, Col. Khan ventured to fight against socio-economic evils and hardship thereby, set a memorable example of succcess and proved that where there is will, there is way.
Whenever someone chooses to study his whole life struggle one will necessarily reach to the conclusion that Col. Khan Muhammad Khan adopted, followed and practiced for success and glory, three sound principles of accomplished person which are unflinching faith, perseverance,and passion. As Allama Muhammad Iqbal famously described:
For securing a comprehensive understanding of struggle and his achievements it is necessary to make a thorough appraisal of the ground realities and dynamics of his time, in the face of which he visualized the steps to fight against heavy odds to achieve an objective which has a sweeping impact on the future of mankind and history.
Col. Khan Muhammad Khan firmly believed that objectives of socio-economic uplift,
emancipation from worst subjugation and persecution and deliverance from poverty, as these were
deep rooted and pervasive, can only be achieved by launching a movement on various fronts simultaneously.
For resolving livelihood issue, he aggressively persuaded the people to increase their financial resources by recruitment in British army, the only readily available source of income at that critical period. He underlined the importance and advocated that on the one hand it would provide a source
of income as well as an opportunity of exposure with British people who are educated, welltrained, and disciplined, which in turn would motivate our youth to learn and lead.
Col. Khan Muhammad Khan strategy was two prong. On the one hand it worked very effectively to steer his community out of quagmire of despondency, depression and poverty by seeking jobs
in the British army.Second important strategic front Col. Khan Muhammad Khan, engaged and confronted with devotion and dedication was to fight against illiteracy, ignorance, and conservative mindset amongst the masses. He was thoroughly convinced that socio-economic ailment and economic deprivation of the society can only be addressed and resolved by educating the young people,
which is only possible through establishment of educational institutions of both religious and scientific nature.
However, prevailing situations on these fronts of education both (religious and scientific) was very depressing and deplorable. Dogra regiment was highly skeptical about of people of Particularly Bagh, Rawalakot, Tarar Khel, Hajira, and Pallandri in the view of historical revolt of 1832 and subsequent events of disobedience, so government was not inclined to invest for human resource development.
So, in this backdrop of complete negligence and reluctance on the part of Dogra regime towards promotion of education rather it was bent upon keeping the people of Poonch backward by denying the right of education in the areas with Muslim majority. So, Col. Khan Muhammad Khan appeared
on the surface of political and social arena and put forward a very creative idea & model of Muthi Atta Movement by preaching the people by way of visiting every nook and corner of Poonch to
inculcate the mind of people, that we may survive and flourish by self-reliance only.Muthi Atta Movement was a very innovative financial tool and product to resolve the problem of paucity of finances and resources, which were earnestly needed to embark upon the journey of increasing literacy and education.
For the purpose of making successful his notion and idea, to gather resources for the noble cause
of promoting education, besides male members of society, he very efficiently and successfully
launched this movement in the female population because it was never possible without their
cooperation, as they were directly involved in the manual grinding of the grain in every house and
the household female managed to spare a Muthi Atta willingly daily. Although initially it appeared
as a very small contribution, yet, when studied its practical impacts, these were exceptional and far-reaching.
By virtue of Muthi Atta Movement, a religious educational institution and mosque were
established in 1934 under the umbrella of Sudhan Educational Conference and secondly
scholarship scheme was introduced for young talented students who succeeded in taking
admissions in various educational institutions of subcontinent. He was also a very illuminating
political and social figure whose role influenced millions of people of Poonch positively, who were
blind and dormant at that time of their future. It was only Khan Muhammad Khan, who made them
to believe and inspired them to rise to the occasion by taking modern education, hence some of
them led the people’s independence movement, many of them played very constructive and
decisive role in building government of state of Azad Jammu and Kashmir.
By critical appreciation of the remarkable tasks and achievements of Khan Muhammad Khan, a
parallel can be drawn between him and current Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Dr. Muhammad
Younas, who founded in 1983 Grameen Bank Bangladesh, a first time micro-financing bank by
the dint of an inspiration he gathered from a women to whom he lent 27$ only, which that lady
returned 100 percent after succeeding in cultivating vegetables and establishing household poultry
farm, which enabled her to create an alternative source of income for whole of her family.
Both personalities (Col. Khan and Dr. Younas) shared some common features that they mobilized
women folk very effectively to bring about socio-economic change and uplift, which helped to
alleviate poverty in their respective sphere to a considerable extend.
Therefore, Col. Khan role, when analyzed in this context it appears that his contribution towards
uplift of common people is no less than any of the socio-economic reformer elsewhere.
In backdrop of earlier analysis, I may safely without any fear of contradiction construe, that Col.Khan Muhammad Khan despite very modest level of formal education and without International exposure visualized, invented and implemented a very novel, innovative, creative,But, highly fruitful idea of micro-financing model in shape of Muthi Atta Movement specially involving the female segment of a very conservative and orthodox society therefore, he deserves
tremendous acknowledgement and recognition.I think it becomes responsibility of leadership of Sudhan Education Conference and rest of elite diasporadiaspora of Poonch to pay a rich and befitting tribute to Col. Khan Muhammad Khan (late) by the way establishing Muthi Atta Bank for accumulating financial resources to promote professional,technical and skill based education in Poonch area particularly and rest of Azad Kashmir to enable bulge of youth which is although generally having conventional education, however, lacking technical skills, artisan ability, and problem solving insight, hence, fail to snatch any opportunity to employ themselves, consequently fall into a valley of despair and disappointment as well as become prey to exploiter very conveniently. It is high time to assume responsibility for both the government and private entities to address the real cause behind current unrest and upsurge in youth. Sudhan Education Conference and rest of diaspora needed to establish Muthi Atta Bank to enhance and enlarge the very rich legacy of Col. Khan of inspiring to save and invest to long term projects which shall arm our youth with capacity to seek livelihood worldwide.
I hope this idea of Muthi Atta Bank (micro-financing) shall be evaluated in real and pragmatic
terms, any suggestion in this regard shall highly be appreciated.
