PESHAWAR – Qissa Khwani bazaar, a hub of storytelling since times immemorial, is losing its reputation and history because of militant activities and rising inflation in the area. The Qissa Khwani bazaar is one of the oldest bazaars of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and for centuries travellers from Afghanistan and sub continent have stopped here to tell stories over cups of tea. The British commissioner Herbert Edwards called it the city of Piccadilly in central Asia.
Discussing the historical features of the Qissa Khwani bazaar Ferveez Durani, 70, told to Pakistan Today that in the past streams of crystal clear water used to pass through the bazaar and travellers from Afghanistan and Central Asian Republic (CARs) used to come here for taking rest. “The travellers used to tell various stories to their fellows,” he said.
In 1930 a deplorable incident was witnessed by the people of sub-continent when the ruthless British forces open indiscriminate firing on the peaceful Pukhtun protesters of Khudai Khidmatgar, killing hundreds of those who were demanding of the British to leave the sub-continent. He said that his fore father had told him that in the past the sanitation and hygienic system was extremely better then today as every year all the canals and streets in the city were inspected for dirt and rubbish.
“In the past the Qissa Khwani Bazaar was the example of peace and prosperity while now all of it is lost in the on-going ‘war on terror’,” he said. Zulfiqar, 75, told Pakistan Today that in past the Qissa Khwani bazaar was famous for its appetizing dishes as the tikka, faluda and sweets but inflation and militancy has destroyed everything.
People have migrated from Afghanistan which has effaced the real culture and tradition of the bazaar, he said, adding that the government and culture department should take steps to conserve the historical buildings in the bazaar which were damaged because of various reasons.
