Qurat Ul Ain

Civil Servant |||| knowing about the past is a universal curiosity

[Qurat Ul Ain @AinnieAS]

Last Princess of Lahore - Princess Bamba Sutherland (1869 - 1957)

The last of the survivors of the Maharaja’s family, Princess Bamba Sutherland, who lived like an unknown in Lahore, the capital of the kingdom of her father and grandfather, quietly slipped into its soil on March 10, 1957, almost unknown and unwept.

Princess Bamba Sutherland, the eldest daughter of Maharaja Daleep Singh and grand-daughter of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, was born on September 29, 1869, in London. She was baptised Bamba Sofia Jindan Daleep Singh, named after her mother and grandmothers’ respectively.

When she was planning to visit India for the first time, she gave an advertisement in a local paper, inviting applications from a lady with cultural interests and musical background, who would like to accompany her on a visit to India. Marie Antoninette, a Hungarian of noble descent, applied and was accepted. Both came to India and lived at Lahore and Shimla. In the company of the Princess, Marie Antoninette met Umrao Singh Sher-Gil and this acquaintance led to their marriage and they left together for Budapest where their first child Amrita Sher-Gil, the most innovative painter of modern India, was born.

Henceforth, Princess Bamba visited India frequently and finally settled at Lahore. She purchased a house in the posh locality of Model Town and named it ‘Gulzar’ where she had an exclusive garden of roses spread on an area of one kanal. Here she married Dr David Waters Sutherland who was Principal of the King Edward Medical College, Lahore (now Medical University).

She had inherited a vast collection of paintings, art objects, historical documents and royal orders from her father and kept these in safe custody at Lahore. To understand the significance of these documents, mostly written in Persian, she placed an advertisement in a newspaper for hiring a suitable scholar and selected Pir Karim Bakhsh Supra for this job. Supra was well versed in Persian, Arabic and English. Soon her relationship with her teacher became full of respect and trust.

She bequeathed her collection of paintings and art objects to Pir Karim Bakhsh Supra, who, after her death, sold these to the Government of Pakistan. The collection, consisting of 18 oil paintings, 14 water colours, 22 ivory paintings, 17 photographs, 10 metallic objects and seven miscellaneous articles, are known as ‘The Princess Bamba Collection’.

These are now in the custody of the Department of Archaeology, Government of Pakistan, for preservation as a national asset.

Located in Gora Kabristan on jail road, Lahore, her grave remains decked with flowers brought by the descendants of Pir Karim Bakhsh Supra from ‘Gulzar’, Model Town, Lahore, the residence of late Princess Bamba Sutherland.
©️Maati project
#HistoryMatters #indopak #ranjeetaingh

[PERVEZ @Pervez588]

@AinnieAS The exact truth buried but rumors are that Saleem fall in love with Nadra begum who was keep of Akbar. Akbar didn't want his keep to be his daughter in law and logically correct.

[Qurat Ul Ain @AinnieAS]

The Mystery of Anarkali 🪦

The legendary tale of Prince Salim & dancing girl Anarkali — war, forbidden love & burial alive — is mostly fiction. Popularized by Sharar’s novel & Imtiaz Ali Taj’s 1922 play.
In reality, British travelers (Finch & Terry) recorded that Anarkali (real name: Nadira Begum) was Akbar’s beautiful concubine, titled for her pomegranate-like glow, possibly mother of Prince Daniyal. Suspecting her affair with Salim, Akbar entombed her alive in 1599.
Jahangir later built her the grand tomb in Lahore with poignant inscriptions:
“I would give thanks… Ah! could I behold the face of my beloved once more.”
Signed: “Majnu Salim Akbar”
A tragic Mughal love triangle? The truth remains buried with her. Lahore’s enduring mystery.

[Qurat Ul Ain @AinnieAS]

We have some extremely important Palaeolithic sites in Soan Valley

[Qurat Ul Ain @AinnieAS]

Squishy craze in American schools amazes me.
Kids bring NeeDoh mochi balls, stress squishies & sensory toys as everyday “tools.”
Their real utility?
They provide tactile fidgeting that can reduce anxiety, help regulate emotions, and improve focus especially for students with ADHD, autism, or sensory processing needs. Gentle squeezing keeps hands busy so the brain can concentrate on lessons.
All the classrooms allow them as legitimate accommodations interesting 🧐
#Squishies #SchoolLife #SensoryTools

[Qurat Ul Ain @AinnieAS]

🇵🇰 Historic moment for Pakistan!
UNESCO has added three magnificent Sindh forts — Kot Diji Fort, Naukot Fort, and Umerkot Fort — to its World Heritage Tentative List, alongside the Kalash Valleys.
Pakistan’s tentative sites now stand at 29!
From the Talpur-era strongholds guarding the desert to the birthplace of Emperor Akbar, these forts are living testaments to our rich heritage.
#PakistanHeritage #UNESCO #SindhForts

[Qurat Ul Ain @AinnieAS]

🌍 Historic Moment!
Kalash Valleys officially added to UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List!
Proud achievement by Directorate General of Archaeology & Museums, Govt of KP, with support from Mr. Yahya (UN Pakistan), UNESCO & Federal Archaeology.
Congratulations Pakistan 🇵🇰 and Congratulations @samadarab Putting Pakistan’s rich tangible & intangible heritage in the global spotlight! 🇵🇰❤️

#KalashValleys #UNESCO #PakistanHeritage

[Qurat Ul Ain @AinnieAS]

Extremely impressed by American public schools incredible teachers and top-tier classrooms.
But what’s wrong with Gen Z? So many aren’t even willing to learn.
As millennials, we would’ve killed for resources like this.
Where did the hunger for knowledge go?
#genz #education

[Syed Rizwan Mehboob @syedrizwanmehb1]

Totally exhausted & drained after hours of waiting in freezing nightly temperatures - but happiness & satisfaction to find the most elusive of the big cats - a massive Snow Leopard - on a freshly made kill in upper Korakaram made it fully worth the pains

[Syed Rizwan Mehboob @syedrizwanmehb1]

One of Pakistan's most colourful sunsets can be seen over 9th highest mountain of the world, the iconic Nanga Parbat (26660 ft), especially in late winters

I took this shot from Astor side where I was perched atop an 11000 ft high nullah - looking for Laddakh Urial

[Akashdeep Thind @thind_akashdeep]

Punjabi Singer Gurdas Mann visited the residence of Sidhu Moosewala. He bowed to little Sidhu Moosewala commenting "Bilkul hubua" Exactly the same.

[waliullah Maroof @10waliullah]

اس نوجوان کا نام مبشر نور ہے۔
مبشر لاہور کے نشتر کالونی کا رہائشی ہے۔
مبشر کی بہن نے رابطہ کرکے بتایا کہ: میرے بھائی کو سال دوہزار چوبیس میں رحیم یارخان کے ایک ایجنٹ نے برما میں کال سینٹر کی نوکری دلانے کا کہہ کر ویزہ لگواکر برما بھیجا۔
وہاں پہنچ کر مبشر نے تین ماہ کام کیا اور پیسے بھی گھر بھیجے۔
ایک دن مبشر نے گھر کال کرکے بتایا کہ ہمارے ساتھ دھوکا ہوا ہے، جس جگہ ہمیں بھیجا گیا ہے ایک اسک٭یم سینٹر ہے۔ یہاں لوگوں کو کال کرکے فر*اڈ کیا جاتا ہے۔
یہ بارہ پاکستانی لڑکے تھے سب نے وہاں سے بھاگنے کا پلان بنایا۔
چھ لڑکے وہاں سے تھائی لینڈ میں داخل ہوئے اور چھ لڑکے رہ گئے۔
براستہ تھائی لینڈ میں گرفتار ہوکر یہ لڑکے پاکستان ڈی پورٹ ہوگئے۔
مبشر اکلوتا بھائی ہے سات بہنیں ہیں۔
دو سال سے مبشر کا کوئی پتہ نہیں چل رہا۔بہن کا کہنا ہے کہ ہم جائیں تو کہاں جائیں۔
بہنوں نے اپنے طور پر کوشش کی تو میانمار کے کسی سرکاری اہلکار نے تین لاکھ روپے لیکر دھوکا کیا۔
میانمار میں کوئی بھی صاحب ہماری پوسٹ پڑھے اور انکو مبشر کے متعلق معلوم ہو تو برائے مہربانی ہم سے رابطہ کریں۔
حکومت وقت سے اپیل ہے کہ مبشر کو بازیاب کرانے میں سفارتی سطح پر اقدام کیا جائے۔
لاہور کی سات بہنیں اپنے اکلوتے بھائی کے لئے دن رات رورہی ہیں۔خدارا انکی داد رسی کی جائے۔
برائے رابطہ نیچے نمبر درج ہے

[phone]

#waliullahmaroof

[Syed Rizwan Mehboob @syedrizwanmehb1]

One of my favourite spots in GB's Deosai Plains - one needs to walk at least 6-7 hrs over steep,perilous slopes to reach here from main tourist areas (luckily hardly any toirists)

Mostly under clouds, crystal clear water streams; miles of flowery carpets & yes, brown bears too

[Jean M.🇮🇪 @JeanM963]

If we don't educate children in history, culture, languages, religion, traditions, ethics and critical thinking preferring instead to limit them to STEM subjects, then we are raising a generation of easy to manipulate morons. This is becoming ever more obvious today.

[Enkidu Reborn @enkidureborn]

مکمل مقبول رائے

خواتین پر پروفیشنل ڈگریوں کے علاوہ مطالعہ پاکستان اسلامیات اور سوشیالوجی میں ماسٹرز کرکے ڈھیر لگانے پر پابندی ہونی چاہیے۔ یہ آرٹس ، کرافٹس ، فیشن ڈیزائننگ اور وغیرہ وغیرہ پڑھیں۔ انارکلی سے سستا کپڑا خرید کر خود ڈیزائن کریں اور پہنیں۔ چھوٹے چھوٹے یونٹس بنا کر ایکسپورٹ کریں زرمبادلہ کمائیں۔

مرد حضرات جو پروفیشنل ڈگریز میں دلچسپی نہیں لیتے انہیں کھوتے بنا کر دینے چاہییں تاکہ مزدوری کریں اور ملکی ترقی میں معاون ثابت ہوں۔

[Syed Rizwan Mehboob @syedrizwanmehb1]

Scary touch & go with "Winnie the Pooh" 🐨 at Deosai,GB

I was glued to ground & waiting for Golden Eagle when from nowhere a massive Himalayan Brown Bear appeared & headed straight towards me

Petrified,I sat motionless;luckily wind direction changed & the Bear lost my smell🤲

[Qurat Ul Ain @AinnieAS]

@syedrizwanmehb1 غزالاں تم تو واقف ہو کہو مجنوں کے مرنے کی
دوانہ مر گیا آخر کو ویرانے پہ کیا گزری

[Syed Rizwan Mehboob @syedrizwanmehb1]

Spring vibes from Cholistan desert as Chinkara Gazelle play hide & seek somewhere in GIB wildlife Sanctuary

Privilege to see such truly wild biodiversity hotspots in Pakistan - peaceful, tranquil & unspoilt just as designed by nature 💜

غز ا لاں تم تو و ا قف ہو 🦌

[Syed Rizwan Mehboob @syedrizwanmehb1]

Magical evening at Nagarparkar, Sindh

I first visited Nagarparkar as Additional Deputy Commissioner 25 yrs ago when I was deputed here for relief work during a major drought in Tharparkar

As I sat reminiscing about the good old days from 25 yr ago - it looked like yesterday

[Qurat Ul Ain @AinnieAS]

Can we recognise this bazaar in peshawar? Photo was taken in 1986 ©️@artenpedia
#history #Pakistan #peshawar