Written by: Zulfiqar Ali Kalhoro
Posted on: January 31, 2025 | 
| 中文
Graves in Old Graveyard in Narali village. (Picture credits to Zulfiqar Ali Kalhoro)
Narali is a historic village in Rawalpindi’s Gujar Khan. It is believed to have been founded by a Hindu noble in the 11th century. According to Raizada Brijnath, the author of the Persian manuscript Waja Tasmia Dehat Pargana Dangali wa Pharwala, Narali was founded by a Naro Hindu in 482 AH/1089 AD. In fact, Waja Tasmia Dehat Pargana Dangali wa Pharwala is a good source of information about the history of the Gakhar reign in Pothohar. Later, the village became known as Narali Chohad Lal after Gakhar chief Sardar Lal Khan, son of Chohad Khan, in 1515. During the Gakhar dynasty in Pothohar, the village retained its original name, Narali Chohad Lal.
Before 1176 AD, Akhtiar Khan, the son of Murad Khan Budhal, established his settlement in Narali. His descendants currently reside in Dhoke Budhal, located in Dakhali Narali. In the work "Waja Tasmia Dehat Pargana Dangali wa Pharwala," Raizada Brithnath notes that Narali held the status of Tappa (district) during the Mughal Period (1526-1857). At that time, Narali Tappa comprised 58 villages. However, a few villages were incorporated into newly formed districts Chakwal and Jhelum before and after independence.
Grave with decorative tombstones in Narali village. (Picture credits to Zulfiqar Ali Kalhoro)
Apart from Muslim and Hindu populations, Narali had a considerable population of Sikhs. Before Partition, it was called Narali Sikhon Wali (Narali of Sikhs).
During my several visits to Narali, I came across tombs in the village. The village has two graveyards: the old (Qadeemi) and Baba Hajeerey Wala Qabiristan. There are also tombs in other locations in Narali and neighboring villages, which were once part of Narali Tappa. There are three categories of stone tombs in the Narali village: the first category features single-tiered graves, which may or may not have headstones; the second category includes two or three-tiered graves, marked with tombstones on the northern and southern sides; the third category consists of simple graves that are also marked with tombstones on both sides, often displaying floral patterns and inscriptions. One can see four tiered graves with headstones in Faryal village near Narali. The graves were built using various types of stones, mainly sandstone and limestone, in the graveyards of Narali village.
Grave with headstone in Narali village graveyard. (Picture credits to Zulfiqar Ali Kalhoro)
In the old graveyard of Narali are buried the dignitaries of Awan, Bhatti, Chauhan, Mughal Barlas, Chughtai Mughal, Sheikh, Gondal, Dhoond, Budhal, and other communities. Most of the stone-carved graves are found in the old graveyard. These graves mostly were erected in the 19th century. Graves constructed earlier than the 19th century do not exist now as most of these have disappeared. Some of the earlier stone tombs are located near the Dam area in the village, which were constructed most probably in the sixteenth century or even earlier. Similar types of graves can also be seen in the Faryal village, which was once part of Narali Tappa. Now, it is a separate village. The cenotaphs in the village date back to the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. Some of the graves were plastered, the traces of which still can be seen on a few graves.
Currently, the graves that have withstood the vagaries of weather belong to the Mistri and Rangrez communities. The Mistri community identifies itself as part of the Awan tribe, whereas the Rangrez community asserts that they are Mughal Chugtai. Most graves of Mistri and Rangrez communities consist of two or three tiers of stone slabs. Some graves had headstones, which are now missing or damaged.
A tomb in old graveyard of Narali village. (Picture credits to Zulfiqar Ali Kalhoro)
Two graves can be spotted near the roadside, which separates the graveyard into northern and southern sections. Both graves are constructed on common stone base slabs. Both are constructed of greyish sandstone, which was extracted from Narali’s nearby hill stream. This soft grey sandstone is locally available. The first grave is constructed on a stone base, featuring a covering slab topped with a headstone. It is marked by tombstones at both the northern and southern ends. The second grave follows the same design, with a slab and headstone, and has two tombstones on either side. One of the graves is inscribed with the name Bagh Ali, along with a date in the Samvat calendar: 10 Katak 1964 Samvat (1907). Adjacent to this grave are several other two-tiered graves, all of which feature tombstones. Tombstones are located at both ends of these graves, with most depicting floral and geometric motifs.
Elsewhere in Chakwal, I have observed tombstones adorned with depictions of rosaries, musallas (prayer rugs) and ewers. A graveyard in Karsal village in the Chakwal district showcases tombstones that represent various religious symbols.
Several tombstones are broken and lying on the ground in the graveyard. One of these broken tombstones bears the name Faiz Bakhsh, the son of Imam Bakhsh Rangrez, who belonged to the Rangrez community. The tombstone shows the date 1340, corresponding to 1922. Most of the tombstones in the graveyard display dates in the Hijri, Gregorian and local calendars.
Broken tombstone of Faiz Bakhsh, son of Imam Bakhsh Rangrez. (Picture credits to Zulfiqar Ali Kalhoro)
Another broken tombstone shows the name of Mater Moula Bakhsh, who died on August 18, 1937. He was a schoolteacher in Narali and the brother of Faiz Bakhsh. Moreover, Faiz Bakhsh's son, Master Kala, was also a schoolteacher. The name Sherbaz is inscribed on another broken tombstone, indicating that he died in 1326/ 1908. Karam Bakhsh's tomb dates back to 1849, making it one of the oldest cenotaphs in the graveyard. One of the tombstones shows the name of Mistri Farmano, son of Nawab Khan. His real name was Farman, but he was known by his nickname, Farmano.
Apart from the main graveyard, there are several crumbling tombs in the Baba Hajeerey Wala Qabiristan, which is located south of the village near the water tank, often referred to as the Sar Wala Qabiristan. Baba Hajeera’s grave is situated inside a funerary enclosure. This particular grave is believed to belong to Lal Khan, the son of Chohad Khan Gakhar, who arrived in Narali in 921 AH (1515 AD). Originally constructed from stone slabs, the grave was later modified: the slabs were removed, and burnt bricks were used to cement the structure.
Graves with decorative tombstones in Narali. (Picture credits to Zulfiqar Ali Kalhoro)
The cemetery is the final resting place for dignitaries from the Gakhar, Cheema, and Jaral families. One notable grave belongs to Khuda Bakhsh Cheema, who died on November 10, 1829. According to Hasan Nawaz Shah, a resident of Narali village and an author, poet and scholar, the first grave of the Jaral family in this graveyard is that of Mirza Mohabbat Khan, who died on August 25, 1971. Hasan Nawaz Shah also mentioned that Mirza Mohabbat Khan planted two banyan trees on the bank of the Sar near the graveyard. Today, local people gather under the shade of these trees to discuss their everyday issues.
The presence of stone tombs in Narali's historical necropolises highlights the rich stone carving tradition that once flourished in Narali Tappa. Each tombstone tells a story that reflects craftsmanship, which was an integral part of Narali's heritage.
The writer is an anthropologist. He has authored 17 books on Pakistan's cultural heritage and anthropology. He tweets @kalhorozulfiqar. He may be contacted at zulfi04@hotmail.com
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