Akbarpura
Akbarpura, or Akbarpūra, is a village, roughly 13 miles (21 km) northeast of the city of Peshawar, in Nowshera District of northern Pakistan.[1] Akbarpura is named due to the syed Akbar ALi Shah Bukhari(Nanga Baba). It was known originally as Sapalikhera.[2] Akbarpura is noted for its Sufi shrines Nanga Baba. The main river is the Bara River, which flows right through the middle of the village.[1] It originates in the Terah Valley of Bara Tehsil. The Kabul River also flows in the northern part of the village.
Historical Village and safe and peace ful village Akbarpura or Akbarpūra, is a village near the city of Peshawar in the pokhtoon khwa of Pakistan. It is located at 34° 3' 25" North, 71° 43' 18" East[1]
Akbarpura is one of the oldest villages of NWFP Province of Pakistan. Akbarpura is named after the great Mughal King "Akbar the Great who camped here before going to Afghanistan.
Contents [hide] 1 Religion 2 People 3 Borders and Population 4 Sufiism 5 Education 6 Development 7 Culture 8 Agriculture 9 Sports 10 Rivers 11 References
[edit] Religion The entire population of Akbarpura is Sunni Muslims. Before Pak-India partition there were several Hindu families residing in the village but most of them left for India after independence, some Hindu families turned into Islam.
[edit] People Overall Population of Akbarpura are peace loving, fun loving and traditional people, despite the fact the majority of the residents are Phatans and Phatans are famous for their hospitality, truthfulness, old enmities and gun culture, the residents of Akbarpura are non-violent and no old enmity is present in the village, gun culture is strongly condemned in public masses and rule of law has strongly being followed.
[edit] Borders and Population Akbarpura is one of the dense populated village in District Nowshera, It is a kind of business hub as it is surrounded by several villages, and mostly the nearby villagers come for business, employment, trading to Akbarpura. Some main villages located around Akbarpua are Zakhi Miyana, Zahki Qabristan, Zakhi Kohna, Camp Korona, Zakhi Charbagh, Gari Momin, Jabba, Kandar, Tarkha, Natal, Khoshmakam.
Several families/casts are residing in Akbarpura, main casts are 1.The Mians (Miangaan)the decents of a well known saint Syed Abdul Wahab known as Akhund Panjo Baba(40-45%). 2.Bukhari Syeds(25-30%) 3. some other cast including The Qazi, Parachas, Jhakars, Awan, bajoury {they are come from bajour agency before 1890 }
(by Mian Zeeshanullah) [edit] Sufiism Akbarpura is being famous for the shrines of Sufis. Among these shrines are Akhund Panju Baba, Nanga Baba, Nadan Shaheed. Every day hundreds of people do visits these shrines to pay their respect to the Sufis. Syed Abdul Wahab alias Akhund Panju Baba aka Baba Sahib was a famous Sufi and preacher of Islam. Thousands of Hindus embrace Islam on his hand. Baba sahib was migrated from Kalu Khan Sawabi area to Akbarpura, he started his teachings and preaching from the Misri Pura area of Akbarpura, where today his tomb is present. Baba Sahib Family is Syed and locally being called as Miangaan which still exists in the area. The Miangaan family is carrying on the Baba Sahib tasks of Preaching Islam till today, the present Gaddi Nasheen of the Akhund Panju Baba shrine is Syed Shamshad Ali Shah locally known as Pir Sb.
The main and noted events of the year are the annual Urss of Akhund Panju Baba and Nanga Baba. Both shrines located at the entrance of the village and at the night of Urss thousands do visits to attend the Urss and pray. Akhund Panju Baba Urss is famous for its Milad and the speeches of religious scholars while the Urs of Naga Baba is famous for its Legendary Qawali. The famous Qawal of Pakistan Aziz Mian was a regular visitor/Performer of the Nanga Baba Urss. Free Mealing at Akhund Panju Baba at Friday is a famous lunch being known locally as "Langar" or "Khurda", this lunch is offered to every visitor and passerby and some people do eat it with a believe that it cures diseases and is good for health.
The tombs of Akhund Panju Baba and Nanga Baba are an excellent examples of sub-continent art work, The inside roof and walls of Akhund Panju Baba tomb has been decorated and painted with traditional and cultural blue color flowers and designs centuries ago, while the glass work at Nanga Baba tomb is a classic example of the glass artists of Pakistan. Nadan Shaheed is the third famous shrine of the village and is located on the outskirt of the village.
Nanga Baba was a great personality Before partition in 1947 His Holiness Syed Akbar Ali Shah Bukhari (First Masters in English) from Butter Roshan Shah Wala Tehsil Zira District Ferozepur was sent to exile by Government to Peshawar N.W.F.P.. Where he taught English in Islamia Collage Peshawar and very soon promoted as First Muslim Head of the department in same collage.
As he preached the truth of his forefathers, fanatics became his enemy. He was martyred & shot dead with 7 Revolver bullets in his body. He left two sons Syed Muzaffar Ali Shah Bukhari (Divisional Superintendent Railways Lahore Division.) and second Syed Hamid Ali Shah Bukhari Alias Syed Ansar Ali Shah Bukhari (Chairman West Pakistan Railways).
His Elder son Syed Muzaffar Ali Shah Bukhari's shrine is in Garhi Momin a nearby Village.
NO one knows when the world will end. But majority of the people living in Akbarpura believe that they can calculate when the doomsday will come. They claim to have a parameter for gauging the exact time in the shape of their sinking mosque.
Built about 400 years ago, Pokh Jumaat (stone mosque) of Akbarpura has sunk more than four feet since its establishment. Its main hall now requires four steps down for someone to enter. The mosque is subsiding at a rate equivalent to the size of a wheat grain (3mm) per year, says Shah Faisal, 33, a resident of the area.
Elderly residents of the town tell with great respect how the founder of the mosque, Akhund Panjoo Baba, a famous Sufi saint, told his disciples and pupils that when the mosque would sink completely, it will be the doomsday.
We consider it a miracle of Akhund Panjoo Baba. We can easily calculate how many years are left for the world to end, says Shoaib, 75, and hastens to add that thousands of Hindus and non-believers embraced Islam on the hand of Baba. He said his grandfather and some other elders told him about the myth. We believe it because Baba was a great saint, he adds.
A local faith-healer Syed Shamshad Ali Shah, 50, says that the stairs have been increased to four from three, which means that the mosque is sinking at a constant rate. There is no drainage system in the mosque but you will never see a drop of water in its courtyard as the earth absorbs all the rainwater, he adds.
Contrary to other educated youths, some of whom now question the authenticity of the myth, Mr Shahs son Obaidullah also accepts the version of his father and other elders about the sinking mosque. There must appear some cracks in the mosque or the whole area should sink if it is not the miracle of the great saint, Obaid, 19, says and a group of young bearded-men sitting in the mosque nod.
However, Shah Faisal, has a different view. He says that there must be some scientific explanation for the phenomenon and only geologists can elaborate it. In past I myself believed it, but now after getting education I think that geological factors are responsible for the subsidence of the mosque, he opines. He says that the area was hit by water logging some 500 years ago before the establishment of the town. The subsidence of the mosque may have a link with the water logging, he says.
Another resident, Amir Ali Khan, told that this can be a result of an earthquake or some other tectonic activity that could have happened in near past.
Rejecting his views, Farman Khan, 65, says if something is wrong with earth then the whole town or at least few neighboring streets should also sink. There can be no explanation for the miracles of saints, he says firmly.
Giving the scientific explanation, Dr Mohammad Iqbal, deputy chief geologist Pakistan Petroleum Limited, says that the mosque is slowly sinking due to the depletion of the water level beneath it. Giant aquifers that serve as water reservoirs are being emptied faster than they can be refilled, causing the earth to sink, he says, adding it seems that it is built on layers of clay and highly permeable sand and gravel that easily compress when fluid is withdrawn.
He says that it is a local phenomenon and downing of water table is its main reason. The sinking of earth at a larger scale is called regional phenomenon like that of Mexico City. But when it subsides at a specific point, it is called local phenomenon, Dr Iqbal says.
He adds that there are some other sinking places in Dir and Swat but geologists didn't inspect them properly to ascertain the reasons for their sinking. But less than half of the Akbarpura residents, majority of them youths, are agreed to accept this explanation as elders of the area prefer to believe the myth.
[edit] Education There are higher secondary school for Boys and girls, several government primary schools, along with four private schools. Most of the children receive basic and secondary education in village and majority joins colleges in Peshawar, Nowshera and Pabbi. The High school of Akbarpua has brought up talents, among such talented people the famous are Justice Mian Shakir Ullah Jan (Acting Justice at Supreme Court of Pakistan), Dr Mian Noor ul Islam (Phd) (Ex Provost Agriculture University of Peshawar), Engr. Rizwan Ullah (Atomic Energy), Dr Rehman (famous Cardiologist, founder of RMI), Capt (Rtd) Doctor Mushtaq Ahmed Paracha, Group Captain (Rtd) Mian Ajmal Ali Shah, Mian Iftikhar Ali Shah Dy Secretary Interior Ministry, Mr. Roh Ul Amin Dy Secretary CM secretariate, (late)Syed Wakil Shah Dy Commissioner (Rtd), irfan ullah Dy FBI, Syed Shah Hussain Shah S.S Pak.Study Dr.Malik RafiUllah khan (now in USA), Engr.Muhammad Riaz Khan PESCO, Engr.Akhtar Hussain Shah Chashma Nuclear power Complex, Nadeem Hussain Shah, Operational Manager ABL, etc.
The need and demand of a Degree College both for Gents and Women have brought up several times by the village elders but still the demand has not yet fulfilled, as several hundred students daily visits to Peshawar, Nowshera and Pabbi for attending the degree colleges, it will be great if they can get a degree education inside the village so that precious time can be utilized in capacity building, studying rather than travel.
[edit] Development Akbarpura can be described as under developed area of District Nowshera despite the fact that it is the largest village of District Nowshera in respect of Population. This underdevelopment is mainly in the area of road construction and sewerage system. Bad shaped roads and sewerage system are the biggest problem of the village. The main road of the village is totally destroyed by moving of Heavy Machinery and raw material for the construction of Peshawar-Islamabad motorway, the motorway has been completed in 2007 but the main road of Akbarpura still in ruins and presents a view of small lakes during rainy season. Sewerage system is totally insufficient for the growing population and construction of residential houses/colonies housing with out planning. Hepatitis C, stomach problems, eye diseases, skin diseases are very common among the villagers due to lack of sewerage system and no access to clean drinking water.
The village has developed notably in paving of streets, majority of the streets are paved and are in good shape, a good development has been seen in education, there are good schools in private sector as well as higher secondary schools for boy and girls, there is still room for betterment by appointing good teaching staff and enhancing the capacity, quality and numbers of existing schools.
Along with education business opportunities has been increased with a tremendous ratio almost every livelihood item can be found and purchased inside the village. High increase in Gold smith, Furniture, Garments, grocery shops has been observed during last decade, due to such developments and construction of business markets Akbarpura has become a shopping hub for the residents of the nearby villages and brought a lot of investments and business opportunities for the residents of Akbarpura.
A comprehensive clinic/hospital has been established in 2008, which is a great addition in the developing Akbarpura.
Electricity has been provided to every resident, Land line telephone service is available for every resident along with all the cellular companies operating in Pakistan. A PTCL internet service along with wireless internet facility is available and is being in use of many residents. Natural gas project has almost completed and by the end of 2010 natural gas will be available for every resident of the village.
[edit] Culture There is tradition of Pukhtoonwali followed by every resident, guests are received and treated as special entity and are welcomed heartedly. The main cultural event of Akbarpura is four day festival on the occasion of Eid Ul Fitar, tens of thousands visits and participates in the Festival. This festival is locally knows and "Mela". This Mela brings happiness, entertainment and trading opportunities for all the attendees. Traditional Foods as Chapli Kabab, Bar B Que Tikka and sweet shops are crowded spots. This Mela also takes place on Eid Ul Azha as well but not with the scale of Eid Ul Fitar's Mela. Other cultural activities are the marriages which were enjoyed with great enthusiasm being decorated by great Food, dances and Music.
[edit] Agriculture Akbarpura is famous for its fertile land and fruit orchids, Plum, Peach, Pear and loquat are the famous and common. Other Harvesting includes Wheat, Maize, Sugar cane, Vegetables etc. Several tube wells along with an excellent canal irrigation system has turned the land of Akbarpura into among one of the best cultivated land in the province. Though density of Population and lack of housing is turning this beautiful land into housing colonies with a high pace, Migration of people to Akbarpura from nearby cities and villages is also disturbing the cultivation due to demand of housing. The Plum and Pear of Akbarpura has won a great name in national/international markets and have good market share in respect of price and quality.
[edit] Sports The people of Akbarpura play and enjoy several games. Cricket is the most popular game being followed by Volleyball, badminton. Annual cricket tournament at Akbarpura higher secondary school is a famous event in entire region, teams from different districts and cities participates in the mentioned tournament, a high number of spectators enjoy this event at large. Various volleyball tournaments also take place around the year. The need of a Cricket stadium and volleyball court has been felt from quite a long period but still no such stadium or court exists. No activity for women sport has been recorded in the history of Akbarpura, there is a need of a separate ground for women who wants/love to participate in sport events.
Govt. Higher Secondary School Akbarpura stood first in the N.W.F.P Cricket tournament held in 2001.
[edit] Rivers The main river of Akbarpura is Bara River which flows right in the middle of the village. The Bara River originates from Terah Valley of Tehsil Bara and is thus named as Bara River. Its a normal flowing river with a high activity of flood in Moon Soon, a very well maintained flood control wall has been constructed to stop the water to enter in the populated area of village. Some three decades ago this river was seen having crystal clear water, but due to high growth in population the river has become a sanitation channel and most of the wastage water of the village has been diverted to Bara river which has destroyed its purity and presently it looks like a drainage canal. Kabul River or Abaseen is a symbol of NWFP Province, this Kabul river flows on the northern edge of the village. This is a famous hunting ground for migratory birds, hunters from Peshawar gathers in winter for hunting sport. Fishing can also be experienced on the banks of River Kabul. It's a common walking/visiting spot for the people of Akbarpura and the youth really enjoys having get-together and parties along the river bank. An irrigation canal also travels like a snake around the village; this canal is known as warsak canal and is one of the main irrigation systems present in the village which irrigates 60% of main cultivated By Mian Jamal of AkbarPura Nearby cities: Peshawar, Landi Kotal, Kohat Coordinates: 34°3'17"N 71°43'13"E Add your comment in English Comments
azhar (guest) amazing 5 years ago | reply
khalid ahmad (guest) akbar pura is must oladest village of the nwfp 5 years ago | reply
Faridullah Shah Mian (guest) Please correct the designation of Prof. Dr. Noorul Islam Mian (Ph.D) Ex. Pro-Vice Chancellor of NWFP Agricultural University in stead of Provost of the said university 5 years ago | reply
shakoor khan (guest) need to modify it according to the modern techniques 2 years ago | reply
jalal (guest) ys me from akbar pura 2 years ago | reply Show all comments Similar places Nearby places Nearby cities NISATTA 9 km Kheshgi 14 km Pirpiai 14 km Kotarpan, KPK, Pakistan 28 km Musadarra 33 km hussai kaly 49 km Lahor (Chota) 58 km Taja 59 km Permoolee Village By Bakht Munir Shewa 63 km Parmoli 63 km
References
- 1 2 Mian, Nurul-Islam (1955). A report on the cost of production and marketing of tobacco, maize, and wheat (Mardan and Peshawar Districts). Board of Economic Enquiry, University of Peshawar. p. 1. Retrieved 23 October 2012.
- ↑ Das, Swarup (1999). Śrī Śrī 84 krosh Vrajamaṇḍala. Samir Debanth. p. 120. Retrieved 23 October 2012.