Murree During The Raj

Pages: 546

Category: English

Murree has a fascinating story of its origin and development that has so far largely remained untold but now has been unfolded in an impressive way. This book particularly covers that segment of the history of Murree that pertains to the British period about which very little was known before. The author is not very happy with the affairs of Murree of today. He silently protests the dismantling of old mansions, hotels, clubs, and promenades for giving way to ugly monotonous modern constructions of cement, steel and concrete. He is sincerely worried about the vanishing landmarks of the historical vista of this city, the peace, calm and serenity of its environment which once prevailed here during all seasons. No doubt, he is nostalgic about the beauty of Murree of pre-Partition days but his account of this city is neither hyperbolic nor does it lack authenticity. He has used all the original sources – as much as he could lay his hand on, to unfold the story of the gradual building of a city and the transformation of a ridge of the Pir Panjal into a charming hill station of the British Raj.

Professor Khan knows this city like the palm of his hand. He has been visiting this city and residing here off and on since his childhood going back to the early days after Independence. He has been working on this book for more than a decade. Being a frequent visitor here he has witnessed all the phenomenal and traumatic changes which Murree has undergone from a small Reserve of British Officers of pre-Independence days to be the Queen of all the hill stations in Pakistan - as it is today. Besides, he is an avid reader. There is hardly a book, a research paper, or a popular article on or about any aspect of Murree that has escaped his attention while writing this book. He has thoroughly explored the archival record of the local Municipal Committee, which came into existence in 1867. He also interviewed some of the eminent senior citizens who had sufficient knowledge of the old Murree and its important landmarks - now either already vanished or seriously endangered to disappear. He also made an arduous journey to India and visited the hill station of Dalhousie of undivided Punjab to see as to how this contemporary hill station had fared after Independence. In India, he also had a chance to meet some of the families who had formerly lived in Murree before migrating to India. He recorded their reminiscences about their former residence in this city. With the help of such an experience the author was able to fill up certain gaps in the history of Murree of the British Raj which mere reading of numerous books, research papers and scrutiny of archival records would not have made it possible.

“… With this book a serious effort has been made to address the need for a historical account of Murree and its environs. In understanding the past, I hope to also highlight the future of Murree. We cannot set the clock back, but we can strive to create a new concept of living in the mountains. Without a view of Murree’s past there can be no clear vision of its future” – From the author’s foreword in the book