071. Krishen Niwas in Miani, Pakistan.
Miani, a small town in District Sargodha, is a very old town of Punjab. Its history goes back many centuries, and in the past, it enjoyed considerable importance as a commercial centre in this area. Due to its proximity to Pind Dadan Khan and the Khewra salt mines, it was an important centre for trade…
070. Khushwant Singh Of Hadali (A very Nice Man To Know) & His Friend Asad Bhatti
It was a dream come true, when Muhammad Ali Asad Bhatti finally got a chance to visit India in 2003 to attend a literary event, Punjabi Language Conference in Chandigarh. Besides other things, he was very excited to meet Khushwant Singh, his friend. Asad did not have his mobile number, so when he called Khushwant…
069. Subedar Khudadad Khan, the First Recipient Of Victoria Cross In India
While travelling on the Islamabad–Lahore Motorway (M-2), you may have seen a big board near the Balkasar Interchange, informing you about a man who, in the words written on the board, was “The First Muslim Recipient of the Victoria Cross.” The statement, though correct, is actually a bit misleading. He was not just the first…
068. Monuments of World War 1 In Pakistan
After the Crimean War (1853–1856), Europe entered a long and unprecedented period of peace and stability, except for the Franco-Prussian War of 1870. This peaceful era began to unravel in the first decade of the twentieth century, when an arms race intensified between two opposing alliances: Britain, France, and Russia on one side, and Germany,…
067. Samadhi of Diwan Mulraj Chopra & A Beautiful Haveli In Alipur Chatha (Akalgarh)
Alipur Chatha, also known as Akalgarh, is a small town located about 40 kilometers west of Gujranwala and approximately 7 kilometers southeast of the historic city of Rasul Nagar (formerly known as Ramnagar). The 1760s marked the rise of Sikh power in central Punjab, including the Gujranwala district, which remained under Sikh dominance for the…
066. A Hindu Temple In Hafizabad, Pakistan.
As often happens during such explorations, while searching for Gurdwara Chhevin Patshahi in Hafizabad, I unexpectedly discovered something else, an old Hindu temple. We stopped in the main bazaar and inquired about the gurdwara’s location. Among those we asked was Chacha Aslam, a man well over eighty but still hale and hearty. While giving us…
065. An Old Gurdwara In Sargodha, Pakistan.
Sargodha is a big and important city in north-central Punjab. It is a new city; its foundations were laid down in 1903 during the British Raj. According to a booklet, “The Sargodha Perspective“, published by the Commissioner of Sargodha Division in 1975, this is how it got its name: The district of Sargodha derives its…
064. Gurdwara Chhevin Patshahi, Hafizabad
Hafizabad is a city located in north-central Punjab, about 45 kilometers west of Gujranwala. Over the past few years, I had passed through it many times on my way to Gujranwala, but never had the chance to explore it. Although I was vaguely aware of the presence of a historical gurdwara, I never found the…
063. Grave of Air Chief Marshal Nur Khan
The war of 1965 was a very important moment in the history of Pakistan. Some even believe it to be our finest hour, when we successfully repulsed massive attacks on our borders at several fronts by an enemy many times bigger. While our army and navy performed well (especially in defense), it was the Air…
062. Tomb of Lance Naik Muhammad Mahfuz Shaheed: Nishan-e-Haider
Lance Naik Muhammad Mahfuz Shaheed is one of those ten great sons of this country who, in the line of duty and in defence of their country, showed extraordinary bravery and courage and were awarded the highest military award of the land, Nishan-e-Haider. Lance Naik Muhammad Mahfuz, s/o Meherban Khan, was born in 1944 in…