Banda village, located about 1.5 km east of Dhoke Budhal on Rawat-Chak Beli Khan Road in Rawalpindi district, was once a prominent commercial and cultural hub. Its pre-Partition landscape featured magnificent mansions (choubaras), temples, and gurdwaras, none of which survive today. Historical memory, however, preserves its reputation as a prosperous marketplace, often paired with Basali village as Banda-Basali, the area's principal commercial centres. These two villages wielded considerable political influence, shaping the socio-economic and political landscape of the region.
Colonial-Era Education: Pioneering Schools
Banda village established a primary school in 1872, a notable achievement when few schools existed in Rawalpindi district. The building, despite multiple renovations, retains colonial-period architecture, with an original stone wall on the eastern side preserved. Stones for the wall were likely brought from Wadala Nullah and dressed by local masons, whose names remain unknown. The school's impressive wooden ceiling was removed during a 1990s renovation. The school was upgraded to a high school in 1972, a century after its founding. Many notable dignitaries studied here and later excelled in their fields.
Teachers of All Religions in Pre-Partition Era
According to a November 2010 report by Qaisar Shirazi in the Express newspaper, the Boys Primary School Banda had teachers from Sikh, Hindu, and Muslim communities, reflecting a tolerant pre-Partition society. Prominent Sikh and Hindu teachers included M Santokh Singh, Labh Singh, Sohan Singh, Dhana Singh, Darshan Singh, and Daulat Ram. Muslim teachers included Khan Ghulam Ahmad Khan, Noor Hasan, Saudagar Khan, Illahi Bakhsh, Chanan Shah, Bahadur Ali, Hasnain Shah, Ghulam Hyder, Karamdad, Muhammad Zaman, and Nazeer Ahmad.
Girls' School and Community Influence
The British government established a Government Girls Elementary School in Banda in 1889, recognizing the importance of female education. Malik Shahzad Siddique detailed the histories of both schools in a June 2020 article in Piyas magazine. The establishment of these schools underscores the strategic importance of Banda village to the British colonial administration and the influence of its local elite, who secured educational facilities for both boys and girls.
Interviews and Oral History
During a visit in May 2026, the author interviewed several villagers, including 77-year-old Malik Mushtaq Hussain Awan, who shared details about the village's history and lost cultural heritage. He recalled the names of some Sikh residents and showed the author old ponds, shrines, and mosques. According to him, there was a Sikh gurdwara in the village, and the choubaras of Hindus and Sikhs were prominent features. Sikhs were more influential than Hindus; notable Sikhs included Hari Singh, Jaswant Singh, Jeevan Singh, Sardar Vash, and Nena Singh. He also remembered one Hindu notable, Ramdas. Shops in the bazaar were owned by Hindu and Sikh communities. According to Malik Shahzad Siddique, choubaras lined both sides of the village bazaar, which was one of the most famous in the surrounding area.
Ponds, Shrines, and Social Fabric
Banda village had several ponds and wells, now mostly dry and unusable. The most famous pond, Bazaar Wali Ban, was located near the old bazaar. Another pond, Taya Wali Ban, lies east of Bazaar Wali Ban and features a beautiful banyan tree. Banyan trees, defining features of Pothohari villages, serve as informal gathering places where villagers meet, exchange news, settle disputes, and discuss everyday matters—a tradition that continues in Banda today. During the pre-Partition era, there was a separate pond for Sikh women, known as Takiya Ban.
Shrines in Banda
The village hosts several shrines. Baba Khaki Shah Ki Baithak is located east of Government Boys High School. Another shrine is in the village cemetery adjacent to the school. A third shrine belongs to Mirza Diwan, about whom no information is known. The fourth shrine, northeast of the village on the left bank of Wadala Nullah, belongs to Bunday Khan, also known as Banday Khan, after whom the village is named. According to Malik Mushtaq Hussain Awan, Baba Banday Khan is regarded as the common ancestor of the village's Awan community. His shrine, on the right bank of Wadala Kas, includes a tomb with three graves; the central grave belongs to Pir Baba Banday Khan, while the other two are unknown. This shrine is the most popular in the village, visited by locals and migrants on special occasions. Sakhi Dhoda Khan's shrine is located near Takiya Ban.
Mosques
There are three mosques in Banda. The Jamia mosque, believed to have been built by Baba Banday Khan, was the earliest. It was a small mosque that later expanded and is now the central mosque. The second mosque was built in the colonial era. Both mosques have been rebuilt.
