Pelee Kothi is located at the entrance of Mohalla Sheikhanwala from the circular road. The road is oval, and its general alignment is that of the old walled city of Bhera, having eight gates. Pelee Khothi is the largest Kothi, inside the circular road, still having a huge garden/field. It is unique in its spaciousness, design and architecture. Doesn’t look like a marie, its area is so huge that even seven to eight maries of Bhera can fit in it. Although there are grand houses and maries in other mohallas of Bhera having exquisite wood carvings and captivating masonry work, Pelee Kothi has its grace, style and aesthetics.
North of Pelee Kothi is a circular road, in the west mohalla Sheikhanwala and Maluk Shah Darbar, in the south Sheikhanwala bazaar, in the south-east mohalla Kapooran and the east mohalla Sethianwala Kalan ( big ). It can be approached from many directions.
Pelee Kothi was owned by a wealthy, influential and high-social status person of Bhera – Malak Tilak Raj ( Anand), younger brother of Malak Suraj Kaul ( Anand ), who had a huge Kothi next to Government High School, Bhera. At partition, Suraj Kaul’s Kothi was allotted to the Pro Vice-Chancellor of Aligarh University, Prof Abdul Majeed Kureshi. Prof Kureshi belonged to Mohalla Chitti Pully. He opted for Pakistan and the large family moved to Bhera. Lived there till 1955, later shifted to 90 Satellite Town, Sargodha, and in 1964 to Karachi. (Details about the family are covered separately, if interested, they can be shared).
Malak Suraj Kaul’s daughter Kamla Devi was married to a wealthy Salam landlord near Phularwan, tehsil Bhalwal – Inderjeet Sawhney ( given name Jai Lal Sawhney ). The family did not migrate to India in 1947 and stayed in Salam. Inderjeet ‘s son Banka Sawhney was married to Malak Tilak Raj’s daughter. They are still living in Salam, and both husband and wife often visit Bhera, along with guests to revive old memories of the bygone days.
The family to whom the Pelee Kothi was allotted at the time of partition did not maintain it well. The owners have renovated a portion of it, but a large part of it has either fallen down or has been demolished. Imam Bargah has been established inside the Kothi, because of the vast available open space. Commendable credit goes to its allottees, who have so far not sold it or partitioned any part of the Kothi – its entity is intact and maintained. Although the Kothi doesn’t give pleasant looks but speaks of its glorious past. Whereas, Suraj Kaul’s Kothi has completely vanished like so many other old and attractive buildings and maries of Bhera.
I heard from elders of the mohalla that Malak Tilak Raj and his brother were great philanthropists, who looked after deserving people of Bhera, particularly of their mohalla. Suraj Kaul was the Honorary Magistrate of Bhera. Tilak Raj was one of the first persons in Bhera who owned a car in the early 20th century. Around the mid-1940s ( circa 1945 ) on his daughter, Santosh’s marriage, the renowned singer cum actor with a unique voice, Kundan Lal Saigal ( K L Saigal, 1904 – l947) visited Pelee Kothi.
A few pictures of Pelee Kothi taken by me over some time are shared. I was born in Mohalla Sheikhanwala, and so were my ancestors.
To be continued …………….. . .
Zahid Mumtaz
