Ancient Kamra Kalan
If you are going from Peshawar to Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Kamra Kalan village is located a few furlongs ahead of Gondal on the right side of the Grand Trunk Road. This village is located almost in the middle of Islamabad and Peshawar. Those going from Attock city will find it about seven kilometers northeast of Attock. Kamra Kalan is counted among four major villages (Mirza, Ghorghushti, Haji Shah, Kamra) of Attock district. About forty years ago, the bus stop at Kamra village was located on the same Grand Trunk Road. There was a Mughal era well on the side of the road, which was called Chitti Bawli. This Chitti Bawli used to be the bus stop for Kamra. People traveling from Kamra village to Campbellpur town (which was also called Cantonment by the villagers at that time) used to travel by foot as well as by horse carriage. This carriage used to reach Campbellpur (now Attock) via Gondal and Haji Shah via the same Chitti Bowli route. After the arrival of the Pakistan Air Force, this bus stop and bowli ended.
It is generally believed that the Kamra area has been used by the Pakistan Air Force for the first time, but this is not the case at all. The current incident is that during the Second World War, the British built a runway here for the use of warplanes, and it was also used in the Second World War. I have personally seen traces of the British runway. The village youth used the same abandoned runway to learn to cycle. After that, the villagers gradually started encroaching on the government land, even the governments never cared, which led to the encroachment of all the government land. Until the 1980s, people used to find spent shell casings here.
Military horse carts used to pass through the middle of Kamra village to deliver ammunition and other military equipment there. This is the same path that goes to “Dhokan” passing through the side of Kamra Imambargah. This path was made by cutting an ancient cemetery. I have seen ancient graves on both sides of the road. Although the road passing through the village is very narrow at present, the official road here is said to be forty feet wide.
Kamra Kalan is the oldest historical area of Attock district. I have heard from some people that before “Kamra” this area was called “Jagwala” and the oldest settlement was at the place where today the “bus stop” of Kamra village is located. There was an ancient well here, which was in a dilapidated condition till a few years ago but inhabited. This well was called “Khanda Khoo” by the “villagers”. I believe that this well was dug to meet the water requirements of the ancient population of Kamra. I myself have taken water from this well many times. The well was very spacious. To reach the water, there were wide steps made of cut stones about two yards long. Even a child could get down these steps and get water very easily. Outside the village, this used to be the only source of water for the agricultural people in the area. The current management of the Air Force has not taken into account the preservation of this well and now the well is probably filled with mud and stones.
What were the reasons for the relocation of Kamra village to its present location? My opinion about them is that after the construction of Attock Fort and the bridge here, the Nilab city and the road gradually became unrecognized, and the present GT road was replaced instead. The road became more used, due to which the villagers gradually moved closer to the well-known route. The reason for this is that a part of Mohalla Kisran in Kamra village is still located along with Basia, and it is still called Kisran. The people of Kasran used to come to the polling station of Mohalla Kasran in Kamra village to cast their vote till ten to fifteen years ago. With the arrival of the Pakistan Air Force, the area has been separated from Kamra and is considered Chhachh, but actually it is a part of Kamra.
A tablet was discovered in an ancient well of Kamra village by “Majlis Navadrat Ilmiya” Attock. An expert in ancient languages was called from Australia to read the text of this tablet, who said that this well was dug to celebrate the birth of Kanishka.
Kanishka was the king of the Kushan Empire. Kanishka is famous for his conquests and patronage of Buddhism, but unfortunately, we have limited information about his reign and achievements. (The Free Encyclopedia Wikipedia).
Experts believe that Kamra village may be Kanishka’s native place; it is also possible that his mother is related to Kamra, because only grandparents can be so happy about the birth of a child.
Kamra Padi (Hill):
The hill located in Kamra village is commonly known as Kamra Padi. This hill is the special identity of this village because there is no mountain or hill for miles around this village. This hill extends for about two kilometers from east to west. The hill was barren of trees for centuries and the general perception was that the hill was not useful for afforestation, but the Pakistan Air Force took possession of it and turned it into a dense forest. Pigs are abundant in this forest.
Ponds:
There were several natural water pools in Kamra village which are called “Banh” in the local language. “Kisran Wali Bunh” or “Nikki Bunh” (Small Bunh), “Khanzade Wali Bunh” or “Wadi Bunh” (Big Bunh), “Phode Wali Bunh”, “Kisran Wali Bunh” and “Khanzade Wali Bunh” Kamra (Pari). ) was located at the foot of the hill, this area is now considered the property of the Air Force, which has been separated by building a wall. Pinhode Wali Banh was located at the place where Jalal City is today, on the north side of the same banh is the road “Khanda”. Kho “Tha. One Banh was called “Bige Baba Wali Banh”. This Banh is still located at the big bend along the road of Kamra village, but it is no longer a Banh. In front of the present Ahl-e-Hadith Mosque. There used to be “Kachi Banh”. The present hospital site used to be “Visakhi Vali Banh”. There was also a Banh at “Rati Jinnah Park” inside F-6 Colony. It was called Parde Wali Banh.
to be continued . . . . .
Translation of کامرہ کلاں – حصہ اوّل
