128. Demographics of North West Frontier Province According to the Census of 1941
The British reached this part of India in the mid-nineteenth century, when they defeated the Sikh state of Lahore in 1849. At that time, Hazara, the Peshawar Valley, and the areas east of Waziristan were part of the Sikh state of Lahore. The British granted provincial status to these newly conquered areas of Punjab. But…
127. Demographics of Sindh Province According to the Census of 1941
In October 2014, I wrote a post on the “Partition of Punjab in 1947” that proved to be the most popular of all my posts and drew the most comments as well. Some of the friends from the other side of the divide argued that so what if some Muslim majority Tehsils were awarded to India, as…
126. All the “stans” in the World
Ever wondered exactly how many “-stans” there are in the world? These are the countries or regions whose names end with the suffix -stan. In Persian, stan means “place” or “land.” For example, Uzbekistan means “land of the Uzbeks,” and Afghanistan means “land of the Afghans.” Its equivalent in English is -land, as in England…
125. Gurudwara Sri Guru Singh Sabha: Gujranwala
There are thousands of buildings hidden or simply ignored in overcrowded cities and towns across Pakistan, which are links to an era that ended abruptly in 1947. Mostly are neglected and decaying, and fast disappearing. One such building is Gurudwara Siri Singh Sabha in Gujranwala city, just 50 metres from the Clock Tower on the…
124. Kalra The Estate of Malik Khizar Hayat Tiwana: The Last Premier of Punjab
Tiwanas are a very old and aristocratic family of the district Shahpur (now Sargodha and Khushab). They are settled in many towns of Sargodha and Khushab on both sides of the river Jhelum. In the past, they held large jagirs at various places and played a very important role in the history of this part…
123. Shiwala Teja Singh Temple in Sialkot
Sialkot is an ancient city and its history dates back to almost five thousand years. The Gazetteer of the Sialkot District of the year 1894-95, gives the following account of the settlement of this area: In the earliest days we are informed the whole surface of the country was waste and studded with thick forests,…
122. The Capital of Raja Porus
Punjab is a land of ancient civilizations. Its fertile soil and perennial rivers have always made it an attractive destination for people in search of a prosperous life. The name “Punjab” comes from the five rivers flowing through the region, but interestingly, in ancient times the Aryans called it Sapta Sindhu—the land of seven rivers….
121. A Tour of Mandi Bahauddin (Three Gurdwaras and A Temple)
On July 27, 2019, I had the opportunity to visit Mandi Bahauddin at the invitation of my dear friend and brother, Irfan Ahmed. I had explored the area around Mandi Bahauddin many times in the past, but never fully explored the city itself. It was a family visit, and I was just looking forward to…
120. The Grave of Shah Shuja in Dharema (district Sargodha)
Dharema is a small, typical town of Punjab in the district Sargodha, about 10 kilometers from Sargodha city on Shahpur Road. There is nothing particularly significant about it except for one fact — there is a grave that attracts the attention of many students of history. This grave is said to be that of Shah…
119. A Lodhi Era Mosque in Eminabad (district Gujranwala)!
Eminabad is a small town in the district of Gujranwala, about 50 kilometers north of Lahore. Its old name was Saidpur. In the late Middle Ages and the Mughal period, it was a place of considerable importance. It still has many old buildings that tell us about its historic past. Traces of its old history…