Mera Muhallah: Qayyumabad

Dean Houseڈین ہاؤس

This account comes from an interview with a family member of Anwar Lal Dean, who wishes to remain anonymous.

Anwar Lal Dean was one of the prominent early residents of Qayyumabad and an active advocate for the protection and rights of Christian communities; he also founded the Pakistan Masihi (Christian) League. He also started a school next to his home called Dean Educational School. The school offered classes up to Matric level. Fees were modest, ranging from 10 to 15 rupees (PKR), while teachers earned salaries between 50 and 150 rupees. Dean was deeply involved in the community. If a student fell ill, he would personally visit their home to check on them. The school employed local teachers and even had a laboratory, where students would sometimes catch frogs from the nearby river for study.

Life at that time was closely connected to nature. People would hunt and fish, and kept cattle nearby, which provided them with fresh milk. Dean family also had four dogs for security, along with more than 30 geese, as well as turkeys and hens. Dean also supported the community by helping underprivileged families access telephone and electricity connections. There was a beautiful garden next to his house, which added to the charm of the area.

“At one point, our house was flooded, and we lost many of our belongings. Later, we recognized some of our clothes and jewelry on a woman, which led us to recover our items from her home. At that time, we were among the few households that owned gold. Back then, Qayyumabad felt like an island, but life was peaceful and everyone knew each other. Today, many new people have moved into the area, and as a result, the crime rate has increased and numerous new challenges have emerged.”