Bhai Nand Lal Goya as Kapoor Khatri

I have been trying to do research various books and historic records to find out deep rooted lineage of our ancestors.

 Bhai Nand Lal Goya, 1633-1713,  (Born in Ghazni Afghanistan, Died in Mohalla Aghapura Multan) 

It has come to light that Bhai Nand Lal son of Diwan Chhaju Mall of Ghzni were from ‘Duradh Khatri’ caste. Originally Diwan Chhaju mall a Khatri who would follow Vaishnav sect of Hindu religion and performed every ritual that Vaishnavs did during their ‘Kirt and Karam’ in their day to day life.

There is a historic evidence when Nand Lal a child was at the growing age of 9, their spiritual Vaishnav Guru was invited to perform a religious ceremony to bring the child into formal Vaishnav dharma. Nand Lal was given a Kanthmala (necklace) to put around his neck by reciting given vaidic Mantras. To which Nand Lal refused to put around his neck and adopt him his spiritual Guru by giving philosophical reasons by which the Guru was stunned. This occurrence is similar to Guru Nanak Dev Ji refusing to wear ‘Janeyu’ to adopt Hinduism.

Two Ariana Afghan Airlines Staff Pose For A Picture, Kabul, Afghanistan, 1970 (c). The Pilot Kuldeep Singh Kapoor (Right) Belonged To The Now Almost Non-existent Community Of Afghan Sikhs.

As per records and oral history Bhai Nand Lal ji Goya was a ‘Duradh Khatri’

 The pilot Mr Kuldeep is very closely related and is married to sister of my brother-in-law. I had also the opportunity to meet his Dad Sardar Kanwar Singh Kapoor. Whose ancestry are produced below:

Diwan Santo

F/o Diwan Dallo Singh Kapoor

F/o S Totah Singh Kapoor

F/o S Kanwar Singh Kapoor 1913 - 2000

F/o Dr Kulraj S Kapoor & Kuldeep S Kapoor

Photo: courtesy Kuldeep Kapoor

S Kanwar S Kapoor in light turban and tie is seen above taking the Indian delegation around Shor Bazar Kabul.

S Kanwar Singh Kapoor after graduating from top Habiba High School Kabul was able to get a banking job in Afghan Mili (National) Bank through his cousin Hukam Chand Kapoor who was a highest ranking officer as President of the bank.

S Kanwar S Kapoor remained as General Manager of Afghan Bank in Bombay from 1959-1970 before going back to Kabul and retired in 1980.

Sardar Kanwar Singh Kapoor was very religious and supported Sikhi Saroop till he breathed his last in 2000. Being the President of Bhai Mansa Singh Gurdwara Kabul, he personally helped to perform about 50 Anand Karaj in the Gurdwara.

The Bala Hisar Fort, also known as Ghaznain Fort, dating back 2,000 years, is located in three kilometers of distance from the Kabul-Ghazni Highway where many explosions have happened over the years which has damaged the historical site.

Kuldeep Kapoor friend from Ghazani sends latest pics

Balasaar community

Photo: Photo courtesy Kuldeep Kapoor

Photo: Photo courtesy Kuldeep Kapoor

Historic Manji Sahib Gurdwara Bhai Nand Lal ji, Balasaar old Ghazani City.

Kuldeep Kapoor told me that entire Kapoor family lived in a Cul De Sac called ‘Koochai Dewan Ghazni’ in a place called Bala Hessar (hilltop Fort) in a town about 7000ft elevation level called Ghazani. He further told me that he had seen the house of Diwan Nand Lal where his childhood friends pointed towards a famous house of Diwan Nand Lal.  In fact Nand Lal was a very common name and one of his uncle(Masar ji) was also named Nand Lal.

Koochai Dewan Ghazni

Photo courtesy Kuldeep Kapoor

Kuldeep Kapoor, being a trained professional pilot, worked along side USA forces as he was aware of the difficult terrain and could easily communicate with local people. Dare devil as Kuldeep Kapoor is, he served the US Army and saved many people to bring them to safe place by flying innumerable sorties in war pron Afghan area.

When Diwan Nand Lal, after the death of his Dad Dewan Chhaju Mall, left Ghazani and settled down in a place outside Delhi Darvaza, Multan. That neighborhood even today happens to be known as Mohalla Aghapura in Multan now in Pakistan. The family of Bhai Nand Lal got scattered after country’s partition in 1947 and migrated to cities like Amritsar, Patiala, Delhi and a few other places on the basis of opportunities they could get. It’s at this point they adopted their last names as Kapoor/Khanna from the same blood though.

The family also was allotted 800 Acres of agricultural lands in village Badbar District Barnala (erstwhile District Sangrur). Many of the family members who are professionally educated and have now migrated to USA, Canada and Australia.and are very well settled.