Great Bazar of Qissa Khwani




 Qissa Khwani Bazar is famous bazar in Peshawar. Peshawar's British commissioner Herbert Edwardes called it "the Piccadilly of Central Asia". It has many old buildings even now. Word “Qissa Khwani”   is derived from Persian language which means story teller. During reign of Kanishka merchants would come to Peshawar in groups for trade and other works. At night they would gather on streets or inns where story teller would narrate stories. And so it got name of Qissa Khwani. Many buildings in this bazar are reserved as historical monuments. Legend Actor Dilip Kumar was also born in Qissa Khwani Bazar.

Tragic incident of massacre of Pakhtuns happened in this bazar on 23rd April 1930. Unfortunately majority people do not know about this tragic incident. Abdul Ghaffar khan who is also known as Bacha Khan initiated non-violent movement by the name of  "Khudai Khidmatgar Tehreek". After one month of commencement of this movement founder Abdul Ghaffar Khan was arrested. When followers of the movement heard about his arrest they started gathering in Qissa Khwani Bazar.

Metcalf was Deputy Commissioner of Peshawar and asked protestors to get dispersed but no one was willing to leave, Metcalfe called armored cars which killed 14 pakhtuns on its way to the central point of protest. Protestors burnt that car which had British staff inside it. Looking at the situation Metcalfe asked his army to open fire like General Dyre did in Jalianwala Bagh. Following precedent of Jalianwala Bagh he killed unarmed  Pakhtuns. Soldiers of Royal Garhwal Rifle refused to open fire on unarmed people but Metcalfe handed over the task to other soldiers. Metcalfe anticipated that crowd will get dispersed after fire is opened but to his astonishment all of them stood and kept replacing their fellows who were shot dead. Resources quote the number of 400 but administration never agreed with it and reported only 20 deaths.

Monument dedicated to the victims of 1930 massacre

 It was a great massacre in the history which was given the color of terrorism and rebellion against state. Ghani khan, renowned Pashto Poet and son of Bacha Khan revealed later that two members of Khudai Khidatmagar movement secretly met Bacha Khan in jail. Bacha Khan asked them to remain peaceful and ask all Indian Muslim leaders for help. They asked for help but none helped them. It was followed by Takkar massacre of Pakhtuns just a month later. These incidents turned the non-violent movement into Pakhtun’s nationalist political party.

Qissa Khwani Bazar has still maintained its legacy of historical importance and is a fascinating spot for tourists.