My Mother — Page 1
chapter one Background I come of a family of Sahi Jats of Daska, in the Sialkot district of Pakistan. There is a tradition that the Sahis at one time held sway over the region around Sahiwal. Our branch of the Sahi clan had been settled in Daska for a number of gen- erations, so that our town had come to be known as Daska of the Sahis. Our progenitors were Hindus. In the course of time, some families embraced Islam, and certain others became Sikhs; only two remained Hindus. The seniormost family was Sikh. By the time of my grandfather, Chaudhri Sikandar Khan, more than twelve gen erations of our forebears had been Muslims. But the descent of all landholding families from a common ancestor was recognised and collateral relationships were acknowledged. Farming had continued to be the principal source of livelihood till my father’s time. There were four hereditary headmen; my grandfather was one. My father succeeded him, and I succeeded