The Forgotten Talab ( Pond) of Bhera
Only a handful of elderly individuals recall the existence of a vast talab (pond) in Bhera. The blue patch in the sketches marks the site of the talab. During the rainy season, its water would swell, expanding its boundaries, nearly touching the surrounding roads. Over time, the pond has been filled with waste material and debris, ultimately giving way to both authorised and unauthorized construction.
The sketch also reveals notable landmarks, including the Telephone & Telegraph (T&T) office, with its visible antennas. Adjacent to the T&T office stands an ancient banyan tree, which once sheltered a tonga_stand. Behind the banyan lay the Hindu Sarai ( inn or resting place for passengers/ pilgrims/ travellers ) , and further right, the outer Lahori Gate (Gunjwala Darwaza), built in 1869.
A road originating from the T&T office leads to the deserted Bhera Railway Station (circa : 1881), passing through Chitta School (Municipal Committee Primary School No. 1, established in 1955), and the Government Technical Training Institute (GTTI), on the right. Regrettably, iconic landmarks like the old Kapoor talab, cinema ghar, Jaleewala bagh, and Gulabgarh bagh have vanished. However, the Gulabgarh Mandir still stands in a dilapidated condition. The road converges at the Bhera – Malakwal road, near the _Chungi_ at the corner. On the left lies the Kirpa Ram Anglo Sanskrit High School (now Government Girls Higher Secondary School). In the far distance, where the blue patch ends lies the mohalla Sahniawala, the largest mohalla of Bhera, and mohalla Purani Abkari.
This information aims to revive memories of Bhera’s past, particularly for those who did not grow up in the town or were too young to remember the old _talab_. It was an integral part of Bhera’s history, and its legacy deserves to be preserved. If anyone has some information or memories of the old talab, please share them on WhatsApp number 03175404161. These will be uploaded on the website, bhera.org. Also, the vintage photographs of the old cinema ghar, Kapoor talab, Jaliwala, or Gulabgarh baghs, In Part 2, pictures of old and new buildings surrounding talab will be shared.
Zahid Mumtaz
