Project Bostan is a personal research aimed at uncovering more about the lives of the early Afghan-Pakistani / Indo-Pakistani (henceforth referred to as Pakistani) community within Singapore. Presently, there is a lack of published materials that accurately depict and discuss the lives of early Pakistani migrants.
Stories passed down by elders within the family give insight on the challenges they faced as well as contributions made to country and society. With this site, we hope that their experiences can be preserved. As we know, many of them have passed away, with only a handful that still remain.
The division of India and Pakistan brought about by the Partition of August 1947 is historical. Yet, migration to Singapore, the region and other parts of the British Empire had started way before 1947.
The early Pakistani community had certain cultural practises that transcended mere national borders. They were Muslims. They spoke a combination of Urdu, Pashto or Punjabi. They held certain specific occupations. And more often than not, they intermarried with the local Malay speaking Muslim community.
All these have led us to the desire of discovering common experiences they shared as migrants from a region in the early part of Singapore's history.
***
My great-grandfather, Bostan Khan migrated to Singapore from Campbellpur (now since renamed Attock). Tall and stern, yet with soft Hazel eyes, he was of Pashtun descent. Unfortunately, not much is known about his origins.
My grandfather, Mohammed Yusoff bin Bostan Khan was born in Singapore in 1920. The family stayed in Seletar before moving to (Old) Upper Thomson Road. Also residing at Upper Thomson Road was the family of Syed Nadar Shah - my mother's maternal grandfather. The two families became and remained very close - a recurring theme of kinship within the early community of migrants. My mother's father, Hayatt Shah came to Singapore from Mansehra and married Halimah, the eldest daughter of Syed Nadar Shah.
Family ties and stories shared by the elders in the community has always fascinated me as a young boy who frequently followed my parents to visit the elderly such as Chacha* Lal Muhammad or Chacha* Kushal Khan.
Recently i have set out to piece these little scraps of information into something more concrete. And with the help of technology, this task seems to have been made easier.
Presently, i am a Secondary School teacher, teaching English Literature and English Language. Project Bostan remains my passion, and i hope it will touch you in a similar manner :)
*Chacha - Uncle. Usually used in our context to denote senority or respect.
Stories passed down by elders within the family give insight on the challenges they faced as well as contributions made to country and society. With this site, we hope that their experiences can be preserved. As we know, many of them have passed away, with only a handful that still remain.
The division of India and Pakistan brought about by the Partition of August 1947 is historical. Yet, migration to Singapore, the region and other parts of the British Empire had started way before 1947.
The early Pakistani community had certain cultural practises that transcended mere national borders. They were Muslims. They spoke a combination of Urdu, Pashto or Punjabi. They held certain specific occupations. And more often than not, they intermarried with the local Malay speaking Muslim community.
All these have led us to the desire of discovering common experiences they shared as migrants from a region in the early part of Singapore's history.
***
My great-grandfather, Bostan Khan migrated to Singapore from Campbellpur (now since renamed Attock). Tall and stern, yet with soft Hazel eyes, he was of Pashtun descent. Unfortunately, not much is known about his origins.
My grandfather, Mohammed Yusoff bin Bostan Khan was born in Singapore in 1920. The family stayed in Seletar before moving to (Old) Upper Thomson Road. Also residing at Upper Thomson Road was the family of Syed Nadar Shah - my mother's maternal grandfather. The two families became and remained very close - a recurring theme of kinship within the early community of migrants. My mother's father, Hayatt Shah came to Singapore from Mansehra and married Halimah, the eldest daughter of Syed Nadar Shah.
Family ties and stories shared by the elders in the community has always fascinated me as a young boy who frequently followed my parents to visit the elderly such as Chacha* Lal Muhammad or Chacha* Kushal Khan.
Recently i have set out to piece these little scraps of information into something more concrete. And with the help of technology, this task seems to have been made easier.
Presently, i am a Secondary School teacher, teaching English Literature and English Language. Project Bostan remains my passion, and i hope it will touch you in a similar manner :)
*Chacha - Uncle. Usually used in our context to denote senority or respect.
