Village NARA (Tehsil JAND, Distt. ATTOCK)
It’s a developed village, located at the south-western part of the ATTOCK district. It’s around 115 kilometer away from the federal capital, Islamabad. It’s situated at the border between the Punjab and NWFP province of Pakistan. The mighty Indus River, which is 5 kilometer away from the village, separates both the provinces. Population of the village is around thirty-five thousand to forty thousand inhabitants. Administratively, it’s a union-council of five other surrounding villages: Pari, Dundi Jiswaal, Kundrala, Jalwaal, and Maari.
Some of the prominent mohallahs (populated areas or colonies) of the village are: Mohallah Tamman, Mohallah Ziarat, Mohallah Tairha Shirqi, Mohallah Maaian Sehna, Mohallah Bazaar, Mohallah Lunger Khana, and Mohallah Tappa. This Village has a prominent place in the politics of the Attock district. It’s a renowned village at district level. Natural resources (oil & gas) are being extracted from MAARI & JALWAAL oil fields which fall under the jurisdiction of NARA union council.
Etymologically, the word ‘NARA’ has been derived from ‘NAR’ which is a bamboo variety. The size of its stick is 10-15 feet in length and 1-1.5 inches in diameter. It grows where there’s a plenty of water. The area was lush green with this bamboo variety. That’s why, the village was named ‘NARA’. Some 30-35 years back, there was an abundance of water in the form of lakes, flowing streams, and ponds. Unluckily, the level of underground water has gone down nowadays.
The area was used as an avenue for military excursions in India by various Afghan, Arab, Iranian, and Central Asian martial races. The traces can be found in nearby mountainous range in the form of demolished forts, and graveyards. Long before that time, the area was also used as a gateway for mobility between Taxila and the Central Asian states by the Budha followers. Hindu traders exploited the geo-political location of the area and many of them settled here. Their remains can be found in the center of the village in the form of multi-storey buildings. Immediate after the partition announcement, the Hindus had to migrate to India. Some of their buildings have been demolished by the Indian Punjabi and Kashmiri migrant allotees, locally known as Muhajirs. One of the buildings has been renovated and converted into a private hospital. Muhajir community settled here after the partition in 1947.
Ethnically, the inhabitants of the village can be divided into three groups: local Indians (6-8 families of Jats, Bahatti Rajputs, and Janjua Rajputs), Arabs( Awans, Khattar Awans, and Syeds), Afghans (Khattak and some Bangash Pathan families). According to the Punjab Districts’ Gazetteers, Awans (also known as Alvi Syeds) got hold of the area after driving Janjua Rajputs out of the Salt Range. Khatters are the mixed race of Awans and Jats. The differences among these groups are almost non-existent because of inter-marriages and Islamic concept of equality.
During pre-partition era, the British government of India heavily recruited army men from this area because of the bravery of the local men. Many oldsters of the village also participated in World War I and World War II. Some of them are still alive. According to the Punjab Districts’ Gazetteers, the British Government convinced the local chiefs of Tehsil Jand, mainly Maliks and Khans, to send armed men to crush the Mujahideen Movement, led by Syed Ahmed Shaheed in Balakot. As a return, the chiefs were awarded with thousands of Kanals of land and other land revenue concessions. Mr. Abdul Maalik, the brave man who got hold of the Indian plane hijackers in seventies, belongs to a nearby village, KOT CHAJJI. The PIA flight from Islamabad to Muscat was being hijacked to India. As a reward of Mr. Abdul Maalik’s utmost bravery, the then President General Zia-ul-Haq provided all modern facilities to KOT CHAJJI village. The construction of Nara-Jand Road is attributable to this brave man, Abdul Maalik.
Environment of the village is very clean, mainly a rain-fed area. Some of the land is irrigated by tube-wells as well. The land is very fertile. Farmers of the village grow vegetables and crops. Wheat, peanuts (Mong Phalli), maize, pulses are some of the main crops. Economy of the village is mainly agri-based. Mong Phalli(Peanuts) is considered to be the cash crop by farmers. During its season, market economy of the village revs up abruptly because of the higher circulation of money in the market. Wedding ceremonies are scheduled after this season. Paraphernalia for weddings is purchased. Livestock is another important source of income and employment in the village. It contributes to household income besides assisting crop production. A government veterinary clinic is providing veterinary health services to facilitate farmers of the village. Bazaar is the centre of business activity in the village. Most of the commodities are transported from Rawalpindi/Islamabad, Attock, and Jand. Educated individuals of the village are more interested to be employed in services sector nowadays. At present, majority of the men of NARA village are in Pakistan army, including some army officers. People of the village are very brave, hard-working, and industrious.
There are more than twenty masjids (mosques) and an Imam Bargah in the village to quench the spiritual thirst of the village inhabitants. Most of the village dwellers follow the Sunni Hanafi school of thought of Islam. Barelvi Sunnis, Deobandi Sunnis, and Shias have exemplary relations in the village. All religious festivals are celebrated with religious fervour. A local language, quite similar to Hindko, is widely spoken by the inhabitants of the village. Some people of the village are bi-lingual. They speak Pashto as well as local Hindko dialect. The same language is spoken in Chakwal, esp. in Talla Gang, as well.
There are more than 15 government schools in the village. A higher secondary school (Govt. Higher Secondary School, Nara), up to intermediate level, is also providing education to the adults of the village. The literacy rate among the villagers is around 70 per cent. Lorry Adda is the main bus stop in the village. Seven coaches, and a Toyota Hiace Service connects the village with Rawalpindi/Islamabad via Kohat-Fateh Jang Road. And a local van (vagons) transport service connects the village with Attock city via Kaala Chitta Mountains' Range. People of the village rely upon only one financial institute for their fund-deposits and withdrawals. There is only one MCB (Muslim Commercial Bank) branch in the village. Efforts to connect it with other branches, for inter-bank online transactions, are under-way.
The village dispensary has been upgraded to a rural hospital.3-5 private clinics are also there in the village. The electricity was provided in 1964. Teledensity ratio in the village is around 75 per cent. The initiative was taken by Pakistan Telecommunication Limited for land line service. There are towers of four telecom operators in the village namely Telenor, Mobilink, Ufone, and Zong. Though the signal strength and overall service quality of almost all telecom operators is pathetic one.
In short, my village is a paradise on earth with a very cozy environment. There is peace and tranquility in the village. I'm very proud of my village, its people, and its peaceful environment.
...............................................................................................................
Malik Basharat
Hemel Hempstead, United Kingdom.
My Youtube Link
Some of the prominent mohallahs (populated areas or colonies) of the village are: Mohallah Tamman, Mohallah Ziarat, Mohallah Tairha Shirqi, Mohallah Maaian Sehna, Mohallah Bazaar, Mohallah Lunger Khana, and Mohallah Tappa. This Village has a prominent place in the politics of the Attock district. It’s a renowned village at district level. Natural resources (oil & gas) are being extracted from MAARI & JALWAAL oil fields which fall under the jurisdiction of NARA union council.
Etymologically, the word ‘NARA’ has been derived from ‘NAR’ which is a bamboo variety. The size of its stick is 10-15 feet in length and 1-1.5 inches in diameter. It grows where there’s a plenty of water. The area was lush green with this bamboo variety. That’s why, the village was named ‘NARA’. Some 30-35 years back, there was an abundance of water in the form of lakes, flowing streams, and ponds. Unluckily, the level of underground water has gone down nowadays.
The area was used as an avenue for military excursions in India by various Afghan, Arab, Iranian, and Central Asian martial races. The traces can be found in nearby mountainous range in the form of demolished forts, and graveyards. Long before that time, the area was also used as a gateway for mobility between Taxila and the Central Asian states by the Budha followers. Hindu traders exploited the geo-political location of the area and many of them settled here. Their remains can be found in the center of the village in the form of multi-storey buildings. Immediate after the partition announcement, the Hindus had to migrate to India. Some of their buildings have been demolished by the Indian Punjabi and Kashmiri migrant allotees, locally known as Muhajirs. One of the buildings has been renovated and converted into a private hospital. Muhajir community settled here after the partition in 1947.
Ethnically, the inhabitants of the village can be divided into three groups: local Indians (6-8 families of Jats, Bahatti Rajputs, and Janjua Rajputs), Arabs( Awans, Khattar Awans, and Syeds), Afghans (Khattak and some Bangash Pathan families). According to the Punjab Districts’ Gazetteers, Awans (also known as Alvi Syeds) got hold of the area after driving Janjua Rajputs out of the Salt Range. Khatters are the mixed race of Awans and Jats. The differences among these groups are almost non-existent because of inter-marriages and Islamic concept of equality.
During pre-partition era, the British government of India heavily recruited army men from this area because of the bravery of the local men. Many oldsters of the village also participated in World War I and World War II. Some of them are still alive. According to the Punjab Districts’ Gazetteers, the British Government convinced the local chiefs of Tehsil Jand, mainly Maliks and Khans, to send armed men to crush the Mujahideen Movement, led by Syed Ahmed Shaheed in Balakot. As a return, the chiefs were awarded with thousands of Kanals of land and other land revenue concessions. Mr. Abdul Maalik, the brave man who got hold of the Indian plane hijackers in seventies, belongs to a nearby village, KOT CHAJJI. The PIA flight from Islamabad to Muscat was being hijacked to India. As a reward of Mr. Abdul Maalik’s utmost bravery, the then President General Zia-ul-Haq provided all modern facilities to KOT CHAJJI village. The construction of Nara-Jand Road is attributable to this brave man, Abdul Maalik.
Environment of the village is very clean, mainly a rain-fed area. Some of the land is irrigated by tube-wells as well. The land is very fertile. Farmers of the village grow vegetables and crops. Wheat, peanuts (Mong Phalli), maize, pulses are some of the main crops. Economy of the village is mainly agri-based. Mong Phalli(Peanuts) is considered to be the cash crop by farmers. During its season, market economy of the village revs up abruptly because of the higher circulation of money in the market. Wedding ceremonies are scheduled after this season. Paraphernalia for weddings is purchased. Livestock is another important source of income and employment in the village. It contributes to household income besides assisting crop production. A government veterinary clinic is providing veterinary health services to facilitate farmers of the village. Bazaar is the centre of business activity in the village. Most of the commodities are transported from Rawalpindi/Islamabad, Attock, and Jand. Educated individuals of the village are more interested to be employed in services sector nowadays. At present, majority of the men of NARA village are in Pakistan army, including some army officers. People of the village are very brave, hard-working, and industrious.
There are more than twenty masjids (mosques) and an Imam Bargah in the village to quench the spiritual thirst of the village inhabitants. Most of the village dwellers follow the Sunni Hanafi school of thought of Islam. Barelvi Sunnis, Deobandi Sunnis, and Shias have exemplary relations in the village. All religious festivals are celebrated with religious fervour. A local language, quite similar to Hindko, is widely spoken by the inhabitants of the village. Some people of the village are bi-lingual. They speak Pashto as well as local Hindko dialect. The same language is spoken in Chakwal, esp. in Talla Gang, as well.
There are more than 15 government schools in the village. A higher secondary school (Govt. Higher Secondary School, Nara), up to intermediate level, is also providing education to the adults of the village. The literacy rate among the villagers is around 70 per cent. Lorry Adda is the main bus stop in the village. Seven coaches, and a Toyota Hiace Service connects the village with Rawalpindi/Islamabad via Kohat-Fateh Jang Road. And a local van (vagons) transport service connects the village with Attock city via Kaala Chitta Mountains' Range. People of the village rely upon only one financial institute for their fund-deposits and withdrawals. There is only one MCB (Muslim Commercial Bank) branch in the village. Efforts to connect it with other branches, for inter-bank online transactions, are under-way.
The village dispensary has been upgraded to a rural hospital.3-5 private clinics are also there in the village. The electricity was provided in 1964. Teledensity ratio in the village is around 75 per cent. The initiative was taken by Pakistan Telecommunication Limited for land line service. There are towers of four telecom operators in the village namely Telenor, Mobilink, Ufone, and Zong. Though the signal strength and overall service quality of almost all telecom operators is pathetic one.
In short, my village is a paradise on earth with a very cozy environment. There is peace and tranquility in the village. I'm very proud of my village, its people, and its peaceful environment.
...............................................................................................................
Malik Basharat
Hemel Hempstead, United Kingdom.
My Youtube Link
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