by Ms N. Mirza
Wah village (not to confused with Wah Cantt or township nearby) is located in Attock district of Northern Punjab, Pakistan. It was founded by one Jamal Khan, of the Khattar Punjabi tribe, as 'Jalal Sar' in honour of his son, Jalal Khan. Later, it was renamed 'Wah' by the Mughal Emperor Jahangir, as it was a beautiful location, with many cool springs of water emerging from under a lush green mountain. Later on, Jahangir's son, Emperor Shah Jahan built a Mughal style 'pleasure garden' here, called 'Wah Gardens'. This old historical site still stands.
The Mughals appointed the local chiefs of Wah Khattar family as 'daroghas' (caretakers) of the Wah Gardens. And from this family, much later during British times, rose up one Muhammad Hyat Khan (1833-1901) who served loyally as an officer under the Punjab Government. He was later enobled by the British for his services, receiving the title of Nawab Muhammad Hyat Khan, CSI & etc.
In 1880s, Muhammad Hyat Khan decided to build a new house, a big ''marrhi'' (mansion type building) for himself and his growing family; and in early 1890s, the work on this Marrhi started. It was constructed in three storeys on a high location in Wah village, very close to the Mughal gardens and remains, by skilled workmen from Rawalpindi and Lahore, and completed around 1892 or 1893, as per estimates of local historians (no exact date has been yet confirmed). The mansion has many of the typical features of indigenous havelis and marrhis, of the Punjab and environs. At the same time as constructing this mansion, Muhammad Hyat Khan also renovated the old Wah village mosque and added many nice designs to it, and it is said that special artists from Indian Punjab and Hills states, were invited to come and embellish this lovely building. The mosque still stands.
This old and beautiful Wah Marrhi was home to the Muhammad Hyat family, and is still owned by them. The old Nawab had five sons, Aslam Hyat, Mahmud Hyat (died without progeny), Ghairat Hyat (died young lad ), Liaquat Hyat and Sikandar Hyat. Of these, two sons became well-known later on i.e. Sir Liaquat Hyat Khan (1887-1948) who was a senior minister in Patiala princely state ; and Sardar Sir Sikandar Hyat Khan, KBE (1892-1942) who remained head of the Punjab Unionist Party and the first native Premier (CM) of the old united Punjab, under British Raj, from 1937 to 1942. Presently, the Marrhi in Wah is being looked after by families of Sardar Shaukat Hyat, Brig (r) Sardar Azmat Hyat, Sardar Riffat Hyat and Sardar Ghairat Hyat, also a part of it by Sir Liaquat Family. The building is in very bad state, mostly, and the present caretakers say that it's not easy to maintain it or look after it, and they cannot afford to renovate it.
In other countries, homes of former PMs, CMs etc, are looked after by the governments and this old mansion has produced a great Punjabi statesman of the caliber of Sir Sikandar Hyat Khan, at least, if nothing else the Punjab Government can help out the Wah family to renovate and preserve his birthplace.
(c) Pakwheels com site, 2012, 2014, with thanks
Wah village (not to confused with Wah Cantt or township nearby) is located in Attock district of Northern Punjab, Pakistan. It was founded by one Jamal Khan, of the Khattar Punjabi tribe, as 'Jalal Sar' in honour of his son, Jalal Khan. Later, it was renamed 'Wah' by the Mughal Emperor Jahangir, as it was a beautiful location, with many cool springs of water emerging from under a lush green mountain. Later on, Jahangir's son, Emperor Shah Jahan built a Mughal style 'pleasure garden' here, called 'Wah Gardens'. This old historical site still stands.
The Mughals appointed the local chiefs of Wah Khattar family as 'daroghas' (caretakers) of the Wah Gardens. And from this family, much later during British times, rose up one Muhammad Hyat Khan (1833-1901) who served loyally as an officer under the Punjab Government. He was later enobled by the British for his services, receiving the title of Nawab Muhammad Hyat Khan, CSI & etc.
In 1880s, Muhammad Hyat Khan decided to build a new house, a big ''marrhi'' (mansion type building) for himself and his growing family; and in early 1890s, the work on this Marrhi started. It was constructed in three storeys on a high location in Wah village, very close to the Mughal gardens and remains, by skilled workmen from Rawalpindi and Lahore, and completed around 1892 or 1893, as per estimates of local historians (no exact date has been yet confirmed). The mansion has many of the typical features of indigenous havelis and marrhis, of the Punjab and environs. At the same time as constructing this mansion, Muhammad Hyat Khan also renovated the old Wah village mosque and added many nice designs to it, and it is said that special artists from Indian Punjab and Hills states, were invited to come and embellish this lovely building. The mosque still stands.
This old and beautiful Wah Marrhi was home to the Muhammad Hyat family, and is still owned by them. The old Nawab had five sons, Aslam Hyat, Mahmud Hyat (died without progeny), Ghairat Hyat (died young lad ), Liaquat Hyat and Sikandar Hyat. Of these, two sons became well-known later on i.e. Sir Liaquat Hyat Khan (1887-1948) who was a senior minister in Patiala princely state ; and Sardar Sir Sikandar Hyat Khan, KBE (1892-1942) who remained head of the Punjab Unionist Party and the first native Premier (CM) of the old united Punjab, under British Raj, from 1937 to 1942. Presently, the Marrhi in Wah is being looked after by families of Sardar Shaukat Hyat, Brig (r) Sardar Azmat Hyat, Sardar Riffat Hyat and Sardar Ghairat Hyat, also a part of it by Sir Liaquat Family. The building is in very bad state, mostly, and the present caretakers say that it's not easy to maintain it or look after it, and they cannot afford to renovate it.
In other countries, homes of former PMs, CMs etc, are looked after by the governments and this old mansion has produced a great Punjabi statesman of the caliber of Sir Sikandar Hyat Khan, at least, if nothing else the Punjab Government can help out the Wah family to renovate and preserve his birthplace.
(c) Pakwheels com site, 2012, 2014, with thanks
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