Bhera is a historical town in the district of Sargodha: before independence, it was in district Shahpur. Located in the middle of Lahore – Islamabad motorway ( M 2), at the left bank of river Jhelum. At one time it was one of the most important towns of central Chaj Doab. It was a north – south river route linking Kashmir with Multan and Sindh, and an east-west overland route connecting Afghanistan and Kashmir with Lahore and Delhi via Salt Range¹.
Till the first decade of the 20th century the Khawajgans of Bhera had strong trade relations with cities, like Samarkand, Bukhara, Kabul, Calcutta ( now Kolkata), Sukkhur, and Karachi … . Some of them were away on a business trip at the time of Bolshevik Revolution (1917) , including ancestors of Khawaja Zahid Nasim, who never returned home. They either died in the Central Asian states or on the way back to Bhera. May Allah Almighty bless their souls ! Ameen.
Most of the Khawajgans, from the business community have left Bhera for better livelihood prospects: within the country and abroad. They are great philanthropists and their contributions in the field of social work are commendable.
The well-to-do Khawajgans who have migrated from Bhera, their huge houses are in pretty bad shape. Some have crumbled down, a few have been demolished or sold out. Some have been rebuilt, but not in original size, architecture, artistry, elegance, and grace. Now, mohalla gives a gloomy and depressing looks and feelings. It is humbly suggested that wealthy Khawajgans should renovate and maintain the houses of their ancestors. They may not live in them , but at least their mohalla will give better looks, and remind their younger generation and the visitors of their mohalla’s glorious past .
Khawaja Zahid Nasim, advocate, husband of Nahida Mahboob Elahi ( 1958 -2010)² has some old items of crockery and pieces of paper silk fabric ( for details see Wikipedia), which his ancestors brought from Central Asian states before the Revolution ( 1917). Pictures of these are shared with his courtesy.
Notes :
- History, Archaeology and Architecture of Bhera – Reference article in the book, ” Historic Town of Punjab: Ancient and Medieval Period” by Dr. Abdul Rehman, published by Feroz Sons ( Ptv) Ltd, Lahore 1987.
- Mahida Mahboob Elahi, daughter of Colonel Mahboob Elahi was the first female “Deputy Attorney General of Pakistan” and founding member of the “Women ‘s Crisis Centres” all over Pakistan. She was a brilliant advocate of the Supreme Court of Pakistan. A courageous woman, always loving, caring, and humble .
Zahid Mumtaz
Pictures of light weight crockery and paper silk fabric from Central Asian states before the Russian Revolution of 1917.
Courtesy : Khawaja Zahid Nasim.
Once elegant, artistic, impressive : now vanished, crumbling, decaying, worn – out havelies of mohalla Khawajgan , Bhera. ©Zm
[25/07/2023, 3:47 pm] Zahid Mumtaz: Pictures of light weight crockery and paper silk fabric from Central Asian states before the Russian Revolution of 1917.
Courtesy : Khawaja Zahid Nasim.
