The historic picture came to me from the private family collection of Honourable Prince Dr. Mahmud Aurangzeb taken in 60s at Baghderi having both my uncle and Aunty in the frame, besides the late Begum Naseem Ayub Aurangzeb with the Princess and Princes from the royal family of the Yousafzai State of Swat . Other pictures were again taken again at Village Baghderi, Swat, on Sunday, April 13, 2025 at 3 pm , of a Pushto Poetry Mushaira titled “The Colours of Spring,” organized by Arham Khan Effendi, named after my late uncle, Colonel Arham Khan Effendi, a soldier and agriculturalist par excellence. The venue is located opposite the former Swat State Fort, known as Fateh Pur Fort. Today, the Fateh Pur Police Station is situated a kilometer ahead in the town of Fateh Pur, which was once a Tehsil Headquarters during the peaceful Swat State era.
I traveled from Islamabad , where I reside permanently, at Arham’s insistence, as he is the driving force behind this literary event that is being presided by Honourable Abasind Yousafzai, a known pushto poet and literary celebrity . I owe my loyalty to my late Uncle Arham’s spirit, as I was emotionally attached to him and cared for him during his final days at my home in Islamabad, alongside his younger brother (my late father) .
Another reason for my attendance is my deep respect for Honorable Pervash Shaheen, as a guest of honour, a scholar, ، author, historian and intellectual from Swat, who steadfastly protected the rock carvings of Buddha at his village, Manglawar, during the militancy-infested period.I am grateful to Pervash Shaheen Sahab to him to have spoken high of my scholarly father Dr. Aslam Khan Effendi during his opening remarks .
As I sat among the attendees, my thoughts drifted toward Swat’s transformation over time. In the early 1950s, Baghderi would receive heavy snowfall annually, and fans were unheard of in homes. Today, every house in the locality is considered incomplete without a fan, as temperatures continue to rise, accompanied by devastating floods that have altered the landscape from Kalam to Baghderi .
This place, once called “Farm,” was where my enterprising Uncle Colonel Arham Effendi and Aunty Bilquees (also known as Begum Sahab) bred Angora rabbits for their wool, which was woven into Angora shawls. The Begumi rice of Swat is named after her. People who knew the family fondly recall the Angora rabbits with their snow-white, fluffy fur and sparkling reddish eyes.
Later, my late uncle installed wood sawing and cutting machines, occupying himself with carpentry and carving as his favorite pastime. This place was eventually converted into a hospital named after Begum Bilquees Effendi Group of Hospitals and is now known as Hujra.
I wish Arham every success in his future literary endeavors. I earnestly pray that the souls of my late Uncle and Aunty rest in eternal peace, their graves being close by. . I dearly loved and served them to the best of my humble capacity during their lifetime, just as I selflessly cared for my own father and now my mother being in her advanced age.
