I have heard from elders that the late Prime Minister, Sir Malik Feroz Khan Noon ( 16 Dec 1957 – 7 Oct 58 ) visited Bhera, district Sargodha. He left by train as it was a much better mode of transport than because of the poor condition of the roads.
At the Bhera Railway Station, officials and some people were present to see him off. Suddenly, the engine whistled. An old man standing nearby shouted in a typical Bherochi accent, Bhaj oay Noona gaddi cuook marandi aay . Meaning: Noon run – train is whistling. The simple soul said without realising the train would not move without the PM. But it clearly shows that people had trust and faith in railways … they would abide by the timing, may it be the head of state. Where are we today in terms of security, protocol, and Pakistan Railways?
Notes :
- According to District Shahpur Gazetteer ( 1905) , in the whole of district Shahpur, there were only two high schools, both were in Bhera: Government High School, Bhera and Kirpa Ram Anglo Sanskrit High School ( known as Arya School ).
- The municipality of Bhera was created in 1867. Municipal Committee Primary School No 2, up to Class lV, was founded in 1876, it was known as Chirri Chong Primary School, mohalla Sheikhanwala. Anglo Vernacular High School , Bhera was founded ( Circa : 1882) . The exact year is not confirmed. Probably in the beginning, it was a middle school, maintained by the Education Department and Municipal Committee of the town. Its building was between the old Bhera Police Station (1870) and the civil dispensary, Kachery Bazaar. Government High School went through several phases after its establishment. In 1905, it was named Government High School, in 1918, it became District Board High School, and in 1923, King George’s High School. In 1927, it was shifted to a new building near the railway station and was again named as Government High School, Bhera. The old building of the school became the boys’ hostel.
- Prime Minister Sir Malik Feroz Khan Noon ( 7 May 1893 – 6 December 1970 ), and his younger brother Colonel Malik Muhammad Ali Noon, along with their many cousins studied at the Bhera High School. Malik Firoz Khan Noon studied at GHS Bhera from 1902 to 1905. In 1905, he joined Atchison College and remained there till 1912. In 1912, he went to England for higher studies. Reference : Autobiography of Sir Firoz Khan Noon , ” FROM MEMORY” .
- I have written a bibliographic sketch of his younger brother, Colonel Muhammad Ali Noon , 16 Lt Cavalry. He was granted King’s Commission from Temporary School for Indian Cadets ( TSIC), Daly College, Indore, British India. Those interested in reading may get from me.
Zahid Mumtaz
