By admin / March 1, 2024
The old post and telegraph office was in Mohalla Purani Dak Khani, near Qazianwali Masjid. The Municipal Committee in Bhera was created in 1867. It is estimated that the post office started functioning in Bhera at about that time. According to the old–timers of Bhera, the post & telegraph office from Mohalla Purani Dak Khani was shifted around 1952 to the main bazaar ( in a street near the old Mercantile Bank building ). It remained there till 1962/63 and then for a brief period, for about two years it moved outside Chakwala Darwaza ( Chinooti Gate – 1865 ). In 1965/66, it shifted to a much better building near Laluwala Darwaza ( Moltanee Gate – 1865 ), in Kucha Hakeem Noor – ud- Din. It remained there till 1979, and in 1980, it shifted to a newly constructed building for the post office, adjacent to Dar – ul – Uloom, Bhera.
A few pictures of the old post & telegraph office in Mohalla Purani Dakkhani are shared. It was a beautiful small building with intricate wood carving and masonry work. Presently, it is unoccupied, but in decaying and dilapidated condition. Before this small building vanishes, like so others in Bhera or is encroached on by someone, it must be renovated and preserved as a historical monument of Bhera by the Municipal Committee, Bhera / concerned departments of the government of Punjab. At least, for the time being, boards be placed, indicating “Old Post & Telegraph Office Bhera”. It could be developed as an attractive tourist site. May be converted into a mini post office & telegraph museum, by placing a few old items and equipment from the Postal and Telegraph departments. Surprisingly, people living in Bhera, are unaware, of where the old post and telegraph office was located in Bhera. I hope my genuine request will be given due attention by the concerned authorities.
NOTES :
- The postal history of India is closely related to India’s complex political history. As the Portuguese, Dutch, French, Danish and British colonialists gained power in India, their postal system existed alongside those of the independent states.
- Britain’s involvement in the postal service of India began in the eighteenth century. Initially, the service was administered by East India who established post offices in Bombay ( now Mumbai ) , Madras ( now Chennai ) and Calcutta ( now Kolkata) between 1874 – 76 .
- Warren Hastings ( Governor General of British India from 1873- 84 ) opened the posts to the public in March 1874. The Post Office Act (1837) reserved the government the exclusive right to deliver letters, in the territories of the East India Company.
- Immediately after the Independence of Pakistan in 1947, the Pakistan government was preoccupied with the setting of the government, so British Indian stamps continued in use without an overprint as was the practice in the other countries.
- Nasik Overprints. On 1 October 1947, the government released its first stamps, being from the 1940, British India series of King George VI stamps, overprinted with the word Pakistan. Known as the Nasik Overprints, after the place near Mumbai, India, where they were overprinted, the set consists of 19 stamps.
- The Office of the Postmaster General was established in Lahore, in November 1947, Pakistan joined the Universal Postal Union as its 89th member.
- On 14 August 1948, the first definitive set consisting of 20 stamps was released. This set depicted scales of justice crescent and star. In 1947, it began functioning as the Department of Post & Telegraph. In 1962 it was separated from the Telegraph & Telephone and started working as an independent attached department.
Reference : Wikepedia .
To be continued concerning Bhera … …
Zahid Mumtaz
 | ReplyForwardAdd reaction |
By admin / March 1, 2024
The old post and telegraph office was in Mohalla Purani Dak Khani, near Qazianwali Masjid. The Municipal Committee in Bhera was created in 1867. It is estimated that the post office started functioning in Bhera at about that time. According to the old–timers of Bhera, the post & telegraph office from Mohalla Purani Dak Khani was shifted around 1952 to the main bazaar ( in a street near the old Mercantile Bank building ). It remained there till 1962/63 and then for a brief period, for about two years it moved outside Chakwala Darwaza ( Chinooti Gate – 1865 ). In 1965/66, it shifted to a much better building near Laluwala Darwaza ( Moltanee Gate – 1865 ), in Kucha Hakeem Noor – ud- Din. It remained there till 1979, and in 1980, it shifted to a newly constructed building for the post office, adjacent to Dar – ul – Uloom, Bhera.
A few pictures of the old post & telegraph office in Mohalla Purani Dakkhani are shared. It was a beautiful small building with intricate wood carving and masonry work. Presently, it is unoccupied, but in decaying and dilapidated condition. Before this small building vanishes, like so others in Bhera or is encroached on by someone, it must be renovated and preserved as a historical monument of Bhera by the Municipal Committee, Bhera / concerned departments of the government of Punjab. At least, for the time being, boards be placed, indicating “Old Post & Telegraph Office Bhera”. It could be developed as an attractive tourist site. May be converted into a mini post office & telegraph museum, by placing a few old items and equipment from the Postal and Telegraph departments. Surprisingly, people living in Bhera, are unaware, of where the old post and telegraph office was located in Bhera. I hope my genuine request will be given due attention by the concerned authorities.
NOTES :
- The postal history of India is closely related to India’s complex political history. As the Portuguese, Dutch, French, Danish and British colonialists gained power in India, their postal system existed alongside those of the independent states.
- Britain’s involvement in the postal service of India began in the eighteenth century. Initially, the service was administered by East India who established post offices in Bombay ( now Mumbai ) , Madras ( now Chennai ) and Calcutta ( now Kolkata) between 1874 – 76 .
- Warren Hastings ( Governor General of British India from 1873- 84 ) opened the posts to the public in March 1874. The Post Office Act (1837) reserved the government the exclusive right to deliver letters, in the territories of the East India Company.
- Immediately after the Independence of Pakistan in 1947, the Pakistan government was preoccupied with the setting of the government, so British Indian stamps continued in use without an overprint as was the practice in the other countries.
- Nasik Overprints. On 1 October 1947, the government released its first stamps, being from the 1940, British India series of King George VI stamps, overprinted with the word Pakistan. Known as the Nasik Overprints, after the place near Mumbai, India, where they were overprinted, the set consists of 19 stamps.
- The Office of the Postmaster General was established in Lahore, in November 1947, Pakistan joined the Universal Postal Union as its 89th member.
- On 14 August 1948, the first definitive set consisting of 20 stamps was released. This set depicted scales of justice crescent and star. In 1947, it began functioning as the Department of Post & Telegraph. In 1962 it was separated from the Telegraph & Telephone and started working as an independent attached department.
Reference : Wikepedia .
To be continued concerning Bhera … …
Zahid Mumtaz
| ReplyForwardAdd reaction |