He took all these antiques while moving from India to USA some eight years back.

Nasir Aijaz

Prakash Khilnani is settled in the USA and was scheduled to leave for India after about four years to meet relatives and old friends. We have never met, but a bond or I must say bonds do exist that brought us closer, erasing all the barriers of artificial frontiers created at the time of partition of subcontinent in 1947. One bond, in the words of my Italian poet friend Stefania Miola, is that ‘we all humans live under one sky’, and the other one, much more stronger, is that Prakash is Sindhi and descendent of a family that lived before so-called 1947 partition, in Bhiria – my hometown in Naushehro Feroze district of Sindh, known as Sahiti Pargana.

Although, Prakash Khilnani was born after the partition in India and has never visited his ancestral hometown, he had longed for it since childhood after listening to the stories of Bhiria from his father who was in a private job in India when the partition was announced. And, since he had been unable to visit his ancestors’ motherland, the only thing he has to satisfy nostalgic feelings is a ‘treasure’ brought by his grandparents, which he has preserved for all these decades. The ‘treasure’ includes a gramophone and some utensils.

“My father and uncle, both were in a private job in India when the partition took place. My grandparents and a few other family members were there in Bhiria, who migrated taking some things – and those include a few utensils made of brass and a gramophone,” Prakash told.

“I was born in 1955 and didn’t see my grandfather who passed away in 1954, but my father used to share memoirs of ancestors and homeland. I grew up listening to those memoirs that always reminded me of our roots”, he proudly says.

“All these things, which I have preserved, are sacred for us,” Prakash said and added, “On the occasion of Diyari (Diwali) and other religious festivals, we put all the utensils in front of us for rituals.”

Sharing further, Prakash said his father used to tell him that their family was the first one to buy the gramophone in Bhiria in 1920. “We had dozens of gramophone records which included some rare songs of Sindhi singers of that time but unfortunately, most of them couldn’t be preserved.”

“Ours was the first family to have a gramophone in Bhiria,” he said.

Prakash Khilnani said that besides gramophone and utensils, he also has some weights and measures, and a pair of scales or Tarazi/Sahmi, as called in Sindhi language. “It is made of pure silver and is kept in a wooden box.”

My parents had settled in Vadodara (Baroda) city of Gujarat in India after the partition. “All these antiques were there at our home, but I took all these things along when I moved to America,” he told.

Prakash Khilnani, who shared the photos of his parents as well as of gramophone and utensils, said that the names of his grandparents are engraved on the utensils. The utensils have been maintained in a way they look as if purchased recently.

“One of these bowls belongs to my father’s uncle Motiram Aaildas Khilnani. On this bowl, his name Motiram is written in Hindi.”

“Motiram was real uncle of my father Sadhuram,” he said and added, “The bowl is made of ‘Kut’, as called in Sindhi language, and is some 85 years old.”

“The tiffin belongs to my gransfather Atmaram Aildas Khilnani. It’s made of pittal (brass) and may be more than 100 years old. We changed it in steel color in 2003 spending a few hundred rupees,” he said. “The other thing my grandfather left is a lotto (ewer or vase-shaped jug), also as old as the tiffin.”

Another over 100 years old utensil made of German silver belonged to his grandmother Smt. Jasoda Atmaram Khilnani and her name is also engraved on it. “It’s made of pure silver.”

“As I told before, my grandparents also had Tarazi/Sahmi. It was kept in a triangular wooden box along with weights of half tola, one tola and two tola, and must be 85 years old,” Prakash said.

Another antique, which Prakash proudly mentioned is the gramophone, which his grandfather had purchased in 1920. “I have kept it functional even today and used to play and listen to old songs, which take me back to my ancestors’ era and our motherland. They include old Sindhi and Hindi songs.”

Prakash Khilnani also shared details of his ancestors according to which his father Sadhuram had two brothers – Motiram and Choithram, and two sisters Padma and Hari. “My grandfather Atmaram was son of Aildas, whose father was Ghanshyamdas.” They all belonged to legendary Khilnani family of Bhiria, Sindh known for their philanthropy, and services in education and social welfare fields. Rai Bahadur Dewan Kauromal Chandanmal Khilnani can be named one of those legends, who is revered most as ‘Father of Sindhi Literature’, great Social Reformer and Educationist.

“We always feel proud of having kinship with Rai Bahadur Dewan Kauromal Chandanmal Khilnani,” Prakash often said.

Prakash had been sharing lots of memories over the phone during last three to four years, which I will pen down on some other occasion.

Prakash, who turned 67 on November 6, 2022, told me on December 8 that he has booked ticket for 28^th December to visit India. “I will be there for a couple of months. First, I will go to Baroda, my home, and then to other cities including Amritsar for Puja.”

I pray for his safe journey, health, happiness and long life.

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Nasir Aijaz is a senior journalist and Chief Editor, Sindh Courier, based in Karachi. He is author of nine books on literature, language and history. He can be accessed at nasir.akhund1954@gmail.com  

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[Bhiria City is a Taluka Headquarter Town in Naushahro Feroze District in Sindh province of Pakistan. The entire area of the district is historically known as Sahiti Pargana. There are two separate towns with same name in district Naushahro Feroze – Bhiria Cityh and Bhiria Road at the distance of 10 km from each other. Bhiria City, which was known as Bahrawer centuries back, is located on the main National highway between Karachi and Peshawar whereas Bhiria Road with older name Machhki Goth is on the main Railway line between Karachi and Peshawar. History tells that the old town Bhiria (Bahrawer) was situated in the north of existing town, and ruins of a fort called Bahrawer were visible there till few decades back. The town people used to relocate several times due to floods and moved first to a nearby village Kot Bahadur located at a higher place to stay safe. According to historical accounts, the 16000 army of Raja Daher was present at the Bahrawer Fort and fought with the invading army of Muhammad bin Qasim for three months.

Bhiria’s economy is agriculture based, and wheat and cotton are main crops. Bhiria City is also famous for the best quality of guavas and mangoes, Kheer Perra is a popular sweet of the town, which the people buy and do gift to their family and friends in other counties as well. Bhiria City is also famous for its education in older times. Kauromal Chandanmal (K. C.) Academy was one of the oldest educational institution of Sindh after one at Hyderabad, Sindh Madrasa Karachi and High School Shikarpure. It was founded by Rai Bahadur Dewan Kauromal Chandanmal Khilnani, a leading educationist of Sindh in 1886. This institute, located at Tharushah Road in Memon Mohalla, served for more than 80 years and produced many famous personalities. An excellent library and a big drama hall were its unique qualities. Old buildings of school and library are now houses while the drama hall was demolished and residential quarters were built in 1967. The boarding house of the school decayed over the years and now a marriage hall is built at that place. In olden days, Sindhi Hindu Community people, Syed Family and the Akhund Family were three pillars of this town. The Bhiria City, also remembered as ‘Bhiriyan’, is known being the hometown of great educationist Rai Bahsdur Dewan Kauromam Chandanmal Khilnani, Hashu Kewalramani, a high caliber intellectual, Bollywood actress Sheila Ramani and many other renowned personalities. The Bhiria City is still remembered with love by Sindhi community members who migrated to India and around the world in 1947 leaving their ancestral abode. Sant Hardaram, a great Sadhu and reformer, also belonged to Bhiria where he was caretaker of Baba Hariram Darbar. He also had to migrate first to Rajasthan and then to Bairagarh, Bhopal in India –

Sindh Courier presents here account of some personalities hailing from Notani dynasty of Bhiria. These are excerpts from a book authored by Mr. Narain Sobhraj Kimatrai. We have corrected the spelling of the Bhiria town, which he wrote as Bhareen, which he construed from Bhiriyan, and the Naushehro Feroze, which he wrote as Navsheri Firoz- Nasir Aijaz, Chief Editor, Sindh Courier and author of 438-page book ‘Bahrawer Khaan Bhiria – Tareekh Jo Safar (From Bahrawer to Bhiria – Journey of History)]     

The Notani Dynasty of Bhiria, Sindh

Notanis, having Nukh of Jethra, lived at Bhiria/Bhiriyan, District Naushehro Feroze (Formerly Nawabshah district). Notani’s ancestor Diwan Jhamandas had three sons. His second son was Diwan Notandas.

During the reign of the Mirs, the zamindars and farmers were required to give a portion of their crop to the Mirs in lieu of taxes. To collect their revenue, the Mirs had employed Notanis as Revenue collectors and were called ‘Anbardars’ (granary keeper). The Notanis were Anbardars.

Notanis, after collecting the taxes were required to proceed to Hyderabad to submit accounts and deposit the tax collected with the Mirs. The Notanis Anbardars, to facilitate their stay at Hyderabad, jointly constructed a house near the residence of Rajarshi Diwan Dayaram Gidumal.

Later, Rai Bahadur Diwan Pahlajrai’s father Diwan Khemchand Notani bought over the shares of other Notanis and kept the house for his exclusive use. He reconstructed the house to suit his own needs, making provision for his office (Kothi-Otaq) and residence. Diwan Manghomal Issardas Idnani had lived in Diwan Khemchand’s house for many years.

Between the years 1880 to 1884, Lord Rupin introduced concept of Municipal bodies and from the year 1885 the Corporation started to function. Diwan Hiranand Notandas, a zamindar and member of Sahiti Panchayat was appointed member of Bhiriya (n) Municipality.

After Diwan Hiranand, his younger brother Diwan Khemchand (the fourth son of Diwan Notandas) was Sahiti’s most respectable and influential man. Though Diwan Khemchand was a contractor but he chose to look after his farms and became a zamindar. He was member of the Bhiriya (n) Sanitary Committee and also member of the managing committee of the English School. Diwan Khemchand had keen interest in the educational and panchayats affairs. He expired in the year 1903.

After Diwan Khemchand, his son Diwan Pahlajrai was Sahiti community’s most renowned and respected man. Diwan Pahlajrai was born at Bhiriya (n) and after passing Engineering he joined Govt. Engineering Dept. where he rose from the rank of Sub. Overseer to Sub. Engineer and Honorary Asst. Engineer. This post was the highest rank a person with Diwan Pahlajrai’s qualifications could reach.

Appreciating Diwan Pahlajrai’s accomplishments, the Government bestowed upon him the title of ‘Rai Bahadur’. Diwan Pahlajrai spent most of his years at ‘Shah Bunder’ and helped the unemployed youths to secure jobs. Diwan Pahlajrai had his own property at Karachi but after his retirement he went back to Bhiriya (n). Diwan Pahlajrai was a devoted man and wanted to improve the status of the mankind in Sind and serve the country. His pension papers had not yet been processed when, alas, he expired in April 1916, leaving behind a daughter and four sons. While at Bhiriya (n), he with the aid of modern technology had got water wells dug.

Diwan Pahlajrai’s sons: M/s. Parmanand, Kimatrai, Sadhuram and Gagandas. Diwan Pahlajrai’s brother Diwan Gurmukhdas zamindar aged 63, was living in the year 1946.

Diwan Parmanand, a pious man, first worked as a Govt. servant and later quit to look after his farms. In 1946 he was living at Bhiriya (n) devoting his time to praising the Lord in the company of Sadhus and Sants.

Diwan Kimatrai Pahlajrai was born in 1897. After finishing school he went back to his village Jatti (currently in Sujawal district in southern coastal area) and did zamindari. He was member of the Local and School Boards.

In the year 1931, Diwan Kimatrai moved to Bhiriya (n) to look after his land that he had received in his family separation. In 1946 he was chairman of Sanitation Committee. Diwan Kimatrai was one of the founders of Bhiriya (n) School. His son Mr. Lokumal, in the year 1946, had passed his B. A. and was a novelist.

Diwan Sadhuram Pahlajrai was a Doctor. After doing his M.B.B.S. he had gone to England for higher degree. In 1946, he was Health Officer at Nawabshah.

Diwan Gagandas Pahlajrai, after passing his English fifth grade, first joined Govt. service but later he opted for zamindari. In 1946, he joined Seth Ajoomal Lilaram in his business as a partner.

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The Source of Sindhi Surname is a translation into English, by Mr. Narain Sobhraj Kimatrai from the original in Sindhi by Mr. Diwan Bherumal Mahirchand Advani. Shrimati Shakun Kimatrai writes that in 1980s, her husband Narain’s friend Hotu – Diwan Hotchand Advani, (Former Superintendent of Customs) showed him two volumes of Sindhi Books titled, “SINDH JAY HINDUN JEE TAREEKH” and “THE ORIGIN OF SINDHI SURNAMES” originally penned by Bherumal Advani. The book interested Narain as it recounted the History of Sindh and Sindhis, and especially as it also contained photographs of our ancestors. Hotu got these volumes photocopied for Narain, courtesy of Mr. Pishu T. Chellaram. After glancing at some of the pages that seemed interesting to Narain, he put the volumes away. Twenty years later, he picked up these volumes again and translated them into English.

Source: Shakun Kimatrai  – Sindhi Surnames

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