History By Nouman

Jews and Rawalpindi, quite an unusual match isn't it, often the community which has been associated with Europe and Middle East was living in Punjab during the Sikh era!
Rawalpindi was home to the only small Jewish community of Punjab, which fled to Sikh Empire after an organised mass killings and forced conversion to Shia Islam in the city of Masshad in Qajari Iran in 1839 and were granted rights to settle in cities of Rawalpindi and Peshawar.
By the turn of 20th century there was a Synagogue or Jewish temple in the Babu Mohallah neighborhood of Rawalpindi, which is abandoned now and community was engaged in trading activities.
These Masshad origin Jews were the Northernmost Jewish community of the Indian subcontinent. After Partition in 1947, as Hindus and Sikhs fled to India, Jewish community fled Pakistan first to India in 1948 then finally to Israel. Last jews of the city migrated in 1990s.

2 days ago | [YT] | 7

History By Nouman

Jews and Rawalpindi, quite an unusual match isn't it, often the community which has been associated with Europe and Middle East was living in Punjab during the Sikh era!
Rawalpindi was home to the only small Jewish community of Punjab, which fled to Sikh Empire after an organised mass killings and forced conversion to Shia Islam in the city of Masshad in Qajari Iran in 1839 and were granted rights to settle in cities of Rawalpindi and Peshawar.
By the turn of 20th century there was a Synagogue or Jewish temple in the Babu Mohallah neighborhood of Rawalpindi, which is abandoned now and community was engaged in trading activities.
These Masshad origin Jews were the Northernmost Jewish community of the Indian subcontinent. After Partition in 1947, as Hindus and Sikhs fled to India, Jewish community fled Pakistan first to India in 1948 then finally to Israel. Last jews of the city migrated in 1990s.

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2 days ago | [YT] | 5

History By Nouman

Shahi Mosque is a historic 17th century mosque located in Chiniot, Punjab, Pakistan. Constructed between 1646 and 1655, the Mughal Grand Vizier Saadullah Khan is traditionally identified as its builder; accordingly he built the mosque at the place where he had received his education.
During the early 19th century, under the rule of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, the mosque was reportedly used as a stable for horses. A place once filled with the call to prayer became a shelter for cavalry animals.

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3 days ago | [YT] | 6

History By Nouman

There was a time when even cool air was divided between the rich and the poor.

During the era of British India, long before electric fans became common, large swinging ceiling fans known as punkahs were used in colonial homes, offices, and government buildings.

But these fans did not run on electricity.

They were powered by people.

The men assigned to this task were called Punkah Wallahs. Sitting outside the room or hidden in a corner, they spent hours pulling ropes that kept the large cloth fans moving, creating a constant breeze for those inside.

While one side enjoyed comfort and relief from the heat, the other endured endless labor and exhaustion.
According to historical accounts, many Punkah Wallahs worked day and night because if the rope stopped moving, so did the flow of air. Their work became an invisible part of daily life in colonial society.

As electric fans became increasingly common during the 1930s and 1940s, the profession gradually disappeared.

Today, the image of the Punkah Wallah serves as a reminder of a forgotten world—one in which comfort for some often depended on the tireless efforts of others.

History does not only tell us about inventions and technology.

It also tells us about the people whose labor made those comforts possible.

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1 week ago | [YT] | 14

History By Nouman

There was a time when almost every home in Punjab and Sindh had one simple but colorful item.

A handwoven cloth known as Khes.

Today, many young people may not even recognize the name, but for generations Khes was much more than a blanket or bedspread—it was a symbol of everyday life and shared culture.

Spread over charpoys, kept for guests, and used during cold winter nights, Khes became part of countless family memories. For centuries, skilled weavers across Punjab and Sindh used cotton threads to create beautiful patterns by hand. Every region had its own style, but Khes remained a common part of life on both sides of Punjab.

Then came 1947.

Borders were drawn, millions migrated, and the traditions that had grown together for centuries were divided between two new countries.

As machine-made fabrics became more common, handwoven Khes slowly disappeared from everyday life.

But its story did not end there.

What began as a school project led two students, Arjunvir Singh and Rashi Sharma, to spend nearly three and a half years researching this forgotten tradition. Through conversations with old weavers and families, they discovered that Khes was not just a piece of cloth—it was a reminder of a culture that existed long before borders.

Even today, if you open an old wooden trunk in the home of a grandmother somewhere in Pakistan or India, you may still find a faded Khes.

And woven into its threads are memories of a Punjab that once shared the same stories, traditions, and way of life.

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1 week ago | [YT] | 6

History By Nouman

The Day British Police Opened Fire on Muharram Processions in Trinidad (1884) In 1884, British authorities banned Hosay processions in the towns of Port of Spain and San Fernando. In response, a group of South Asian labourers chose to defy the ban and continue the procession as an act of civil disobedience. Many believed the law was unjust and assumed the authorities would not use deadly force against people participating in a peaceful religious observance that had been held annually for years.

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1 week ago | [YT] | 8

History By Nouman

Diego Maradona: The Boy Who Changed Football Forever
In 1960, in the poor neighborhood of Villa Fiorito, Argentina, a young boy discovered his love for football. His name was Diego Maradona, and no one could have imagined that he would one day become one of the greatest players in the history of the sport.

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1 week ago | [YT] | 37

History By Nouman

Did you know In 1961, an ordinary camel driver from Karachi unexpectedly became part of one of the most remarkable stories in Pakistan–United States history.
While visiting Karachi, U.S. Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson noticed a camel and its owner, Bashir Ahmed. Known for his friendly personality, Johnson stepped out of his car and struck up a conversation

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2 weeks ago | [YT] | 31

History By Nouman

Most people know about Pakistan’s cricket heroes, but very few know the name of Din Muhammad, the man who brought Pakistan its first major international gold medal.

In 1954, Din Muhammad made history by winning a gold medal in wrestling at the Asian Games. At a time when Pakistan was still a young nation, his victory became a symbol of pride and hope for millions of Pakistanis.

With determination, strength, and hard work, he proved that Pakistan could compete with the best athletes in Asia. His achievement opened the door for future generations of Pakistani sportsmen and remains an important chapter in the country’s sporting history.

🇵🇰 A true pioneer.
🥇 Pakistan’s first international gold medal winner.
💪 A forgotten hero who deserves to be remembered.

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2 weeks ago | [YT] | 28

History By Nouman

Do you know Heer Ranjha and Syed Waris Shah? I think most of Gen Z probably doesn’t know about them

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2 weeks ago | [YT] | 14