(by IH Malik, adapted from online sources)
This house was once the property of Shahzada (Prince) Abdul Malik Tura,son of Amir Muzaffar of Bukhara, in Central Asia (now in Uzbekistan).
Abdul Malik escaped from Bukhara, after he showed antagonism to certain policies of his father Amir Muzaffar. The main issue over which Abdul Malik Tura fought was his father's lack of resistance to Russian influence and increasing interferance in the affairs of Bukhara principality.It was the time of the "Great Game" played between Russia and Britain. According to one historical source:
" Russia monitored the instability that resulted from the activities and set-backs of the Amir carefully. In the south, the Amir's son, Abdul Malik Tura, rose and captured Qarshi.. In this, he was aided by the khans of the Manghit tribe, the very tribe on which Amir Muzaffar hoped to draw to defeat his son. In the north, two Kazakh princes, who had been allowed to enter Bukhara and who had been given administrative positions, rose against the Amir. Calling themselves the true descendants of Chingiz Khan and the rightful claimants to the throne of Bukhara, they captured Karminah. These rebellions were put down but were followed soon by the defeat of Bukhara by the Russians in 1866. Further Russian successes also followed, in Bukhara and Samarkand, 1868. The Bukhara Amir now appealed to the Amir Afghanistan for help, and received a ploite but negative reply in August 1868. Thus, the Bukhara ruler had no option but to make very humiliating terms with the victorious Russians''.
Meanwhile, afraid that the Russians would exact a strong vengeance against him for aopposing them, Prinec Abdul Malik Tura fled to Kashgar (Chinese Turkistan) in late 1868 or early 1869. The full details of the flight of Abdul Malik Tura to Kashgar, are available in a British Report from there, dated 25th Jan 1870 (Brit Lib IOR/OIOC records No L/PS/5/264 , Sec 8, pp 144A-144HH). Later, however, Abdul Malik requested British help and shifted to Kabul, Afghanistan, where he received a house and an allowance from the Afghan king. But he was not happy there and requested to be shifted to British India, and this was done in 1872, and regular allowances for him were fixed by both the Govt of British India and the (then) Afghan Amir, Abdur Rahman Khan, which he and his exiled descendants kept receiving. After a short time in Peshawar, Abdul Malik Tura and his family and the few followers/retainers, were allotted a house in Abbottabad in the cool hills, and this house was then extended and renovated as per the Prince's wishes, into its present form, with Central Asian style embellishments, and was popularly called 'Bukhara House' or 'Shahzada Bukhara House'. The Prince, or 'shahzada' also spent generously in building a famous mosque and religious school/madrassa near his home, called 'Shahzada Masjid (mosque)' which still stands, albeit it has been marred by later construction.
Sadly, all the Shahzada's sons except Shahzada Sikander died young, and he never married. He sold off this house and lived in another house nearby,where he died later on. Thus, this property came in the possession of present owners. It was purchased by one Baluch Sardar, Dur-Muhammad Leghari, who was settled in Abbottabad, and who was married to Shahzada Sikandar's sister, and the house then remained with their family. It is now claimed in Abbottabad (2015) that the 'Bukhara House' is now for sale, but we could not confirm this on trying to contact the owners.
What is the status of this house now? Who owns it and what is its situation and condition? Surely, this historical place deserves to be preserved.
This house was once the property of Shahzada (Prince) Abdul Malik Tura,son of Amir Muzaffar of Bukhara, in Central Asia (now in Uzbekistan).
Abdul Malik escaped from Bukhara, after he showed antagonism to certain policies of his father Amir Muzaffar. The main issue over which Abdul Malik Tura fought was his father's lack of resistance to Russian influence and increasing interferance in the affairs of Bukhara principality.It was the time of the "Great Game" played between Russia and Britain. According to one historical source:
" Russia monitored the instability that resulted from the activities and set-backs of the Amir carefully. In the south, the Amir's son, Abdul Malik Tura, rose and captured Qarshi.. In this, he was aided by the khans of the Manghit tribe, the very tribe on which Amir Muzaffar hoped to draw to defeat his son. In the north, two Kazakh princes, who had been allowed to enter Bukhara and who had been given administrative positions, rose against the Amir. Calling themselves the true descendants of Chingiz Khan and the rightful claimants to the throne of Bukhara, they captured Karminah. These rebellions were put down but were followed soon by the defeat of Bukhara by the Russians in 1866. Further Russian successes also followed, in Bukhara and Samarkand, 1868. The Bukhara Amir now appealed to the Amir Afghanistan for help, and received a ploite but negative reply in August 1868. Thus, the Bukhara ruler had no option but to make very humiliating terms with the victorious Russians''.
Meanwhile, afraid that the Russians would exact a strong vengeance against him for aopposing them, Prinec Abdul Malik Tura fled to Kashgar (Chinese Turkistan) in late 1868 or early 1869. The full details of the flight of Abdul Malik Tura to Kashgar, are available in a British Report from there, dated 25th Jan 1870 (Brit Lib IOR/OIOC records No L/PS/5/264 , Sec 8, pp 144A-144HH). Later, however, Abdul Malik requested British help and shifted to Kabul, Afghanistan, where he received a house and an allowance from the Afghan king. But he was not happy there and requested to be shifted to British India, and this was done in 1872, and regular allowances for him were fixed by both the Govt of British India and the (then) Afghan Amir, Abdur Rahman Khan, which he and his exiled descendants kept receiving. After a short time in Peshawar, Abdul Malik Tura and his family and the few followers/retainers, were allotted a house in Abbottabad in the cool hills, and this house was then extended and renovated as per the Prince's wishes, into its present form, with Central Asian style embellishments, and was popularly called 'Bukhara House' or 'Shahzada Bukhara House'. The Prince, or 'shahzada' also spent generously in building a famous mosque and religious school/madrassa near his home, called 'Shahzada Masjid (mosque)' which still stands, albeit it has been marred by later construction.
Sadly, all the Shahzada's sons except Shahzada Sikander died young, and he never married. He sold off this house and lived in another house nearby,where he died later on. Thus, this property came in the possession of present owners. It was purchased by one Baluch Sardar, Dur-Muhammad Leghari, who was settled in Abbottabad, and who was married to Shahzada Sikandar's sister, and the house then remained with their family. It is now claimed in Abbottabad (2015) that the 'Bukhara House' is now for sale, but we could not confirm this on trying to contact the owners.
What is the status of this house now? Who owns it and what is its situation and condition? Surely, this historical place deserves to be preserved.
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