Bedis were the richest residents of Pindi, as they had lots of lands, in different Canal Colonies of Punjab, and owned bungalows and palatial houses in Pindi. Next came, the Khukrain baradari, the Suris, the Sahnis, the Chadhas and others.

Our family of Ahluwalia Sikhs came from district Gujrat and settled in village Dera Khalsa and Dwalian (Tehsil Kahota, District Rawalpindi), which was gifted by the Muslim rulers of that time with title (Malik). My great-grandfather, Malik Khazan Singh, was born in Dera Khalsa in 1813. At the age of 20 or 25, he lost his father. His mother then sent him to Pindi with Rs.25.

He decided to join Maharaja Ranjit Singh's army, with which he served and travelled up to Kabul, gaining experience. Then, he left the army and set up own business; by then the regions was controlled by the British. He married late. He had four sons and two daughters. His very close Malik relatives settled in Abbottabad, Ferozepur and some other parts of India. All were doing well and built up huge properties and lands in different Canal Colonies and in the cities of Pindi, Abbottabad, Lahore, Ferozepur and Delhi. Fourteen of his grandsons were educated abroad, and they were then the most foreign-educated family of Pindi. They were mostly doctors, engineers, lawyers, hoteliers, etc. He passed away in 1899.

- Kanwarjit Singh Malik

Part 1: http://www.indiaofthepast.org/contribute-memories/read-contributions/life-back-then/449-pindi-memoirs-by-a-sikh-son-of-the-soil-1

Part 2: http://www.indiaofthepast.org/contribute-memories/read-contributions/life-back-then/450-pindi-memoirs-by-a-sikh-son-of-the-soil-2