Peshawar - Sarhad Conservation Network (SCN), a civil society organisation working for preservation of cultural and archaeological heritage, has decided to revive the lost glory of ‘Peshawar Pottery’ by collecting its artefacts and putting on display for awareness of young generation about the rich heritage and artistry of Peshawar city.
“We have decided to collect artefacts prepared by skilled workers of ‘Peshawar Pottery’ and put on display at a suitable site to apprise people that how beautiful clay pots and decoration pieces were produced by the artisans of Peshawar city,” comments Zahoor Durrani, renowned Tourism Operator and pioneer of internationally famed Khyber Steam Safari.
“Peshawar Pottery was a showroom of 150 years old art of making both ornamental and utilitarian earthen goods which were presented to visiting dignitaries as a memento of their visit to oldest living city of South Asia,” Zahoor said.
The showroom was located inside Peshawar city at Shahwali Qatal area in the vicinity of ancestral home of Bollywood top star, Shah Rukh Khan.
Due to enchanting beauty, unique art and best standard, the items prepared by Peshawar Pottery were considered as ‘Pride of Peshawar’ and were presented abroad in exhibitions besides giving them prominent mention in guides prepared for facilitation of international tourists intending to visit Pakistan, he added.
The Peshawar Pottery was owned by a senior dweller of Peshawar, Rauf Seemab who inherited the art from his father and preserved the skill and business for around 80 years. In 2011, octogenarian, Rauf Seemab died and famous Peshawar Pottery closed down after remaining operational for around 150 years, starting from 1860.
Khalifa Mehmood, grandfather of Rauf Seemab had established Peshawar Pottery in 1860 after learning the art from an Iranian artisan.
Kalifa Daud, father of Rauf Seemab, also received a walking stick as a token of appreciation by Lady Wellington, wife of the viceroy of pre-partition India, Sir Wellington.
Among the artefacts of Peshawar Pottery some were very unique because of being more than 100 years old which were preserved and protected by Rauf Seemab and are now in the custody of his children, six daughters and grand children, Zahoor Durrani disclosed.
He said SCN wanted to convince children of Rauf Seemab and put the artefacts of Peshawar Pottery at display for showing to local people and visiting tourists. He said that SCN is in contact with a daughter of late Rauf Seemab who now dwells in Islamabad and had shown encouraging response to the suggestion.
Zahoor Durrani said SCN wanted to set up a display centre to exhibit old culture and traditions of Peshawar including Qarakul cap, favourite Peshawari Chappal, Peshawari Qula (turban), copper made pots with engraving etc.
The SCN has also held talks with Commissioner Peshawar Riaz Khan Mahsud who has held out assurance of his full cooperation in preserving old heritage of the city.
Zahoor Durrani said Peshawar is the oldest living city of South Asia and on basis of evidences recovered during excavation it is 2600 years old.
The heritage and architecture of the city deserved to be protected and preserved for apprising the coming generations about the living style and habits of their ancestors, he stressed.
For this purpose, he said, there is a need of a public-private partnership to identify and preserve all valuable sites, items and artefacts for putting on display at an appropriate place for guidance and awareness of people.
He also stressed the need for establishment of an organisation in pattern of ‘Walled City Conservation Authority’ which is performing very well in preservation of old structures in Lahore city.
The department, he continued, should concentrate on identification of historical sites, collection of old items and preservation of all the manuscripts.
