This is my grandparents village. Our people originate from Kashmir (apparently) and before that from Palestine (that's the most popular theory) where they came over in Muhammed Bin Qasim's army to conquer Hind. They settled in the city of Sialkot, then about 150 years ago came to Jhelum, from whence they ended up in the small town of Parri (about a mile away). They always shake their head when mentioning this, as if wondering what possessed them to come here. About eighty years ago, my grandfather decided to have a go at settling the wasteland outside of the town and brought his five brothers and best friend (my other granddad) with him. They built their houses next to each other and farmed the land. Their children are now spread all over Pakistan, the Emirates and the UK and the little village is now a thriving hub of commerce with people travelling from other villages and the nearest town to shop here. The land is green and fertile.
Whenever we visit, we leave hot, dirty, noisy chaotic Lahore and drive for five hours. As we get nearer the weather gets cooler and the landscape more beautiful. After the heat and bustle of the city, its as if you are ascending into a haven of peace. The air is clean and crisp and its a pleasure to just breathe. It really is a homecoming of a kind, back to our extended family, back to the place where all our people are buried and back to the land that built my family's fortunes.
The green dome is the roof of a tomb. I am not sure of the history, but the deceased was a pious man of some repute. His tomb says Baba Sher (Old Man Lion).
The green dome is the roof of a tomb. I am not sure of the history, but the deceased was a pious man of some repute. His tomb says Baba Sher (Old Man Lion).
These mountains form the backdrop to the village. At one time they were famous for salt and wildlife. The British would join the local landowners to hunt for boar, deer and lions. Now boar and wolves remain with cattle also roaming up there. My grandfather also used to tell us stories about the scary things (Jinn) he has seen up there whilst passing through or collecting firewood when he was a young man.
Aslamualakum what a lovely villiage sister, really nice retreat hey, looks so natural and very intresting about the history of you ansestors, i always wondered about the Asian's and if the were the original race or are they made up of a mix? Hind being India i guess?
ReplyDeleteSal luks cute in that pic! where was that taken, don't recognise that area.
ReplyDeleteAssalam Alaikum. Welcome back :-) It looks like you had a wonderful time...now for us it's even more wonderful to read all the interesting blog entries and admire the pictures. Speaking of Pakistan, I am reading Three Cups of Tea...what is your opinion on this book?
ReplyDeleteAssalam-alaikam Sister Rainbow,
ReplyDeleteyep Hind being India. I've always found it interesting too about the different races and castes in India/Pak, where they came from and how they have mixed. Its interesting that there are Jats, Chauhans, Minhas, Rajputs and others in both India and Pakistan and amongst Muslims, Hindu's and Sikhs. Plus the whole thing about the original ethnic (Dravidian) Indian's and the later fairer/taller Aryan invaders and the way they affected how we all look. There's lots on the internet if you type in your surname/tribe.
Hey fash,
thats the mountain we can see from our house.
Assalam-alaikam Sister Umm Nassim, and jazakh'Allah-khairun for the welcome back. I haven't read Three Cups of Tea, but I googled it and it looks really interesting. Let me know if its any good, I'd love to hear what you think.
thanks for the tips sister i will have a look, also my mum was born and raised in what is Rawlpindi in Pakistan and then it was India , humm intresting.
ReplyDeleteThese pics are really good-is really nice to see the place of our grandparents, especially as i haven't been there since you got married!!
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