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| Kotla Mohsin Khan's historical background: Kotla Mohsin Khan is one of the jewels of Peshawar's rich cultural heritage. Historically, various invaders entered Peshawar through its western gate, which was also a part of "The walled city of Peshawar". It should be declared a "heritage village" as it boasts of having historical buildings as well as links with many great personalities who once lived here. The last Mughal governor, Nawab Nasir Khan welcomed the Afghan King Nadir Shah Durrani and gifted him the key to Peshawar in 1741 when he visited the city. This signaled the end of the Mughal empire in Peshawar. According to an earlier legend, the foundation of the gate was laid down in the latter half of the 16th century in the presence of renowned personalities of the time, Shiekh Kaka Sahib and Akhund Derwaza Baba. It is also recorded that Arbab Mustajab Khan, being the representative of the Mughals, settled disputes amongst the Ghori Khel tribes in the balconies of the building. When the Mughals arrested Khushal Khan Khattak, Arbab Mustajab Khan, secured his release from the dungeon, through his personal efforts and kept him as a guest in the castle. On the orders of the ruler of Peshawar, when Khushal Khan Khattak was sent to Delhi, Mustajab Khan also accompanied his friend. This verse by Khushal Khan Khattak says: " I was accompanied on my journey To Hind by Mustajab, Being a Khan, a Malik and an Arbab" The original name of this site was Kotla Mustajab Khan. It was renamed as Kotla Mohsin Khan due to the owner's close relationship with Mustajab Khan during the reign of Afghan King Ahmad Shah Durrani. During the siege of Peshawar in 1830s, the Sikhs also burnt this site and it was later refurbished. The gate and minarets of Kotla Mohsin Khan are historical landmarks of the 16th and 17th century "Roshnai period". Bayazid Ansari alias Pir Rokhan started his religious and political movement against the Mughal emperor Akbar from this site. Allah Dad Doshani alias Rashid Khan constructed minarets at this site to conduct judicial duties. Restoration of this site will be a positive contribution towards the conservation of Peshawar's unique heritage. |
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| A Colourful Rendezvous at Kotla Mohsin Khan |
| Sarhad Conservation Network organized a lively cultural tour of Kotla Mohsin Khan heritage site in Peshawar on Sunday, 20th April 2003. Large participation of families was a confirmation of the public concern for heritage. This underlined the support for the ongoing efforts of highlighting the importance of this site, which is one of the jewels of Peshawar�s rich cultural and historical heritage. After a week of angry clouds and incessant rains, a crisp and bright afternoon welcomed the guests. Rows upon rows of traditional charpoys with silk cushions gave the venue a festive look. The participants of the event were shown around the site comprising of two domed tombs and the famous gateway by the host Arbab Muhammed Haleem (advocate), designer Tariq Jabbar and other notables of the locality. It was indeed a refreshing activity in the otherwise drab local cultural scene in Peshawar where materialism has overtaken concern like conservation and heritage since the beginning of the 1980s and one historical building after another has come under the axe of developers and construction mafias turning Peshawar into a graveyard of concrete monstrosities. The colourful event was enriched by traditional music. Children were entertained with colourful balloons. A group of fine arts students turned up with their easels and drawing boards, sketching and painting from different angles. Rounds of tea and refreshments were served continuously. SCN provided a platform for heritage lovers to come together. Also seen were Zahoor Durrani of Sehrai Travels, Tayyaba Ahmed and Saleem Khattak of Fine Arts, noted artistes like Jehanzeb Malik, Imtiaz Hussain and others along with a dozen art students, Hakim M Ibrahim Qasmi - area MPA, Obeid ur Rehman - director of Iqra University, designer Tariq Jabbar, writer Imran Rasheed Imran, former bureaucrat Qazi Rasheed, Majeed Marwat DIG - CID NWFP, Dr Mohd Bashir, DG - EPA, Zahid Ilahi of an international NGO, Khwaja Waseem, Chairperson Pak-India Forum - NWFP, Jamila Gillani and Liaqat Shah from HRCP and Tahir Azim of Urban Development Project besides several academics and professionals from various fields. Arbab Haleem explained, �Although lot has been written about the significance of the site, the most accurate information can only be provided by the local inhabitants. Our family has preserved antiquated documents in their possession, which give a number of clues and point to a wealth of information about historical importance of KMK.� This 16th century heritage site boasts of having historical buildings as well as links with many great personalities who once lived here. It is recorded that the last Mughal governor, Nawab Nasir Khan welcomed the Afghan King Nadir Shah Durrani through its gate and gifted him the key to Peshawar in 1741 when he visited the city. Additionally, many invaders entered Peshawar through its western entrance, which once served as the western gateway of the walled city of Peshawar. It is also mentioned that when renowned Pushto poet Khushal Khan Khattak was arrested by the Mughals, Arbab Mustajab Khan, secured his release and kept him as a guest in this fortress. The site was called Kotla Mustajab Khan but was later renamed as Kotla Mohsin Khan. (see more details below) The area locals looked pleased to see so many people in their midst taking keen interest in the site, which had been neglected so far. Of the original remains of the �Kotla� or �fortified residence� which was present until 1970s, only the gateway remains today. Hopefully, seeing the enthusiastic numbers of the visitors to the site will create more awareness and sensitivity for their prized possession from going under the axe like other precious sites have in recent years. The participants climbed the gateway and they were treated to a breathtaking view of the Peshawar valley surrounded by majestic hills. In the backdrop of a mellow sunset, one foreign visitor remarked, � I am lucky to be here as I had never before witnessed such a beautiful view of Peshawar and its surrounding hills. It�s a shame that such important places exist in Peshawar but not many are aware of them.� Dr Murad Ali, Executive Director � SCN, expressed his pleasure at the success of this event. �SCN will arrange more events like these to highlight the cause of conservation and to create awareness. SCN will facilitate all efforts to conserve and preserve our regional and national cultural heritage,� he stressed. He appealed to the authorities and citizens of Peshawar to take a more pro-active role for conservation of the walled city of Peshawar. |
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| Mr Zahoor Durrani of Sehrai Travels (Pvt) poses with some guests |
| By Dr. Ali Jan 21/4/03 (For immediate press release) |