Dilip Kumar's Peshawar home declared national heritage

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Dilip Kumar's Peshawar home declared national heritage

Dawn.com Published July 14, 2014

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Veteran Bollywood actor Dilip Kumar’s house in Peshawar has been declared a national heritage, said a report published in The Times of India (TOI).

Manzoor Ali Memon, spokesperson of Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi, told the TOI over phone that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has declared the ancestral house of the actor in Peshawar's Qissa Khawani Bazaar as national heritage.

Memon added that the government would turn the house into a museum that would depict the journey of the legendary actor from Peshawar to Mumbai. A gallery would also be dedicated to the actor.

The Pakistani government would also invite Dilip Kumar for the inauguration ceremony.

Pakistan's High Commissioner to India Abdul Basit had even met the actor in the first week of June.

"The PM's decision is testimony to the enormous importance Pakistan attaches to promoting art and culture and paying tribute to living legends like Dilip Kumar, whose contributions to the sub-continent cinema are unparalleled," said Basit.

Kumar was born on Dec 11, 1922, in Qissa Khawani Bazaar, Peshawar, in a Pakhtun family of 12 children.

The legend entertained millions of people in his active years in cinema and always propagated the message of love, peace and humanity throughout his life.

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Tariq Mohiuddin

Jul 14, 2014 01:18pm

What Mr. Dilip Kumar has done for Pakistan.. he is just an actor like hundreds around...

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atif

Jul 14, 2014 01:25pm

agreed, he was a great actor. but does that make him so important for us. has india done the same for the residence of jinnah?

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Anon

Jul 14, 2014 02:11pm

I believe he acted only in Indian movies......right ?

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Ajay

Jul 14, 2014 02:16pm

Remember he was also once elected as the SHERIFF OF BOMBAY. Glad that the Pakistani is recognizing this great Indian legend.

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Umair

Jul 14, 2014 02:19pm

Good move!

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Aseem

Jul 14, 2014 02:32pm

Thanks Govt. of Pakistan. May god bless Dilip Kumar with a long and healthy life.

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raja hindustani

Jul 14, 2014 02:41pm

And I used to believe that Pakistani people hate Bollywood & Bollywood actors. Anyway, good gesture by Pakistan. Thank you!

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sja

Jul 14, 2014 03:03pm

@Anon------- but those movies were seen in PAKISTAN TOO? Also there is where he ORIGINATED ----- they call it the ancestral LINK!

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atif

Jul 14, 2014 03:13pm

@Umair y good move? has india done us similar honor? what has dilip kumar done for pakistan? has indian govt given similar status to even the residence of Jinnah? its the save over-appeasement policy by nawaz sharif a stupid act

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partyr

Jul 14, 2014 04:25pm

He and his wife should be granted citizenship if not done already.

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Nipun

Jul 14, 2014 04:42pm

That is a good move. Art has no boundaries.

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chanpeer

Jul 14, 2014 05:57pm

Dilip Kuman aka Yousaf Khan hails from Peshawar, Pakistan and is pride of Pakistan too, not only India! He is welcome to his country anytime. Pakistanis love him very much! Not only him but also other actors or people from Pakistan origin!

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Awan

Jul 14, 2014 06:56pm

Kumars are not Pukhtoons. Kindly correct this in the above article. Kumars were Hindu Businessmen who migrated from Punjab and Kashmir to many parts of KP for business purposes. Kumars themselves call themselves Punjabis. I have met many Kumars of India and they all call themselves Punjabi.

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Rakaposhi

Jul 14, 2014 07:21pm

This story mentions nowhere that it was KPK government who took the initiative and send summary to PM to approve which he did.

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Jawwad

Jul 14, 2014 08:03pm

Why declare these places national heritage when former residents of these places have never bothered to visit? Any man or woman would have loved to visit their birth places in situations where they were either forced to migrate or had to leave for other reasons. Mr. Dilip and his wife had almost 90 years worth of opportunities to visit and they did not bother to do so. Nothing to take way from him being the greatest actor sub continent has produced, even bigger than Amitabh or Shahrukh.

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Rev. Eldrick Lal

Jul 14, 2014 08:49pm

What about other legends of Indian. For instance, Rajesh Khanna, Amitabh Bachchan, Raj Kapoor, and Sunil Dutt. I guess the list is endless. This is total partiality of the Pakistani government.

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mohabbat

Jul 14, 2014 09:04pm

Why not Prithvi Raj Kapoor/ Raj Kapoor's home as well???

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mohabbat

Jul 14, 2014 09:07pm

@sja Prithvi Raj Kapoor/Raj Kapoor are also from the same area, why not recognize the most important family of India? likewise other Bollywood greats Dev Anand, Balraj Sahni, Manoj Kumar, Sunil Dutt and many more are also from what is now Pakistan. Why ignore them????

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Krish Chennai

Jul 14, 2014 10:22pm

Nothing new. He was conferred the Nishan-e-Imtiaz, the highest civilian honour in Pakistan, in 1997. He formed a triad with late Raj Kapoor and late Dev Anand, who were also born in what is Pakistan today. Though Dilip was his adopted screen name, his real name as most know, is Yusuf Khan, and he and his wife Saira both performed the Umrah last year. Those who think he belongs to a particular country, should listen to his screen rendition of Allama Iqbal's " Na tu zameen ke liye, hai na asmaan ke liye " sung by Mohammed Rafi, whose own first wife went off to Pakistan during partition, and Rafi Saab married again in true Islamic tradition, continuing in India. Ramadhan Kareem to all !.

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Mohammed Rahmatullah

Jul 14, 2014 11:24pm

What I first seen that Mr. Shyam Kumar was on the top of Bombay film-industry and Surayya-Shyam pair was famous. At that time, Dilip Kumar, Raj Kapoor and Devanand were on the parallel line just below Shyam Kumar. After the death of Shyam Kumar during the shooting of a film, Dilip Kumar came on the top. Raj Kapoor was also famous for his excellent roles of vagabond, joker etc. When the Prime Minister of Pakistan has decided to declare the Peshawar house of Dilip Kumar as National Heritage, I will strongly recommend to declare Raj Kapoor's ancestral house in Peshawar should also be declared as National Heritage. We Muslims should not be biased to anybody.

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Bing-Bud-a-Bang

Jul 14, 2014 11:46pm

@Awan - didn't know Dilip Kumar was of Pakistani origin. Pakistan did not exist when he was born, kid.

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sja

Jul 15, 2014 12:08am

@Awan ---- if you have researched more --- DILIP KUMAR IS HIS TRADE NAME -- HE IS A BORN MUSLIM PAKHTUN AND HIS REAL NAME IS YOUSUF KHAN. Please also read ----Kumar was born on Dec 11, 1922, in Qissa Khawani Bazaar, Peshawar, in a Pakhtun family of 12 children. @chanpeer -----Dilip Kuman aka Yousaf Khan hails from Peshawar, Pakistan and is pride of Pakistan too, not only India! He is welcome to his country anytime. Pakistanis love him very much! Not only him but also other actors or people from Pakistan origin! Some other famous KHANS OF INDIAN FILM INDUSTRY HAVE ROOTS IN PAKISTAN TOO. Kya Khan na hongay to zamanay main mashoor na hongay PESHAWAR KAY ya PESHAWAR SAY.

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sja

Jul 15, 2014 12:15am

@Krish Chennai --- aray Krish Chennai sahib --- waqt waqt ki Baat hay ---- Mohamad Rafi sahib bhi Chicawatni - humaray upnay illaaqqqay say hi thay, he was born near Amritsar, but grew up in a village near Lahore, wo paida ho kar India say Pakistan aaaay aur Yousuf Khan Pakistan main paida hokar HIndustan sidharaay ---- bus wohi waqt waqt ki baaat hay.

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sja

Jul 15, 2014 12:16am

@mohabbat --they are very well recognized by INDIA it is all about honoring the honors.

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fakullah

Jul 15, 2014 12:19am

asteen ka saanp

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Khalid

Jul 15, 2014 12:25am

There are so many comments from Pakistanis that make me wonder if we are capable of rising above the petty things or is it our destiny to talk rubbish all the time. Mr. Dilip Kumar has been a hero for a couple of generations of people on both sides on our divided countries. He is respected by ALL and we all grew up loving him. If you can't say anything nice about a man in his 90s, nobody is forcing you to say silly things. Our culture, our traditions, our religion all teach us to be polite. Is it so difficult?. Being able to write in English tells me that most people writing here have had some education. It is however so sad to see particularly my Pakistani friends who have come up with comments that to me sound simply rude. I can not believe any family in Pakistan (and for that matter anywhere in the world) would teach their children to be rude, then why so many rude comments?.

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Vaqar

Jul 15, 2014 12:35am

Was he interested in that? I remeber an interview of him at the Sindh CM House dinner by Moin Akhter. Moin asked him as to how he feels when his plane flyes over Peshawar and he said "jub guzartay hain tu guzar hee hatay hai".

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John

Jul 15, 2014 12:37am

Is Pakistan trying to find it's heroes among Indian Muslims? It does look like. A hero who deserted the "land of pure"? or a hero who understood which place is better to stay.

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Satyameva Jayate

Jul 15, 2014 12:52am

I step in the right direction, indeed. Raj Kapoor was born in Dhakki Munawwar Shah near Qissa Khwani in Peshawar. The house that Prithviraj Kapoor lived in should also be accorded a similar status to honour Kapoor Family's contribution to Cinema.

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Satyameva Jayate

Jul 15, 2014 01:05am

@Tariq Mohiuddin - Dilip Sahib is an artist beyond borders.

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Nizamuddin Ahmad Aali

Jul 15, 2014 01:17am

Mohammad Yousuf Khan is a great movie actor and it nice to get recognized by his native country. He is the best of bests. How about Mohatta Palace of Karachi where Mr. & Ms. Jinnah lived and worked as head of the State of Pakistan. I could not find one single marking of any kind stating the occupants name and mention of their presence. Instead I found some whiskey and beer bottles in the garbage cans which were left over from last night party. If this is the display of our appreciation for the man who gave his life for us then shame on us, the curators and citizens of Karachi. People should go and file a complaint to the curators and write protest letters in news papers.

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Jawwad

Jul 15, 2014 02:22am

So let me digest this again. Our artist are either put in jail, not allowed to buy properties there and get man handled at their airports while we are busy declaring their places of birth as National Heritage? Let's all make hay while sun shines.

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M. SaleemRaikodi

Jul 15, 2014 02:50am

@Krish Chennai Na Thu Zameen ke Liye hai na Aasman ke Liye is by Sahir Ludhianvi not Iqbal correction please

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Dipak

Jul 15, 2014 03:40am

Dilip Kumar's ancestors home in Peshawar area has been named many times in the past as national historical heritage monument, then it is ignored, then every 2-3 years becomes national heritage. Everybody living or owning that house will ask for millions of US dollars and then the deal will fall apart. I think Dilip Kumar is a huge asset of India with so much respect. I wish Pakistanis do not insult him by again ignoring the monument.

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think_then_speak

Jul 15, 2014 03:43am

Good tribute to the legend of movies and a symbol of the unity of the subcontinent.

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m.k.passa

Jul 15, 2014 03:46am

jawwad,shahrukh khan`s family was refused visa to visit Pakistan because of their political affiliation with ghaffar khan! ultimately after innumerable attempts srk`s father was allowed few days visa to visit his relatives before he died1politics!

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think_then_speak

Jul 15, 2014 03:48am

@Tariq Mohiuddin He was an actor who remembered his roots at all times. Some people do not understand what is the meaning of culture, history and art. And these are the people who sell their vote to corrupt politicians for a little money and then keep lamenting about their condition. Great nations always value their culture, and in the culture of Indo-Pak Dilip sahib is a matchless star.

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khan

Jul 15, 2014 04:57am

@mohabbat. One step at a time. The question is how many Pakistani artists have been given this kind of honor.

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m.k.passa

Jul 15, 2014 05:37am

atif, for your quaid e azam`s house in mumbai is claimed by three parties;pakistan, mr. Jinnah`s daughter,who lives in new York city and his family member in Mumbai the case is in court.some claims are on sectaeian grounds!

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shayam

Jul 15, 2014 05:44am

@chanpeer Yes he is from Peshawar before Partition

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Khan

Jul 15, 2014 05:50am

Did India declare quad-e-azam Mumbai residence as national heritage or handed it to Pakistan despite several request?

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syeda

Jul 15, 2014 08:05am

@Jawwad he did visit , back in early 90's

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Gautham

Jul 15, 2014 08:09am

Thanks to Pakistan for honoring an Indian legend. It's a great gesture in friendship and hope Pakistan sees pride in honoring legends that were born in today's Pakistan, rather than finding some vague, imaginary links to Arabs (who by the way have no compunction in killing endangered birds en masse in Pakistan).

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Mudabber

Jul 15, 2014 09:20am

These 'shareef' people think Pakistan as their Jageer to do any non-sense like that. Look at Indian humiliating attitude towards Pakistan but these never embarrassing people always try to appease India. May be for their business to grow?

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Dr. Dang

Jul 15, 2014 09:25am

if he would have lived in pakistan would he be the man he is today? think before your speak fellows. Would any Hindu actor be a Yusuf Khan in your country. Make a heritage of progress not monuments.

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Harjit Atwal

Jul 15, 2014 09:53am

Dilip Kumar is a screen name. His real name is Yusuf Khan . I am pretty sure they all started their career in Lahore.

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Anup

Jul 15, 2014 01:21pm

@Awan His name is Yusuf Khan.

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Ammar

Jul 15, 2014 01:37pm

@Awan. His real name is Yousuf KHAN not Dillip KUMAR bro.

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Ammar

Jul 15, 2014 01:50pm

@Awan. His real name is Yousuf KHAN not Dillip KUMAR bro.

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Ashok R.Prabhu

Jul 15, 2014 08:20pm

Dilip Kumar is not only an exceptionally great actor,he is also a symbol of Hindu- Muslim Brotherhood.

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Mustafa

Jul 15, 2014 08:41pm

Let us keep things in perspective. Kumar sahib is undoubtedly a great actor, but in our Tahzeeb everything has it's place and a singer or film actor does not belong the top echelon of honored people. They would have done better to honor Sadat Hasan Manto or Ahmed Shah Bukhari Pitras, these people resonate with the ethos on which this country was founded.

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Mustafa

Jul 15, 2014 08:52pm

@Tariq Mohiuddin; " he is just an actor like hundreds around..." Ask someone in their 50's or older, he is not just another actor. However an ideological nation like ours should reserve the top honors for something more substantial than an actor, even one with as distinguished and long career like Dilip Kumar's.

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Azam

Jul 16, 2014 12:20am

Great Tribute to the Legend.

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Nizamuddin Ahmad Aali

Jul 16, 2014 02:17am

@Ashok R.Prabhu : Really. How, tell me.

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Dipak

Jul 16, 2014 03:22am

Ya, Pakistan has declaredn his home as heritage monument many times before. Do not insult this 90 year good man with lies and false promises.

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Modi

Jul 16, 2014 04:00am

@Tariq Mohiuddin Don't be petty-minded ! Art is universal and there are no national boundaries for it. If by any chance you happen to be an extremist or a Taliban, then please post your vitriolic comments on a more suitable website-but not here. We like to be liberal Muslims and citizens of the world here.

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Modi

Jul 16, 2014 04:04am

@Anon So what, you seem to be obsessed with narrow nationalism. Dilip's movies were world class and of interest to all the citizens of the world. Please keep this stupid India/Pakistan focus to yourself ! Don't poison the minds of liberals and sensible people around the world with your intensely ridiculous comments..

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Avc

Jul 16, 2014 04:06am

India too should declare Mehdi Hassan's house in Rajasthan, if it still exists, a national heritage building.

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Muhammed

Jul 16, 2014 04:44am

@Mohammed Rahmatullah , I welcome your suggestion in this regard. As we all know, neither art does have any boundary nor it's attached to any caste, creed or religion. It's universal. Pakistan should be proud that so many famed actors, poets, musicians, writers came out from the soil of Pakistan.

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SKB-535

Jul 16, 2014 09:15am

@Awan Dilip Kumar is his Screen name... Yousuf Khan his actual name and among Bollywood Yousuf Bhai.

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