RAWALPINDI

Although the greater Rawalpindi region has been inhabited for tens of centuries, modern Rawalpindi was re-founded by the Ghakar tribe chief - Jhanda Khan in the mid 16th Century. The city has an etymological name with ‘Rawal’ referring to a chieftain or protector, and ‘Pindi’ meaning village.

The ancient history of the region reflects how it has been populated by various societies (including the Vedic civilisation - the second major ancient Indian society following the Indus Valley civilisation) until the 4th Century BCE when Alexander the Great conquered the first Persian (Achaemenid) empire, and influenced Rawalpindi (and the greater Punjab region) significantly with Macedonian culture.

From the 3rd Century BCE to the 1st Century BCE, the region was under the influence of the Maurya, Indo-Greek, Indo-Scythian, and Kushan empires. Following this The Gupta empire, White Huns, and Turk-Shahis ruled over Rawalpindi.

Between the 11th and 13th Centuries Islam spread significantly in the region through Mahmud of Ghazni, Ghurid Dynasty, and the early Delhi Sultanate.

Under the Mughal empire, the city began to rise significantly and became an important part of the empire’s north. In the mid-late 16th Century Jhanda Khan took over the city and ruled until defeated by the Sukarchakia Misl which was centred in Gujranwala, when Rawalpindi became part of Punjab.

A village in rural Rawalpindi.

Following the annexation of Rawalpindi and Punjab, the British established it as a military garrison in 1897, and it became a major cantonment in 1901 when the British Northern Command Headquarters was set up.

Modern Rawalpindi is part of Pakistan, and served as the temporary capital of the newfound country in 1959 as Islamabad was built, whilst also maintaining its military significance. Since then it is the neighbour to the capital, and the third largest city in east Punjab with about 3 million residents, and maintains a key position in both military and economic dealings.

Until our paths cross in Lyallpur/Faisalabad - Trish Saab