Old Rawalpindi’s Bhabara Bazaar bears a striking resemblance to Bhera. The architectural style of houses, the layout of streets, and even the atmosphere evoke a shared past. A visit to both places will make this connection evident to any keen observer.
When the British annexed Punjab in 1849, many affluent Hindus from Bhera migrated to Rawalpindi to expand their thriving business interests. With the establishment of the British Northern Headquarters in Rawalpindi Cantonment, a significant demand arose for supplies to support the Anglo-Afghan Wars and the Kashmir conflict. This created lucrative opportunities for traders from places like Bhera.
Despite settling in Rawalpindi, these families maintained close ancestral ties with Bhera. Among the most renowned of these families was that of Balraj Sahni, the celebrated film actor of his time, and his younger brother, Bhisham Sahni, a distinguished writer. (For further details of both brothers, refer to Wikipedia and website, bhera.org.).
Their father operated a large and prosperous cloth business in Rawalpindi City. Remarkably, their ancestral house in Chahchi Mohalla, near Gordon College (founded in 1893), still stands today.
It’s worth mentioning that Kalpana Sahni, daughter of Bhisham Sahni, once remarked that although their ancestral house in Delhi no longer exists, their house in Pakistan remains intact — a house that her father and uncle adored and remembered till last. Kalpana visited Bhera; her travelogue is filled with emotions and nostalgia. It is worth reading. Available on website, bhera.org. The link is given below.
Interestingly, the Sahni house in Chahchi Mohalla, Rawalpindi, shares a similar architectural pattern with Walayatianwali Mari and the house opposite it outside Chakwala Gate ( 1865) , Bhera It is quite possible that these structures were built by the same architect or builder, as the resemblance is remarkable. The link and pictures given below :
This small write-up may evoke interest and a sense of connection for those who belong to Bhera and Rawalpindi.
Zahid Mumtaz
Many years ago, Kalpana Sahni visited her ancestors’ home, Bhera, district Sargodha. Kalpana was a professor of Russian literature at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), New Delhi. She is the daughter of Bhisham Sahni and the niece of a renowned film actor, Balraj Sahni. Her article may be of some interest to those who belong to Bhera. For more details about her, her father and her uncle, see Wikipedia.https://bhera.org/travelogue-bhera-the-persistence-of-memory-by-kalpana-sahni/
https://bhera.org/travelogue-bhera-the-persistence-of-memory-by-kalpana-sahni/