SAHIWAL: A roundabout has been named as Azadi Chowk to pay tribute to the Ravi tribes which fought in 1857 War of Independence in Gogera under Rai Ahmed Khan Kharal.

This was announced during a seminar organised by Kharal Foundation of Pakistan, in collaboration with Sahiwal Arts Council on the theme “Rai Ahmed Khan Kharal: Hero of 1857 War of Independence” at Jinnah Hall on Sunday.

Deputy Commissioner Muhammad Zaman Wattoo told Dawn the purpose of seminar was to portray Kharal’s resistance struggle and courage during his fight against the British Raj in September 1857.

Muhammad Ashiq Kharal, the organiser and host of conference, said Ahmed Khan’s struggle was not a part of our official history and there was need to organise such events to make the youth familiar with the role played by their forefathers in Sandal, Neeli and Ganji Bars in the fight against the British.

Rai Shahryar Khan, Rai Ahmed Khan Kharals’ family decedent, from Jhambera specially attended conference which had a large number of youth from Okara, Sahiwal and Faisalabad in attendance. The speakers threw light on different aspects of Ahmed Kharal’s struggle in the Sandal bar.

Prof Imran Jaffar of the Government Postgraduate College said Rai Ahmed was successful in helping the local people and keeping them safe against the British. “Kharal was a master of guerrilla warfare in the Bars and surrounding localities of the Ravi river. For 20 years, the local tribes had kept the communication between Multan and Lahore disturbed even after Kharal’s assassination at the age of 70,” he added.

The speakers demanded the district governments of Okara and Sahiwal build memorials in the name of Rai Ahmed Khan Kharal.

DC Wattoo said Azadi roundabout in Sahiwal city has been dedicated ‘to the struggle of all Ravi local tribes who contributed to 1857 war.

Singer Rashid Javed sung Dholas the local poets had written for Kharal which were collected by A. D. Ijaz. A Jhoomer group from village Bashera performed Ravi Jhoomer. There was a dance performance by horses too.

Published in Dawn, September 30th, 2019