Bewal
Bewal | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Country |  Pakistan |
| Province | Northern Punjab |
| District | Rawalpindi |
| Tehsil | Gujar Khan |
| Government | |
| • Nazim | Haji Mohammad Nawaz |
| • Naib Nazim | Mohammad Shabbir Bhatti |
Bewal ﯧﺑﻭﻞ is a town and Union Council in the eastern part of Gujar Khan Tehsil and to south east from Rawalpindi and Islamabad, Pakistan. Bewal, (along with Sui Cheemian) is today probably the most wealthy place anywhere in rural Pakistan, with a large proportion of its population being settled in Europe, particularly the UK. In several villages of Union Council Bewal, virtually every family has at least one member living and working in England. Unlike other rural areas in Pakistan, Bewal is reasonably well developed. A major new International Hospital is being built in Bewal by British Bewalis and is due to start providing quality healthcare to local people in summer 2009. Despite boasting a very low crime rate in the past, there has been a significant increase in looting, murders and house break-ins in recent years. The literacy rate in the area is estimated to be about 70 percent for men and somewhat lower for women.
Politics and Agriculture
Traditionally, Bewal has been a stronghold of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP)and has elected PPP candidates to both the Provincial and National Assemblies during the last several General Elections. Local politicians play a major role in the lives of the populace. Rawalpindi is the city which is a main shopping centre for the people. The countryside surrounding the town consists of typical Pothohar Plateau landscape. Surrounded by several smaller towns, Bewal is a hub for other areas around it. Other main towns include Kallar Syedan, Choha Khalsa, Jabber Islampura and Smot. The fertile land of the Bewal region grows crops such as wheat, corn and peanuts.
History
There are many versions of stories about its history and name. Some believe it was named after Alexander The Great's horse which was killed during a furious fight. Others claim it was named after a Hindu Raja's daughter nicknamed Baby which was suffixed with a Hindi word "Waala" (which is a common practice throughout the subcontinent), and together it was "Babywaal", which ended up as a Bewal over time. There are no historical proofs for these claims. though.
Up until the spring of 1947, Bewal had a sizeable non-Muslim population, most of which consisted of Sikhs with a small number of Hindus. Bewal suffered from communal riots in which local Muslims besieged the town for over a week. The stalemate resulted in the rioters setting fire to the homes of the Sikhs and Hindus living in the centre of Bewal. Virtually the entire population of Sikhs and Hindus in Bewal was burnt alive in the ensuing fires. A group of a few dozen Hindus and Sikhs took sanctuary in the haveli of Haji Mohammed Ismail in Mozah Hafyal, about a mile from the centre of Bewal. They were later escorted to safety.
A Hindu temple stills stands in Bewal although the two Gurudawaras did not survive the fire of 1947. Many former Sikh and Hindu residents and their descendants have visited Bewal in the 1980s and 1990's. Before partition Sikhs and Hindus dominated the local business scene of Bewal, while local Muslims hardly had any kind of business at all. Muslims were mostly farmers in poor conditions. It was an area governed by Maharaja Ranjit Singh of Kashmir and in the past it was a part of Kashmir. Qilla Sanghani (a fortress built during British Raj), Pakka Khu (a well, said to be built by some Mughul king) and Pakki Masjid (a mosque also said to be built by Mughul King) are the main historical sites in the area. There is a village in Bewal called Dheri that is the most beautiful village there, and while there are many bungalows, no one lives there, they all live in the UK.
People
The principal clans of Bewal are the Choudhary, MALIK's, Gakhar, Gujar, Mughals, Sayyid, Rajputs, Kanyals, Chouhan, Bangial, Bhattis, Minhas, Jats, (Cheema, Chhina, Dhamial, Kalyals and Sandhu). Inhabitants in this region are modest and polite. The majority own various shops in the main bazaar, while other are farmers and stick to their lands. The rest of the people are abroad for a living, especially in United Kingdom. There are also many Bewal originated residents who live in islamabad and run successful businesses there. Many of them reside in the famous sectors of Islamabad (F11,F10,E7). (A large number of people went to live and work in United Kingdom since 1970.) In daily life the people indulge themselves in simple activities like sports which include kabaddi, volleyball, bull racing, dog fighting and thitther fighting.
On The Way of Progress
Renowned journalist Raja Arslan Ahmed comes from Bewal. Raja Arslan Ahmed has worked for the national and international media for over a decade and is considered among the top journalists of Pakistan, based in Islamabad. Raja Arslan Ahmed presently works for UK based television channel Sky News and frequently speaks and writes on international issues. His write ups also appear in Italian newspaper La Republica. He also runs a news agency Newswire International.
Bewal is also known as the heart of potohar. Now it has the tehsil's biggest education institute Government higher secondary school bewal which is upgraded to a new college.