Bhera’s Forgotten Trade Legacy
Before the upheaval of the Bolshevik Revolution of 1917, the ancient caravan routes between the Indian subcontinent and Central Asia were alive with movement. Trade networks linked historic cities such as Bukhara, Samarkand, and Kashgar with Punjab and beyond.
Merchants from Bhera—particularly the Khawajans and Pirachgans—played a significant role in this flourishing commerce. Caravans laden with fine textiles, dried fruits, spices, precious stones, and delicate porcelain travelled across deserts and mountain passes. Camels, horses, and mules carried goods, while bustling bazaars echoed with a blend of Persian, Turkic, Punjabi, and Hindustani voices.
The traders’ dresses reflected cultural exchange: flowing robes, turbans, embroidered waistcoats, and leather boots suited for long journeys.
The political transformation that followed the 1917 Revolution and the subsequent consolidation of Central Asia under Soviet authority gradually disrupted these centuries-old trade routes. Border controls and new economic systems altered traditional commercial patterns, ending many family trading ventures that had prospered for generations.
Inspired by this vibrant pre-revolutionary era, Maheen Mumtaz has imaginatively recreated scenes of that time through her postcards. Her artwork—depicting traditional dresses, caravan animals, traded goods, and lively bazaars—offers the younger generation of Bhera a visual bridge to their mercantile past. These creative pieces help them envision how their ancestors looked, travelled, and traded with far-flung regions long before modern boundaries reshaped the map.
Some postcards are shared here in remembrance of Bhera’s proud commercial heritage.
Zahid Mumtaz