Saturday, 8 December 2018

In Search of Khan Bahadur Nanak Bakash

25-11-2018
Shams-ud-Din Iltutmish (1211-1236) (or Atamish, the son of Neem Khan from Ilbri clan of Turkistan) came as the third king of the Ilbri Turks who succeeded after the death of Qutab-ud-Din Aibak. Being the son-in-law and trust worthy general of Aibak, he was selected as the sultan of India though the elites of the court put the crown on the head of Aram Shah, the son of Qutab-ud-Din Aibak.

Aibak died of injuries received during an accidental fall from a horse while playing polo in 1210 AD. He was buried in Lahore near Anarkali Bazaar. Qutb-ud-din Aibak's tomb is located behind Anarkali bazaar. In the early 1970's, it was renovated at the orders of the then Prime Minister Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto. In memory of, ‘Qutb-ud-din Aibak's’ the road passing in front of this tomb named after him, the ‘Aibak Road’.

A narrow street, ‘Shah Iltutmish’ connects ‘Aibak Road’ and Anarkali bazaar, which is named after son-in-law of Qutab-ud-Din Aibak. The, famous betel leaves market of Lahore also located on ‘Shah Iltutmish Street.’ On this street many old pre-partition buildings are still present. One of the old buildings really attracts me because of its beautiful crafted wooden windows and arches. I noticed a name plaque embedded in front wall with wording,

‘House of Khan Bahadur Sheikh Nanuck Bakhsh, the extra Assistant Commissioner first class Magistrate Lahore and the construction of this building started in year 1872 and completed in 1895.

Interestingly, when I searched information about Khan Bahadur Nanak Bakash, I came to know that, in year 1899; Allama Muhammad Iqbal passed M.A. in philosophy from Government College, Lahore and was awarded Khan Bahadur Nanak Bakash Medal for being the only successful candidate in Philosophy.








2 comments:

  1. very interesting. You have found the house of my grandfathers grandfather! could you please give me some idea where on the Shah iltutmish this house was?

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    1. there is small street on shah iltumtish famous for selling betel leaves. you can easily find it

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