Rai Aziz Ullah Khan with Imran Khan at a party rally ( File Photo )
- Had joined Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party 7 years ago
- Our family is under eternal blessings of the Tenth Sikh Guru
- Delighted to see classmate Imran KHAN as Pak PM: Rai Azizullah of Raikot
- Imran Khan used to play hockey in school days
By Baljit Balli
Chandigarh, August 5, 2018: “At the end of year 2010 when I had joined Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf of Imran Khan, several people made fun of this questioning his leadership quality. Yet we remained associated with him and now feel vindicated as he is set to take oath of as the Prime Minister of our country,” said former Pakistan MP Rai Azizullah Khan speaking with babushahi.com over phone from Lahore.
Rai Aziz is a descendent of Nawab Rai Kalah of Raikot in the Indian Punjab who was blessed by the tenth Sikh Guru Gobind Singh. He is now custodian of the holy relic Ganga Sagar given by Guru Gobind Singh to the Rai family.
He was appointed as a member of the national Core Committee of Imran Khan’s party and deputy organizer of its Punjab unit.
Rai Azizullah Khan was elected to the Pakistan National Assembly from NA-162 Sahiwal constituency in 2002 on the ticket of Pakistan Muslim League (Quaid-e-Azam).
“I am particularly delighted over Imran Khan’s election as the PM candidate because he was my classmate. We studied together for nine years at Atchison College Lahore. We also played for the college Hockey team,” said Rai.
Imran Khan ( Standing last from L to Right ) in Aichison College Lahore in 1964. Rai Azizi Ullah is seen sitting ( L to R ) on first chair.
Though he did not contest election this time but his nephew Rai Mohammad Murtaza Iqbal won from National Assembly and Punjab Assembly in the 2018 general and provincial elections. He is the seventh member of Rai family to win from Chichawatni constituency in Sahiwal district of Punjab.“Our family has eternal blessings of the Tenth Guru,” Rai Aziz said.
Rai Muhammad Murtaza Khan, MNA and MPA
Rai family was actively involved in campaigning for Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party during the recent elections. He also promoted the party among Pakistani NRIs during his visits to Canada.
He is confident that a new political dawn will emerge in Pakistan with the formation of Imran Khan-led national government because it offers a credible alternative to the traditional political parties. Moreover, it is a good sign of improvement of relations between India and Pakistan as well as people of Punjab on both sides of the border.
Notably, Imran Khan hails from Pashtun family of Pakistani Punjab. He was born in Lahore and has permanent home there.
About Ganga Sagar and Rai Aziz Ullah
In 1705 Guru Gobind Singh Ji went towards Machiwara after leaving The Fort of Anandpur Sahib. His two minor sons Baba Zorawar Singh Ji (9 years) and Baba Fateh Singh Ji (7 years) and his mother Mata Gujri Ji, got separated from him while crossing Sirsa nadi (river) during a dark cold night of December. Guru Sahib lost his two elder sons Baba Ajit Singh Ji (19 years) and Baba Jujhar Singh Ji (15 years) who attained martyrdom in the Battle of Chamkaur Sahib. In Machiwara, Ghani Khan and Nabi Khan, two Muslim horse dealers helped Guru Sahib by declaring him "Uchh Da Peer", a very famous Muslim saint from South Punjab, providing him with essential items and carrying him with great honour and respect on a palanquin, assisted by a few Sikhs and Muslims so that Guru Sahib leaves the area respectfully.
In those days of severe hardship, some Rajas refused even to offer help to Guru Sahib due to fear of death as Aurangzeb was after the life of Guru Sahib and his family. When Guru Sahib reached Raikot state, the Muslim Rajput Chief, Rai Kalha welcomed him and felt honored in offering his services to Guru Sahib as his guest for as long as he wanted to stay. Guru Ji spent a few days with Rai Kalha.
Guru Sahib on reaching Raikot asked Noora Mahi to serve him milk in Ganga Sagar which was a part of his personal belongings. Noora Mahi said that his buffaloes did not give milk. Guru Sahib told him to utter the name of God and start milking a buffalo. To the surprise and amazement of Noora Mahi, the buffalo gave milk and he collected it in the Ganga Sagar.
On Guru Sahib's desire Rai Kalha sent his trustworthy servant Noora Mahi to Sirhind, who brought the most tragic news of the martyrdom of Guru Sahib's mother, Mata Gujri Ji and his two minor sons.
Before leaving Raikot, in recognition and in appreciation of the services and hospitality extended by Rai Kalha, a Muslim Chief who risked his and his family's lives, Guru Gobind Singh ji presented Ganga Sagar, a sword and a Rehal (small wooden stand to read a religious book) to Rai Kalha as his personal gifts.
Till 1947 the Ganga Sagar was displayed by Khan Bahadur Rai Inayat Khan (Honorary Magistrate, Sub-Registrar Jagraon Tehsil, 1935) for darshan by sangat who used to walk bare-footed from Gurdwara Tahlianaa Sahib in Raikot, District Ludhiana to his haveli in Raikot.
The present custodian of Ganga Sagar is Rai Azizullah Khan (the 9th generation descendant of Rai Kalha III), grandson of Khan Bahadur Rai Inayat Khan and the heir of the Rai family who have kept this sacred gift of Guru Gobind Singh Ji with great respect and care for more than 300 years.
Click at the link to read in Punjabi :
Edited by Raju William , Associate Editor ,Babushahi.com
āpaṇē jamātī imarān ḵẖān dē pradhān mantarī baṇan utē bāgō-bāġ nē gaṅgā sāgar vālē rāē azīz ullāh
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