Legendary late actor Dilip Kumar’s ancestral home in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, recognised as a national heritage, is close to collapsing due to severe damage inflicted by recent rains. The torrential downpours have starkly exposed the hollow promises made by the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) Archive Department regarding the restoration and upkeep of the residence.
Born in 1922 in Mohallah Khudadad, situated at the rear of the historic Qissa Khwani Bazar in Peshawar city, Kumar spent his formative years in this house before relocating to India in 1932. Designated as Pakistan’s national heritage monument on July 13, 2014, by former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, the house holds significant sentimental value for Kumar, who once visited and tenderly kissed the soil.
With regard to this, Saira Banu, Kumar’s wife, echoed her emotions, stating, “My husband Dilip Sahib was born in his ancestral home in undivided India at Peshawar city near the Qissa Khwani Bazar and all his close colleagues, primarily Raj Kapoor his childhood friend and other prime major actors such as Dev Anand, Sunil Dutt, Rajender Kumar, Raj Kumar etc. were all born in undivided India and eventually migrated to India. Dilip Sahib as a child and family migrated to India and chose to make this great nation his home forever. He diligently worked for the nation and lesser blessed human beings such as the blind, the handicapped and at a very young age took up the challenges of the downtrodden to serve the needy by organising collection drives to swell the kitty for flood, famine and earthquake relief work. He loved this great nation, loved his land and its people. He had absolute love for India. He did loads of work for his nation and was a patriot who loved India, lived for it and now he rests peacefully on Indian soil. His house is in India and always will be. The house in Peshawar which now is in Pakistan, is only a fond memory of his early childhood. Dilip Sahib is the pride of India and I call him my Kohinoor.”
She concluded saying, “He will be known forever as the greatest actor and the finest human being India has ever had.”
Shakeel Waheedullah Khan, Secretary of Heritage Council KPK province, lamented the recent deterioration of Kumar’s house due to the heavy rains, pointing out the government’s failure to allocate resources for its protection and preservation. Despite assurances from previous KPK administrations, no funds have been allocated to safeguard this historic property, which dates back to 1880.
Local socio-political circles have expressed dismay over the Archive Department’s lackluster efforts in preventing the collapse of this national asset. Despite the department’s promises in press releases, tangible actions to shield the heritage site from natural disasters have been conspicuously absent.
Muhammad Ali Mir, who formerly cared for the property, added that its decline started since the Archive Department assumed control, noting that their purported restoration efforts remained confined to mere rhetoric.
Reflecting on Kumar’s affection for Peshawar, Mir expressed regret over the department’s inability to safeguard his beloved childhood home, underscoring Kumar’s enduring legacy and his reverence for the city. Despite his passing in 2021, Kumar’s bond with Peshawar endures, as evidenced by his posthumous recognition with Pakistan’s highest civilian honour, the Nishan-e-Imtiaz, bestowed upon him in 1997.
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