By Lt Gen (R) Sardar Hasan Azhar Hayat- MD Green Tourism Pvt. Ltd
Working on family history I was referred by a cousin to visit a local historian Raja Noor Nizami in village Bohi Gar, District Attock. On contacting he was very forthcoming and we set time to meet. The village is an interesting place sandwiched between Districts of Attock, Rawalpindi and Haripur, as calls it Hazara – Potohar a word which I have heard for first time, and so apt. We went through all districts to reach Bohi which is in foothill of small hill locally called Gar in local language. One could find rich orchards of Lichee and Oranges but construction is taking on fast on these orchards. Bigger factories like Farooqia Best Ways, Hittar industrial zone and POF has made beautiful area very dusty without rains. As we reached village we were blocked by a Qinqchi in street these are new found love for rural areas, remember about a decade back we use to be fascinated by Rickshaw’s of Lahore but now that charm has finished due to Qinqchi, anyway we walked happily through the streets. It can take you 1:15 minutes to reach Bohi Gar anywhere from Islamabad.
As we asked people everyone knows the place by name of Nizami library. As we reached corner of street a young boy greeted us, no sign boards or marking it’s a common village house and we were made to climb stairs which open straight into library. On opening door you remove shoes and find a clean room with green carpet and two charpoys and books all around, our guide who later turned to be Nizami Sahibs son opened adjoining room and found Nizami Sahib sitting in midst of books had two desks a ground desk and other study table ! A stout looking person with grey beard and broad shoulders – his broad forehead and deep eyes indicate his knowledge and wisdom. If you find him outside you can’t make out if he a commoner or a blessed person. He warmly greeted us and when offered I preferred to sit on carpet.
Raja Noor Muhammad Nizamis words I can’t forget he said I am glad Sardar Sahib you came and pleased to see someone from Wah. He was all praises for Nawab Muhammad Hyat and mentioned Nawab Sahibs qualities something surprising and new for me was that he was also an excellent Naat Khawan. He took out his book Hyat e Afghani and other books mentioning of Khattars ! He also took out Hyat e Sikander,گم گشتہ قوم and The Punjab Chiefs. Also gave me references of Takht Jehangiri and other, he was indeed knowledgeable and not a librarian. We discussed the origin of Khattars and theories pertaining to their origin including migration from Spain of Abu Al Hasam Khattar one of Governors of Umayyad period, Khattars linkages with Hazrat Abu Talib and Hazarat Ali (ReA) from Qutab Shahi descendants, Khattar Khan from Ghaznavid Empire and Chohan from the Hindu Shahi period. As per Nizami sahibs study he thinks Khattars are aborigines of the area and history made them sink into Islam from Hindu Shahi, he less or more believes same for Awans. He was current on my family & village and spoke about Marri and its depleted condition and was pleased to learn that over 150 years old mosque of Nawab Sahib has been restored in actual condition. Something interesting he said was that these existed even in times of Mughals. Without challenging I wanted to make best use of time and offered him to visit, he has been there a number of times and promised to visit. He had been working on Khattar history in past too and mentioned a young boy Imran Khattar who is from Bagh Nilab an early Khattar territory along river Indus, who has written a book in consultation with Nizami Sahib. He also told me that Khattars are in Neelum valley Kashmir which I confirmed and know how they spread and even India where fame has come after a minister Manohar Lal Khattar and actors Rajesh Khattar & Ishaan Khattar. I encouraged him to write more on Khattars and he said you should write on Wah, I came to know he already had started some work and I requested to show saw the work and promised to support his endeavor.
We also discussed about Taxila, Buddhism and Sikhism. He already knew about my previous visits I also saw three volumes on Taxila by George Marshall! Nizami sahib is author of 7 books and has total around 23000 books including 4000 on local history and 600 handwritten manuscripts – this interest me and I asked him how you manage to get these rear books. He narrated his story and love for books and once he comes to know about a book he tracks it till he gets at any cost, this is called passion, one such latest book he got from London worth Rs 1 lac, he said his money, time and effort is all for books. Books have made him a deep man, no show off just knowledge. I asked him why? He said everything will finish but these books, history and heritage is there to stay. I said which is most precious book and he showed be a Quran Pak around 600 years old hand written in Arabic script and a pocket bible of 1611. On asking, he said many people come to do research and further on asking he said this is all private and there is no patronage from government, I am sure my voice will reach right people and what can be done is new shelf’s, cataloguing, e library and may be some token honorarium, for what he is managing for last fifty years. Many foreigners also visit him to see his work. He offered us tea and plain cake and insisted for lunch. Looking at my interest he gave me two books قدیم ٹیکسلا and his introduction on library and museum (I have already read one almost half on Taxila). I did not know how to get up from place and 2 1/2 hours had passed like few minutes. He requested me to see his museum, same floor a room full of artefacts, reminded me of an old Gudam گودام in my village house and how I spoiled so many things in my childhood, especially violet colour soda bottle with silver steaks uff was so beautiful and other things, thanks God bigger silver wear remained saved. This must be painstaking process to collect these artefacts from coins, fossils, weapons, pottery and utensils, Buddhist sculptures etc hats off to the gentleman who is not only a book worm but perhaps an archeologist and historian.
He was kind enough to see us off till the car and we were guided by him to skirt the village on a better road. As we came out of village saw the Gar probably called Sakra in his book if I am writing correctly and has great resemblance to Mount Fouji, he goes on to write it peeps into every household in Taxila valley due to its relative height and prominence. As we went out Taxila has some of most fertile land my eye caught two old Banyan trees with a pond could next to it, I could not resist stopping and stepped out to capture, they give a sense of heritage and calmness! As also mentioned in Buddhist literature. All appreciation for Raja Noor Muhammad Nizami he is an asset for the area and Pakistan, such people need to be encouraged, who spread literacy and preserve history in actual essence. A fellow who accompanied me to the place said he has never seen such motivation and we are always running after money but this is actual life. From soothing trip we were back on GT road out of books and lost in reality with heavy traffic and population burst everywhere, till we reached our home. A wonderful and motivating experience.
