Will the Kapoor Haveli in Peshawar be built a museum or a commercial complex?
Raj Kapoor’s family has a relationship with Peshawar so far and a big reason for this is the historic mansion of the Kapoor family, which is located in the inner city of Peshawar.
This mansion is now in a very shabby condition and the current owner of this mansion wants to demolish this mansion and build a plaza here.
But Pakistan’s archeology department has failed three attempts to topple it.
A large mansion at the Monavwar Shah place covered in Peshawar’s historic marketplace, Khwani, is still a token of historical heritage. Although this mansion has its own importance, but due to the Kapoor family, the importance of this mansion increases even more.
Raj Kapoor’s father Prithviraj Kapoor (who played Akbar in the Mughal-e-Azam) called himself the first Hindu Pathan. He was the father of the first family of actors in Bollywood, who now has four generations. He often spoke proudly of the Hindko language of Peshawar in India.
What does the government say?
Abdussamad Khan, director of the Archaeological Department, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, told the BBC that the government had preserved the mansion so far, otherwise people would have demolished it.
He said that the building has made three attempts by its current owners to demolish it, but the Archaeological Department has reached the time and saved the building from being demolished and forced the owners that they will not demolish the building.
He told that this building was not so dilapidated but due to efforts to demolish it from inside, this building has been damaged.
The government also announced to build a museum in this building. It is reported that Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi had also said in a meeting before Bollywood actor and Raj Kapoor’s son Rishi Kapoor that a museum would be built in this mansion.
Abdussamad Khan said that the government has made the announcement, but the priority at this time is to make those places which are four to five thousand years old.
According to the direction of the Department of Archeology, there is also a demand towards Kapoor Haveli and as part of the municipality’s plan for the beauty of Peshawar, museums will be built in the city but so far no funds have been allocated for it. He confirmed that the plan to make this mansion a museum is definitely under consideration.
What does the current owner say?
At present, the owner of this mansion is a local goldsmith, Haji Israr Khan. Attempt was made to contact them but could not be reached. When his brother talked over the telephone, he was asked about this mansion that he had said that it is no longer a Kapoor mansion but a happy hall haveli. When asked about his brother, he did not talk further.
The mansion was purchased in 1968 by a person living in Charsadda and then after that he sold it to an urbanite in Peshawar. The current owner of this mansion, Haji Israr Shah, says that his father bought this building in 1980.
Kapoor Haveli
Kapoor Haveli, situated in Dhaki Monawwar Shah, was built in 1922 by Basheshar Nath, grandfather of the great showman Raj Kapoor. Famous writer Ibrahim Zia, who belongs to Peshawar, has written a book on research called ‘Phankar Ke Phankar’. In this book, he has mentioned about artists belonging to Peshawar, from Raj Kapoor’s father Prithviraj Kapoor to Shahrukh Khan.
Ibrahim Zia told the BBC that the mansion is now in a shambles although the mansion was a magnificent building in its era. It had many rooms and corridors.
Ibrahim Zia said that the house of Dilip Kumar, the famous actor of the Indian film industry, is also located near Kapoor Haveli and the government should protect those houses like the Sethi House has been secured.
This three-storey building is adorned with beautiful balconies and vaulted windows, which is now in a very shabby condition.
There was an attempt to demolish this mansion some time ago but the archeology department stopped it from doing so and the people who demolished the building were also arrested by the police.
Talking to BBC, Shakeel Waheedullah Khan, Secretary Culture Heritage Council, who belongs to civil society, said that he has repeatedly told the government to take steps to secure all hundred-year-old buildings in Peshawar as some people would They are occupying which is causing damage to those buildings.
He said that the houses of Kapoor Haveli and Dilip Kumar are in a shabby condition at this time and if there is an earthquake, it can fall anytime. He said that he will definitely try for this with respect to civil society.
He said that he will write a letter to the Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhanwah in which he will ask for the safety of these buildings and hope that the government will pay attention to this or else he will raise a loud voice against it.
Raj Kapoor’s son Rishi Kapoor and Randhir Kapoor and Raj Kapoor’s brother Shashi Kapoor visited Peshawar in the 90s and expressed a desire to visit their mansion in particular. On return, Rishi Kapoor took the soil of this mansion.
Shakeel Waheedullah Khan is still in touch with most of the actors and actors who belong to Peshawar.
He said that he visited India several times in 2009 and thereafter, to meet artists who are related to Peshawar, besides the Kapoor family, including Dilip Kumar and other families. He told that he remembers the words of Rishi Kapoor that he wanted a museum to be built in the house of his ancestors which included Prithviraj, Signs and accessories related to the film life of Raj Kapoor and Kapoor family should be kept and in this way India and Pakistan will have a relationship and their love for Peshawar will also be alive.
