Ghan is a misnormer as the so-called Aghans were predominently Punjabis from northern Punjab (Pothowar and Jehlum). Famous western Australian writer Haneefa Deen, for example, traces her route to that area. “Afghans of Australia”, a highly informative research on the subject also exposes this myth. Winifred Steggler’s story is also worth reading where she ends up in a village near Lahore with her husband. There is an Australia mosque in Lahore build pre-partition by an Australia-returned Punjabi “Afghan” in 1930s.
A few months back there was an interesting exhibition on the Australian cameleers in Canberra and other cities and it was clear from travel documents at display that the majority of the “Afghans” originated from the present day Pakistani Punjab, although there were good number of Pathans and Baluch among them.
While All Things Pakistan has remained alive and online, it has been dormant since June 11, 2011 - when, on the blog's 5th anniversary, we decided that it was time to move on. We have been heartened by your messages and the fact that a steady traffic has continued to enjoy the archived content on ATP.
While the blog itself will remain dormant, we are now beginning to add occasional (but infrequent) new material by the original authors of the blog, mostly to archive what they may now publish elsewhere. We will also be updating older posts to make sure that new readers who stumble onto this site still find it useful.
We hope you will continue to find ATP a useful venue to reflect upon and express your Pakistaniat. - Editors
Seems like a great effort. My thanks to Benjamin for this effort. And congratulations.
@Sceptic
Sorry to correct you but “Punjabis from northern Punjab (Pothowar and Jehlum)” don’t ride camels.
For more up to date information documented by the Australian gov, one can visit
http://uncommonlives.naa.gov.au/contents.asp?sID=2 9
to read more on the arrivals from India (and verify the myth which you are pointing out.)
Kind Regards
Junaid
Ghan is a misnormer as the so-called Aghans were predominently Punjabis from northern Punjab (Pothowar and Jehlum). Famous western Australian writer Haneefa Deen, for example, traces her route to that area. “Afghans of Australia”, a highly informative research on the subject also exposes this myth. Winifred Steggler’s story is also worth reading where she ends up in a village near Lahore with her husband. There is an Australia mosque in Lahore build pre-partition by an Australia-returned Punjabi “Afghan” in 1930s.
A few months back there was an interesting exhibition on the Australian cameleers in Canberra and other cities and it was clear from travel documents at display that the majority of the “Afghans” originated from the present day Pakistani Punjab, although there were good number of Pathans and Baluch among them.