tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-85990598079065446622024-03-18T11:12:05.955-07:00Shiraz HassanShiraz Hassanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04697000384383256108noreply@blogger.comBlogger112125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8599059807906544662.post-30684500041140743662016-01-30T04:41:00.003-08:002016-01-30T04:41:49.011-08:00Born of clay, fading into the sands of time<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> It is possible that soon, pottery-making will be nothing more than part of a curriculum restricted to art schools.</td></tr>
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In this part of the world, where the remains of Moenjedaro and Harappa provide the world with glimpses of centuries-old craftsmanship, the tradition of pottery is still deeply rooted. However, the market for clay items, while it does exist, is not large enough to accommodate potters, leaving traditional pottery-making to wither into a dying art.</div>
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It is possible that soon, pottery-making will be nothing more than part of a curriculum restricted to art schools.</div>
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Amidst the old quarters of Rawalpindi in Gawalmandi, surrounded by auto repair shops, there is a small market colloquially known as “kumhaaron ki gali”, or Potters’ Street, which specialises in items made of clay. Historically inhabited by non-Muslims, Muslim immigrants from Eastern Punjab moved to the area after the Partition, replacing the existing Hindu and Sikh population.</div>
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“We migrated from Amritsar, and pottery has been our family business for several generations,” Mohammad Ishaq Butt, who owns a pottery shop in the market, said. He explained that following the Partition, several potters’ families settled in the area and resumed their old trade.</div>
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Along Potters’ Street, a customer can find household items and crockery fashioned out of play. The items range from water tumblers, to water coolers, oil lamps, piggy banks and gardening pots, amongst many others.</div>
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However, despite the existing market, and the centuries’ old tradition, several shop owners say pottery is a lost art.</div>
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“Traditional pottery is long gone,” one shop owner and clay artisan said. He added that clay pots now are manufactured in factories in Lahore, Gujranwala, and other industrial sites in the country. The pots are then brought here and sold.</div>
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The shop owner’s father, who was present at the shop quipped, “We haven’t made pottery for the last three decades – now we just sit here.”</div>
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According to many vendors, the present generation has abandoned the profession entirely, choosing instead to purchase factory-made clay items and sell them. However, there are still some items that are made locally. Amongst them is the traditional clay oven – the tandoor, or huqqa.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Potters' street, Rawalpindi</td></tr>
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These tandoors, which are made from a mixture of black clay and sheep hair, cost between Rs200 and Rs1,500. He said despite gas loadshedding facing many households and restaurants, no one is interested in buying these ovens.</div>
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In Rawalpindi, there are still some spots where one can witness pottery in its traditional form.</div>
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Hasan Ali is a craftsman who still uses traditional methods to make his clay huqqa, in a small compound in Gawalmandi. Ali explained that he learnt the art of pottery from his forefathers. “The art is dying, but we cannot do much,” he added.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A VIEW of one of the few clay workshops at the Potters’ Street in Rawalpindi.</td></tr>
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According to Shahid Waheed, Associate Professor at the National College of Arts (NCA) Ceramics’ Department, “The reason behind the decline of traditional pottery is that many potters are not educated, and have limited exposure to the commercial market.”</div>
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Waheed said that since demand in the market has changed, new techniques more suited to meet the new demand, have evolved, leaving little space for traditional potters and their art.</div>
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“The survival of traditional pottery-making and its craftsmen will be difficult without the government’s support.”</div>
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<em style="box-sizing: border-box;"><a href="http://www.dawn.com/news/1117426/born-of-clay-fading-into-the-sands-of-time" target="_blank">Published in Dawn, July 6th, 2014</a></em></div>
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Shiraz Hassanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04697000384383256108noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8599059807906544662.post-20905714856033947762015-08-04T12:39:00.002-07:002015-08-04T12:40:19.451-07:00'Jab We Met' Again in Rawalpindi <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Maijnjit Singh Ahluwalia and Haji Gul Zaman in Rawalpindi</td></tr>
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This is the voice of Rawalpindi – a city which has a lot to tell about its history and heritage— but only to those who commit themselves to the listening to the tales of this old city.</div>
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And I am one of those lucky souls of this city.</div>
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Mainjit Singh Ahluwalia and Haji Gul Zaman standing at the top of an old haveli somewhere in a narrow street of Bhabhra bazaar, Rawalpindi. But this is the climax of the story.</div>
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Mainjit Singh was just three at the time of partition. He visited his ancestral house and city 30 years ago and he is visiting his ancestral house once again.</div>
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We started out journey from Saidpuri gate, moving towards Chan bazaar and then Bhabhra bazaar. Maihnjit Singh randomly asked me how much is the distance from Saidpuri gate to Bhabhra bazaar. I said 'quite a distance' and he replied "aewein marda minnu pata" and started quickly moving towards the bazaar.</div>
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He kept on moving, taking quick steps. People were amused to see a Sardar ji with blue turban moving around like a kid in the streets. Whoever asked him "kidhar jana Sardar ji?' and he replied "apnay kaar jaana" and then started explaining him his family history..."Koocha Tara Singh ch kar ae, Parchhatti alli galli ch, kithay ae?"</div>
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And it happened again and again. Finally near Sujan Singh Haveli, a middle aged lady helped us. She was so nice and I am really thankful to her. She knew where we really wanted to go. She not only told the way but walked with us around 500 meter till the corner of the street.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In a street of Bhabhra bazaar area, Rawalpindi</td></tr>
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As we enter entered narrow lanes, which were so complex I lost contact with Mainjit Singh, he was moving so fast. Now my quest began to relocate him as he didn't has any contact number or mobile. I asked people in street about Sardar ji and each person told me he went this way, he went that way... and finally a man on bike told me that he dropped him at the haveli with a parchatti, connecting both parts of haveli with a bridge.</div>
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At the gate of haveli I asked the man did you see him and man told that 'he is sitting inside", I mean what?</div>
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When I went upstairs Haji Gul Zaman and Mainjit Singh were gossiping like school fellows. Amazing!</div>
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Words are not enough to explain the feelings. They laughed, cried and hugged.</div>
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They went on the roof and here they were pointing at different areas and buildings, who were who and who lived where. "Eh Koocha Tara Singh, Eh Boota Singh da kaar, Eh Bhagat Chand da, Eh oh, Ethay oh" etc etc.</div>
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And then Haji Gul Zaman presented a brick of haveli to Mainjit Singh Ahluwalia and I believed this brick is not just a piece of stone.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mainjit Singh Ahluwalia and Haji Gul Zaman</td></tr>
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Shiraz Hassanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04697000384383256108noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8599059807906544662.post-10422722899053907942015-01-22T08:12:00.004-08:002015-01-23T01:23:12.144-08:00Vachhowali: This narrow lane has many tales to tell <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Interior view of the temple complex</td></tr>
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To be fair, it was not the first time when my hands shook while clicking a photograph.<br />
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I was roaming around in the walled city of Lahore with <a href="https://twitter.com/sohailabid" target="_blank">Sohail Abid</a>, the dark and narrow lanes, the busy bazaars and a lot of noise. That's what I like about the walled city. Then, we came across a street, a bazaar, known as Vachhowali bazaar. It’s one of the several streets that connect Rang Mahal to Lohari Gate area.<br />
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The bazaar's width is not more than 4 feet. It has jewelry shops, embroidery and wedding dresses and some other stuff like plastic materials used in furnishing houses.<br />
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While walking down the Vachhowali street, Sohail pointed out a sign board, a marble plaque erected at the top of a huge wooden gate, "Sanatana Dharma Sabha, Lahore" was the text, in Devanagari and English.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The marble plaque "Sanatan Dharm Sabha, Lahore"</td></tr>
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It was fascinating to see such a huge gate, around 12 feet in such a narrow bazaar, it was surely a huge complex I assumed. We did Salam/Dua to the persons sitting just inside the gate; they were tailors if I remember correctly. We exchanged some words:<br />
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"Eh mandir aey?" [Is this a temple?]<br />
"Haan ji" [Yes]<br />
"Kithay hai mandir?" [Where is the temple?]<br />
"Idher, hun muk gya, karr ae hun" [Here, now finished, it’s a home now]<br />
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I moved towards the courtyard of the complex, which is no more a courtyard now, the residents of this place have built new rooms here, those newly constructed walls were also in dilapidated condition. It appeared like that there are several families living inside this complex and had made divisions to adjust, accordingly.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizYXixOuS4JDnQ32QBXi3awCybW9zjegR1FkvXXV4LnXEvDlTQLZ9dskuPzw1WPw4PYsYnExPFZfX4C-nm7Kz555iAuwQWEuKr57sywWQhuArp9lUh1xofb01veeekS15HWtuyl0c1uFw/s1600/DSCN2492.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizYXixOuS4JDnQ32QBXi3awCybW9zjegR1FkvXXV4LnXEvDlTQLZ9dskuPzw1WPw4PYsYnExPFZfX4C-nm7Kz555iAuwQWEuKr57sywWQhuArp9lUh1xofb01veeekS15HWtuyl0c1uFw/s1600/DSCN2492.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The huge wooden gate of the temple</td></tr>
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While Sohail was chatting with the guys at the gate, I was looking for the architecture of temple, a dome or any sign.<br />
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Then I saw at my right side, it was this narrow lane, and just at the end of lane there was a temple standing there, hidden among the walls, around twenty feet tall dome, I took out the camera and focused the architecture. But I couldn't press the button. I tried once again. It was just matter of a click. I didn't take the picture. I don't know what was stopping me from taking the picture of this old temple. The situation became disturbing for me. I shook my head. Took a deep breath. Waited for few seconds. Then a little kid appeared from this door and I took this picture promptly. And we left the place.<br />
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Stepping out of this complex, I was satisfied. It made me feel that I didn't break someone's trust. Don't know whose and why.<br />
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Vachhowali. The narrow lane. From Lohari Gate to Rang Mahal.<br />
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Now let’s see what does history say about this area. Kanhiya Lal Hindi, the historian, writes about it. In his book "History of Lahore" (Published 1884), he has mentioned four huge Hindu temples in Vachhowali bazaar and Mohallah Vachhowali. These are "Thakurdwara Jawala Dai", "Makaan Ram Dawara", "Bhero Ji ka Sthan" and "Mandir Bawa Mahr Das"<br />
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There were several other temples too in the area constructed later. One famous temple was <a href="http://www.dawn.com/news/194343/another-temple-is-no-more" target="_blank">Krishna Mandir</a> which has been demolished recently.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk2d7nHYi3-zqX-dbjluCf28pv8UfvHHQnUjP-fwiVM95OL8812ueXNcrwWSa7Hu1ab_4BUrY752Invgo2Uqznr7j_qsFAAr-_e6AuynMi0E42olks-Q7wLYdglOAKfhzxST01RDn6Yao/s1600/DSCN2495.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk2d7nHYi3-zqX-dbjluCf28pv8UfvHHQnUjP-fwiVM95OL8812ueXNcrwWSa7Hu1ab_4BUrY752Invgo2Uqznr7j_qsFAAr-_e6AuynMi0E42olks-Q7wLYdglOAKfhzxST01RDn6Yao/s1600/DSCN2495.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vachhowali bazaar, a portion of bazaar which is relatively wide. </td></tr>
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Three of these old temples were located in streets of Mohalla Vachhowali, but one temple, according to Kanhiya Lal Hindi, was located in the Main Bazaar of Vachhowali and that was "Thakurdawara Jawala Daii". The description he mentioned is his book is quite similar to what we saw at Sanatana Dharma Sabha complex. The huge gate, the high doorsteps and the huge complex.<br />
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I am not sure if it is the same temple. The Sanatana Dharma movement was started in 1921, almost 40 years after this book was published.<br />
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It's an interesting fact that Vachhowali area was also home of migrant Kashmiri Pandits who settled here in mid-1800s. Among prominent figures, the first Indian Judge of Lahore Chiefs Court, Justice Pandit Ram Narain Dar was born in 1849 in his ancestral house in this area.<br />
<br />
It is clear that it was a Hindu dominated area before the partition and surely this temple or complex at Vachhowali had a vital role. I haven't heard or read anything about Vachhowali, but now this is a new chapter I want to explore. A chapter, which remained ignored and abandoned for many years, just like this temple.<br />
<br />
This temple of Vachhowali has many stories to tell of several generations. The Hindu generations who lived here and the Muslim generations who are living here now. The stories of love, hate, violence and survival...<br />
<br />
us gali ne ye sun ke sabr kiya<br />
jane wale yahan ke thay hee nahi<br />
[Jaun Eliya]<br />
<br />
Do our hands also shiver while writing the stories of the past?<br />
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Shiraz Hassanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04697000384383256108noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8599059807906544662.post-9892678600471081682014-07-17T00:56:00.000-07:002014-07-17T01:14:20.120-07:00Dina... Waiting for Gulzar<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA_8j3nai0obBTtl0JgnSZYOIhwqfloWuA_3huNMJrhnMYkMNp1ha-9Iv7kRJEL2vFa-8oi5nnsd00UUrKQ8kVUk8dSlDkiuYo1b7fjLowcJIBynvlApEYn2UytDbP4abg69cbMxD_b1Q/s1600/gulzar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA_8j3nai0obBTtl0JgnSZYOIhwqfloWuA_3huNMJrhnMYkMNp1ha-9Iv7kRJEL2vFa-8oi5nnsd00UUrKQ8kVUk8dSlDkiuYo1b7fjLowcJIBynvlApEYn2UytDbP4abg69cbMxD_b1Q/s1600/gulzar.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gulzar at Dina Railway Station. Picture Courtesy: Mirza Baig</td></tr>
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About a hundred kilometers from the capital city of Islamabad in Pakistan, by the G.T.Road, in district Jhelum, sits the historic town of Dina.<br />
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The same Dina, on whom Gulzar penned his immortal lines:<br />
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<i>Zikr Jhelum ka, baat ho Dine ki. </i><br />
<i>Chand Pukhraj ka, raat Pashminey ki</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
Dina is the birthplace of renowned south Asian poet Sampooran Singh Kalra. Popularly known as Gulzar, he was born in Kurla, a village some 3 kilometers away from Dina, on the 18th of August in the year 1936. Gulzar’s father Makkhan Singh, set up his business and home in the main market of Dina and settled here with his family.<br />
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The house where Gulzar spent most of his childhood and the shop attached to it still stands as a witness to history. Here in Dina, the square on which Gulzar’s home is located and once called Purana Dakkhana Chowk, is known today as Pakistani Chowk.<br />
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<h3>
The Return Home</h3>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIeHamk6iHkzKq64cMHi3_vrJQpMagddL-yb7vGThUJFUSlipoAFTBLgTwleFfmiDWMaN3aOTtvSPY3j3PT-Lu5e1To_BfD0IfXGiBlGkOXbYOTEGMqPP8yx9mlHyk9ojWcKVJ-HnqRhQ/s1600/DSCN9933.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIeHamk6iHkzKq64cMHi3_vrJQpMagddL-yb7vGThUJFUSlipoAFTBLgTwleFfmiDWMaN3aOTtvSPY3j3PT-Lu5e1To_BfD0IfXGiBlGkOXbYOTEGMqPP8yx9mlHyk9ojWcKVJ-HnqRhQ/s1600/DSCN9933.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: justify;">Gulzar was born in Dina, of Jhelum, Pakistan</span></td></tr>
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Last year, when Gulzar returned to visit his birthplace, for the first time after the Partition, he could not hold back his tears on seeing the home he had left many years ago, and broke down. The ancestral home of Gulzar now belongs to one Sheikh family and the members of this family say that they were tenants of the Kalra’s before Partition and was allotted the house post Partition.<br />
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An elderly member of the Sheikh family, advocate Sheikh Abdul Qayum, who is of the same age as the poet was Gulzar’s childhood friend as well. He reminisces, “our homes stood side by side and we went to the same school”. Sheikh Abdul Qayum further adds “when Gulzar came down here, I suggested this lane be named as Gulzar Street, to which Gulzar responded that it would be really great if that did happen!”<br />
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According to Sheikh Abdul Qayum, this lane has remained unchanged for the last seventy years and a part of the Kalras’ house still remained in its original condition. This is where Gulzar’s father Makkhan Singh had once set up his textile shop.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2RQe2R9VRRbTO7gTl4QRYCWDGg40_AmUxDYEnQJB5NHa5__RVN7f3VGGYP3i3H2_ioDH99TGwzabS6yHthiRQuWiP0Vs4mBpJ4hovIv-sjg8ivYs7TaWovrzq-KzajobW3vGh2IfYZ3k/s1600/DSCN9947.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2RQe2R9VRRbTO7gTl4QRYCWDGg40_AmUxDYEnQJB5NHa5__RVN7f3VGGYP3i3H2_ioDH99TGwzabS6yHthiRQuWiP0Vs4mBpJ4hovIv-sjg8ivYs7TaWovrzq-KzajobW3vGh2IfYZ3k/s1600/DSCN9947.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
This is where Gulzar started his
primary education. The school has a block named after him too.</div>
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<span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 16.866666793823242px;">The ancestral home is located in a lane about 4 feet wide. In the other part of this house, new buildings have been constructed</span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">.</span> </span>Residents of Dina comment that when Gulzar came visiting, there was a suggestion to buy this building and turn it into a library, but in the long run, nothing could be done about it. However, after his visit, this street is addressed as Gulzar Street nowadays.<br />
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The government run high school, where Gulzar received his primary education is located in Miyan Mohallah of Dina. Unfortunately, his classroom no longer exists! Javed Ahmed, the current headmaster of the school informs that the part of the old structure which housed Gulzar’s classroom no longer exists. However, he adds that there is a new school block built on what was earlier(during the time Gulzar studied here) the school playground and has been named Gulzar Kalra Block.<br />
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He says “we wish Gulzar to visit again and spend more time with us at the school.” Stating that the school is proud that a student from this institution has won such accolades all over South Asia, Javed goes on to add “the academic records of this school have always been superb but at the same time students from the school have also excelled in the fields of Literature, Art and Sports at the district level.”<br />
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<h3>
The Good Old School Days</h3>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAUln6JpgPFo-n3UodXeJS2zafM6Z_34U3kJtcdvOQyAP8QsDQ9rp74IDd6r3a4YEKqCG9BfUKXkQpzDYerKdNyrAi8o17FGu-zb6l7RS-82GRJcNiejLXC9WFCGeyhYGYHo4lzeDL-YA/s1600/DSCN9969.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAUln6JpgPFo-n3UodXeJS2zafM6Z_34U3kJtcdvOQyAP8QsDQ9rp74IDd6r3a4YEKqCG9BfUKXkQpzDYerKdNyrAi8o17FGu-zb6l7RS-82GRJcNiejLXC9WFCGeyhYGYHo4lzeDL-YA/s1600/DSCN9969.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: justify;">This lane, the location of Gulzar’s ancestral home, is now known as Gulzar Street</span></td></tr>
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The Government High School of Dina had initially started off as a primary school in 1921. It was later converted into a middle school in 1941. It was during this time that Gulzar studied here. Finally, in 1989, the school was awarded the status of a high school.<br />
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Sheikh Abdul fondly remembers that during his Pakistan Yatra(tour), while Gulzar went visiting his alma mater with some of his friends, he was in very high spirits and led the way. To Abdul Qayum, he seemed almost like a little boy happily trotting off to his school. Qayum quipped “ I told him you forgot to carry something, and when Gulzar asked “what?” I replied “your satchel”, to which he smiled ”<br />
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The relation between Gulzar and Dina is a well-known fact today. But it is also equally true that the literary heritage of Dina and the district Jhelum goes a long way back in history. Speaking of the literary scholars, poet Shahzad Qamar from Dina told me that this area had gifted us with some of the most amazingly talented writers and the specialty of these authors lied in the literature of resistance.<br />
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<h3>
The Literature of Resistance</h3>
Starting from the revolutionary poet and trade union leader Darshan Singh Awara to contemporary poets like Tanveer Sapra, Iqbal Kausar and other writers, the literary style is that of resistance. Through their works, they had always raised their voices against all forms of injustice.<br />
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In Qamar’s view, even today, many a poet and writer from Dina are still related to the literature of resistance. When asked about Gulzar’s popularity in Dina, poet Siddique Suraj replied that though everybody knew about Gulzar, his connection to Dina has came into light only after his recent visit to the town.<br />
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In naming a school block and a street after her famous son, Dina and her people express their love for Gulzar. The people of Dina look forward to another trip from the poet, sometime soon. With hope in their hearts and a fervent wish, they eagerly wait for Gulzar!<br />
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<br />
<i>This article was originally published in <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/hindi/international/2014/05/140509_gulzar_pakistan_dina_rns.shtml" target="_blank"> BBC Hindi </a>and <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/urdu/entertainment/2014/05/140510_gulzar_dina_sen.shtml" target="_blank">BBC Urdu</a></i></div>
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Shiraz Hassanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04697000384383256108noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8599059807906544662.post-92014703386532324292014-02-02T09:33:00.001-08:002014-02-03T02:20:41.179-08:00Banni Mai Veero and Muhammad Ishaq: “No I don’t want to visit Ambala”<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIfnkh6gzHgu5IGV8MuXC9ANIeknXxooaR-wANlz9qn2Xsa6a3v-5d-TsEyGuoyWKEMU_PALRWjbiVuGFrGvSclVO9XiLlTG-6ie_1A_O5FJMJHdGzFtLlk0x5N9fnZYZivlDxuO3IUWE/s1600/9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIfnkh6gzHgu5IGV8MuXC9ANIeknXxooaR-wANlz9qn2Xsa6a3v-5d-TsEyGuoyWKEMU_PALRWjbiVuGFrGvSclVO9XiLlTG-6ie_1A_O5FJMJHdGzFtLlk0x5N9fnZYZivlDxuO3IUWE/s1600/9.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Muhammad Ishaq</td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 115%;">The history of Rawalpindi is
a scattered one spread across a vast area. To draw a complete picture of our
history, one has to collect the scattered pieces and put them together. No
doubt it’s quite a difficult task and takes time and patience.</span></div>
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<span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 115%;">Most of us know that
Rawalpindi was used as a convenient route by the invaders coming from North
Western regions and later British Army used the city as one of the most important
cantonments in North Western region of British India in the days of <i>The Great Game</i>. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 115%;">Before the Partition, Rawalpindi
was an urban center mainly populated with Hindus and Sikhs. Even today, one can
see the old remnants of their existence in the old areas of the city in the form
of houses, abandoned temples and gurdwaras. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 115%;">However, during the last
60 years post partition, the city has undergone a lot of changes. The Hindu and
Sikh population migrated to India in 1947 and the city provided shelter to the
Muslim migrants from Punjab, Delhi and Uttar Pradesh. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 115%;">The city of Rawalpindi,
home to several <a href="http://shirazhassan.blogspot.com/2013/01/the-abandoned-mandirs-of-rawalpindi.html" target="_blank">Hindu temples and Sikh Gurdwaras</a>, was also renowned for some
other historic landmarks, be a Dhobi Ghaat, a Haveli or a public space. With
the passage of time and the increase in population the demography of the city
changed gradually. Most of the old and historic places fell victim to the
advent of modernization and gave way to countless commercial buildings, markets
and concrete matchbox structures. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<i><span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 115%;">Mai Veero di Banni</span></i><span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 115%;"> (The Abode of Lady Veero) is one such victim. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHiyPiDAAz1zl5V7_w_RBqZ6t9PucA_vwAmNFHI68hJzvgoT4iKGoQ1IEoTU4i9PMboEReTce8uV3HIWzTXOrICw0PSkpBxkcqHdx2pDBcE2QuugPh36aGxnvjxWkNFNmts0NSHkG9w3M/s1600/5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHiyPiDAAz1zl5V7_w_RBqZ6t9PucA_vwAmNFHI68hJzvgoT4iKGoQ1IEoTU4i9PMboEReTce8uV3HIWzTXOrICw0PSkpBxkcqHdx2pDBcE2QuugPh36aGxnvjxWkNFNmts0NSHkG9w3M/s1600/5.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Video Market where there was a pool.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRxaMws9Yidj4ovnapA5cyTV71ev5TPLiH_67VvANjiH0Y53Rw6BPyd1I02qWUcM5YaNDPcffZrkVf-dAyVCTSdulORl1d4KA2Hxrv6LyI_bBb8kgJaHPGS_VPOmeGeVELbnD4q1sDN6U/s1600/6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRxaMws9Yidj4ovnapA5cyTV71ev5TPLiH_67VvANjiH0Y53Rw6BPyd1I02qWUcM5YaNDPcffZrkVf-dAyVCTSdulORl1d4KA2Hxrv6LyI_bBb8kgJaHPGS_VPOmeGeVELbnD4q1sDN6U/s1600/6.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Video Market where there was a pool</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 115%;">It is said that </span><a href="http://nativepakistan.com/my-old-but-ever-new-pindi-part-2-nostalgic-article-about-rawalpindi/"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 115%;">Mai Veero</span></a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 115%;"> was an aged
Hindu lady, who was saintly in her behavior others and respected among the
masses. <i>Banni Mai Veero</i> was built by
her, for the benefit of the people where they could bathe, swim and rest and freshen
up. It was a sort of a gathering spot, much like the Greek <i>Agora, </i>for the public in the very heart of the city. The water source
of the pool was from a clean water stream nearby (an area on the opposite side
known as Kartarpura).</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 115%;">Some old residents of Rawalpindi say that the area around
<i>Banni Mai Veero</i> was densely populated
by <i>Khatri </i>Hindus<i>.</i><span style="background: white;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjaROlSyHO3uEfIA0N6drGAwd0LYutF61NJxRmXLosyo96vfn3XtdyWSzzVVIhxZrkSP6Fi5nURRtBn1fX9Kb2YlLspT99EYqKvEYXI3YDOuwfUVo0abgleDACBhn1zBOV0ed2nlCahX0/s1600/12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjaROlSyHO3uEfIA0N6drGAwd0LYutF61NJxRmXLosyo96vfn3XtdyWSzzVVIhxZrkSP6Fi5nURRtBn1fX9Kb2YlLspT99EYqKvEYXI3YDOuwfUVo0abgleDACBhn1zBOV0ed2nlCahX0/s1600/12.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Marks of a stream between Kartarpura and Emanabad Mohallah</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 115%;">While hunting for </span><i style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 115%;">Banni Mai Veero</i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 115%;"> I managed to reach the
exact spot where the pool once had been. Today, it is a market housing video
shops. I met the president of the market who, on my request introduced me to
the oldest living person of the area.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 115%;">That is how I met Muhammad
Ishaq, popular in the area as <i>Bhiyya ji</i>,
a <i>Fruit-Chaat</i> seller in this market. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 115%;">Born in Ambala Cantonment
area (now in Indian Punjab) in 1936, Muahmmad Ishaq migrated to Rawalpindi in
1947 along with his family. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 115%;">“I remember it very
clearly; there was a pool here, I used to take bath and swim in it” says Ishaq.
<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 115%;">“When we came from Ambala
we lived in Bazaar Talwaraan, near Raja Bazaar” he added. He goes on to further
narrate that one of his elder brothers was a government employee working in the
Railways and other had a shop of shoes in Ambala. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 115%;">“I also worked for the
Pakistan Railways as porter after partition, for some 20 years” Muhammad Ishaq tells
me while showing his old employee’s identity card. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1AzPrXbNzMM1CYqqayNEvEVCzIHBwc7jeEPl0zOzZccuIbymcPLJgaIM22oUyc61p-wDX813oMepbR1V0KdJWULfj-ej072jONV_NYiaregvKQSU_zqLxW6_yMgbvPc4-SYcbeoctteQ/s1600/DSCN8855.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1AzPrXbNzMM1CYqqayNEvEVCzIHBwc7jeEPl0zOzZccuIbymcPLJgaIM22oUyc61p-wDX813oMepbR1V0KdJWULfj-ej072jONV_NYiaregvKQSU_zqLxW6_yMgbvPc4-SYcbeoctteQ/s1600/DSCN8855.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Railways Identity Card of Muhammad Ishaq</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoPcCA87zhvH_ijBbjq6oUQ_XiWzEsSBNUDAwQ9kvvSCKxX4jtuXwsFXKFslv0J3AgRS5u7_fWxnbGmlJluqNAedzc4P-kU12Ag8Mr7Oa5ObvYPr7MgK3i4L3K0dFxVTSl9vTtMOpw8x0/s1600/8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoPcCA87zhvH_ijBbjq6oUQ_XiWzEsSBNUDAwQ9kvvSCKxX4jtuXwsFXKFslv0J3AgRS5u7_fWxnbGmlJluqNAedzc4P-kU12Ag8Mr7Oa5ObvYPr7MgK3i4L3K0dFxVTSl9vTtMOpw8x0/s1600/8.jpg" height="313" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Muhammad Ishaq in his good old days</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 115%;">Initially, Ishaq started his
</span><i style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 115%;">Fruit Chaat</i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 115%;"> business in Raja bazaar,
as a part time engagement later shifting his shop to the newly built market
where the government allotted stalls to the street vendors. This market, he
adds, was built in 1980s right on the same spot where the pool of Banni Mai Veero’s
once had been.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 115%;">Needless to say, today there
are no traces of any pool anywhere near the market that was built in 1982 and
inaugurated on May 5, 1982. The market
has more than one hundred shops, most of them selling CDs and DVDs and a few repairing
shops for electronic appliances. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 115%;">So, what happened to the
pool? Muhammad Ishaq recalls confidently that back when the pool did exist, the
water had been clean and fresh, there had been stairs on all sides of the pool.
People used to take bath and women washed clothes there. There were even fresh
water fish in water!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 115%;">Unfortunately people eventually
started polluting it. The link to the stream that was the source of the water to
the pool was cut off; new houses were built and the pool slowly dried up. It did
not take much time for the locals to turn the place into a garbage dump.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 115%;">Probably that was how <i>Mai Veero di Banni </i>made a silent exit
from the history of Rawalpindi.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 115%;">Much later, the city
district government planned to use this place for commercial purposes and built
the market in 1982. But the businesses that initially set up shop here didn’t really
flourish. It was only in the late 80’s when the VCR culture was “exported” to
Pakistan (mostly by the overseas Pakistanis in Middle East) the market
gradually became the hub for VCR and video films, as there was a huge demand for
VCR and Indian film VCD rentals. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 115%;">The main square outside
the “video market” still goes by the name of “Banni chowk”, though some people
tried their best to change its name to “Sunni Chowk” (Why Sunni Chowk? Because
the main procession of Ashura Juloos ends here with Zanjeer-zani: hope you will
get the hint). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-wIl-osOuUbtxSJMC6wrVdXUtdvKaXU3m-mgwKpIejDKoeUtBU8LSCQ8i9Xxib6bjTN9PX6iJ29ohAR_dhH9mcqTqN-s6HUoDeZ_m6vvE_Kp6pPT4N6c768GN2My9v5RSUJVDFPYzBB0/s1600/10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-wIl-osOuUbtxSJMC6wrVdXUtdvKaXU3m-mgwKpIejDKoeUtBU8LSCQ8i9Xxib6bjTN9PX6iJ29ohAR_dhH9mcqTqN-s6HUoDeZ_m6vvE_Kp6pPT4N6c768GN2My9v5RSUJVDFPYzBB0/s1600/10.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Banni chowk, Rawalpindi</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPhI1DOkLAvSiyqSa43Cyy4o-Tfpi_HHIxLHbX3NlemvSOEK6PKryGqiUflfzmkUOITfOCD6RzXLP31HTntMsYf3nTiQ2aah6gx5jVAAN_xXVzDD2UeKTsrcXv_G7f53aRpQakpf-Jpok/s1600/11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPhI1DOkLAvSiyqSa43Cyy4o-Tfpi_HHIxLHbX3NlemvSOEK6PKryGqiUflfzmkUOITfOCD6RzXLP31HTntMsYf3nTiQ2aah6gx5jVAAN_xXVzDD2UeKTsrcXv_G7f53aRpQakpf-Jpok/s1600/11.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Flowers shops out side Video Market (or Mai Veero's pool)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 115%;">Once, there used to be a
Tonga stand outside the market at Saidpur Road, which is now turned into a <i>Qingqi</i> (Motorcycle Rickshaw) stand.
Added to this crowd are numerous shops selling flowers and materials for wedding
decorations. This area is also known for its <i>desi </i>food culture.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 115%;">Muhammad Ishaq looks back
at the past and reminisces that he has seen the changing demographics of the
city. “The city wasn’t this noisy, but now it’s traffic and people everywhere”,
he almost laments. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 115%;">When I asked him why his
family chose to settle down in Rawalpindi and not in any other city, he replied
that they had some relatives in Rawalpindi, so they came here. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 115%;">“Do you want to see Ambala
once again?” I asked him as I was preparing to leave.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 115%;">“<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=8599059807906544662" name="_GoBack"></a>No,
I don’t want to go to Ambala. Everything has changed. We have some relatives in
Delhi and some other cities in India, but the elders have all passed away and their
children don’t know us”, he answered ruefully.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 115%;">“But there would be no
Visa issue for you, you know that… “ <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 115%;">“I know visa restrictions
are relaxed for senior citizens (above 65), but why would I go there? Nobody
knows me there. That was in the past and that time has passed” he replied this
time, almost matter-of-factly. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 115%; text-align: justify;">Then I hugged and thanked
him and walked away, promising to meet him again, very soon. </span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAkiMO0DwX5-1zJY94kcTcfaplVChO0AeuUExv77lcKz0MiRbVvihDfmlWdNbE_RasLQy41b4CgD3T3eeNU99Uaa4J5nX5aXpvHlAqdYfLysVk3kg-kAllvTiXngi7iXogucuzilpC2hY/s1600/untitled.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAkiMO0DwX5-1zJY94kcTcfaplVChO0AeuUExv77lcKz0MiRbVvihDfmlWdNbE_RasLQy41b4CgD3T3eeNU99Uaa4J5nX5aXpvHlAqdYfLysVk3kg-kAllvTiXngi7iXogucuzilpC2hY/s1600/untitled.JPG" height="320" width="280" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Current map: Source Google Maps</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju-BitKmkAi_PEOYBa_R9LnMcaqnXJ2-FYGPnvbCvfeL0Fy-X1mFEOEV6qTAA-ARzZskdPxh-Wq-5BZknVsphNh59Jh-7AED6bu0-2uz_hQDzMn4U8qyGgAVW0wEt94phTRl0MIEoaqtQ/s1600/pool.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju-BitKmkAi_PEOYBa_R9LnMcaqnXJ2-FYGPnvbCvfeL0Fy-X1mFEOEV6qTAA-ARzZskdPxh-Wq-5BZknVsphNh59Jh-7AED6bu0-2uz_hQDzMn4U8qyGgAVW0wEt94phTRl0MIEoaqtQ/s1600/pool.jpg" height="320" width="224" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pre-partition map. Source: The Survey of Pakistan</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
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Shiraz Hassanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04697000384383256108noreply@blogger.com10Banni Chowk, Saidpur Road, Rawalpindi, Pakistan33.6215613 73.06202710000002333.6199078 73.059505600000023 33.623214800000007 73.064548600000023tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8599059807906544662.post-84372848296324788202014-01-22T00:40:00.000-08:002014-01-22T00:41:16.731-08:00The Punjab, Punjabi and the contradiction within<a href="https://twitter.com/share" class="twitter-share-button" data-url="http://shirazhassan.blogspot.com/2014/01/the-punjab-punjabi-and-contradiction.html" data-text="The Punjab, Punjabi and the contradiction within" data-via="ShirazHassan">Tweet</a>
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<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsOVnFAdYXqaEbubihukC27p13XiBdCY1hzsqJidvmHkHecROXPKKnXbJbLLQQhKEjTYnLlMxzc_AwoFd4mox39v0o73HEHmeyuxyS_sLNY0KgUyqBIQDgJUXelZOKF0oT-PiBR0dW8Yc/s1600/DSCN8800.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsOVnFAdYXqaEbubihukC27p13XiBdCY1hzsqJidvmHkHecROXPKKnXbJbLLQQhKEjTYnLlMxzc_AwoFd4mox39v0o73HEHmeyuxyS_sLNY0KgUyqBIQDgJUXelZOKF0oT-PiBR0dW8Yc/s1600/DSCN8800.JPG" height="342" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A rare sight: A shop displays sign board in Punjabi "Billay di Hatti" [Shop of Billa] in Raja Bazaar, Rawalpindi. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Over the last few weeks, I have been meeting children from
different parts of Punjab. They were between 3 to 5 years of age, and included
the children of my friends and extended family. I was pleasantly shocked to
hear these kids speakin Punjabi. “Kithay
chalay o”, “aa ki aey”, “ki karde paye o” are some of the Punjabi phrases I
recall having heard.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Punjabi is the most widely spoken language across Pakistan.
However, most of the people in Punjab, especially in urban centers, do not
encourage their children to speak their mother tongue, Punjabi. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
But “kids will be kids” and they will always find ways to
learn new things. So, through methods best known to children, they quickly pick
up the language, continuously learning (mimicking to be more precise) from various
people around them and their parents, as the adults speak in Punjabi among
themselves regularly. The end result is that the children learn Punjabi quite effortlessly;
such is the beauty of mother tongue.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Incidentally, in your average Pakistani school, a child goes
through the experience of learning two new languages, English and Urdu. As
reading Quran and prayers are also considered as mandatory teachings in the
Pakistani society, he / she learns Arabic as well. So, a 3-5 year old child in
Punjab starts to learn almost four languages at this stage. Other than this,
the teaching of all other subjects is also via the medium of Urdu or English.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
However, as far as the effectiveness of learning is
concerned, it is in the best interest of any child that primary education be
imparted in mother tongue. Children learn more efficiently and quickly if he /
she start learning various subjects in his / her mother tongue instead of learning
a completely new language first. This is the reason when a 3 year old enrolls
in a nursery class he / she naturally reads “Meem Kukri” instead of “Meem Murghi”
(which is enforced on him / her) because he / she already knows and relates to
the picture of a hen as a “Kukri”. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
However, in Pakistan, it is a popular practice to label a
child as an “illiterate” and “uncivilized” if he / she speaks in Punjabi. This
is why parents try their best to refrain from speaking in Punjabi with their
kids. Somehow, one cannot blame the parents as the harsh reality is when a 3 or
4 year old kid enrolls in school and begins to speak in Punjabi with the other
children or teachers, he / she is promptly tagged as “illiterate”. Needless to
say, it’s quite depressing for young minds. Naturally, the parents want to
prevent this from happening. Hence, the mother tongue is sacrificed.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
In addition to this, there are strong arguments that
“talking about ‘people not encouraging their children to speak Punjabi or their
mother tongue is like dishonoring their mother’ is just a hollow slogan”. This
line of argument strongly believes that it is common knowledge that in real
life knowing Punjabi is not of any use and learning Urdu and English are more
important for education and a career. When I look at the current scenario, I
realize that for all practical purposes this line of thinking is not entirely
wrong. One has to get a job after all! Again, Punjabi is forced out.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Frankly speaking, discrimination against the Punjabi
language is nothing new in our society. It started during the British period
with the end of Sikh rule in Punjab. Later, it was somewhat obtusely assumed
that Urdu is the language of Muslims, Hindi,of Hindus and Punjabi, of Sikhs. By
this oversimplified formula not only our land divided on the basis of religion
but languages were also divided on the same basis. Today, in Indian Punjab one observes
the regular usage of Punjabi everywhere – signage on the highways, in schools,
colleges, universities and in public offices. This is exactly why Mian Shehbaz
Sharif, the Chief Minister of Pakistani Punjab, while visiting the Indian counterpart
delivered a speech in Punjabi to win their hearts!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
But I am afraid I have rarely heard the Chief Minister of Punjab
or any other leaders delivering a speech in Punjabi in Gujranwala, Faisalabad
or any other city of the Pakistani Punjab. This is what I call the inferiority
complex of us Punjabis in Pakistan. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
It is obvious that Punjabis are living in some kind of confusion.
It is a bitter truth that Punjabis have gradually destroyed their own language, as
we never confidently owned it. Inspite of being the largest spoken language in
Pakistan it is not taught in any schools! You wouldn’t find any sign boards in
Punjabi anywhere in Punjab (except “Billay di Hatti” shops in various
cities). As I see it, the future of
Punjabi in Pakistan is not bright. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Strangely, quite contradictory to this phenomenon of our
self-denial, there is this interesting practice of Punjabi being popularized all across,
without Punjabis even wanting it to! And the reason behind this is the
televised musical program, Coke Studio – Pakistan.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
I am sure, you would have heard on countless episodes of Coke
Studio, numerous <i>Kalams</i> of Baba Bulleh
Shah or Sultan Bahoo being performed by the participants. Be it Bulleh Shah or
any other Sufi poet of Punjab, it is becoming quite a fashion to be associated
with their music as an enthusiast. Don’t we simply love to listen to them and
share Punjabi music by whatever means available to us and feel good that they project
the secular and moderate culture of Punjab? Many people were introduced to Baba
Bulleh Shah or Punjabi Sufis after the launch of Coke Studio. I feel, it is
quite ironic that today we actually rely on a corporate giant and thankful to
them for introducing Punjabi to the world because at the same time, we hate
this language too!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=8599059807906544662" name="_GoBack"></a>This contradiction in our behavior
baffles me completely.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
However, I see rays of hope, coming from completely
unexpected quarters though. Recently, a friend who shifted from Karachi to
Lahore, complained “why the hell everyone speaks Punjabi here? I spoke to
Rickshaw drivers, shopkeepers and a few other people and everyone replied to me
in Punjabi!” It was a welcome realization that Punjabis have not completely
given up on their mother tongue, at least not yet. It was a relief that at
least a visitor to Punjab has realized that Punjabi is the language of Punjab. Deep
inside, that made me immensely happy.</div>
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<a href="https://twitter.com/share" class="twitter-share-button" data-url="http://shirazhassan.blogspot.com/2014/01/the-punjab-punjabi-and-contradiction.html" data-text="The Punjab, Punjabi and the contradiction within" data-via="ShirazHassan">Tweet</a>
<script>!function(d,s,id){var js,fjs=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],p=/^http:/.test(d.location)?'http':'https';if(!d.getElementById(id)){js=d.createElement(s);js.id=id;js.src=p+'://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js';fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js,fjs);}}(document, 'script', 'twitter-wjs');</script>Shiraz Hassanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04697000384383256108noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8599059807906544662.post-64472129125891634392013-11-25T08:39:00.002-08:002013-12-04T01:37:51.708-08:00The other side of the city: Parsi Cemetery in Rawalpindi <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8R7NSQemunN3vcxUMkzhP0ZLd2ISd1wYPFpZoVdQApjRVCUPIxiwGRaGDO6PmHl8CGs7qbiij1C4Cli67rLUvBCI7ZEiRtXTHLl0MkvicEVEAU0Lx6UdVgVcpZAuh7hl_g6lAjZg7W3o/s1600/DSCN7075.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8R7NSQemunN3vcxUMkzhP0ZLd2ISd1wYPFpZoVdQApjRVCUPIxiwGRaGDO6PmHl8CGs7qbiij1C4Cli67rLUvBCI7ZEiRtXTHLl0MkvicEVEAU0Lx6UdVgVcpZAuh7hl_g6lAjZg7W3o/s400/DSCN7075.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
“I am working here for more than 20 years and during this
time none of the elders or even a kid spoke harshly to me” – the 70 year old
man told me, while clipping the grass at the lawn of the Parsi Place of Worship. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
“I am their employee and they are always so polite to their
workers”, he added. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
I guess Baba realized I wanted to know more, and this
encouraged him to look back and reminisce. “Once some leaders from the
community visited while I was having my lunch. I was about to leave it halfway
and get up, in order to serve them. They simply asked me to finish my lunch,
take rest and only then come and serve them. That’s how they were, always!” He
fondly remembered.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
My journey to this amazing place kick-started when a couple
of months back my friend told me about the existence of a Parsi Place of
Worship somewhere at Murree Road, Rawalpindi.
As I have a keen interest in heritage buildings and old architecture, I
kept on searching for this place. I asked around, spoke to people residing in
the area but none of them had any idea about such a place!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8sJ1Ltv18PYpMaoCoc2I_GoTwRw_MqnzrTgsgvhraP5sq9OkHAm-RAlW4a0BeC-3KNTwCQUHPcCp49qHFonBE1E9rLDPNVI70Sjx6nTwSgQKTeQaFTZ90vff4D_53g3w2eB2Zoofcg6o/s1600/DSCN7082.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8sJ1Ltv18PYpMaoCoc2I_GoTwRw_MqnzrTgsgvhraP5sq9OkHAm-RAlW4a0BeC-3KNTwCQUHPcCp49qHFonBE1E9rLDPNVI70Sjx6nTwSgQKTeQaFTZ90vff4D_53g3w2eB2Zoofcg6o/s400/DSCN7082.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
The irony of the situation is that most of the people living
in Rawalpindi (or may be in other cities as well) are too busy with their own
lives and do not have the time to look around or know much about their own
locality, even if it is right next door. No wonder, this sheer neglect and
indifference is turningour historic landmarks into ruins, right in front of our
eyes. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Anyway, after many such visits around the city, I finally managed
to find out the exact location of the place and one fine Sunday morning I went
out to visit the place.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
As it is, Murree Road is the commercial hub of Rawalpindi
city. Moreover, near the Benazir Bhutto Hospital there is a sprawling jewelry
market and one cannot even imagine that amidst this congested area there could
exist a historic landmark! </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
However, it is a fact that hidden behind these lavish
jewelry shops, there is indeed the Parsi Worship Place that I had been looking
for. I already knew that such a place, according to Parsi traditions, would be
called a “Fire Temple” and I was excited that finally I had my chance to
explore it in detail.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
As I reached the area, close to the location, I came across
a commercial place, and took the lane behind it. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
My earlier experience with several old Temples and Gurdwaras
had prepared me well and I was expecting to walk into an old building in ruins,
its architecture in shambles, its walls crumbling and the ever-present foul
smell of garbage rising from its grounds. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
And here came a pleasant surprise as I came face to face
with a completely different scene! A red-bricked single story building stands
there. Neat, clean and well-maintained. The path below was shadowed and lined
with rows of tall trees of Evergreen and Dates variety. It was a treat for the
eye and I was taken by surprise, almost awestruck.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE0_obuPDTn9ijQ6xFlvd7DCgcchrIiDUBtLiEzniCwa5iOzonmBUN4VkIAWqvsIeOQT_XVs7WgBpEViWNFrWCu0GuUicUGOTWg6GDn0CEGDJTSHzVewG3wPvGYCC6xRbb8vIruAMAxMc/s1600/DSCN7087.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE0_obuPDTn9ijQ6xFlvd7DCgcchrIiDUBtLiEzniCwa5iOzonmBUN4VkIAWqvsIeOQT_XVs7WgBpEViWNFrWCu0GuUicUGOTWg6GDn0CEGDJTSHzVewG3wPvGYCC6xRbb8vIruAMAxMc/s400/DSCN7087.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
One the right hand side there stood an old colonial style building
and in front there was a gate to the Parsi Graveyard. A lush green lawn surrounded
the building and an old man was busy with his gardening tools, digging the clay
and cutting the grass. It was a peaceful scene.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
The stone plate at the gate of read: </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<i>“This cemetery <o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<i>together with the
buildings well and compound wall was erected to perpetuate the memory of the late
Set Jahangiriji Framji Jussawala<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<i>and<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<i>Set Jamasji Hormasji Bogha<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<i>both of the Rawalpindi
Parsi merchants <o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<i>by their respective
grandsons <o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<i>Set Dorabji Cowasji Jussawala<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<i>and<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<i>Set Nasarwanji Jehangiriji
Bogha<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<i>Shahshai month Tir 1367,
January 1898”<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
The graveyard was also very calm and clean. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
I asked the old man(the gardener)if the Place of Worship was
still functional.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
“Yes” he nodded, “There are some 30 to 40 Parsi families in
Rawalpindi and whenever someone passes away in their community they perform
funeral and religious rituals here” </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuUjpRNWy9m-dj9ur5jjZPAHSssAj5azMA1UYT7zcBYT73pIECf8AxVr-nQqCzxgmMeYWqB2zBcq9fyjPnPlYeCelQRX707fPDFMiQuTjWH9nDFVinDELRjeUsQ1uZ8AghHIFh1GETPkY/s1600/DSCN7086.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuUjpRNWy9m-dj9ur5jjZPAHSssAj5azMA1UYT7zcBYT73pIECf8AxVr-nQqCzxgmMeYWqB2zBcq9fyjPnPlYeCelQRX707fPDFMiQuTjWH9nDFVinDELRjeUsQ1uZ8AghHIFh1GETPkY/s400/DSCN7086.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
A member of Rawalpindi's Parsi community Feroze Bhandara tells that "It is not a Parsi temple. There is none in Rawalpindi. However this <i>bungli</i> is part of our Parsi graveyard and is used for the purpose of washing the dead bodies and saying last rites." Mr. Bhandara is currently based in Houston, United States and his brother Minno Bhandara of Rawalpindi is buried here.<br />
<br />
Mr. Bhandara says that "About ten years ago the frontage along Murree Road for our Parsi grave yard was illegally taken over by developers who have built shops along Murree Road and literally blocked off access into the grave yard. Proceeding in this case are pending in the local courts."<br />
<br />
Given that we all know that there was a Parsi community (mostly
merchants) in Rawalpindi, some hundred years ago, it was indeed news for me
that they still live in Rawalpindi in present day and time!<br />
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The old gardener also informed me that this place belongs to
the owner of a famous brewery company and they often visit this place to pay
homage to their elders buried at this graveyard. </div>
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I also noticed that the doors to the building are kept locked
and the whole premises is well<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=8599059807906544662" name="_GoBack"></a> taken care of. </div>
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While walking back,what I felt was immense joy and relief
that a place of worship, which belongs to a minority community of Pakistan, is
well managed and looked after. </div>
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All I can wish for is to see our tolerance towards the other
religious minorities in Pakistan and that we live along with each other in
harmony, peace and prosperity. </div>
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Text and Photos by: Shiraz Hassan</div>
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Shiraz Hassanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04697000384383256108noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8599059807906544662.post-36187760247843494042013-10-17T09:13:00.000-07:002013-10-17T09:14:13.403-07:00Ansar Abbas: The blast tore his arms but not his spirit<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left;">Ansar Abbas uses his computer with his feet after losing his arms in a tragic suicide attack. PHOTO: SHIRAZ HASSAN</span></td></tr>
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<strong style="color: #555555; font-size: 13px;">Pakistan has been a <a href="http://tribune.com.pk/story/592586/dealing-with-terrorism-dialogue-is-not-the-only-option-says-nawaz/" style="border: 0px; color: #666699; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">hotbed of terrorism and militancy</a> for almost a decade now. </strong><strong style="color: #555555; font-size: 13px;">In this period of time, more than 50,000 people have become victims of terrorism with the north western areas being especially vulnerable to militancy and bloodshed. Many Pakistanis see the country’s future as dark and hopeless, however, Ansar Abbas is not one of them.</strong></div>
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Syed Ansar Abbas, aged 30, is one of the many victims of terrorism that has plagued Pakistan. He lost both his arms in a <a href="http://tribune.com.pk/story/236115/remembrance-hospital-blast-victims-memorial-ceremony-held/" style="border: 0px; color: #666699; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">suicide attack</a> in Dera Ismail Khan. However, despite such a grave and life-altering tragedy, he is still hopeful and passionate about the days to come. With an indomitable spirit he says,</div>
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“I don’t like to be labelled as disabled or a victim”.</div>
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Currently working as a news editor with a news agency in Pakistan, Ansar is pursuing his career confidently and hopes to make Pakistan a better country. He also worked as a field monitor in DI Khan for PakVotes for the recently concluded <a href="http://tribune.com.pk/story/579832/by-elections-in-na-48-constituency/" style="border: 0px; color: #666699; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">by-elections</a>.</div>
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The life of Ansar Abbas is a true story of hope and resilience.</div>
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He hails from the north western city of Dera Ismail Khan. Son of lawyer Syed Muzaffar Shah and youngest among his ten siblings, he belongs to a noble family in his district.</div>
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Ansar drew inspiration from his father, as he was well connected to literary circles. This also encouraged Ansar to take up Mass Communication as a subject for his Masters’ degree at the Gomal University, DI Khan. Having completed his Masters’ in 2006, he began his career as a journalist with a national daily.</div>
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Looking back in time, he recalls,</div>
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“I was passionate about writing since my childhood; my father was my inspiration, and hence I chose to be a journalist.”</div>
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However, as fate would have it, around five years ago his life changed forever.</div>
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On August 19, 2008, while in Dera Ismail Khan, Ansar came to know about a target killing incident in the city. He reached the district hospital along with other reporters where he learnt that the victim belonged to his family. Soon, many of his family members and others gathered at the hospital. There was a crowd of some 200 people there when tragedy struck; a suicide bomber blew himself up, resulting in a death toll of 32 people. More than 50 people were injured, and Ansar was one of them. He narrates how around 20 of his relatives and friends died on that tragic day.</div>
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Recalling the incident he says,</div>
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“I guess I was in my senses after the blast, or maybe I wasn’t, but I saw my arm cut off from my body laying in front of me.”</div>
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If this trauma was not enough, both his legs were also fractured in the blast. He was sent to Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) hospital, Islamabad the next day for treatment, where he was operated on almost 50 times in six months. He recovered physically with the passage of time but lost his arms.</div>
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Ansar’s real arms were replaced by artificial ones which he cannot even move – such is the sorry state of <a href="http://tribune.com.pk/story/308815/healing-miseries-turning-tears-of-pain-into-tears-of-joy/" style="border: 0px; color: #666699; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">prosthesis in Pakistan</a>.</div>
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Yet, Ansar did not lose hope. He did not give up, and he moved on.</div>
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He says it, in a matter-of-fact tone,</div>
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“What had happened cannot be undone; it’s time to move forward, to live my own life”</div>
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And that is what he has successfully done.</div>
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He restarted his career in journalism with a renewed vigour. Though it took almost two years to fully recover, he started using the computer while sitting on a wheelchair at home, and he learned to use his toes as his fingers till he mastered the skill of typing with his feet.</div>
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Ansar started using social media and connecting with people from different parts of the world. He wrote blogs and articles narrating various incidents of terrorism in his home town, criticising the militancy and addressing terrorism related issues. Last year, he completed another Masters’ degree in Political Science.</div>
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He says,</div>
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“The internet gave me a new lease to life. I was not used to the internet earlier, but after this incident, it has opened new gateways to the world for me. Now I read news, write and edit articles. This is how I keep myself busy.”</div>
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An activist, Ansar Abbas is keen on working for social welfare. He, along with other people of his area, organises sports and other events for the welfare of Dera Ismail Khan. He is also helping an organisation working for disabled individuals, which once helped him too.</div>
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In Pakistan, <a href="http://tribune.com.pk/story/566372/4-injured-in-peshawar-blast/" style="border: 0px; color: #666699; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">sectarian killings</a> are on the rise and the people of the north western areas of Pakistan, especially Dera Ismail Khan, still remain the main victims of sectarian killings.</div>
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Incidentally, Ansar thinks otherwise; according to him, DI Khan was once known as the city of flowers. There were no sectarian killings among Sunnis and Shias in the past. He also believes that sectarian harmony among the local people still exists. He says that right after the the suicide bombing incident, the first person to donate blood to him did not even belong to his sect.</div>
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He goes on to narrate that DI Khan is home to the famous graveyard of Chah Syed Munawar Shah where not only the Sunni and the Shias bury their loved ones, but several Christians are even buried in the same grounds. Moreover, the mosque next to the burial ground is open for all sects and both the Shias and Sunnis offer their prayers in same mosque. He adds,</div>
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“That is an excellent example of sectarian harmony and I doubt you would find such an example anywhere else.”</div>
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Given from where he is coming, Ansar is not in favour of negotiating with the militants and also critical of the role of government and security forces to counter terrorism.</div>
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“If incidents like Bannu and Dera Ismail Khan jail breaks continue then how will we eradicate terrorism?” he asks.</div>
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Confident and hopeful that someday in the near future Pakistan will see peace again, Ansar pays a rich tribute to the people of Pakistan, who, in spite of countless acts of terrorism that devastate their lives, are still moving forward.</div>
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<span style="color: #666666;">“Pakistanis are brave people and they will never let militants to takeover this country,”</span> says Ansar, a proud, hard working Pakistani himself.</div>
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This article was originally published at <a href="http://blogs.tribune.com.pk/story/18560/ansar-abbas-the-blast-tore-his-arms-but-not-his-spirit/" target="_blank">Express Tribune</a> </div>
Shiraz Hassanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04697000384383256108noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8599059807906544662.post-89323168274159111352013-08-23T04:49:00.003-07:002013-08-23T06:10:57.209-07:00Now we won’t let war happen <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: justify;">Jan 17, 2013: International sand artist Sudarsan Pattnaik creates a sand sculpture influenced by skirmishes along the India-Pakistan border with a message "Violence never brings permanent peace". Pattnaik created a 5ft high sculpture at Puri beach of Odisha, India. The sculpture shows flags of two countries with two faces symbolizing the armies of both countries, facing each other at the LOC. "We want peace," said Sudarsan. /AFP photo</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The India-Pakistan peace process, which went into a state of impasse after the 2008 Mumbai attack, has not been reinstated yet. And now it seems a formidable task to get the peace process, which got derailed after the terrible incident, on track and moving again. When asked about the issue, this is what an Indian journalist had to say: </span>‘‘<span style="font-family: inherit;">155 people were killed in Mumbai. The Indian government had to take some retaliatory step, and so it sacrificed the peace talks.’’ India had accused Pakistan for the attack and gave a death sentence to Ajmal Kasab, who was indicted in the incident.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Prime Minister Mian Mohammad Nawaz Sharif has been indicating on several occasions before and after the recently concluded general elections in the country that he is in favour of establishing congenial relations with India and for sorting out issues through negotiations across the table. But since January this year, incidents of firing at the Line of Control (LOC) between the two countries and the killings of troops and civilians on both sides of the border have not allowed the peace talks to progress.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">It should be noted that the recent LOC skirmishes and those in January this year did not trigger too much agitation in the Pakistani media and political environment. With the exception of some television anchors and leaders of some religious parties, for others the question of ‘’honour’’ did not douse their eagerness for peace. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif even repeated the invitation to his Indian counterpart for a dialogue, although it was not accepted. Though resolutions were passed in Pakistan’s National Assembly and the Provincial Assembly of Punjab regarding Pakistan’s security and against the ceasefire violations by India at the LOC, the moot point is that no serious enragement/retaliation was voiced. On the other hand, the Indian Lok Sabha also passed a resolution against Pakistan. It is also noteworthy that in his recent address, Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Pervez Kiyani did not mention the LOC confrontation at all, and focused mostly on internal threats.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The state of affairs within Pakistan does not make it conducive for it to bring up new issues at this time. While in FATA, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan and Karachi, terrorism has to be countered and contained on an urgent basis, government and security forces have been unable to come up with a clear policy to fight and end terrorism. What is noteworthy is that in this entire scenario, India is not held with much suspicion, obviously due to lack of enough evidence.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"> The government and security forces are trying to fight terrorist groups in their own ways.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Recently, on the Indian Independence day, both Prime Minister Manmohan Singh as well as BJP leader Narendra Modi voiced anti-Pakistan sentiments. Elections are round the corner in India and political parties there resort to anti-Pakistan sloganeering to gather public support and also to fan nationalist sentiments. Whether it is the ruling Congress party, or the right wing Bharatiya Janata Party, both try to outdo each other in Pakistan bashing. However, it is not in the interest of either the two countries or of the entire South Asia region if the unfortunate incidents at the LOC lead to straining of bilateral relations between the two neighbors.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">We can only hope that in the given circumstances, the leaders of both the countries display foresight instead of emotions. Both the countries should fight together to eradicate poverty and cooperate to improve conditions in the spheres of education and health.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Sixty six years have passed since Independence and Partition. If the two countries cannot sort out their differences through negotiations across the table even now after fighting three wars, even the next 100 years will be made hostage to “nationalist” frenzy. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Perhaps it is time to reiterate the lines of former Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpyaee regarding managing political relations between the two countries and contributing to establishing a peaceful global order:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"> “Ab ham jang na hone den gey, Hum ab manav ko aisey maut ki neend na sonay dein gey”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">(Now we won’t let war happen, we won’t let human beings die like this...)</span></div>
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Shiraz Hassanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04697000384383256108noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8599059807906544662.post-45525006796131686532013-03-27T12:56:00.007-07:002013-03-28T04:10:05.461-07:00Holi Celebrations in Rawalpindi<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Holi - The Festival of Colors - celebrated across Pakistan by the Hindu community of the country. </div>
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In Rawalpindi, there are hardly 600 Hindu families, mostly belonging to the Valmiki sect of Hinduism. There are two Valmiki and a Krishna Mandir in Rawalpindi. With the Colors of Holi being still in the air, sharing some photographs of a Holi celebration at the Valmiki Mandir in Rawalpindi. </div>
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The curator of the temple, Shri Jagjit Bhatti says that “ tell the world that Hindus in Pakistan are celebrating Holi in its full colors and glory, we are safe here.” This Valmiki Mandir, located at Chaklala area of Rawalpindi is a temple from the pre-partition era. It was built in 1935 and active since then. Post partition, most of the Hindus migrated from the area, thus drastically reducing the Hindu population in the city to bare minimum. This Valmiki Mandir is among the three active temples of the city where Hindus come to pray and celebrate their religious festivals on a regular basis.</div>
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A friend comments that these are sad pictures. The faces in these pictures reflect their minority status and not their religious freedom or their festive mood - as Holi is not a 'temple festival’ to be celebrated indoors, in the evening, but rather a celebration out in the open, during the day.</div>
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I have no words to counter my friends observation, but all I have, are these photographs and they are what I would like to share with you.</div>
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Shiraz Hassanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04697000384383256108noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8599059807906544662.post-78358966235323978332013-03-17T10:58:00.000-07:002013-03-17T12:12:24.901-07:00Kalyan Das Temple: Blindfolded Heritage Sees Humanity Eye-to-Eye<a class="twitter-share-button" data-hashtags="Rawalpindi" data-text="Kalyan Das Temple: Blindfolded Heritage Sees Humanity Eye-to-Eye" data-url="http://shirazhassan.blogspot.com/2013/03/kalyan-das-temple-blindfolded-heritage.html" data-via="ShirazHassan" href="https://twitter.com/share">Tweet</a>
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<b>Kalyan Das Temple: Government Qandeel Secondary School, Rawalpindi</b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Blindfolded Heritage Sees Humanity Eye-to-Eye</span></b></div>
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A trek through the old areas of Rawalpindi reveals to us many examples of old architecture: silent testimonies of our heritage, narrating tales of our past, stories of our land. Unfortunately, these exponents of our history are in a state of utter neglect and cry out for immediate attention by the authorities.</div>
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In the middle of the area that is commonly known as Kohati Bazaar, one can see the dome of a temple which is almost blinded by the high walls of an academic institution. Here stands one of the beautiful, historic landmarks of the city: Kalyan Das Temple.</div>
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Outside this building, you can see the board of Government Qandeel Secondary School for visually impaired children. On entering the main gate of the school, one is at once confronted with the sight of a magnificent architectural form which stands right in the middle of the school courtyard</div>
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As I entered the building, I turned to the security guard, and queried him casually, "I just want to see." He nodded his head in agreement and asked me to go ahead.</div>
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This temple was named after a generous resident of Rawalpindi, Kalyan Das, who laid its foundation stone in 1850s, and it is said that it was completed in 1880. The Kalyan Das temple is believed to have had more than 100 rooms and was spread over an area of about seven acres, besides a vast pond around the main temple building.</div>
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According to some reports, Kalyan Das had no children but his brother had. One of the grandchildren of his brother is Saghir Soori, the owner of Saghir Apartments — the tallest residential tower in Delhi. Kalyan Das’ family had a residence by the name Soori Building in Kartarpura (a locality near Kohati Bazaar), which is now known as Noori Building.</div>
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One of the significant facts of the Kalyan Das Temple is linked to the Amarnath Yatra, which is an important religious ritual in Hinduism. Hindu pilgrims used to stay at this temple en route to Amarnath in the mountains of Jammu and Kashmir, making it a very important place for Hindu worshippers</div>
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Like many other temples of the city, in 1947, during the partition of India, Kalyan Das temple was also left abandoned as the Hindu population left the city. Today this magnificent architectural piece still stands tall but the complex has been brutalised and vandalised over decades and is in a state of decay.</div>
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The beautiful paintings engraved on the walls of the temple are fading away; the damp roof of the main architecture pours in rainy days. The rooms of the main complex are used as store rooms and are kept locked. The idols are missing but their marks attract the attention of visitors. The many spires in the temple complex are still imposing but 60 years of neglect has made them colourless. The white paint used to brighten a canopy inside the complex has, in fact, buried its original floral work.</div>
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After the partition and migration of the Hindu population from Rawalpindi, the temple remained functional. In 1956, it was taken over by the Auqaf Department and survived as a place of worship until 1958 when a school for the blind, started by Begum Farooqi, was shifted into the complex. At that time it had a Baradari with rooms for worshippers, a pond and an Ashram.</div>
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In 1973, the school was taken over by the Punjab government. A new building was erected for the school in 1986 during the time of General Mohammad Zia-ul-Haq, when the wave of Islamisation was in full boom. It was the time when the original buildings surrounding the temple, the rooms and the pond were demolished and deprived of their beauty. A seminary nearby acquired almost half of the temple land.</div>
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The security guard at the school’s gate said that Muslims vandalised the temple at the time of partition. In 1992, in the wake of the demolition of the historic Babri Mosque in Ayodhya (Uttar Pradesh) by Hindus, when several Hindu temples were demolished across Pakistan, luckily the school administration prevented this temple from meeting the same fate.</div>
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"Its our national heritage and we should preserve it," the security guard asserted!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixMODRAhTXHhJ0jpfQ1AJn3aedswNPS8-nTmrIp6jAfMePg_kEIdVwDVBHa9n0Qepd5LMrHRNbAdkQsm2PIZsJaWNNy90CS0zBJ2598m7-kkflG2W2FIGdLLaqo77wpvZ0ydYfjIsNZeE/s1600/DSCN4625.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixMODRAhTXHhJ0jpfQ1AJn3aedswNPS8-nTmrIp6jAfMePg_kEIdVwDVBHa9n0Qepd5LMrHRNbAdkQsm2PIZsJaWNNy90CS0zBJ2598m7-kkflG2W2FIGdLLaqo77wpvZ0ydYfjIsNZeE/s400/DSCN4625.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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According to him, some people in the school’s administration are thinking of demolishing the temple to increase the space for the school. But there are some good people too who do not wish so, he added, urging that this heritage building should be renovated so that it doesn’t meet any mishap.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSr-LQHs_Y9lOpZ0L4ccPS6HDmfB1NJUblSPhl7Gj1jFK3vbME1LZnj2uPxso9AIhyphenhyphenKrB4Tj4BOR3Jk5nPA3USjaZO1hoSquYTj-Ix61czkfx99qwX-tYxRfhXvGqAKFWQYTvAsnCI3zw/s1600/DSCN4623.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSr-LQHs_Y9lOpZ0L4ccPS6HDmfB1NJUblSPhl7Gj1jFK3vbME1LZnj2uPxso9AIhyphenhyphenKrB4Tj4BOR3Jk5nPA3USjaZO1hoSquYTj-Ix61czkfx99qwX-tYxRfhXvGqAKFWQYTvAsnCI3zw/s400/DSCN4623.JPG" width="276" /></a></div>
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The Punjab government has constructed some new rooms and hostels for the visually impaired students of the school in the complex. It can be claimed that despite its decaying condition, this temple is still much better preserved as compared to other abandoned temples of the city.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN9AsrK4kAxCMP8oT-_Z6zMgxM22MI2yyyveo1cJRkJxVOHoqwz2a9UWPjtDCiH5hjTjjcyhD_x7TFMFQulCNwOt6oc8qmqLSEpvSh2kwM0qQmixkqd2IOlC_ak8tj8uB_-bJq6MgN30I/s1600/DSCN4615.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN9AsrK4kAxCMP8oT-_Z6zMgxM22MI2yyyveo1cJRkJxVOHoqwz2a9UWPjtDCiH5hjTjjcyhD_x7TFMFQulCNwOt6oc8qmqLSEpvSh2kwM0qQmixkqd2IOlC_ak8tj8uB_-bJq6MgN30I/s400/DSCN4615.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
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I saw some visually impaired kids playing cricket in the school yard. I asked one of them named Mustansir, “What are you doing here?” He said, "I am studying." On asking what he was studying, he said, "ABC and 123." It made me smile. When I was leaving, he urged me, "Where are you going, stay here!"</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt6GRYbl1PqVnuAXUTQBhtTlNwwACj2REa7IYJuluxVsb0w4ZGC0rStofNTz49bZ1PE-z1uRWsRvFm5LN6Y5MlEvOJGilDB9WzqGcm2vfmXDrjh2wRYgg9JrsDMAxGIK7CwMyf_8AqQM4/s1600/DSCN4620.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt6GRYbl1PqVnuAXUTQBhtTlNwwACj2REa7IYJuluxVsb0w4ZGC0rStofNTz49bZ1PE-z1uRWsRvFm5LN6Y5MlEvOJGilDB9WzqGcm2vfmXDrjh2wRYgg9JrsDMAxGIK7CwMyf_8AqQM4/s400/DSCN4620.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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In my view, this is the best use that an abandoned temple can be put to: for providing shelter and home for visually impaired kids. And I think Kalyan Das will also not be annoyed with us, seeing this magnificent building being used for a good cause.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA-E8jPvfFdX63Ez_wTW2BLbzpGLO0XJ8j_PmjyEH_tjmJ4TOAlSdJqyRet-nZxqZ71EDlEGDlS_WeFuYB62mZLeXW49Yn8OO6c40gGOZ2qufWHc0p-zbHlbx5rO0aXUapIk-9fRbaEwo/s1600/DSCN4622.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA-E8jPvfFdX63Ez_wTW2BLbzpGLO0XJ8j_PmjyEH_tjmJ4TOAlSdJqyRet-nZxqZ71EDlEGDlS_WeFuYB62mZLeXW49Yn8OO6c40gGOZ2qufWHc0p-zbHlbx5rO0aXUapIk-9fRbaEwo/s400/DSCN4622.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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That said, it is also true that this architectural marvel is in desperate need of renovation and restoration work and the government must take notice of this need; this is not just an abandoned place of worship, but also an important heritage site of the city. And given the noble cause that it endorses now, this place serves to provide a huge symbolic impetus to people to open up their eyes blinded by hatred. </div>
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<a class="twitter-share-button" data-hashtags="Rawalpindi" data-text="Kalyan Das Temple: Blindfolded Heritage Sees Humanity Eye-to-Eye" data-url="http://shirazhassan.blogspot.com/2013/03/kalyan-das-temple-blindfolded-heritage.html" data-via="ShirazHassan" href="https://twitter.com/share">Tweet</a>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Dastangoi: The Art of Story-telling</span></h2>
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<span style="font-size: 10pt;"><i>Mahmood Farooqui and Danish Hussain narrate the tale of 'Dastangoi'</i></span></h2>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAc489GFpZ1JDY1qq18FTeeR_uk8LsZmD3FG_KgTSXGzCSxBYhgdqQMq67oG6wSTt205DQYTWe5tCC41QnFskZyjGUSoOSGA_6WT_RV1N63f98J8v0RsHEy0MF5gV-95VAvPJ0u9JXft4/s1600/Dastangoi+(5).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAc489GFpZ1JDY1qq18FTeeR_uk8LsZmD3FG_KgTSXGzCSxBYhgdqQMq67oG6wSTt205DQYTWe5tCC41QnFskZyjGUSoOSGA_6WT_RV1N63f98J8v0RsHEy0MF5gV-95VAvPJ0u9JXft4/s400/Dastangoi+(5).jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Danish Hussain and Mahmood Farooqui performing Dastangoi</td></tr>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">It’s a silver moon setting. An ethereal throne
on a luminous floor, flanked on either side by thick cushions and ‘paan-daan’,
with two celestial beings in velvety white clothes adorning the throne. A whiff
of a gesture and a gentleman gets water in dazzling silver bowls for the duo.
They both take little sips of water and clear their throat...and then one of
them begins, spinning a yarn:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">These times when the heart is nobody’s
destination</span></i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">When stones are used to pay respects to glass</span></i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In these times, the infidel voices of the
heart, with defiance</span></i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The one who kept voicing, he was called
Manto </span></i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Manto, who kept consuming poison all his life,</span></i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">And kept calling for ‘life’ all his life</span></i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Peeling the layers of culture’s wounds of
deception</span></i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">He kept avenging for us humans all his life</span></i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(‘<i>Ye daur jisme dil ka nahi hae koi maqaam</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Patthar se kar rahaa hae jo sheeshe ka
ehteraam</span></i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Is daur mein bajurrate rindaanaa dil ki baat</span></i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Kahtaa rahaa thaa koi to Manto thaa uskaa naam</span></i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Manto ki jisne zahar piyaa hae ba har nafas</span></i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Aur zindagi ka naam liyaa hae tamaam umr</span></i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Tahzeeb ka khurach ke harek gaazaa e fareb</span></i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Insaan ka inteqaam liyaa hae tamaam umr</span></i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">’)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In response, the second <i>Dastango</i> (a
person delivering the <i>Dastangoi</i> performance) continues: “Manto
was a 14-15-yr-old boy when I first saw him. A thin boy with a broad,
black-framed pair of spectacles, ruffled hair, fair complexion, medium height,
and an attractive voice. He would say things off the beaten track and think out
of the box. He spoke and wrote fluently in English…” And thus the story begins.
The audience is already listening with rapt attention, mesmerized by the scene
and the performance.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Dastangoi</span></i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">, an ancient form of theatrical art in the subcontinent, is a
special genre which presents both sad, epic tales and romantic stories. The
genres of stories and novels in Urdu literature can be said to have developed
from this art form, which could even be called a lost and forgotten metaphor in
Urdu literature. The legendary Urdu poet Mirza Ghalib said: “<i>Dastangoi</i> is
a fine art which is a good source of entertainment (‘Dastaan taraazi mann jumla
funoon-e-sukhan hai, sach hai ke dil behlaane ke liye achcha funn hai’).”
According to Urdu writer Kalimuddin Ahmed, <i>Dastangoi</i> is a
long, detailed and complex style of storytelling. Famous Urdu scholar Gian
Chandra Jain says that the literal meaning of <i>Dastangoi</i> is that of a
story, a tale, a narration, whether it involves a poetic form or prose or
opinion making. The story always has a relation to the past/history–it could be
a natural and realistic tale or unnatural and fictional. According to famous
writer Shams-ur-Rahman Farooqi, <i>Dastangoi</i> is basically a form of
‘performance’. In the Preface of his work </span><i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Saahiri, Shahi, Sahib-e-Qurani, Dastan Ameer
Hamza ka Mutaala</span></i><i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(Volume 4), he says that a <i>Dastan</i> (story)
might be written and published several times, but its language and form has to
be essentially that of the oral tradition of storytelling. It is meant to be
narrated verbally and heard.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Storytelling is a tough art. A <i>Dastango</i> is
expected to have an ocean of words and expressions at his fingertips. He
creates an entire milieu through voice modulation, painting various scenes.
Sentences with punch, enticing language and an ability to sketch such images
that keep the audience at the edge of their seats, curious about what will
happen next––this, in a nutshell, is the art of <i>Dastangoi</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The practice of translating Persian stories
or <i>Dastan</i>s to Urdu began in Lucknow at the end of the 19<sup>th</sup> century.
It was during this time that Mir Baqir Ali was famous in his art of <i>Dastangoi</i>.
His maternal grandfather Mir Aamir Ali and his maternal uncle Mir Kaazmi Ali,
both of them acclaimed <i>Dastango</i>s, were associated with the Dilli
Durbar. But after Mir Baqir Ali, for a very long time, we don’t find any major
name connected to the art of <i>Dastangoi</i>. And in the present time, one has
to look hard to even find the traces of this art form, which was once believed
to be the pride of Awadh and Dilli.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Mahmood Farooqi and Danish Hussain, two young
men in Delhi, were so moved by this loss that they tried to revive the
tradition and within a few years, they were successful in their attempt to
infuse a new lease of life into this theatrical genre. Their group that
presents <i>Dastangoi</i> recently visited Lahore from Delhi and staged
performances at various places. They had a candid, detailed conversation
with this reporter about the art of <i>Dastangoi</i>and its
revival in the contemporary world.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Much of the credit for the revival of <i>Dastangoi</i> can
be given to Mahmood Farooqi. Talking about his first brush with this art from,
Farooqi said that he heard the <i>Dastan</i>s (stories) from his
granduncle, famous Urdu writer and critic Shams-ur-Rahman Farooqi, who has also
authored a book on <i>Dastangoi</i>. It was Shams-ur-Rahman Farooqi’s
book <i>Saahiri, Shahi, Sahib-e-Qurani, Dastan Ameer Hamza ka Mutaala</i> that influenced
him immensely with regard to the art of <i>Dastangoi</i>. “I have always
been interested in theatre and films but this book opened up the doors of the
new world of <i>Dastangoi</i> for me. Initially I was preparing to
make a documentary film on <i>Dastangoi</i>. For that I started
investigating the history of this art form. I read many <i>Dastan</i>s and
wrote quite a lot on the subject. I was immensely impressed by the art form and
was totally in the grip of its magic,” Farooqi, who has a Masters in History
from Oxford University, confessed, adding that much before he presented the <i>Dastan</i>s
on the stage, he was deeply moved by the elements of humour, drama and the
lucidity and succinctness with which so much was said in the <i>Dastan</i>s
in so few words. “I was very influenced by the story of Ameer Hamza and
his heroic fight with various negative forces, and the stories of Afra Sayaab
and Umroo Ayyaar. I strongly felt that the <i>Dastan</i>s could be
presented on the stage in the manner of <i>Dastangoi</i>.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Farooqi said that he got a chance to undertake
detailed research on the tradition of <i>Dastangoi</i> when a Delhi-based
non-government organization, Sarai, granted him a fellowship for this work.
“During that time, I also gave a lecture on <i>Dastangoi</i> at India
International Centre in Delhi, and that was when I got an opportunity to
present this art form before common people,” he said. As a student of history
and a theatre artist and a student of this art form, Farooqi believes that many
idioms went into making the genre of Dastangoi–literature, theatre, history and
a novel way of presenting history. <i>Dastan Ameer Hamza</i>, which is in
46 volumes, helped the art of <i>Dastangoi</i> reach its peak. These
stories, which are hundreds of years old, still interest the audience, but the
art from was becoming extinct and hence they decided to put in efforts to
revive it, he mused.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Initially, Farooqi staged <i>Dastangoi</i> performances
alone. But following Shams-ur-Rahman Farooqi’s advice, in May 2005 he decided to
have two persons present these stories and after that Danish Hussain joined him
in the performances. Farooqi feels that this change increased the entertainment
value of the performances since it included dialogue between the two <i>Dastango</i>s
and the atmosphere became more interactive. He gave his first<i>Dastangoi</i> performance
with Danish Hussain in Mumbai in 2006 and from then, <i>Dastangoi</i>, the
art form, embarked on a fresh journey. The two performers have already
enthralled audiences with over 500 spellbinding performances in India and other
countries. They are also currently training some 15-20 youngsters in this
theatrical form, and each one of the students has already staged some 30
performances!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Farooqi and Hussain suggest that the
theatrical art of <i>Dastangoi</i> should also receive patronage and
be developed in Pakistan. Since at present there is no group in the country
that performs <i>Dastangoi</i>, they offer to guide any Pakistani artist
who wishes to be trained in this form.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Regarding
his own journey vis a vis <i>Dastangoi</i>, Danish Hussain said that <i>Marsia
goi</i> (elegy performance) was at the root of his interest in <i>Dastangoi</i>,
adding that <i>Marsia-goi</i> of the works of classical Urdu elegy
(‘marsia’: elegy) writers, Mir Anis and Mir Dabir, is quite similar to <i>Dastangoi</i> in
its impact. “I have read and have been impressed by <i>marsia</i> writers
since my childhood. But there is a little difference between <i>Marsia goi</i> and <i>Dastangoi</i>–as
an art form, <i>Dastangoi </i>has similarities with <i>Marsia goi</i> but
the former is very secular in its core. It is not associated with any specific
community or group. Anyone can present it anywhere,” Hussain explained. He said
that till mid1990s, he was associated with <i>Marsia-goi</i> and
theatre, and was also employed in a bank. But in 2002 he left his job with the
bank and since then has been totally dedicated to <i>Dastngoi</i> and
theatre. He also shared that a radical turning point in his theatrical journey
came when he acted in legendary playwright Habib Tanvir’s famous play
‘Agra Bazar’, which was adopted from the life story of Nazir Akbarabadi
and is one of the finest theatre plays in Urdu.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The two <i>Dastango</i>s recalled that
when they first started performing, this art form had almost gone extinct in
India and they had to go through a tough phase to revive this beautiful part of
the subcontinent’s literary and cultural heritage. Initially they were not very
optimistic about succeeding, they confess, but with time, they managed to win
the hearts of the audiences and got them interested in their storytelling. They
also pointed out at another crucial aspect of the revival of <i>Dastangoi</i>.
Urdu, about which once upon a time the famous Urdu poet Dagh Dehlavi had said,
“It is us who know the language called Urdu, the language that is so immensely
popular worldwide (‘Urdu hai jiska naam humi jaante hain "Daagh"/</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Saare jahan mein dhoom
hamari</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> zabaan ki hai’),
has now been unfortunately overshadowed by English and Hindi in India and does
not enjoy such popularity and favour. In such an atmosphere, presenting <i>Dastangoi</i> in
Urdu is a very encouraging step for the Urdu language too, they noted. Farooqi
further observed that although the status of Urdu in India is almost like a
minority language now, they perform <i>Dastangoi</i> in Urdu and have
done so in many cities where the audience’s Urdu proficiency would be low, but
still they have received considerable appreciation and acclaim.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Regarding their performances in Pakistan, they
said that they have performed 5 times in the country and the greatest joy in
performing here comes from the fact that the audience here is more proficient
in Urdu as compared to India and so they relish the language and the dialogues
much more and understand the contexts better. As a result of the their
understanding and enjoying the performances more, the appreciation received
here is also more.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Expanding further on their journey with <i>Dastangoi</i>,
Mahmood Farooqi said that they initially used extracts/stories from ancient
epics like <i>Tilasm Hoshruba</i> and <i>Dastan</i> <i>Ameer
Hamza</i>in their performances. Presenting these stories before modern
audiences was a unique scene and a successful experience, and their art form
received a lot of appreciation in cosmopolitan cities like Mumbai and Delhi.
However, they slowly started creating new<i>Dastan</i>s (stories) too. This was
a difficult task which required not only a high level of proficiency in the language,
but also the art of creating a story and retaining the story element in the
narrative–all these skills had to be woven together. But they did it. Some of
the <i>Dastan</i>s that they created and presented as <i>Dastangoi</i> were:
The Partition Tale, Mantoiyat, Chauboli, Sedition, and Ghare Baire (based on
Rabindranath Tagore’s novel).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The enthusiasm of the two artistes, however,
is tempered with pragmatism. Danish Hussain believes that it may not be
possible to fully revive the art from of <i>Dastangoi</i> to the extent
of making it mainstream. But he feels that through their efforts, they are
increasing people’s awareness of their heritage and history and creating in
them a love for a lost art form and tradition. This is their biggest
achievement. Hussain also pointed out that as an art form,<i>Dastangoi</i> is
more difficult than regular theatre, but the benefit is that one doesn’t
require any special sound system or other infrastructural elements for this. As
an example, he reminisced about his <i>Dastangoi</i> performance on
the stairs of Delhi’s famous Jama Masjid, and underlined that it was one of the
most memorable experiences of his personal theatrical journey.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Elucidating further on the art form, Mahmood
Farooqi observed that after being lost for a long time, the traditional art
of <i>Kissagoi</i> (“kissa”: story) or <i>Dastangoi</i> was
now emerging as a new genre of theatre, a parallel theatre form. In this
regard, he touched upon the ever persistent debate about mainstream cinema
and theatre versus serious/parallel cinema and theatre. He said that the
audience for the latter is limited in numbers everywhere in the world and it
would be unfair to compare the two. Bollywood has its own place and
characteristics and serious cinema and theatre shouldn’t be compared to it.
There is more scope for experiments in serious theatre and films and it is in
these that people get to see unique things. Notably, Mahmood Farooqi was also an
assistant director and writer of the critically acclaimed film ‘Peepli Live’
produced by Aamir Khan and Kiran Rao. He had assisted the film’s
director Anusha Rizvi.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Highlighting the egalitarian nature of <i>Dastangoi</i>,
Hussain said that this art form can be appreciated by all sections of society,
which is how it should be, since no art form should be made niche and reserved
for any specific section. Having sad that, he affirmed that a look at history
will reveal that various traditions that began in the subcontinent at the
grassroots and were meant to cater to all sections of the society (like various
types of performances that happened in <i>Dargah</i>s, village squares (<i>chaupal</i>s),
or as street theatre) suffered utter neglect and were now becoming extinct. The
persistent quest should be to not let that happen.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Jameel Noori Nastaleeq'; font-size: x-large;">گوردوارہ پنجہ صاحب</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">حسن ابدال کا حسنِ بے مثال</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Jameel Noori Nastaleeq'; font-size: 18px; text-align: start;">تحریر و تصاویر: شیراز حسن</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Jameel Noori Nastaleeq'; font-size: 18px;">قدرتی حُسن سے مالا مال حسن ابدال کی حسین وادی امن و محبت کا آفاقی درس دینے والے صوفیاء اور سورماؤں کی سرزمین کے طور پر اپنی شناخت رکھتی ہے۔ حسن ابدال، راولپنڈی کے شمال مغرب میں تقریباً 50کلومیٹر کے فاصلے پر واقع ضلع اٹک کی ایک پر فضا سیر گاہ ہے۔ شمالی علاقہ جات کوملانے والی قدیم شاہراہِ ریشم، لاہور سے پشاور جانے والی جرنیلی سڑک کو حسن ابدال کے مقام پر ہی ملاتی ہے۔ حسن ابدال کا شہر قدیم زمانے سے ہی بین الاقوامی شاہراہوں کے اتصال پر واقع ہونے کی وجہ سے عروس البلاد کی شکل اختیار کر چکا تھا۔ کاروباری سرگرمیاں نقطہ عروج پر تھیں کیونکہ اطراف کے قصبوں اور بیرونی ممالک سے آنے والے قافلے یہاں ٹھہرتے اور درآمدو برآمد کیا جانے والا تمام مال مقامی منڈی سے ہو کر گزرتا تھا۔ شاید یہی وجہ تھی کہ گردشِ ایام ہررنگ و نسل کے لوگوں کو کھینچ کر یہاں لے آئی۔ آج اس پر امن شہر کی آبادی مختلف نسلوں اورمذاہب کے رنگا رنگ خوشنما گلدستے کا نمونہ پیش کرتی ہے۔</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Jameel Noori Nastaleeq'; font-size: 18px;">حسن ابدال اپنے خوبصورت تاریخی مقامات اور سکھ مذہب کی ایک اہم عبادت گاہ گردوارہ پنجہ صاحب کی وجہ سے بین الاقوامی شہرت کا حامل ہے۔ ہر سال دنیا بھر سے ہزاروں سکھ زائرین بیساکھی کے میلہ اور دیگر اہم مذہبی تہواروں کے موقع پر گردوارہ پنجہ صاحب پر حاضر ہو کر اپنی مذہبی رسومات ادا کرتے ہیں۔ </span><span style="font-family: 'Jameel Noori Nastaleeq'; font-size: 18px;">حسن ابدال کے دیگر اہم تاریخی مقامات میں مقبرہ لالہ رخ کے نام سے مشہور مغلیہ دور کا ایک مقبرہ اور بابا </span><span style="font-family: 'Jameel Noori Nastaleeq'; font-size: 18px;">ولی قندھاری کی چلہ گاہ شامل ہیں۔</span><span style="font-family: 'Jameel Noori Nastaleeq'; font-size: 18px;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Jameel Noori Nastaleeq'; font-size: 18px;">حسن ابدال مذہبی و تاریخی حوالوں سے دو اہم شخصیات کے باعث منفرد اہمیت کا حامل ہے۔ یہ دوشخصیات بابا ولی قندھاری اور سکھ مذہب کے بانی بابا گرو نانک ہیں۔ مورخین کے مطابق بابا ولی قندھاری کا اصل نام حسن تھا اور حسن ابدال شہر انہی کے نام سے منسوب ہے۔بابا ولی قندھاری مرزا شاہ رخ ابن تیمور کے ہمراہ تقریباً 1408ء میں قندھار، افغانستان سے تشریف لائے تھے۔ اس شہر کی تاریخی اور سیاسی حیثیت کے پیش نظر انہوں نے یہیں رشد و ہدایت کا سلسلہ شروع کرنے کا فیصلہ کیا اور اپنے قیام کے لیے قریبی پہاڑی چوٹی کا انتخاب کیا۔ ان کے حسنِ اخلاق نے بہت سارے مقامی افراد کو ان کا گرویدہ بنادیا اور لوگ دور دور سے آ کر کسبِ فیض کرتے اور علم و حکمت کے گراں بہا موتی سمیٹتے۔بابا ولی قندھاری ایک طویل عرصہ یہاں قیام کے بعد قندھار واپس لوٹ گئے اور وہیں ان کا وصال ہوا، جہاں آج بھی ان کا مزار مرجع خاص و عام ہے۔</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Jameel Noori Nastaleeq'; font-size: 18px; text-align: start;">موجودہ دور میں حسن ابدال کی گوردوارہ پنجہ صاحب کے حوالے سے دنیا بھر کے سکھوں کے لیے مقدس مقام کے طور پر اپنی شناخت ہے۔ سکھ مذہب کے بانی اور پہلے گرو بابا گورنانک دیو، شیخوپورہ کے گاؤں بھوئے دی تلونڈی (موجودہ ننکانہ صاحب) میں 1469ء میں پیدا ہوئے۔ اس وقت ہندوستان پر سلطان لودھی کی حکومت تھی۔ بابا گورو نانک بت پرستی کے خلاف تھے اور فلسفہ وحدانیت کے قائل تھے۔ انہوں نے بلا تفریقِ قوم و مذہب، امن و محبت اوربھائی چارے کے پیغام کو عام کیا۔ وہ اپنے دو چیلوں مردانہ مطرب اور بالا کے ہمراہ دنیا کی سیرکونکلے اور مکہ مکرمہ کی زیارت سے بھی مستفید ہوئے۔ بابا گورونانک اسلامی تصوف اورہندو یوگ سے متاثر تھے۔ آپ کے عقیدت مندوں میں ہندو اور مسلمان دونوں شامل تھے۔ یہی وجہ تھی کہ جب آپ کا انتقال ہوا تو ہندوؤں اور مسلمانوں میں تنازعے نے سر اٹھایا۔ ہندو ان کی ارتھی جلانا چاہتے تھے اور مسلمان دفن کرنے پر مصر تھے۔ چنانچہ بابا گرونانک کی وصیت کے مطابق ان کی آخری رسومات کو اگلے دن تک مؤخر کر دیا گیا۔ دوسرے روز جب ہندو اور مسلمان موقع پر پہنچے تو دیکھا کہ پھول تو بدستور تازہ تھے مگر جسد خاکی غائب تھا، یوں امن پسند اور محبت کے داعی نانک نے مرنے کے بعد بھی لوگوں کو کشت و خون سے بچا لیا۔</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Jameel Noori Nastaleeq'; font-size: 18px;">سکھ روایات کے مطابق بابا گرونانک اپنے مرید بھائی مردانا جی کے ہمراہ جب حسن ابدال میں قیام کے لیے آئے تو پہاڑی پر قیام پذیر بابا ولی قندھاری سے پانی طلب کیا ۔ سکھ روایات کے مطابق بابا گرو نانک نے تین بار بابا ولی قندھاری سے پانی طلب کیا جس پر بابا ولی قندھاری نے انکار کر دیا۔ جس کے بعد بابا گرو نانک نے زمین پر سے ایک پتھر ہٹایا تو پہاڑی کے دامن سے ایک چشمہ بہہ نکلا اور دوسری جانب پہاڑی پر بابا ولی قندھاری کا چشمہ سوکھ گیا۔ اس پر بابا قندھاری نے طیش میں آ کر ایک وزنی چٹان نیچے لڑھکا دی جسے بابا گورونانک نے روکنے کی کوشش کی اور ان کے ہاتھ کا نشان اس پتھر پر ثبت ہو گیا۔ یہ وزنی پتھر آج بھی گور دوارہ کے صحن میں موجود ہے اور یہاں آنے والے سکھ یاتری اس اس پتھر کو مقدس سمجھتے ہوئے اس کی زیارت کرتے ہیں اور اس کے ساتھ بہنے والے چشمے کا پانی پیتے اور اس سے اشنان کرتے ہیں۔</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Jameel Noori Nastaleeq'; font-size: 18px;">کچھ مورخین اس واقعہ کی صداقت کے حوالے سے سوال بھی اٹھاتے ہیں۔ بدھ ادب میں بھی ایسا ہی ملتا جلتا واقعہ مہاتما گوتم بدھ کے ساتھ منسوب ہے۔ جب ان کے چچا زاد بھائی دیودت نے انہیں قتل کرنے کی سازش کی اور مہاتما بدھ نے پہاڑی کی چوٹی سے لڑھکائی جانے والی چٹان ہاتھ سے روک لی۔ اس جاتک کہانی کی حجری تختی آج بھی ٹیکسلا کے عجائب گھر میں محفوظ ہے، ہو سکتا ہے کہ اس تاریخی قصے کے کرداروں کے نام بابا گرونانک اور ولی قندھاری کے رنگ میں رنگ دیئے گئے ہوں یا پھر دونوں مختلف روایات بھی ہو سکتی ہیں۔</span></div>
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حسن ابدال کا پرانا گوردوارہ انیسویں صدی کے شروع میں پنجاب میں سکھ دور حکومت کے دوران 1830ء میں ہری سنگھ نلوہ (تاریخ وفات 1837ء)نے تعمیر کرایا تھا جس میں بعد ازاں گوردوارہ پر بندھک کمیٹی نے توسیعی کام انجام دیا۔ تحصیل حسن ابدال سے متصل ہری پور قصبے کی بنیاد بھی ہری سنگھ نلوہ نے ہی رکھی تھی اور آج بھی یہ شہر ان کے نام سے مشہور ہے۔<br />
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گوردوارہ پنجہ صاحب کی عالی شان عمارت ولی بابا قندھاری کی چلہ گاہ کے سامنے واقع ہے۔ اس گوردوارہ کی مرکزی عمارت سفید اور پیلے رنگوں سے آراستہ ہیں۔ مرکزی عمارت کے ساتھ ہی پنجہ صاحب کے نشان والا پتھر اور وسیع تالاب ہے جہاں سکھ یاتری اشنان کرتے ہیں۔ اس کے علاوہ وسیع صحن ہے اور چاروں جانب یاتریوں کے مہمان خانے اور لنگر خانے تعمیر کیے گئے ہیں۔ ہر سال یہاں آنے والے سکھ یاتریوں کے لیے حکومت پاکستان کی جانب سے خصوصی اقدامات کیے جاتے ہیں ۔<br />
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گوردوارہ کے سامنے پہاڑی کبھی بابا ولی قندھاری کی اقامت گاہ رہی تھی۔ اب یہاں آس پاس بکریاں، مور، بطخیں، مرغیاں اور کبوتروں کے غول کے غول منڈلاتے نظر آتے ہیں۔ یہ چرند پرند زائرین سے بھی خاصے مانوس ہیں اور ان کی آمد سے بے نیاز اپنے آپ میں مگن رہتے ہیں۔ منتوں اور مرادوں کے ضمن میں عقیدت مند پانی سے بھرے گھڑے اٹھا کر پہاڑی پر لاتے ہیں۔ بجلی کے آ جانے سے برقی روشنیوں اور رنگ برنگے قمقموں نے بھی رونق دوبالا کر دی ہے۔ خدام الفقراء کی جانب سے لنگر و نیاز کا باقاعدہ انتظام ہوتا ہے۔ گاہے گاہے قوالیاں بھی سننے کو ملتی ہیں۔</div>
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حسن ابدال کا یہ حُسن ہے کہ فطرت کے حسین نظاروں سے مالا مال ہے، سرسبز ہریالی اور قدرتی چشمے جہاں آنے والے سیاحوں کو خوش آمدید کہتے ہیں وہیں یہ شہر مذہبی ہم آہنگی کا بھی ایک دلکش امتزاج پیش کرتا ہے۔</div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Jameel Noori Nastaleeq'; font-size: 18px;"><i>یہ مضمون روزنامہ <a href="http://jehanpakistan.com/" target="_blank">جہان پاکستان</a> میں شائع ہوا تھا</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Jameel Noori Nastaleeq'; font-size: 18px;"><i>For English version <a href="http://shirazhassan.blogspot.com/2012/04/peace-seekers-at-peaceful-place.html" target="_blank">Click here</a></i></span></div>
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<a class="twitter-share-button" data-hashtags="Sikhs" data-text="The pearl of Hasan Abdal: Gurdwara Panja Sahib" data-url="http://shirazhassan.blogspot.com/2013/02/gurdwara-panja-sahib-hasan-abdal.html" data-via="shirazhassan" href="https://twitter.com/share">Tweet</a>
<script>!function(d,s,id){var js,fjs=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];if(!d.getElementById(id)){js=d.createElement(s);js.id=id;js.src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js";fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js,fjs);}}(document,"script","twitter-wjs");</script>Shiraz Hassanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04697000384383256108noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8599059807906544662.post-1630252633274010552013-01-25T09:00:00.001-08:002013-01-25T09:12:51.200-08:00Eid Milad un Nabi (saww) in Rawalpindi<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjT3YVTAj8TQ3eMSTul_nDoEwCDRdoq_-ACQajCXSTdESEfuPlL6e5rI53n3U_KjYClYfb8wjw8BbtzP_JQILPqi_cvhAI59fdKlTFcWMG_bbfymGjzFzx3nm2D7zmr6oqTN5z-ZCCT54/s1600/DSCN4138.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjT3YVTAj8TQ3eMSTul_nDoEwCDRdoq_-ACQajCXSTdESEfuPlL6e5rI53n3U_KjYClYfb8wjw8BbtzP_JQILPqi_cvhAI59fdKlTFcWMG_bbfymGjzFzx3nm2D7zmr6oqTN5z-ZCCT54/s400/DSCN4138.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Colorful lights and chromatic atmosphere at Jamia Masjid road</td></tr>
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Sharing some glimpses of Eid Milad un Nabi (saww) in Rawalpindi. Colorful lights and Smiling faces. A treat to watch. Delight to see smiling faces of kids, women and old men. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At Jamia Masjid Road</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At Jamia Masjid Road</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At Jamia Masjid road</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At Jamia Masjid Road</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At Jamia Masjid road</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjomfnp1W48PJCiuhh83mdPI9JCxqVQLYfWRuhquK1Ejz7VAw0gJB-VqyQFlMSGX4MsJ6tqdBqYj8_uKWRXxeTwz_R1G3jSQAsWWKQSAEhIyUJPRaI0guQNE3SHAebZamSXXcPuLNRhgJFl/s1600/DSCN4115.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjomfnp1W48PJCiuhh83mdPI9JCxqVQLYfWRuhquK1Ejz7VAw0gJB-VqyQFlMSGX4MsJ6tqdBqYj8_uKWRXxeTwz_R1G3jSQAsWWKQSAEhIyUJPRaI0guQNE3SHAebZamSXXcPuLNRhgJFl/s400/DSCN4115.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Free food, at Jamia Masjid road</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4jwUDVV1ACxWjqNFKnmRHsWptpl5hHywnFV_GET-ei_DnTWMJTz05fpGMaOwhP_ZagtnhaaxaHQ8G1rthcgu3Gb2mOx-8qtjFYPQMH6Hk4JiR24s5XUtrve_JJTXQYfAGdmi1dRvAAxhL/s1600/DSCN4117.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4jwUDVV1ACxWjqNFKnmRHsWptpl5hHywnFV_GET-ei_DnTWMJTz05fpGMaOwhP_ZagtnhaaxaHQ8G1rthcgu3Gb2mOx-8qtjFYPQMH6Hk4JiR24s5XUtrve_JJTXQYfAGdmi1dRvAAxhL/s400/DSCN4117.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of 100s of stages, at Banni Chowk</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmJDB1zatYTCqig64E2DV5tYpVrsXtF7wCOBpXw3-02NXU2LSYdJ4nECukiVgM_-eJXRjG_wFUOwl-Iz41CA45CqY5neBpjGgVHqqC8kmTEf5sDc8kaxV0d0m0Nm-N3PjzHdIAhI7tkhvl/s1600/DSCN4118.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmJDB1zatYTCqig64E2DV5tYpVrsXtF7wCOBpXw3-02NXU2LSYdJ4nECukiVgM_-eJXRjG_wFUOwl-Iz41CA45CqY5neBpjGgVHqqC8kmTEf5sDc8kaxV0d0m0Nm-N3PjzHdIAhI7tkhvl/s400/DSCN4118.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Halwa - Free food corner, at Banni Chowk</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLGxtwE4U8-Za43vTh3MIU9DI0EotMIb-Nt7dLw_qjH93jyfOwPAyqokcPHkSbCwkB46xp13MmUj1tZ0dd7KicsPnD6VTACka61JWRdcI9iJDo2OJwvXTTGUkVm6Wr_0ukjIjql6kyK3rg/s1600/DSCN4120.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLGxtwE4U8-Za43vTh3MIU9DI0EotMIb-Nt7dLw_qjH93jyfOwPAyqokcPHkSbCwkB46xp13MmUj1tZ0dd7KicsPnD6VTACka61JWRdcI9iJDo2OJwvXTTGUkVm6Wr_0ukjIjql6kyK3rg/s400/DSCN4120.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Commonly known as Pahari - Kids activity</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvW8MDwDFuREcGmFkSsaPejaHpe_q-J4sGN-4sUwZaSm0uTSoWu7qRuCHApS8ra6tyci0rEn3pGTwjuhESYUKzI5WdFm2LmgdHTlcz3I1yhUXYsTlsRT2_ge-JfLePgEB-0ImCxJv4_3qX/s1600/DSCN4126.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvW8MDwDFuREcGmFkSsaPejaHpe_q-J4sGN-4sUwZaSm0uTSoWu7qRuCHApS8ra6tyci0rEn3pGTwjuhESYUKzI5WdFm2LmgdHTlcz3I1yhUXYsTlsRT2_ge-JfLePgEB-0ImCxJv4_3qX/s400/DSCN4126.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At Jamia Masjid road</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKIhuaZg2PymYlsqGGOvSj0XB79hJhAA3QuB_O9ZdvPSyXRQ4pfOF4CcgkUzvP1-vr6JxtbuI_lfm-Fm4jSIvVby9arYarOtyGNayaN08S3uSGt9ea-U9oZUFIEEQJgb2rBanqpEJqkx1d/s1600/DSCN4116.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKIhuaZg2PymYlsqGGOvSj0XB79hJhAA3QuB_O9ZdvPSyXRQ4pfOF4CcgkUzvP1-vr6JxtbuI_lfm-Fm4jSIvVby9arYarOtyGNayaN08S3uSGt9ea-U9oZUFIEEQJgb2rBanqpEJqkx1d/s400/DSCN4116.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At Jamia Masjid road</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0qtL04LWZWv7UtC16YgB_zukdZhW20_jfwt-1KhrsxWUctym9fxEPFPlebUFwy7chwd8Y0FZObTyzUdnkQLHNNQ9_O7Ool5Tnq8hU-2ybV3_a0DfDofG9afiMD0992aZk_hD8NpC1ac_5/s1600/DSCN4130.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0qtL04LWZWv7UtC16YgB_zukdZhW20_jfwt-1KhrsxWUctym9fxEPFPlebUFwy7chwd8Y0FZObTyzUdnkQLHNNQ9_O7Ool5Tnq8hU-2ybV3_a0DfDofG9afiMD0992aZk_hD8NpC1ac_5/s400/DSCN4130.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At Jamia Masjid road</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6uUKu4gb7b9LBDvtVfqYabFrJaxrdJFVjNfYEWm3d3Qhz0k2GKFI2zKYYifyYm9WtXUdNqh6FMePLYUC2CIa5_OPr4_BdJKWX8D0-zGn6kvmiRUhv-GOFlxzLeaWfDXKbYUnlvhOYZmol/s1600/DSCN4135.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6uUKu4gb7b9LBDvtVfqYabFrJaxrdJFVjNfYEWm3d3Qhz0k2GKFI2zKYYifyYm9WtXUdNqh6FMePLYUC2CIa5_OPr4_BdJKWX8D0-zGn6kvmiRUhv-GOFlxzLeaWfDXKbYUnlvhOYZmol/s400/DSCN4135.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jamia Masjid</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhktur8jLfy8i_ik7PhN-30bkG_C6Vs2NmIR7OoiIoP0BfGVVMZeoYmUK_zIpLw8HLkxufGrVf4GOFgmLopMJgDqXYtVfPEHcFkcmyT_Nt4zY5y1v6skwdTmOzzE1rc96dtz9dLjlHKoPxU/s1600/DSCN4145.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="292" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhktur8jLfy8i_ik7PhN-30bkG_C6Vs2NmIR7OoiIoP0BfGVVMZeoYmUK_zIpLw8HLkxufGrVf4GOFgmLopMJgDqXYtVfPEHcFkcmyT_Nt4zY5y1v6skwdTmOzzE1rc96dtz9dLjlHKoPxU/s400/DSCN4145.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">at Raja Bazaar</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpKV58ynQfo0kAiulY53oRhgq3x7iwwGdYr8tAR6xoKW_8QBxmzSXTK1VOKXpkctuOK8JMTzFAOqTANvJrHoYvu8Cf76_gQDq_w0BDGPkXxuAlXgvHQalJaDX8vGKxDVQoMfPCNtmIfLJa/s1600/DSCN4143.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpKV58ynQfo0kAiulY53oRhgq3x7iwwGdYr8tAR6xoKW_8QBxmzSXTK1VOKXpkctuOK8JMTzFAOqTANvJrHoYvu8Cf76_gQDq_w0BDGPkXxuAlXgvHQalJaDX8vGKxDVQoMfPCNtmIfLJa/s400/DSCN4143.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">at Raja Bazaar</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9malNPIw8f1sv0Ea34-f-VARNV5hhQgYsVBsbrIeOK4Ea3KLkPhOQDLaWNP6BPXLeOISMsecqFP5YLctQvkBGzeVxZijTfKjt_O-_aE9WLgXGfcsk2Bur4LNiiYp7iuO4U4b40ZHBoimT/s1600/DSCN4149.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9malNPIw8f1sv0Ea34-f-VARNV5hhQgYsVBsbrIeOK4Ea3KLkPhOQDLaWNP6BPXLeOISMsecqFP5YLctQvkBGzeVxZijTfKjt_O-_aE9WLgXGfcsk2Bur4LNiiYp7iuO4U4b40ZHBoimT/s400/DSCN4149.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">at Raja Bazaar</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr3JRrJ6WJJdtlG3LFh0zk6XCI-i8VXsyVVu4ZV0NnCBpxzVfnPkXqdEYYldW09-GrFxdNZOUg3pq2t1OT4KYC-xKWQb6veJgHTFtiuXxsSO4W49t3IrDD7nFacIyaux0i9CsTCvfoxE17/s1600/DSCN4150.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr3JRrJ6WJJdtlG3LFh0zk6XCI-i8VXsyVVu4ZV0NnCBpxzVfnPkXqdEYYldW09-GrFxdNZOUg3pq2t1OT4KYC-xKWQb6veJgHTFtiuXxsSO4W49t3IrDD7nFacIyaux0i9CsTCvfoxE17/s400/DSCN4150.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">at Raja Bazaar</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjkH9RkBHXfGwHe2Q6gz4lqBMwCYacbJTNd0iy0JXcfJfe0L3uOF7_BtP6F6zdQYp-3jg21ln9lyQfgJ15o3g-7fTY4xI728r4ZSp5XILHh9GgAJ3dDFQ7ETPN9mjGKAKaMtSJp2nFwoSk/s1600/DSCN4152.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjkH9RkBHXfGwHe2Q6gz4lqBMwCYacbJTNd0iy0JXcfJfe0L3uOF7_BtP6F6zdQYp-3jg21ln9lyQfgJ15o3g-7fTY4xI728r4ZSp5XILHh9GgAJ3dDFQ7ETPN9mjGKAKaMtSJp2nFwoSk/s400/DSCN4152.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">at Raja Bazaar</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2d6oWRzEdyZVwAHUMgXU4lO23lLaweYCkFBmU50C5mm_1rFkp9DuU54L42CwEbG1CrPHRTMjHHlsja3UjWQt4Q4euUhRLG6DHVCJ9L0eX8c8ZiY9_F4KALX2KgwvGRthY3_nHydvS0xtE/s1600/DSCN4151.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2d6oWRzEdyZVwAHUMgXU4lO23lLaweYCkFBmU50C5mm_1rFkp9DuU54L42CwEbG1CrPHRTMjHHlsja3UjWQt4Q4euUhRLG6DHVCJ9L0eX8c8ZiY9_F4KALX2KgwvGRthY3_nHydvS0xtE/s400/DSCN4151.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">at Fawara Chowk</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfkCnuO-RSWKZs_QeYAZexQvtYD0mrT-8DG6c81gsq-U0XFUpK3hza8tQyj2_XAApHuN79rZQD1CirBpTWWi9Di0viB_-v12WEptK7dpAwnI0P4cBeOc8ks38UsnOtjPskUItGnUjN6Bj5/s1600/DSCN4166.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfkCnuO-RSWKZs_QeYAZexQvtYD0mrT-8DG6c81gsq-U0XFUpK3hza8tQyj2_XAApHuN79rZQD1CirBpTWWi9Di0viB_-v12WEptK7dpAwnI0P4cBeOc8ks38UsnOtjPskUItGnUjN6Bj5/s400/DSCN4166.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Raja Bazaar</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaeds10I-ofq3ehV3O0F3aZzdi1uQ0nxu9H3Yx5J_PKDAnbx_QV-u0KL9G8nukDSHNB2_I0wfBORx5HBFYr7xE7zNwHKpf_JIi1cLy0wT4zGBss5OK_iG3HmTsMeZQxxgVLLJT99d0fYFd/s1600/DSCN4172.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaeds10I-ofq3ehV3O0F3aZzdi1uQ0nxu9H3Yx5J_PKDAnbx_QV-u0KL9G8nukDSHNB2_I0wfBORx5HBFYr7xE7zNwHKpf_JIi1cLy0wT4zGBss5OK_iG3HmTsMeZQxxgVLLJT99d0fYFd/s400/DSCN4172.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">4 no. Chungi</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCz83RAG8kiffUxtNSuNkqmsonGALSMq5j3zp4HH4WQXHFpGfLUwNHom7fFCO63w3FfsOCeFjxF4sq_Evzdc1EfvmL3n_P8PkKMZZJJnjyC4HBomOf4EDN9qfLx7h72TfzuKjWSN_Mp_Aw/s1600/DSCN4168.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCz83RAG8kiffUxtNSuNkqmsonGALSMq5j3zp4HH4WQXHFpGfLUwNHom7fFCO63w3FfsOCeFjxF4sq_Evzdc1EfvmL3n_P8PkKMZZJJnjyC4HBomOf4EDN9qfLx7h72TfzuKjWSN_Mp_Aw/s400/DSCN4168.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">4 no. Chungi</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtyVGi6ZIdjEKPBqKj29CfMbwSspTcFnkzmCt6YkUuEOK3CVOSsTOZb8oaMiST7NuIvAZGekPlCAO0Xgzql5zjnxIz11BDhwn01SCOsJjMptC43rpRPAFCXx7uh3wRAw6Exgf36jjCTr0y/s1600/DSCN4176.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtyVGi6ZIdjEKPBqKj29CfMbwSspTcFnkzmCt6YkUuEOK3CVOSsTOZb8oaMiST7NuIvAZGekPlCAO0Xgzql5zjnxIz11BDhwn01SCOsJjMptC43rpRPAFCXx7uh3wRAw6Exgf36jjCTr0y/s400/DSCN4176.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Eid Gah Mosque</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
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Shiraz Hassanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04697000384383256108noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8599059807906544662.post-50850022672371304372013-01-23T01:40:00.001-08:002013-01-23T01:51:47.602-08:00The abandoned mandirs of Rawalpindi<a class="twitter-share-button" data-text="The abandoned mandirs of #Rawalpindi" data-url="http://shirazhassan.blogspot.com/2013/01/the-abandoned-mandirs-of-rawalpindi.html" data-via="shirazhassan" href="https://twitter.com/share">Tweet</a>
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Ambardaran mandir, Bohar Bazaar. All Photographs by Shiraz Hassan</div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; text-align: justify;">In the early 19th century, the British made Rawalpindi the central seat of military power as they aimed towards Afghanistan. This was in line with their strategic approach towards the Russian Empire in order to enjoy and retain complete control over central Asia. Known as the Great Game, the conflict continues today in another form.</span></div>
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In Chungi no. 4</div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; text-align: justify;">After the Partition in 1947, Rawalpindi continued to be the General Headquarters of the Army. But Pindi has a lot more to tell than just martial tales. The city has been known for its heritage and culture. Its multi-religious character changed when almost all of its Hindu and Sikh inhabitants left for India. Sixty five years after the Partition, I went looking for their temples and Gurudwaras.</span></div>
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A temple in Chungi no. 4</div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; text-align: justify;">Walking around the old city, in areas like Krishanpura, Akaal Garh, Mohanpura, Amarpura, Kartarpura, Bagh Sardaraan, Angatpura, you can see Pindi’s heritage. There are about ten temples and Gurudwaras which are no longer functional and are in a very bad shape. One temple located at Kohati Bazaar is in good condition. Its premises are used as a government school for disabled children. Another beautiful Gurdwara known as Bagh Sardaraan is used by the Punjab Police as their main office.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #888888; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-style: italic; line-height: 22px; text-align: left;">A detail in a temple in Ganjmandi</span></td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; text-align: justify;">The temple located at Govt. Asghar Mall College is used as a scrapyard. A Shiva temple at Gunjmandi now houses storerooms or shops. There are some more abandoned temples scattered around College Road, Bohar Bazaar, Purana Qilla, Bagh Sardaraan and then some outskirts of Rawalpindi which are on the verge of collapse.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQfCsEX-5DMyYCBQY7MQQqglOnE17Yg3bX_Ny8F24FoPhDTojGHTvSPuStbLN1uJoBeDwXJs2Oe8ktZih68cuNJ0_RtVKzslkj6ZbgjYdRuZs3XvF77IOmt6UuwgqYDbkCyohE3zulzRLo/s1600/gangmandi-temple-4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQfCsEX-5DMyYCBQY7MQQqglOnE17Yg3bX_Ny8F24FoPhDTojGHTvSPuStbLN1uJoBeDwXJs2Oe8ktZih68cuNJ0_RtVKzslkj6ZbgjYdRuZs3XvF77IOmt6UuwgqYDbkCyohE3zulzRLo/s400/gangmandi-temple-4.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #888888; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-style: italic; line-height: 22px; text-align: left;">In Ganjmandi</span></td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; text-align: justify;">In the old area of Lunda Bazaar, there used to be three temples, a Gurdwara, a Khalsa School and many Havelis of Hindus and Sikhs. Of the three temples, two have survived. The third, of goddess Kali in the main bazaar, no longer exists. It has been converted into living quarters and extensions have been made, thus changing the original structure entirely. In Lunda bazaar there is a tall structure of a temple known as Mohan Mandir. This temple is believed to have been built by two Hindu Hakims in 1930, Hakim Asa Anand and Hakim Moti Ram.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZFfDp3XDXTnxi9QD-ax1oGtUi-bKjTOZdrR6CKyhdnmxXIwy6UmTtDQo793hafEJT8es_iVHnozCQGxPskjNqT24-XeNcF1f7fu-s2qQVOifRCcs3jV7xhUP1EtYXHHGCQgPodG6wF-V8/s1600/ganjmandi-temple.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZFfDp3XDXTnxi9QD-ax1oGtUi-bKjTOZdrR6CKyhdnmxXIwy6UmTtDQo793hafEJT8es_iVHnozCQGxPskjNqT24-XeNcF1f7fu-s2qQVOifRCcs3jV7xhUP1EtYXHHGCQgPodG6wF-V8/s400/ganjmandi-temple.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #888888; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-style: italic; line-height: 22px; text-align: left;">In Ganjmandi</span></td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; text-align: justify;">It is sad that even though there are so many abandoned temples in Rawalpindi and Islamabad, there is not a single place for the Hindus living in the twin cities to celebrate their festivals like Diwali, Shivratri or Holi. There are more than 25,000 Hindus living in Rawalpindi and Islamabad. Some of them have migrated from other parts of Pakistan, mainly the Sindh province.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEfeJsuIiwRw63QHiabmvSm69fcT3lv8SvaxT-YYs0869hnZxWWXzOtBL2_pbQ0pk4a5ofRje5EyV6KMclWLV9GMsF030SC0WIWlll9ZUl7XX6no2Ipe_ZmIbKPephdJFLD8yDSboI80CH/s1600/gunjmandi-temple-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEfeJsuIiwRw63QHiabmvSm69fcT3lv8SvaxT-YYs0869hnZxWWXzOtBL2_pbQ0pk4a5ofRje5EyV6KMclWLV9GMsF030SC0WIWlll9ZUl7XX6no2Ipe_ZmIbKPephdJFLD8yDSboI80CH/s400/gunjmandi-temple-1.jpg" width="335" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #888888; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-style: italic; line-height: 22px; text-align: left;">The entry to a temple in Gunjmandi. </span></td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; text-align: justify;">Recently, following a request from Ramesh Lal, a Hindu parliamentarian of the ruling Pakistan People’s Party, Prime Minister Raja Pervez issued a directive to the chairman of the Capital Development Authority to build a new temple for the Hindu community. That is no doubt a good gesture but the government must also urgently restore and preserve the old heritage of the city.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #888888; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-style: italic; line-height: 22px; text-align: left;">In Ganjmandi</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG9DRsm_o3fjmpwX7Z_ruiCnTPWuVnfKGNNrOk1nw0fsnsZQN0h8jZ7-jIlRHp0a-yP-BYEGj8snlSjoYUC46Peqy8BFJkdkCCEpNEtZHQ_kE57jcaksfZOCaHcNumQebyEWx1VqYd8CuL/s1600/gurdwara-bagh-sardaraan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="317" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG9DRsm_o3fjmpwX7Z_ruiCnTPWuVnfKGNNrOk1nw0fsnsZQN0h8jZ7-jIlRHp0a-yP-BYEGj8snlSjoYUC46Peqy8BFJkdkCCEpNEtZHQ_kE57jcaksfZOCaHcNumQebyEWx1VqYd8CuL/s400/gurdwara-bagh-sardaraan.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #888888; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-style: italic; line-height: 22px; text-align: left;">Gurdwara Bagh Sardaraan</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoRPkDvSorKVCtDcxpSm3-3WIG4sQIFrbPIjtoj7oPl2c5auUlzUchEE1BAosu0C7NQ0lwEbfNx8LsL_rFm_UTSqrjcVJy0eZd2OiBtMLiWIWQtKovtB7gTXtUyOkdfQeNNzezUVUVV32G/s1600/mohan-temple-lundabaza.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoRPkDvSorKVCtDcxpSm3-3WIG4sQIFrbPIjtoj7oPl2c5auUlzUchEE1BAosu0C7NQ0lwEbfNx8LsL_rFm_UTSqrjcVJy0eZd2OiBtMLiWIWQtKovtB7gTXtUyOkdfQeNNzezUVUVV32G/s400/mohan-temple-lundabaza.jpg" width="267" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #888888; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-style: italic; line-height: 22px; text-align: left;">Mohan mandir at Lunda Bazaar</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2nb_jvtfCs3WyY_Bhfu3ufgypMYYzGC2roMZ6JVOpC7gpINP6nYgX99memQr6VMVjPnXdKBdPIU7wCfB6bw1FhyQQQkRN0djrtWAQ7l2q2SbRsRV9g6ZzgzG0SnDGOzPV3tWu2ZZeY9LS/s1600/mohan-temple-lunda-bazaar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2nb_jvtfCs3WyY_Bhfu3ufgypMYYzGC2roMZ6JVOpC7gpINP6nYgX99memQr6VMVjPnXdKBdPIU7wCfB6bw1FhyQQQkRN0djrtWAQ7l2q2SbRsRV9g6ZzgzG0SnDGOzPV3tWu2ZZeY9LS/s400/mohan-temple-lunda-bazaar.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #888888; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-style: italic; line-height: 22px; text-align: left;">A detail in Mohan mandir, Lunda Bazaar</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpVMLOqq6xgmnKYepXcM8K_RJWLQ4WSvYZxuspmYRp_r0PVHoQ35q8YuCh_7mcgzbwHV2ZvsxaR2QlJMS7usXHH-BRbLQFdFcI2Xk-nAcO4n4yymKqSMZsT0GoYLVzpinXeZSSPJhNi6Kv/s1600/purana-qilla-temple.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpVMLOqq6xgmnKYepXcM8K_RJWLQ4WSvYZxuspmYRp_r0PVHoQ35q8YuCh_7mcgzbwHV2ZvsxaR2QlJMS7usXHH-BRbLQFdFcI2Xk-nAcO4n4yymKqSMZsT0GoYLVzpinXeZSSPJhNi6Kv/s400/purana-qilla-temple.jpg" width="267" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #888888; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-style: italic; line-height: 22px; text-align: left;">In Purana Qilla area</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtOXAvgh_UrT78Dyu8PQa1cRgl1UCw2S0NGTko_IlDDiDllpsTu8UXRkr3oqX4kyccH1gTf_k-NC2syY_E4SZvtgpSBmZvHGtge9M-javVFeG48tC0SFHD2H1qB8Vq_idmoBk4y4uwIr2I/s1600/temple-at-bagh-sardaraan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="283" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtOXAvgh_UrT78Dyu8PQa1cRgl1UCw2S0NGTko_IlDDiDllpsTu8UXRkr3oqX4kyccH1gTf_k-NC2syY_E4SZvtgpSBmZvHGtge9M-javVFeG48tC0SFHD2H1qB8Vq_idmoBk4y4uwIr2I/s400/temple-at-bagh-sardaraan.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #888888; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-style: italic; line-height: 22px; text-align: left;">In Bagh Sardaraan</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCoEIRtIkxYRT_gRcHIe-0o_LWrHWM3rKxIXaDL9qZ-8FbAdibqeagMUChCT4nukU2xJqDiCVx2Da60SZEX1tdHT81TYU0ELhWL43b9xZ5ecJpvnmiXKPi7vPwBOdRgN_7kPIs4Dwfou81/s1600/temple-at-sagri-village-rwp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCoEIRtIkxYRT_gRcHIe-0o_LWrHWM3rKxIXaDL9qZ-8FbAdibqeagMUChCT4nukU2xJqDiCVx2Da60SZEX1tdHT81TYU0ELhWL43b9xZ5ecJpvnmiXKPi7vPwBOdRgN_7kPIs4Dwfou81/s400/temple-at-sagri-village-rwp.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #888888; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-style: italic; line-height: 22px; text-align: left;">In Sagri village, Rawalpindi</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh02TPdsTFa5dyWYZvt6YJfaSZINxpdZ5PEd9O18TWs9qSWN10vMTXht_sxhXCmcXFQZTz1v1QmBugmL6ctMILW5fLtPE_Pi_1lkKm1nG1aJYLmee8f_ABPcWre9tpSE0gJVfIhgNKbLR1p/s1600/temple-near-rawal-dam-islamabad-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh02TPdsTFa5dyWYZvt6YJfaSZINxpdZ5PEd9O18TWs9qSWN10vMTXht_sxhXCmcXFQZTz1v1QmBugmL6ctMILW5fLtPE_Pi_1lkKm1nG1aJYLmee8f_ABPcWre9tpSE0gJVfIhgNKbLR1p/s400/temple-near-rawal-dam-islamabad-2.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #888888; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-style: italic; line-height: 22px; text-align: left;">A temple near Rawal lake in Islamabad</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU2q6R10OBmrCQmwPLwzXW_xSKtvP06BKglDIWCtGlYiNfztZLFAOptWYgAG9g0TWtkv39mA0l2GADzj2u-nsYzL1uXbOb7ZtIcrnQA5whGM2_ohg0KVlpIWoz9T-IMhrzOwK26hwkop7p/s1600/temple-near-rawal-dam-islamabad-5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU2q6R10OBmrCQmwPLwzXW_xSKtvP06BKglDIWCtGlYiNfztZLFAOptWYgAG9g0TWtkv39mA0l2GADzj2u-nsYzL1uXbOb7ZtIcrnQA5whGM2_ohg0KVlpIWoz9T-IMhrzOwK26hwkop7p/s400/temple-near-rawal-dam-islamabad-5.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #888888; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-style: italic; line-height: 22px; text-align: left;">A temple near Rawal lake in Islamabad</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgoQ5mobYpPh0t_Ipn4_zz2Jz6wWnsk-hb3-7J9uL0XZjmYp7vgQmvac9jmGkYq30I8SVEFNVOeq0bqvHT9PBKNe8E6ix_78bmWDK-JYXMXbY8Nkm73i-OCe_g5QJ10WysfgrHWTUEWRQC/s1600/twin-temples-at-sagri-village-rwp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgoQ5mobYpPh0t_Ipn4_zz2Jz6wWnsk-hb3-7J9uL0XZjmYp7vgQmvac9jmGkYq30I8SVEFNVOeq0bqvHT9PBKNe8E6ix_78bmWDK-JYXMXbY8Nkm73i-OCe_g5QJ10WysfgrHWTUEWRQC/s400/twin-temples-at-sagri-village-rwp.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #888888; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-style: italic; line-height: 22px; text-align: left;">Twin temples in Sagri village, Rawalpindi</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidHTJ2hPz1ku6cXlMGZydmB4vFWGcGus6zDjXKw-EArWpNSyqiEkzcrQqQudCpgzB3kdpNwOUWWfvYbcokMxsYIaFcyBCJwhqtPS7fnjDoCEN4YwqQJyjdP-b0zbuQ6P1mXqlFiXbqEMIB/s1600/temple-at-purana-qilla-rawalpindi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidHTJ2hPz1ku6cXlMGZydmB4vFWGcGus6zDjXKw-EArWpNSyqiEkzcrQqQudCpgzB3kdpNwOUWWfvYbcokMxsYIaFcyBCJwhqtPS7fnjDoCEN4YwqQJyjdP-b0zbuQ6P1mXqlFiXbqEMIB/s400/temple-at-purana-qilla-rawalpindi.jpg" width="267" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #888888; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-style: italic; line-height: 22px; text-align: left;">In Purana Qilla area, Rawalpindi</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
This post was originally published at <a href="http://kafila.org/2012/09/15/the-abandoned-mandirs-of-rawalpindi-shiraz-hassan/" target="_blank"><b><i>Kafila</i></b></a></div>
<br />
<a class="twitter-share-button" data-text="The abandoned mandirs of #Rawalpindi" data-url="http://shirazhassan.blogspot.com/2013/01/the-abandoned-mandirs-of-rawalpindi.html" data-via="shirazhassan" href="https://twitter.com/share">Tweet</a>
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<h2 style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #222222;">Kartarpur: The corridor
to peace in South Asia </span></h2>
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #222222;"> </span><span style="color: #222222;">The city of Baba Guru Nanak promises hope
for the region</span></h3>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM64CSCYa0nW5jCMk-Xo9kFNHh5F_zia_68je7yg7F18FSKe8YEIzp9NnJjEs3pmW8r3ltoQT9hiL4oV0SkmJ8gUn-umfxpNyM2NrAssEnDMLEkJVZnfoJGfPhc-ePrAag-L4OHRoMJvZI/s1600/4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM64CSCYa0nW5jCMk-Xo9kFNHh5F_zia_68je7yg7F18FSKe8YEIzp9NnJjEs3pmW8r3ltoQT9hiL4oV0SkmJ8gUn-umfxpNyM2NrAssEnDMLEkJVZnfoJGfPhc-ePrAag-L4OHRoMJvZI/s400/4.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #222222;">Text and
Photography: Shiraz Hassan<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222;">You can divide
a piece of land but you cannot divide a belief. This was my first impression
when I reached Kartarpur, a historic and sacred place, located just three </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #222222;">kilometres</span><span style="color: #222222;"> away from the Indian border in the north-eastern
city of Narowal, in Pakistani side of the Punjab. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222;">Kartarpur is the
city of Baba Guru Nanank Ji, the founder of Sikh religion. He is equally
respected by Muslims and Hindus. But why I decided to visit Kartarpur? This was
the question I asked to myself many times even during the journey. But when I
reached there, I finally found the answer.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222;">My journey
started from Lahore and it was one of the most exciting journeys of my life. It
offered some wonderful natural views. Both sides of the road were adorned with
lush green fields of rice crops. It was a single lane road and there wasn't
much traffic during early morning hours, so the journey was quite relaxing and
amusing. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #222222;">Finally, I
reached Narowal in some two and half hours. The road from Narowal to Shakargarh
sub-district, where Darbar Kartarpur Sahib is located, is a newly-built double
road so I reached there in half an hour. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222;">Gurdwara Darbar
Sahib Kartapur is about 100-km from Lahore and 180 Km, from Nanakana Sahib via
Lahore. Before the Partition of 1947 it was part of district Gurdaspur but
later became part of District Sialkot. But then the Sialkot was bifurcated and
Narowal carved out as a district. It is also called Dera Nanak Baba. There is a
nearby railway connection which is named ‘Darbar Sahib Kartarpur’ on the
Lahore-Chak Amru line. </span><span style="color: #222222;">On the Indian
side it is opposite to: Village & Post Office, Police Station Dera Baba
Nanak, Tehsil Batala, Distt. Gurdaspur Dera Baba Nanak is 54 Km from Amritsar,
35 km from Batala and 39 Km from Gurdaspur</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTQaQtQWl_avcRvF8LQitFSainfwuiprjBeVUxQ2ea0Y1ar5aYJfatBOANQZaPGDT5KHJq9cde7IL0yvuIbaxVunMTThnQaA_ge19OdxvQ-GGAfAEeEZ0At9tZ1vs3ojvwx5GPXJ3nv__x/s1600/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTQaQtQWl_avcRvF8LQitFSainfwuiprjBeVUxQ2ea0Y1ar5aYJfatBOANQZaPGDT5KHJq9cde7IL0yvuIbaxVunMTThnQaA_ge19OdxvQ-GGAfAEeEZ0At9tZ1vs3ojvwx5GPXJ3nv__x/s400/1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #222222;">The gurudwara
(Sikhs’ temple) is located next to a small village called Kothay Pind on the west
bank of the Ravi River. The original abode established by Guru Nanak was washed
in floods. The present gurdwara was originally built at a cost of Rs.1,35,600,
from funds donated by Sardar Bhupindar Singh, the Maharaja of Patiala. It was repaired by the government of Pakistan
in 1995 incurring expenditure in millions of rupees. It has a spacious and
beautiful building.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222;">The gurudwara
at Kartarpur can be seen from another gurudwara located across the border in
the historical town of Dehra Baba Nanak in India<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222;">From the main
road to the village where this gurdwara is located, upon turning towards
Gurdwara Kartarpur Sahib, one experiences being close to the nature. The
beautiful sight of green fields welcomes you. The village kids running around,
the bull-carts moving slowly on the road. Mud houses, tube-wells drawing water
to irrigate fields and then you will see the white structure of the gurudwara
standing silently amid green fields and under a blue sky. This was the sight I may
never forget. I felt like that a dove is sitting among the fields or a 'father'
is standing tall in the middle looking for his lost and estranged sons. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihgkLy4Cn9neoNZylEfldbWp3zvTgVBxftVlq7nHoe3gGEURKXfxMbrGvetl5awjBPi1U9D3tNtvi_bUI2RWYn6mPLkmjLdak1wxhgaKSFc_bM-p_A445I0LIOe4qtACI_K_VmsEg8IfBH/s1600/15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihgkLy4Cn9neoNZylEfldbWp3zvTgVBxftVlq7nHoe3gGEURKXfxMbrGvetl5awjBPi1U9D3tNtvi_bUI2RWYn6mPLkmjLdak1wxhgaKSFc_bM-p_A445I0LIOe4qtACI_K_VmsEg8IfBH/s400/15.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #222222;">Unlike other
holy places of Sikh religion in Pakistan, this gurdwara is one of its own kinds,
especially, because of its scenic location. According to the Sikh history,
Kartarpur is the historical place where Baba Guru Nanak Ji departed from this
world on 23rd Assu, Samvat 1596 (22nd Sept. 1529 AD). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222;">The history of
Kartarpur is very fascinating. According to Sikh historians in the year 1520,
Mughal King Babar attacked India. His troops slaughtered thousands of innocent
civilians. Women and children were made captives and all their property looted
at Amiabad. Guru Nanak Sahib challenged this act of barbarity in strong words.
He was arrested and released, shortly after Babar realised his highhandedness.
All the prisoners were also released. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222;">After the
release, Guru Nanak Sahib settled down at Kartarpur city which was founded by
him in 1522 and spent the rest of his life there (1522-1539). There started daily
kirtan and langar (free food for the poor) was introduced. Knowing that the end
was drawing near, Guru Nanak Sahib, after testing his two sons and some followers,
installed Bhai Lehna Ji (Guru Angad Sahib) as the Second Nanak in 1539, and
after a few days passed onto Sachkhand on 22nd September, 1539. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222;">According to
Sikh history when Guru Nanak died, Hindus and Muslims disagreed on how to
perform his last rites. A samadh (Hindu tradition) lies in the Gurudwara and a
grave (according to Muslim traditions) lies on the premises as a reminder of
this discord. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhpKc_BCo3_qA71Z0jhnljzR3rqmhyRqnLx7Qjq4tOwBi_EZ75SgUgRbnEona-1q6KyawCOGh7414rhPfOxw_VhX9r2B2mv4Bph3fdK-au5oE4NU92ZIsMeiM3aLXBi19Yza1MStFqmv9B/s1600/6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhpKc_BCo3_qA71Z0jhnljzR3rqmhyRqnLx7Qjq4tOwBi_EZ75SgUgRbnEona-1q6KyawCOGh7414rhPfOxw_VhX9r2B2mv4Bph3fdK-au5oE4NU92ZIsMeiM3aLXBi19Yza1MStFqmv9B/s400/6.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #222222;">When it became
clear that the death of Guru Nanak Dev was near, a dispute is said to have
arisen amongst his followers. His Hindu followers wanted to cremate the remains
as per Hindu tradition, while his Muslim followers wanted to bury the body as
per Islamic traditions. Nanak brokered a compromise by suggesting that each
group should place a garland of flowers beside his body, and those whose
garland remained fresh after three days could dispose of his body according to
their tradition. It is said that the next morning, upon raising the cloth under
which the Guru’s body lay, only the flowers shared between his followers were
found. The Hindus cremated their flowers whereas the Muslims buried theirs.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222;">There are
historical references that Guru was against division of society on the lines of
Muslims and Hindus (and Sikhs). Guru insisted that both Muslims and Hindus
should observe the values of the respective faiths and that leading truthful
life was important. Muslims treated him like a ‘murshad’ and the Hindus
referred as the guru.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222;">Sikhs believe
that since Guru Nanak never tolerated divisions on the lines of religions,
Kartarpur can’t be divided. You can’t keep it in a sectarian way. This aspect
was well demonstrated in 1947 when Sir Ceril Radcliffe drew boundary-line
between India and Pakistan. According to June 3, 1947 division plan the whole
of Gurdaspur had gone to Pakistan. That meant Kartarpur going deep in the Pakistani
territory. But the plan didn’t work and had to be amended. Now the District of
Gurdaspur was bifurcated and the line that bisected Kartarpur finally worked —
hence two of the temples going to Pakistani side and one remaining in the
Indian.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTyIJkSwfl47qDXek5A0ecsCaGonJSeFgO5cjCQylo9rQELvUoNtCMEM4bLbjjd-79gsUOJdfojDhY1gffCBAqph_RC5dmN2PFNgNQMYUuA2k2n4WzV9RrkjjS_pvaFtwi63djXFi-bvL1/s1600/5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTyIJkSwfl47qDXek5A0ecsCaGonJSeFgO5cjCQylo9rQELvUoNtCMEM4bLbjjd-79gsUOJdfojDhY1gffCBAqph_RC5dmN2PFNgNQMYUuA2k2n4WzV9RrkjjS_pvaFtwi63djXFi-bvL1/s400/5.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #222222;">The plan worked
but Kartarpur remained abandoned for 56 years and wild shrubs have grown all
around its building, just like the political animosity between the two
countries. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222;">Later, Both
India and Pakistan governments reached an agreement to build the corridor from
Dera Baba Nanak to Kartarpur Sahib, about 4 kilometer distance, sometime in
1998, in order to enable the Sikh pilgrims to visit Gurdwara Kartarpur Sahib in
Pakistan without visa or passport. But there has been no progress in that
regard and both the sides are to be blamed for that officialdom. Various organisations
had been taking up the issue for the construction of the corridor.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222;">Sikh devotees
often gather near border fence and offer prayers while looking at Gurdwara
Kartarpur Sahib in Pakistan. The Border Security Force has specially
constructed 'Darshan Sthal' by providing binoculars to the visiting devotees
for a clear view of the gurdwara.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222;">No doubt it is
a high time when Kartarpur Dera Sahib Gudwara could play a vital role for a
long-term peace in the region, as some experts say that Kartarpur-Dera Sahib
can be used as corridor to peace in the region.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy9PgJnJJJU7gz03LVQLrSvYjm2L868KwrV5cTOwIp_jD8SRLhVqfyvCD7DaiI0h76Tww15BI4YybnFCk8abq3QafBoG4I6iFK5T9dhbgwpxcN8vcg-qqPrKEp3r6VcBiGI1EU-Q40h8Ed/s1600/14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy9PgJnJJJU7gz03LVQLrSvYjm2L868KwrV5cTOwIp_jD8SRLhVqfyvCD7DaiI0h76Tww15BI4YybnFCk8abq3QafBoG4I6iFK5T9dhbgwpxcN8vcg-qqPrKEp3r6VcBiGI1EU-Q40h8Ed/s400/14.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #222222;">Sixty seven
years has passed since the Partition and finally India and Pakistan moved one
step ahead toward peace. Recently the foreign ministers meeting in Islamabad
regarding visa liberation may be remembered as a landmark but it is not just
enough. We need to move further close and should welcome each other with open
arms. It is time to make your voice heard since peace alone could end hatred
that has been growing over the years. This is the cause we all should advocate. </span><br />
<span style="color: #222222;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #222222;">As a Punjabi
poet Surjit Patar has said:</span><span style="color: #222222;"><o:p>
</o:p></span><br />
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</span>
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<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="color: #222222;">"Kal Waris
Shah nu wandeya si Ajj Shiv Kumar di waari hai <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="color: #222222;">
</span>
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<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="color: #222222;">Oh zakham
tuhanu bhull vi gaye Je navean di hore tiyari hai" <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="color: #222222;">
</span>
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<span style="color: #222222;">
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<span style="color: #222222;">(Yesterday we
divided Waris Shah, today it is the turn of Shiv Kumar Batalvi, have you
forgotten the old wounds that you are looking for more, anew?) <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: #222222;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #222222;"><i>This article was originally published in monthly The Rationale</i></span></div>
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<a class="twitter-share-button" data-hashtags="IndoPak" data-text="Kartarpur: The corridor to peace in South Asia" data-url="http://shirazhassan.blogspot.com/2013/01/kartarpur-corridor-to-peace-in-south.html" data-via="ShirazHassan" href="https://twitter.com/share">Tweet</a>
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<iframe allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" src="//www.facebook.com/plugins/like.php?href=http%3A%2F%2Fshirazhassan.blogspot.com%2F2013%2F01%2Fkartarpur-corridor-to-peace-in-south.html&send=false&layout=standard&width=450&show_faces=true&font&colorscheme=light&action=like&height=80&appId=217000841662049" style="border: none; height: 80px; overflow: hidden; width: 450px;"></iframe>Shiraz Hassanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04697000384383256108noreply@blogger.com13Kartarpur, Pakistan32.0879424 75.01511270000003232.084578900000004 75.01007020000003 32.0913059 75.020155200000033tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8599059807906544662.post-35522934805357546862012-11-26T10:24:00.001-08:002012-11-26T10:30:28.272-08:00Shahi Hammam: The only public place for refreshment of royals<a class="twitter-share-button" data-hashtags="Lahore" data-text="Shahi Hammam: The only public place for refreshment of royals" data-url="http://shirazhassan.blogspot.com/2012/11/shahi-hammam-only-public-place-for.html" data-via="ShirazHassan" href="https://twitter.com/share">Tweet</a>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiznI6dwsKwrosqE8x6QaKYNPYcmaQ2p6UE3jMFSPKSFw5I08qFSqW5NKGzcGiupWIguXOSHPfSNCGC7eKjf-hwPcZRsDJpowUi_jEWhltnurf8POaOPH0jE8UjYv1Hfq79LB3hxJXM8IY1/s1600/Danish+394.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiznI6dwsKwrosqE8x6QaKYNPYcmaQ2p6UE3jMFSPKSFw5I08qFSqW5NKGzcGiupWIguXOSHPfSNCGC7eKjf-hwPcZRsDJpowUi_jEWhltnurf8POaOPH0jE8UjYv1Hfq79LB3hxJXM8IY1/s400/Danish+394.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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In Lahore, the Shahi Hammam or also known as the Wazir Khan Hammam is the only public place for bathing or refreshment of the Mughal period. The hammam was used by the royal families including emperors in the time of Shah Jahan, the fifth emperor of the Mughal Empire from 1628 until 1658.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZoUj_RufTU2aKvKNpzJOeGqvGUSvwj_0v6z6BIi0M7DtWBnddbQfaQA4sjCofhBDcKdMU5GlEHW_KeF1jxw3Uvag_D7gV2L1yn5maQeMnwXBpsO2VdGWihRkSfFko3VytidhGfUA8c713/s1600/Danish+395.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZoUj_RufTU2aKvKNpzJOeGqvGUSvwj_0v6z6BIi0M7DtWBnddbQfaQA4sjCofhBDcKdMU5GlEHW_KeF1jxw3Uvag_D7gV2L1yn5maQeMnwXBpsO2VdGWihRkSfFko3VytidhGfUA8c713/s400/Danish+395.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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The Shahi Hammam was built inside the Delhi Gate by Hakim Sheikh Ilmuddin Ansari, a native of Chiniot, commonly known as Wazir Khan, who rose to be the court physician to the emperor and a governor of Lahore. The Delhi Gate, one of the twelve gates of Lahore, was built by Jalal-ud-Din Muhammad Akbar, the third Mughal emperor.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrf457TWMgpRcJCC9BkdJjueH4h6-wDytJhONNEZ02VcHu5pK6C51aaF7_a8GEJLZNj7Xz1xdiBI5Cn8BOVQ0zfXwJ3NqhAJTgK9-Utk6DwgXrx6my9Hx-Dw5aTiQQ685Gv55gRZsX3iYk/s1600/Danish+398.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrf457TWMgpRcJCC9BkdJjueH4h6-wDytJhONNEZ02VcHu5pK6C51aaF7_a8GEJLZNj7Xz1xdiBI5Cn8BOVQ0zfXwJ3NqhAJTgK9-Utk6DwgXrx6my9Hx-Dw5aTiQQ685Gv55gRZsX3iYk/s400/Danish+398.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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The Delhi Gate is one of the most well-preserved gates and one of the liveliest with numerous markets. One of the most interesting features of the historically significant site is its Turkish style bath that is popular throughout the Islamic world, which provided reservoir fountains, dressing rooms, a hot room, and a warming room, additional latrines, and facilities for hot water.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpL5wEcF2DvOpu9T158KsmcByXT3eBjig_CQC2AiQEB49ByNBdBKUJd3eKq_v1kTwAsOWh8S622LjEo5OBg0_yut-cR4uMmlgC7cLPiU9YqnmShM6Ob6vg7yR73FjWq9SiH4fPnypl0DRV/s1600/Danish+399.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpL5wEcF2DvOpu9T158KsmcByXT3eBjig_CQC2AiQEB49ByNBdBKUJd3eKq_v1kTwAsOWh8S622LjEo5OBg0_yut-cR4uMmlgC7cLPiU9YqnmShM6Ob6vg7yR73FjWq9SiH4fPnypl0DRV/s400/Danish+399.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Pakistan is among the three countries (other two being Turkey and Greece) where hammams like these still existed. Beauty of the historical remnant had mainly been ruined because of encroachments. Before and after the partition, people occupied the land surrounding the Shahi Hammam. The encroachment severely damaged the walls and beauty of the historical heritage, destroying the mosaic work on the walls and ceilings of the hammam.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeVmBvPqUYdNwrACrHqhPlNcyODKkqWlrqvAjKW9SUzXUMikegOrWFC82qijkDHOoQdI-w-rT5GqEAKdt3wjOlzx8G-IQ-MvEdyj_Na-PMK-qE53aX0Dv2rTxeprhtaAAmI_BbfAleZ3-4/s1600/Danish+406.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeVmBvPqUYdNwrACrHqhPlNcyODKkqWlrqvAjKW9SUzXUMikegOrWFC82qijkDHOoQdI-w-rT5GqEAKdt3wjOlzx8G-IQ-MvEdyj_Na-PMK-qE53aX0Dv2rTxeprhtaAAmI_BbfAleZ3-4/s400/Danish+406.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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However, the Punjab government has finally turned its attention to the deteriorating historical heritage, and successfully removed encroachments from its surroundings. The Archaeology Department is taking measures so as to renovate the hammam. The government had provided Rs 3.6 million for the first phase of renovation process while the World Bank had provided Rs 50 million for the removal of encroachments. The first phase (of the renovation) would include complete preservation and renovation of the outer walls.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSxsvb2zO0csj01iO_coUTqmN9TgyNZLBHHWNAQH2ET3iNJkQ1h03q4WrBbBZ3gKA3UbAMucOFHou59Ed1wUCRyGy7_UsG4vYg1CRXV50oOy0qNsm579Gvm0P3Y4nMR3zSkO94UNOP-TNb/s1600/Danish+402.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSxsvb2zO0csj01iO_coUTqmN9TgyNZLBHHWNAQH2ET3iNJkQ1h03q4WrBbBZ3gKA3UbAMucOFHou59Ed1wUCRyGy7_UsG4vYg1CRXV50oOy0qNsm579Gvm0P3Y4nMR3zSkO94UNOP-TNb/s400/Danish+402.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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In the next phase, the marble flooring of the structure (laid down in 1990), would be broken to reveal its original floors and the water channels underneath. The water system would be fully explored and restored with special focus on water routes, linking of hot and cold baths to channels underneath, route of the water drains, etc. The shops that were built around the hammam would also be dug to reveal what lay underneath them. A proper map of the hammam would be made, guiding the visitors about each and every corner of the place.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjzWTnyl-QpjtQtGeD4VN8lOMWtd9zxmLb3U3KGzrlJWf0BJKOjfUqeEEbgDOaUwjL3bmdNThyphenhyphen5eH53ct-C9AbMtIcaJqw8wbhTM0wewks1sEC7xP8OOx0yh_lmoCAHRjLv7h1GHepyyyI/s1600/Danish+404.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjzWTnyl-QpjtQtGeD4VN8lOMWtd9zxmLb3U3KGzrlJWf0BJKOjfUqeEEbgDOaUwjL3bmdNThyphenhyphen5eH53ct-C9AbMtIcaJqw8wbhTM0wewks1sEC7xP8OOx0yh_lmoCAHRjLv7h1GHepyyyI/s320/Danish+404.jpg" width="229" /></a></div>
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Nowadays, encroachments removing work is in progress. Besides that its the the fact that not many people know about Shahi hammam, one of the important landmarks of the Mughal period. Next time when you visit Lahore, don't forget to visit this place. </div>
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<a class="twitter-share-button" data-hashtags="Lahore" data-text="Shahi Hammam: The only public place for refreshment of royals" data-url="http://shirazhassan.blogspot.com/2012/11/shahi-hammam-only-public-place-for.html" data-via="ShirazHassan" href="https://twitter.com/share">Tweet</a>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3jA_lCct2noTLIWKf9zO3ozonlsDS2Rjh2yFxtkbHi9MLK2cnNB5kz5cZy6w5R8pVpXM905bmL3Hp1ogcbGd7LcpSXTaQqypl1Q4bxwUz3A0gjZ9wjg01Tqx20mJt6klkKyWDO2lU3jUS/s1600/14387_10151183944203725_2089674726_n+%281%29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3jA_lCct2noTLIWKf9zO3ozonlsDS2Rjh2yFxtkbHi9MLK2cnNB5kz5cZy6w5R8pVpXM905bmL3Hp1ogcbGd7LcpSXTaQqypl1Q4bxwUz3A0gjZ9wjg01Tqx20mJt6klkKyWDO2lU3jUS/s400/14387_10151183944203725_2089674726_n+%281%29.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">A banner is placed at Bhagat Singh Chowk (Shadman Roundabout) against its renaming, calling it an attack on ideology of Pakistan. [Photo by: Faisal Saeed]</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Bhagat
Singh wasn’t just an ordinary citizen of British India. He was a son of Punjab,
a true freedom fighter. The
guiding principle of his life, in his own words - "My life has been
dedicated to the noblest cause, that of the freedom of the country. Therefore,
there is no rest or worldly desire that can lure me now...”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">However,
since the partition of India, and the inception of Pakistan in 1947 the higher
authorities tried their best to distort the history and men who made history. “The
Hindus are cunning, the Sikhs are foolish” - is the lesson we have learned
since our independence. The situation became more critical after the Fall of
Dhaka and takeover of General Zia ul Haq. The Afghan Jihad in 1980s also dealt
a big blow to the comparatively tolerant society in Pakistan, and finally, at
the end of Afghan Jihad in late 1980s, the cat came out of the bag and we are
now still repeating what we saw thirty years ago. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Radicalized,
intolerant and extremist factors, loaded with arms, started roaming freely in
the society. Sadly, this growing radicalization of the Pakistani society , has
still not been put under any check and balance .<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Bhagat
Singh - who raised his voice against the British imperialism, who was a son of our
soil, who gave his life with his comrades Sukhdev, Rajguru, Chandershekhar
Azad, Rampradad Bismil and Ashfaqullah Hussain for this cause; Bhagat Singh and
his martyred comrades – who stood tall and mighty for the unity of oppressed
nations of the Indian sub-continent - still seek their due recognition in
Pakistan. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Anyone
who remotely knows our history, would also know that Lahore and Bhagat Singh
cannot be separated. Having studied in DAV College (now Islamia College),
Lahore, Bhagat Singh delved into active student politics in and then went on to
spend the rest of his life here till he breathed his last. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">He,
along with his comrades Rajguru and Sukhdev were sentenced to death in the
Lahore conspiracy case and ordered to be hanged on 24 March 1931. But he was
executed 11 hours in advance on 23 March 1931. They were hanged on 23 March
1931 at 7:30 pm in Lahore jail.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieu8OC5TGdLY9J8yQVRN0uMmXVDBaw30RXOfSZZzj8uDA8h6yM67Rts0qmK-7Hffsf6nl8eFzemxU8ZbOSzrY9NSq9f_P7i6dWqQPDZuo9Frph0n8iiBmnwFs5QR-OzNXGsxqVSxrBpD1N/s1600/191757_166005806788427_6865807_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieu8OC5TGdLY9J8yQVRN0uMmXVDBaw30RXOfSZZzj8uDA8h6yM67Rts0qmK-7Hffsf6nl8eFzemxU8ZbOSzrY9NSq9f_P7i6dWqQPDZuo9Frph0n8iiBmnwFs5QR-OzNXGsxqVSxrBpD1N/s400/191757_166005806788427_6865807_o.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">For many years writers, poets, intellectuals, students and civil society had been demanding to rename the place as Bhagat Singh Chowk. Every year they organize a peaceful gathering at Bhagat Singh Chowk (Shadman Roundabout). Photo by: Shiraz Hassan</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Old building of Lahore
Jail, is popularly recognized today as Shadman Roundabout and its nearby areas.
The old barracks of the jail has been demolished and turned into a commercial/residential
area. However, the central roundabout of Shahdman is still marked as the place
where Bhagat Singh was hanged, as a memorial. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">For
a very long time now, the sane voices of the Pakistani society, the progressive
people ideologically inclined towards socialism, knowing the importance of this
landmark had been demanding to rename this very place as Bhagat Singh Chowk, to
pay tribute to the great martyr of the Indian Independence movement. Their
efforts bore fruit and luckily the city district government of Lahore issued
the orders of renaming of Bhagat Singh Chowk, very recently. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">But,
as expected, it is neither shocking or surprising to observe that the radical
and fundamentalist elements of our society has treated this attempt to change
the name as a challenge to the teachings of Islam and against the ideology of
Pakistan. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Hence,
in a matter of days post the Government’s decision, we are seeing banners
against the renaming of Shadman chowk to Bhagat Singh chowk flooding the area!.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">In
a statement issued by the Tehreek-e-Hurmat Rusool(PBUH) it has been warned that
the “government would not be allowed to take uncalled for decisions in the
country of Quaid-e-Azam and Allama Iqbal.” Earlier city district government also received threats from Jamat-ud-Dawa against renaming of Shadman roundabout to Bhagat Singh Chowk.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Its
a message (read threat) loud and clear, to the authorities that they will go to
any level for “their” demands. </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The
sane voices of society were fighting to rename this place to Bhagat Singh for
many years. But no sooner than their voices were listened to, by the powers
that be, and a much awaited welcome step taken at long last, it is all over.
Crushed.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7k0jnd8ON_lfUYGUlx0jfiMrZqCYO0QLHXXHFsVvu4KQ_huvum2Qow0yCjoHXPf_xe3tUSauW2WecEx9kmiuh8GYsFK5eTdL_ThQdRlN6xoE1eCzDDzKQ8hvNRV8jUIvh7d4R59P6q2Hu/s1600/61600_3369345491585_1917754437_n+%281%29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7k0jnd8ON_lfUYGUlx0jfiMrZqCYO0QLHXXHFsVvu4KQ_huvum2Qow0yCjoHXPf_xe3tUSauW2WecEx9kmiuh8GYsFK5eTdL_ThQdRlN6xoE1eCzDDzKQ8hvNRV8jUIvh7d4R59P6q2Hu/s320/61600_3369345491585_1917754437_n+%281%29.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Another banner can be seen at Chowk, 'forcefully' naming it Hurmat-e-Rusool(SAWW) Chowk. [Photo by: Ammar Aziz]</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The
question is and remains, Why the government is so helpless? Does demanding
something peacefully have no effect? Can’t we demand anything which in reality
is not actually against the ideology of Pakistan(as being claimed by the
radicals) or the so-called two nation theory? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">For
our plight and the current state of intolerance and ignorance in our society, the
textbooks churned out by our academia is also responsible to a large extent.
Our children were and are systematically taught that Hindus and Sikhs are our
enemies, and hence Bhagat Singh was a Sikh, he is a natural enemy of Pakistan. This
distorted image is very easy to draw in impressionable minds, without much
effort. Hence, it is imperative now that, we need to re-visit our history, the
sooner, the better. As I said earlier, we are reaping today what we had sowed years
ago and it will take another century to undo the wrongs and fatal mistakes committed
in the last 50 years! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKvuczG6SaIoWzyysMMDO1ELgbvGCAkik1HJY9NOHKlm_QYZNnvFCxvjcQMNNbcOb09wmQvQiSDnkXHUjjQ4bPw8vWG_M2c3O_2VOiaE4Z3NHW4opVhjFb8anyIkn_wECQ8VNsMyRqGdVI/s1600/191757_166005800121761_7175642_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKvuczG6SaIoWzyysMMDO1ELgbvGCAkik1HJY9NOHKlm_QYZNnvFCxvjcQMNNbcOb09wmQvQiSDnkXHUjjQ4bPw8vWG_M2c3O_2VOiaE4Z3NHW4opVhjFb8anyIkn_wECQ8VNsMyRqGdVI/s400/191757_166005800121761_7175642_o.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Graffiti: Bhagat Singh Chowk [Photo by Shiraz Hassan]</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The
radicals are knocking at our door, ready to take over our existence and our
identity, by destroying our history, heritage and culture - like the invaders Abdali, Ghauri, Ghazali and
Nadir Shah did in the past, It’s
time to act, it’s time to raise your voice, it’s time to say No to Extremism
before it’s too late </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I
urge you to look within, think hard and good, reflect and tell me, is it
Impossible?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">*message tone*</span> </div>*picks up iPhone and checks text*</div><div class="MsoNormal">“Hey Buddy! Where are you lost?” *friend pings* </div><div class="MsoNormal">The AC wasn’t working; he overate–but then, the food was awesome–he felt it's hotter than usual –Damn! The Net's down… </div><div class="MsoNormal">*curses Rehman Malik*</div><div class="MsoNormal">“Hey, I am good, whassup?” </div><div class="MsoNormal">Friend– “Do you know 300 people have died in Karachi, some fire incident in a factory? Haven’t seen you on twitter for a while also”</div><div class="MsoNormal">“OMG! Really? My internet is down, haven’t checked twitter” </div><div class="MsoNormal">He doesn’t feel like switching on the TV. </div><div class="MsoNormal">Friend– “Yeah man, poor souls. Heard some Bhatta Mafias were also involved”</div><div class="MsoNormal">“BC. These bad asses. We must do something about those poor people. Khair aur sunaa?”</div><div class="MsoNormal">Friend– “Sab set!”</div><div class="MsoNormal">“What’s going on at the twitterverse nowadays?”</div><div class="MsoNormal"> *continues texting*</div><div class="MsoNormal">Friend– “Same shit happening. PTI Trolls. PPP Jyalas. N League k Noorey. And then wohee <i>Elitiye</i> signing petitions. Lol”</div><div class="MsoNormal">“<i>hahaha. Kuch nahin badalne wala </i>[Nothing will change]”– he was surely missing some fun. </div><div class="MsoNormal">Friend– “So true man, what else?” </div><div class="MsoNormal">He guessed it was end of the discussion and he was bored to his teeth. This humid weather was killing him. He looked towards the AC, which seemed to stare at him with a poker face; he picked up the phone to text back...</div><div class="MsoNormal">“You were telling about some fire incident? What happened?”</div><div class="MsoNormal">Friend– “Dunno much. Some garment factory. Fire broke out and peeps were caught inside. Some 300 died, they say”</div><div class="MsoNormal">“hmmm… that's it?” </div><div class="MsoNormal">He was expecting something more from him, some "masala" story….</div><div class="MsoNormal">Friend– “O Yea! Arab Spring hit the Arab world once again, hardly anything tho'....this time” </div><div class="MsoNormal">“What? What happened now?” </div><div class="MsoNormal">That seemed interesting.</div><div class="MsoNormal">Friend– “Man, some Jew made a blasphemous film. Protests all over the Arab world, heard of some in Pakistan too”</div><div class="MsoNormal">“Oh man, that blasphemer should be hanged to death, how does someone dare to do that” </div><div class="MsoNormal">*blood boils* </div><div class="MsoNormal">Friend– “Exactly man! A US ambassador has also been murdered. Yo!”</div><div class="MsoNormal">“<i>Yeh Cheez, SaloN ko sabaq sikhaana chahiye</i> [That’s the way. We should teach a lesson to those rascals.]”</div><div class="MsoNormal">*feels happy deep inside* </div><div class="MsoNormal">“Do you know about the protest organized in solidarity with Karachi fire victims? Should we go?” </div><div class="MsoNormal">What the hell is he talking about–he thought. “<i>Itni garmi mein</i>? [In this heat?] Nah man! I have some better things to do,” he replied.</div><div class="MsoNormal">Friend– “Aur sunaa”</div><div class="MsoNormal">“Nothing much, why don’t you come over? Will watch some shit, suna hai TDKR's cool”</div><div class="MsoNormal">Friend– “Man, sorry, am invited at a do.. .Nadeem ka pata hai na? Dude's b'day bash at his joint tonight. Full on scene hai”</div><div class="MsoNormal">“Chal okay” </div><div class="MsoNormal">.........</div><div class="MsoNormal">"Sala C****iya" </div><div class="MsoNormal">*looks at iPhone and grumbles* </div><div class="MsoNormal">He stared hard at the AC; may be it ‘LOLed’ at him? </div><div class="MsoNormal">He turned to the Lappie but the modem’s light was still red. </div><div class="MsoNormal">"F**k!"</div><div class="MsoNormal">He lifted his weight and waddled into the lounge. </div><div class="MsoNormal">He stopped in front of the fridge and picked up a Pepsi. </div><div class="MsoNormal">He switched the TV on and fiddled with the remote–flicking channels. </div><div class="MsoNormal">"Ah! ManU"</div><div class="MsoNormal">His favorite club played against some random FC… LIVE… </div><div class="MsoNormal">The AC sprang back to life...slowly purring...blowing cool air into the room...he felt sleepy...</div><div class="MsoNormal">"Van Parsie's rocking man!" <br />
*mumbles*</div><div class="MsoNormal">Life was good....</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
<br />
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<a class="twitter-share-button" data-hashtags="Lahore" data-text="Mochi Gate of Walled City , History and Heritage" data-url="http://shirazhassan.blogspot.com/2012/09/mochi-gate-of-walled-city-of-lahore.html" data-via="shirazhassan" href="https://twitter.com/share">Tweet</a><br />
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<div style="text-align: right;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEickRPqbUzITVZ4diHnyaIATlKA5SKJGTAkb4CT8c-NkkSI6Lb5ndXt2ajeBQGq3hOUEtnt0P95tkCxvlhlURpGg9Bgu2CSX62Pi8PLiH4D5aDU9sHfG8X8E6yrvlNTr55uUxGhLZUeoNbg/s1600/Mochi+Gate.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEickRPqbUzITVZ4diHnyaIATlKA5SKJGTAkb4CT8c-NkkSI6Lb5ndXt2ajeBQGq3hOUEtnt0P95tkCxvlhlURpGg9Bgu2CSX62Pi8PLiH4D5aDU9sHfG8X8E6yrvlNTr55uUxGhLZUeoNbg/s400/Mochi+Gate.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nawab Chowk, interior Mochi Gate. Photo by Furhan Hussain</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: 'Jameel Noori Nastaleeq'; font-size: 18px;"><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Jameel Noori Nastaleeq'; font-size: 18px;">شہر ایک بار پھر بیرونی حملہ آوروں سے محفوظ رہا۔ اس بارحملہ آوروں نے شہر کے جنوب سے حملہ کیا لیکن دربان شہر کی جرات مندی اور کامیاب حکمت عملی سے فوجیں شہر میں داخل ہونے میں کامیاب نہ ہو سکیں۔ شہنشاہ وقت جلال الدین اکبر نے اپنے دربان موتی رام کو انعام کے طور پر شہر کے جنوبی سمت کھلنے والے دروازے کا نام عطا کر دیا۔ شہر میں منادی کروادی گئی کہ جنوبی رخ میں کھلنے </span> <span style="font-family: 'Jameel Noori Nastaleeq'; font-size: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">والا دروازہ</span> <span style="font-family: 'Jameel Noori Nastaleeq'; font-size: 18px;"> ’موتی دروازہ‘ کہلائے گا۔ جسے بعدازاں موچی دروازہ کہا جانے لگا۔ </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwfctUCzGoCwtMiNvBVCpArl-PrXwpXohj-qBq0zsNuzXaLcpC7neyY3jTZYWTFkJqnDKC85cCeFKOQNEOIQEjApU-49uMieTCCIEQNKGenZuVe4ARRTvUYqMEuky_tbaldWaJbsTUZcay/s1600/mochi+gate+003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwfctUCzGoCwtMiNvBVCpArl-PrXwpXohj-qBq0zsNuzXaLcpC7neyY3jTZYWTFkJqnDKC85cCeFKOQNEOIQEjApU-49uMieTCCIEQNKGenZuVe4ARRTvUYqMEuky_tbaldWaJbsTUZcay/s400/mochi+gate+003.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Old Architecture, Nawab Chowk, Mochi gate area</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: 'Jameel Noori Nastaleeq'; font-size: 18px;">شہر قدیم کا موچی دروازہ جنوب کی جانب واقع ہے۔ اس کے دائیں جانب اکبری دروازہ اور بائیں جانب شاہ </span><span style="font-family: 'Jameel Noori Nastaleeq'; font-size: 18px;">عالمی دروازہ ہے۔ اس دروازے کی تعمیر بھی اکبر کے دور میں ہوئی۔ موچی دروازے کا قدیم نام موتی درواز </span><span style="font-family: 'Jameel Noori Nastaleeq'; font-size: 18px;">تھا۔ اس نام کی وجہ تسمیہ یہ بیان کی جاتی ہے کہ اکبری عہد میں موتی رام جمعدار جو اکبر کا ملازم تھا ، تمام عمر اس دروازے کی حفاظت پر معمور رہا ۔ موتی رام بہت ملنسار اور خوش اخلاق انسان تھا۔ اپنے حسن اخلاق کے باعث وہ ہر خاص و عام میں مقبول تھا۔ اس کی زندگی میں جب بیرونی حملہ آوروں نے لاہور کا رخ کیا تو اس نے جان کی پرواہ نہ کرتے ہوئے شہر کی حفاظت کی اور اپنی حکمت عملی اور ذہانت کی بدولت حملہ آوروں کو دروازے میں داخل نہ ہونے دیا۔اسی کے نام کی نسبت سے یہ دروازہ موتی دروازہ کے نام سے مشہور ہو گیا۔</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhamM_Pv2eGRTZtNzKihFqzj6I4pBbWtXNB9ULpXfHFtEai_zk4OQTBOFAKQ6Sky2nESd2dqf_bsDoBhaRO7EFhnMw9ddre7YC6jFCrVl6vtnQpumusPzwziNDxfBuGmSGe-Sw5wV3lz5QS/s1600/mochi+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhamM_Pv2eGRTZtNzKihFqzj6I4pBbWtXNB9ULpXfHFtEai_zk4OQTBOFAKQ6Sky2nESd2dqf_bsDoBhaRO7EFhnMw9ddre7YC6jFCrVl6vtnQpumusPzwziNDxfBuGmSGe-Sw5wV3lz5QS/s400/mochi+1.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Interior Mochi gate area</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: 'Jameel Noori Nastaleeq'; font-size: 18px;">کنہیا لال موچی دروازے کے بارے میں ’تاریخ لاہور‘ میں بیان کرتے ہیں کہ ’’یہ دورازہ موتی رام جمعدار ملازم اکبری کے نام سے موسوم ہے جو تمام عمر اس دروازے کی حفاظت پر تعینات رہا تھا۔ مدت العمر کی ملازمت کے سبب سے اس دروازے نے بھی موتی کے ساتھ پوری نسبت پیدا کر لی اور ہمیشہ کے لئے موتی بن گیا۔ سکھی عہد میں موتی کے نام سے بدل کر موچی مشہور ہوا۔ اب بھی موچی دروازہ مشہور ہے۔ اس دروازے کے شرقی دالان میں ایک قبر چھوٹی سی زمانہ سلف کی پختہ بنی ہوئی موجود ہے۔ لوگ مشہور کرتے ہیں کہ یہاں کسی شہید کا سر مدفون ہے‘‘</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Jameel Noori Nastaleeq'; font-size: 18px;">بعض مورخین کی رائے ہے کہ اس دروازے کو سکھ عہد میں مورچی دروازے کا نام دیا گیا تھا۔ جس کی بنیادی وجہ اندرون موچی دروازے میں ’مورچیوں‘ کا قیام بتائی جاتی ہے۔ اوائل مغل عہد میں یہاں مغل فوج کے پیادے قیام پذیر تھے اور اسی نسبت سے اس علاقے کے مختلف محلوں اور گلیوں کی تقسیم کی گئی جن میں محلہ تیر گراں، محلہ کمان گراں، محلہ لٹھ ماراں، محلہ چابک سواراں، محلہ بندوق سازاں اور حماماں والی گلی قابل ذکر ہیں۔</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHr_6e-rKL8g94J7-yIcKc48XbL-NeR6fHxGnPmH4A1jcTXB1DAxeddTTCLN0zEvJDQEABv83yTIhE24M4DAxEV3fBwK0uZa4fUQsFbUecJ0W3Qfjr-hv6y3cFsSL9T6UwESlPZn63p1fv/s1600/mochi+gate+004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHr_6e-rKL8g94J7-yIcKc48XbL-NeR6fHxGnPmH4A1jcTXB1DAxeddTTCLN0zEvJDQEABv83yTIhE24M4DAxEV3fBwK0uZa4fUQsFbUecJ0W3Qfjr-hv6y3cFsSL9T6UwESlPZn63p1fv/s400/mochi+gate+004.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">He is sleeping, I guess</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: 'Jameel Noori Nastaleeq'; font-size: 18px;">کئی آج اتنی صدیاں گزر جانے کے بعد بھی یہ دروازہ سیاسی اہمیت کا حامل ہے اور ملکی سیاسی تاریخ کا اہم مرکز تصور کیا جاتا ہے۔ یہ دروازہ سیاسی حوالے سے ملکی تاریخ کا اہم باب بن گیا ہے اس لئے جمہوری ادوار میں سیاست دانوں کے عظیم الشان جلسے اور سیاسی احتجاج کی بڑی بڑی تحریک یہیں سے جنم لیتی رہی ہیں۔ موچی باغ تحریک پاکستان سے لے کر موجودہ تک سیاسی منظر نامے کا اہم حصہ رہا ہے۔ اس تاریخی میدان میں برصغیر پاک ہند کے جن نامور سیاستدانوں اور رہنماؤں نے خطاب کیا ان میں علامہ اقبال، قائداعظم محمد علی جناح، جواہر لال نہرو، خان عبدالغفار خان، حسین شہید سہروردی ، لیاقت علی خان، ذولفقار علی بھٹو،بے نظیر بھٹو،نواز شریف، شہباز شریف سمیت تمام اہم سیاست دان شامل ہیں۔ 80ء کی دہائی تک کسی بھی سیاست دان کی عوامی مقبولیت کا اندازہ موچی باغ میں عوامی مجمع کو دیکھ کر لگایا جاتا تھا۔ آج موچی باغ کے گرد کار پارکنگ اور میدان میں کوڑا کرکٹ کے ڈھیر اور دھوبیوں کے ناجائز قبصے سے اس کا حسن مانند پڑ رہا ہے اور سیاسی جلسے بھی شاز و نادر ہی منعقد ہوتے ہیں۔</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWuRICYC2VYAXlfrI1d0vVaxGNDOtU1vWG_qqbIKvX5SW-wq4F7jIMsXxCnozRM4GbYFf3lBSQI6ypm_orzlIlnGac3_bB6m6dEflMp9dyS5UGgNhbfgbKFF2TUj9-oXQnWlv12hlNm1Xl/s1600/mochi+gate+018.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWuRICYC2VYAXlfrI1d0vVaxGNDOtU1vWG_qqbIKvX5SW-wq4F7jIMsXxCnozRM4GbYFf3lBSQI6ypm_orzlIlnGac3_bB6m6dEflMp9dyS5UGgNhbfgbKFF2TUj9-oXQnWlv12hlNm1Xl/s400/mochi+gate+018.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mochi Ground.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: 'Jameel Noori Nastaleeq'; font-size: 18px;">انگریز دور حکومت میں جب فصیل شہر کی بلندی کم کے چند فٹ کی دیوار بنا دی گئی تو اس دروازے کے دونوں برجوں کو گرا کر اس کی اینٹیں فروخت کر دی گئیں۔ قرین قیاس تھا کہ انگریزی عہد میں اس دروازے کی بھی تعمیر نو ہوگی مگر ایسا نہ ہو سکا۔ موچی دروازے کی از سر نو تعمیر نہیں ہو سکی اس لئے آج موچی دروازے کی عمارت کے آثار موجود نہیں ہیں نہ ہی اس دروازے کی عمارت کے بارے میں پرانی کتابوں میں حوالہ جات ملتے ہیں۔ لہذا اس کے فن تعمیر اور جمالیات کے بارے میں مورخ کسی قسم کی رائے کے اظہار سے قاصر ہیں۔ قیاس ہے کہ اس دروازے کی عمارت بھی لاہور کے بقیہ قدیم دروازوں کے فن تعمیر سے مماثلت رکھتا ہوگا۔آج موچی دروازہ کے بائیں ہاتھ پر تھانہ موچی گیٹ کی نو تعمیر کثیر منزلہ عمارت موجود ہے اور بائیں جانب تھانہ رنگ محل کی عمارت ہے۔ دروازے کے بالکل ساتھ پیر مرادیہ کی قبر اور سبیل ہے۔ قبر پر دو قدیمی گھنے درختوں کا سایہ کیا ہوا ہے۔ تھانے کی عمارت سے چند قدم آگے بائیں جانب قدیم لال حویلی کی عمارت ہے۔</span><br />
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</span> <span style="font-family: 'Jameel Noori Nastaleeq'; font-size: 18px;">موچی دروازے کا علاقہ پتنگ سازی، خشک میوہ جات ، مٹھائیوں اور آتشباری کے سامان کا مرکز رہا ہے۔ بسنت پر پابندی عائد ہونے کے بعد اب اس علاقے میں پتنگ سازی کا کاروبار ختم ہو چکا ہے۔ جبکہ آتشبازی کے سامان کی چند ایک دوکانیں باقی ہیں۔ البتہ موچی دروازے کا بازار اب بھی بہت بارونق ہے۔ مٹھائیوں اور کھانے پینے کے حوالے سے یہ علاقہ اپنا ایک خاص مقام رکھتا ہے۔ بہترین فالودہ، لسی، </span><span style="font-family: 'Jameel Noori Nastaleeq'; font-size: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">باداموں والی برفی، مچھلی اور</span><span style="font-family: 'Jameel Noori Nastaleeq'; font-size: 18px;"> سیخ کباب اس علاقے کی خاص سوغات ہیں۔</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ruined Heritage</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: 'Jameel Noori Nastaleeq'; font-size: 18px;">موچی دروازے کی وجہ شہرت مسجد صالح محمد کمبوہ بھی ہے۔ جونہی موچی دروازے کے اندر داخل ہوں تو چند قدم چلنے کے بعد بالکل سامنے تین گنبدوں والی یہ مسجد آنے والوں کو توجہ اپنی جانب مبذول کرتی ہے۔ یہ مسجد سڑک سے ایک منزل بلندی پر تعمیر کی گئی تھی۔ قدیم مسجد صالح محمد کمبوہ ہیکا شماراپنے نقش و نگار اور خوبصورتی کے باعث مغلیہ دور کی اہم عمارات میں کیا جاتا ہے۔اکثر آیات قرانی اور احدیث و عبارات فارسی اس کی دیواروں پر نقش ہیں۔اس مسجد کی تعمیر منشی محمد صالح کمبوہ دیوان صوبہ پنجاب نے کروائی تھی۔ مسجد کی تعمیر 1659ء میں مکمل ہوئی تھی۔ اس مسجد کی کرسی اونچی ہے اور نیچے دوکانیں ہیں۔ آج چار صدیاں گزرنے کے بعد بازار کی زمین اونچی ہوگئی ہے اور دوکانوں نے نصف سے زائد زمین میں دھنس کر تہہ خانوں کی شکل اختیار کر لی ہے۔ دروازہ بھی چھوٹا سا رہ گیا ہے اور مسجد کی کرسی کی بلندی چار کی برابر رہ گئی ہے۔ اس مسجد کے مشرق میں صالح محمد کمبوہ نے اپنی حویلی بھی بنوائی تھی۔ صالح محمد کمبوہ نے شاہ جہان دور کی تاریخ ’’عمل صالح‘ تحریر کی تھی۔ مسجد کمبوہ کے ساتھ ہی اونچی مسجد بلال ہے جہاں بچوں کو قرآن مجید ناظرہ و حفظ کی مفت تعلیم دی جاتی ہے۔ مدرسہ کا نام جامعہ کریمیہ چشتیہ ہے۔ مسجد کمبوہ سے بائیں مڑ جائیں تو کوچہ لوہاراں آجاتا ہے جس آگے ملحقہ بازار صدا کاراں ہے اور اس کے بعد کوچہ تیر گراں آجاتا ہے جو شاہ عالمی بازار سے جا ملتا ہے۔</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Jameel Noori Nastaleeq'; font-size: 18px;">مسجد صالح کمبوہ سے دائیں جانب چلے جائیں تو کوچہ تکیہ سادھواں کے بعد کوچہ چابک سواراں آجاتا ہے جہاں 1671ء میں مسجد چینیاں والی تعمیر ہوئی۔ اس کے ساتھ ہی حویلی میاں خان متصل ہے۔اس مسجد کا شمار بھی اندرون شہر کی قدیم مساجد میں ہوتا تھا۔</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMoxH5TYLWAE0kULTUSwsyALF3xbRC1BN_WkzR8-4Z8zyWb9iXE2vIpZ68b3dG8gv61YFiSUd4TT6nHHIu4R2K1kYLquxyJeYPkaZLUPLq7RsjHjh3kQndlL4iTvnFgiHmrkeePXjzDOfI/s1600/mochi+gate+006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMoxH5TYLWAE0kULTUSwsyALF3xbRC1BN_WkzR8-4Z8zyWb9iXE2vIpZ68b3dG8gv61YFiSUd4TT6nHHIu4R2K1kYLquxyJeYPkaZLUPLq7RsjHjh3kQndlL4iTvnFgiHmrkeePXjzDOfI/s400/mochi+gate+006.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Balcony, Haveli Wajid Ali Shah</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: 'Jameel Noori Nastaleeq'; font-size: 18px;">کنہیا لال قدیم مسجد چینیاں کے بارے میں اپنی تصنیف تاریخ لاہور میں لکھا ہے کہ ’’مسجد کا شرقی دروازہ نہایت عالی شان بنا ہوا تھا۔ بہ وقت زوالِ سلطنتِ چغتائی جب گھر گھر ہو گیا تو مسجد کے دروازے کی سلیں گوجر سنگھ نے اکھڑوا لیں۔ پتھر کی دہلیز، جو سنگ مر مر کی تھی، سوبھا سنگھ نے نکلوا لی، دروازہ مسجد منہدم ہوگیا۔ پہلے دروازے کی اینٹیں ۔ پھر زمین کسی طامع امام مسجد نے فروخت کر دی اور مسجد سے داخل ہونے کے لئے شمالی دیوار توڑ کر چھوٹا سا دروازہ نکال لیا تھا۔‘‘ مسجد کی شکستہ حالی کے سبب اس کی ازسر نو تعمیر کی گئی ۔ اس مسجد کے بانی شاہ جہاں بادشاہ کے فوجداری صوبہ لاہور نواب سرفراز خان المعروف افراز خان تھے۔ کچھ عرصہ قبل مسجد چینیاں والی کو دوبارہ گرا کر ایک مسجد تعمیر کی گئی ہے۔سکھوں کے عہد میں عربی خط کا استاد خلیفہ بگو نامہ موچی دروازے کے اندر محلہ کماں گراں میں رہتا تھا۔</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Jameel Noori Nastaleeq'; font-size: 18px;">مسجد صالح محمد کمبوہ سے اگر دائیں جانب مڑ جائیں تو امام بارگارہ سید اکبر علی شاہ آتا ہے اس کے ساتھ ہی آگے مشہور لال کھوہ کی عمارت کی بہت قدیمی عمارت ہے جس کی تعمیر نو 1977ء میں مستری جاوید چنیوٹی نے ضیا الدین بٹ کی مالی معاونت سے کی۔لال کھو کے بارے میں بتایا جاتا ہے کہ یہاں ایک کنواں ہوتا تھا جسے سکھ مذہب کے پیروکار مقدس سمجھتے تھے۔ لال کھو کی عمارت کے ساتھ بیری کا درخت ہے اور دیے جلانے کی مخصوص جگہ ہے جسے بیراں والی سرکار کہتے ہیں۔ لال کھوہ کی عمارت کے بالکل سامنے رفیق سویٹس کی دوکان ہے۔ یہیں پر مشہور فضل سوئیٹس بھی ہے۔ مزید آگے جائیں چوک نواب پہنچ جاتے ہیں۔ یہ چوک نواب قزلباش کے نام سے منسوب ہے۔ قبل ازیں یہاں ایک شمشان گھاٹ تھا جسے ختم کر دیا گیا۔ اندرون موچی دروازہ مغلیہ عہد اور بعدکے ادوار میں بھی نوابوں کا مسکن رہا ہے۔ یہاں عظیم الشان اور کشادہ حویلیوں کی تعمیر کی گئی۔ جو آج بھی اس دور کی عظمت کی گواہی دیتی ہیں۔</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDuABmVBcg2b5wMUR8BlshwWFDgBnqYlMC1kQo4p6nbpLToK6tcFXFy-SsPI9JZbPW-nuHblapB9nDUILPt4uAcVwd9ePgIuqaOgdwy8nIJr0QcVjCCfh2_NlvAYWZSYgeqvjhb0fNFDuQ/s1600/mochi+gate+013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDuABmVBcg2b5wMUR8BlshwWFDgBnqYlMC1kQo4p6nbpLToK6tcFXFy-SsPI9JZbPW-nuHblapB9nDUILPt4uAcVwd9ePgIuqaOgdwy8nIJr0QcVjCCfh2_NlvAYWZSYgeqvjhb0fNFDuQ/s400/mochi+gate+013.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Haveli Wajid Ali Shah</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: 'Jameel Noori Nastaleeq'; font-size: 18px;">کنہیا لال ہندی نے شہر قدیم کے اندر حویلیوں کی کل تعداد چونسٹھ بتائی ہے جن میں سے سوائے چند ایک باقی سب کے محض نشانات باقی رہ گئے ہیں۔ ان حویلیوں کو دو گروہوں میں تقسیم کیا جا سکتا ہے۔ اولین وہ حویلیاں جو عہد مغلیاں کی یاد تھیں اور سکھوں کے قبضہ میں آئیں اور دوسرے حصے میں ان حویلیوں کا تذکرہ ہوگا جو عہد سکھی میں ہی تعمیر ہوئیں اور ان کے معماروں نے حسب توفیق ظاہرہ خدوخال میں سکھ عہد کا تشخص اجاگر کرنے کی کمزور</span> <span style="font-family: 'Jameel Noori Nastaleeq'; font-size: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">سی</span> <span style="font-family: 'Jameel Noori Nastaleeq'; font-size: 18px;"> سعی کی۔</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Jameel Noori Nastaleeq'; font-size: 18px;">موچی دروازہ اس ضمن میں خاص اہمیت کا حامل ہے۔ یہاں عہد مغلیہ دور کی کئی یادگار حویلیاں آج بھی موجود ہیں۔ نواب سعد اللہ خان مغل بادشاہ شاہ جہان وزیر تھا ۔ اس نے اپنی رہائش کے لئے اندرون موچی دروازہ میں حویلی میاں خان تعمیر کی جس کے تین درجے تھے ایک حویلی زنانہ، دوسری مردانہ جس کو رنگ محل بھی کہتے ہیں اور تیسرا قلعی خانہ تھا۔ کنہا لال حویلی میاں خان کے بارے میں بیان کرتے ہیں ’’جب یہاں سکھا شاہی زمانہ آیا اور اس حویلی کے وارث جا بجا نکل گئے تو لوگوں نے اسے گرانا شروع کر دیا جس کے ہاتھ میں کوئی عمارت آگئی، گرا کر لے گیا۔ مہاراجہ رنجیت سنگھ کی عملداری میں وارث اس حوالی کے آمود ہوئے اور انہوں نے لاکھوں روپے کی عمارت کو کوڑیوں کے بھاؤ فروخت کردیا۔‘‘ آج اس حویلی نے ایک محلے کی شکل اختیار کر لی ہے اور جہاں بیسیوں خاندان آباد ہیں۔ اندرون موچی دروازے میں نواب سعد اللہ خان کی دوسری حویلی ’’پتھراں والی حویلی‘‘ کے نام سے مشہور ہے کیونکہ اس حویلی میں کالا پتھر لگا ہوا تھا۔ مہاراجہ رنجیت سنگھ نے اس حویلی کو بارود کا کارخانہ قائم کر دیا۔ ایک روز کسی سبب آگ بھڑک اٹھی اور کئی ہزار من بارود نے پورے علاقے کو تباہ کردیا۔ حویلی کی دیواریں کئی کئی کوس دور مکانوں کی چھتوں پر جا گریں۔ اس سانحے میں تقریباً دو سو سے زائد افراد ہلاک ہوئے۔ آج اس حویلی کی عمارت کی جگہ گورنمنٹ سکول قائم ہے۔</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Narrow bazaar in a street of interior Mochi gate</td></tr>
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اندرون موچی دروازے میں قائم مبارک حویلی بھی تاریخی اہمیت کی حامل ہے۔ اس حویلی کی بنیاد میر بہادرعلی، نادر علی اور بہار علی نے محمد شاہ بادشاہ کے دور میں رکھی تھی۔ جب حویلی کی تعمیر مکمل ہو گئی اور وہ اس حویلی میں آکر آباد ہوئے تو اسی ماہ بہادر علی کے گھر لڑکا پیدا ہوا۔ اس تقریب نیک سے یہ حویلی مبارک حویلی کہلائی۔ مہاراجہ رنجیت سنگھ کے وقت جب شاہ شجاع الملک کابل سے بے دخل ہو کر آیا تو اسی حویلی میں قید کیا گیا اور اسی حویلی میں مہاراجہ رنجیت سنگھ نے شاہ شجاع کو قید کر کے جواہر ’کوہ نور‘ اس سے چھین لیا۔ یہ حویلی سکھوں کے قبضہ میں رہی اور بعدازاں نواب علی رضا خان قزلباش کے ملکیت میں آگئی۔ کنہیا لال اس حویلی کے بارے میں لکھتے ہیں کہ نواب علی رضا قزلباش نے اپنی زندگی میں اس عمارت میں بہت سی تبدیلیاں کیں۔ مشرق کی جانب بڑا دروازہ نکلا اور بڑے بڑے دالان ، صحن اور عمارات بنوائی۔ نواب علی رضا خان قزلباش کے انتقال کے بعد ان کے جانشین نواب نوازش علی خان نے اس حویلی کی تعمیر و مرمت پر خصوصی توجہ دی۔ اس دور سے اس حویلی میں مجالس محرم منعقد کروانے کا سلسلہ آج بھی جاری ہے۔ مبارک حویلی سے متصل حویلی نثار حسین ہے۔ جہاں دس محرم کو لاہور میں تعزیہ، علم اور ذولجناح کا جلوس برآمد ہوتا ہے۔ قدیم دور سے ہی اندرون موچی دروازہ شعیان علی کا مرکز ہے۔ایک اندازے کے مطابق اس علاقے میں دو سو کے قریب امام بارگاہیں ہیں۔ ان حویلیوں کے علاوہ حویلی تجمل شاہ، حویلی واجد علی شاہ اور اندھی حویلی کے نام سے مشہور حویلیاں بھی تاریخی اہمیت کی حامل ہیں۔</div>
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شہر لاہور میں قدیم ادوار میں ولی اللہ اور برگذیدہ ہستیوں کے شہر کے دروازوں کے قریب اور اندرون شہر میں قیام کیا اور یہیں مدفون ہوئے۔ اس کے علاوہ تکیوں کا رواج بھی قائم تھا۔ جہاں لوگ فارغ اوقات میں وقت گزارتے تھے۔ اندرون موچی دروازے اور شاہ عالمی دروازے کے دمیان پیر ڈھل کا مزار ہے اسی نسبت سے یہ علاوہ ڈھل محلہ کہلاتا ہے۔<br />
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اندرون موچی دروازے میں تکیہ سادھواں بھی خاص اہمیت کا حامل رہا ہے۔ یہ تکیہ محلہ پیر گیلانیاں اور کوچہ چابک سواراں کے درمیان چینیاں والی مسجد کے قریب واقع ہے۔ اب یہاں تکیہ کے کوئی نشانات نہیں لیکن کہا جاتا ہے کہ یہاں کمشیری سادھو برادری کا تکیہ ہوا کرتا تھا۔ یہ لوگ تجارت کرتے یا لوگوں کا علاج معالجہ کیا کرتے تھے اور ان کے گھوڑے اسی تکیے میں باندھے جاتے تھے۔ نور محمد سادھو 1226ء میں یہاں ایک مسجد تعمیر کردی اور اسی مسجد میں لاہور کے ایک بزرگ پیر غفار شاہ کا مزار بنایا گیا۔ بعد میں ان کے جانشین پیر اشرف شاہ نے ان کا جسد خاکی یہاں سے میانی کے قبرستان میں منتقل کر دیا۔ محلہ ساھواں میں مزار گنج شہیداں بھی واقع ہے اس مزار کے بارے میں کہا جاتا ہے کہ اس مقام پر اگرچہ ایک قبر ہے مگر اس کے نیچے ہزاروں شہید دفن ہیں۔<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWAFs1nVrFp1C_HjrSSnchKRom5yyF_pv0JMdIXVKdDXluGKs4Zd96f9iwNJXwX-qG6tUqQfCWhbVCPiZgEDTCiOMcnKo086O7neOfRRSC43ETPb424bR5KDOeZ6oVM3TyBQE1jrchJ2wJ/s1600/tibutes-paid-karbala-martyrs-1324320227.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="283" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWAFs1nVrFp1C_HjrSSnchKRom5yyF_pv0JMdIXVKdDXluGKs4Zd96f9iwNJXwX-qG6tUqQfCWhbVCPiZgEDTCiOMcnKo086O7neOfRRSC43ETPb424bR5KDOeZ6oVM3TyBQE1jrchJ2wJ/s400/tibutes-paid-karbala-martyrs-1324320227.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Muharram Juloos. Photo Courtesy: The Nation</td></tr>
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</span><span style="font-family: 'Jameel Noori Nastaleeq'; font-size: 18px;"><div style="text-align: right;">
موچی دروازے کے باہر چیمبرلین روڈ کے واقع تکیہ تاجے شاہ کا شمار لاہور کے قدیم ترین تکیوں میں ہوتا ہے۔ یہ کبھی بارونق تکیہ ہوا کرتا تھا۔ بٹیروں کی بازی کے علاوہ اکھاڑے میں پہلوانوں کی کشتی اس تکیے کا خاصا تھا۔ تکیہ تاجے شاہ کے قریب ہی چیمبرلین روڈ پر تکیہ مراثیاں واقع ہے۔ پرانے وقتوں میں یہاں موسیقاروں اور گلوکاروں کی محفلیں ہوا کرتی تھیں۔ بھارت اور پاکستان کے بے شمار معروف فن کار یہاں اپنے فن کا مظاہرہ کر چکے ہیں۔ یہاں استاد فتح علی خان، علی بخش خان، غلام علی خان، قادر بخش، پیارے خں جیسے فنکار اپنے فن کا مظاہرہ کرتے تھے۔ محرم الحرام میں بھی یہاں خصوصی مجالس منعقد ہوتی ہیں۔ پٹیالہ گھرانے کے عاشق علی خاں نے آخری عمر میں اپنے فن کا مظاہرہ یہیں کیا اور یہیں دفن ہوئے۔<br />
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</span><span style="font-family: 'Jameel Noori Nastaleeq'; font-size: 18px;"><div style="text-align: right;">
، موچی دروازے کا علاقہ قدیم دور سے ثقافت اور صنعت و حرفت کا مرکز رہا ہے۔یہاں کی تاریخی حویلیاں کھانے، محلے اور بازار قدیم ادوار میں اس علاقے کی خوشحالی کی گواہی دیتے ہیں</div>
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<h2 style="text-align: center;"><b><br />
<span style="color: red;"> Onir sees good times ahead for Indian parallel cinema</span></b></h2><div><b><br />
</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="color: #20124d;">Director and writer of My Brother... Nikhil talks exclusively to The Rationale</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br />
</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>[This interview was originally published in <a href="http://therationale.org/" target="_blank">The Rationale</a>, August 2012 Issue]</i></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPXLrl3tg22lAcjOvAc5QkRVy8jPN2kQAXG5k9RNfgr2N6nP2TArzHLn9F0BCJxou6cKK5RguSAZWVjf1D-3AV4Yk22UBhFUwfaSjXJZGhut-kdj8rCHRtGX-0R8auX1z8KnuiLE7hJdWP/s1600/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPXLrl3tg22lAcjOvAc5QkRVy8jPN2kQAXG5k9RNfgr2N6nP2TArzHLn9F0BCJxou6cKK5RguSAZWVjf1D-3AV4Yk22UBhFUwfaSjXJZGhut-kdj8rCHRtGX-0R8auX1z8KnuiLE7hJdWP/s400/1.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo Source: Onir's <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Onir.Onir" target="_blank">Facebook page</a> </td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">Onir is a rising star in the world of parallel cinema in India. Bollywood, which is full of glamour and a galaxy of shimmering stars, he decided to make his career in the art films, which is passing through a critical phase in India and all over the world.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Onir" target="_blank">Wikipedia</a> </span>says Onir was born as Anirban Dhar in Thimphu, Bhutan. His father Aparesh Dhar and mother Manjushree are of Bengali origin. Onir spent much of his childhood going to the cinema. In 1986 his family left Bhutan after the government made “driglam namzha”, the Bhutanese national dress and etiquette code, as mandatory. Onir revealed in an interview that, “I didn't want to be a second class Bhutanese citizen; I preferred to be Indian citizen.”</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">In Kolkata, Onir studied comparative literature and took a few film classes at Chitrabani Film School. He graduated from Jadavpur University in 1989, but left before getting his post-graduate degree when he received a scholarship to study films in Berlin. He later returned to India and worked as an editor, scriptwriter, art director, music album producer and song/music video director. He also served as an assistant to Kalpana Lajmion on Daman: A Victim of Marital Violence (2001) where he had his first experience directing a full-length feature film.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Recently Onir visited Karachi, Pakistan to attend India Pakistan Social Media Conference 2012, where this scribe talked to Onir about his career, filmmaking and new trends in India and world cinema.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i><br />
</i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i>Q. When did you realise that filmmaking could be your career? </i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Onir: My parents were teachers in Bhutan. I grew up watching lots of movies as my mother Manjushree was a film fan. My parents exposed me to both mainstream and art house cinema at an early age. By the time I was in eighth grade, I was in love with films of Shyam Benegal and Satyajit Ray and knew this would be my world.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjODDrds3wA1lDancW-_BN3gPeD8CQ9nLWsY7ubFB6N6YJ80z_5bjJ__833eLe6mFsEsL9WnFCFMLwmv_i7rZZplF5rwVdCsk9k2fdID_GZ1fWUejulUEA6djkwGSgbUy4AHe08v45I0TDm/s1600/Onir's_I_am.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" height="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjODDrds3wA1lDancW-_BN3gPeD8CQ9nLWsY7ubFB6N6YJ80z_5bjJ__833eLe6mFsEsL9WnFCFMLwmv_i7rZZplF5rwVdCsk9k2fdID_GZ1fWUejulUEA6djkwGSgbUy4AHe08v45I0TDm/s400/Onir's_I_am.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Poster of film 'I Am'</td></tr>
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</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i>Q. How has Indian audience received “<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I_Am_(2010_film)" target="_blank">I Am</a>”. What is the future of short films in India?</i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Onir: The film was one of the most highly rated films of 2011 and went on to win the National Award as the Best Hindi Feature Film and National Award for Best Lyrics. That is unique for a film with four taboo or unspoken stories. Theatrically the business was not great because of the subject but it did good business on DVDs—even through piracy (laughter).</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i>Q. Do you think that parallel cinema in India has the potential to bring profit?</i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Onir: Parallel cinema is going through a major crisis in India and many parts of the world. That is partly because of the lack of exhibition and distribution support. Unlike Europe, we do not have a chain of theatres that show only indie films. So competing with studio-backed multi-star films with huge publicity money in multiplexes is difficult. But, having said that, I will also add that slowly and surely there is a growing audience for this new Indian cinema in India and worldwide. But it will take a little time and it will surely make some economic sense too. I am positive.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Parallel cinema is going through a major crisis in India and many parts of the world... Unlike Europe, we do not have a chain of theaters that show only indie films. So competing with studio-backed multi-star films with huge publicity money in multiplexes is difficult. But... surely there is a growing audience for this new Indian cinema in India and worldwide - </i>Onir</span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i>Q. Digital technology has become very popular nowadays. What is its future?</i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Onir:. I think it will make cinema more accessible to the masses. In terms of making and distribution it will reduce costs and hence become very important medium for indie films.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i>Q. Do you think that digital technology can replace the traditional format?</i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Onir: Thought the traditionalists refuse to accept but negative is on its way out and soon digital will catch up in terms of quality.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i>Q. Do you think that India is ready to openly talk about controversial issues that you have raised in your films?</i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Onir: Well, the fact that I am being able to make my films and survive in India shows that there is an audience and the society is ready to look into its darkness. I think when you accept the darkness within, then that is the first step towards light. The problem is that the Diaspora Indian audience which forms an important part of the revenue for Indian films only watches big stars’ mainstream films. Because of their nostalgia of “home” and “culture” they very often do not want to see the darker side of our society. That is why indie films are rarely released overseas.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i>Q. What is your stance on the current trend of adopting Western trends like rapping and skimpy dressing by Bollywood?</i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Onir: I do not think it is a recent phenomenon. What I do not like is when bodies are turned into commodity by the lenses and women are shot and portrayed in a way to feed the male gaze. Otherwise, we always had actresses like Nargis and Sharmila Tagore who carried a swim suit with grace. I think the word “skimpy” is relative. I feel if a scene needs an actress to be swimming we should see her in a swimsuit. And I think just like we men have the right to wear shorts and jeans women have the right to choose how they want their bodies dressed up and seen.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Similarly, I feel that a cinema prospers as it embraces other cultures. India is an amalgamation of cultures. What is termed as “Western” is as much a part of our culture as the Taj Mahal. For me, greetings such as Aslaam-o-Alaikum, Namaste and good morning—are all part of my culture.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i>Q. Do you plan to continue to highlight social issues in your films?</i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Onir: Well, I believe in telling stories that touch me. All my films are not what is traditionally called message-oriented. Neither will they be. But whatever I do, I will not have any regressive messaging there. For me that is important.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Film Poster: My Brother...Nikhil [Image Source: mybrothernikhil.com]</td></tr>
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</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i>Q. What about your upcoming projects? What’s your focus now?</i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Onir: I am working on a couple of films. I am producing a few films with a company named Sanjay Suri and under the banner Anticlock Films. They are Chauranga, Coach Kameena,</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Chauranga is a story about a 14-year-old Dalhit boy who falls in love with an upper class 16-year-old girl and what follows in a racially charged society. It is based on a real even that occurred in 2008. We started shooting that film in September with debutant Director Bikas Mishra.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Then there is Coach Kameena. This is a story of a 16-year-old boy’s love for sports and the pressure on him to perform well in academics from school and family. This will be directed by Ashwini Malik. </div><div style="text-align: justify;">Apart from these, we have two of my films under pre-production. SHAB is a love story with a twist and the other is an adaptation of Hamlet. I also look forwarding to casting some Pakistani actors in my next films.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><b><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Onir has directed films such as Tiger's Nest (1991), Fallen Hero (1992), My Brother Nikhil (2005), Bas Ek Pal (2006), Sorry Bhai! (2008), I Am (2011) and The Face (2011). He also wrote the scripts for My Brother. Nikhil, Bas Ek Pal and I Am. Apart from these, he has also been editor and producer for a number of film projects.</span></i></b></span> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i>Q. Do you think that Bollywood is successful in creating its own school of thought and style in the world of filmmaking?</i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Onir: Bollywood has a distinct identity and definitely a language that is recognised world over. I have travelled a lot and it feels good that wherever you go, you find someone who hums a familiar tune to you or knows names such as Raj Kapoor, Amitabh Bacchan or Shah Rukh Khan.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i>Q. What is the importance of parallel cinema and why is it needed in the first place?</i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Onir: You might ask: What’s the need to breathe. I may be exaggerating but yes…It is like asking why you need literature or painting or sculpture. Cinema is also a form of art and can be a very important tool for change. It provides a window for the mind to look at the world with a different perspective. It encourages the mind to question things. That is what parallel cinema does.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i>Q. What do you say about Indo-Pak collaboration in cinema? Do you have any plan to take this initiative?</i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Onir: We already have many Pakistani actors and musicians working in the Indian film industry. I think we need to open up our TV and Film worlds to each other. It will be great for both the countries. But you should have what we need. You need to protect Pakistani cinema by making sure that multiplexes will always have enough screen time and space from your own films and have cheaper tickets for them while allowing Indian cinema to come. It is important that it does not drown your own cinema the way it is killing parallel cinema and regional cinema in India.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrs0F2UL7aP-VHTaAiHYKUg-X8Z7nSHJo6veGYU7Ffk6BA42EdFw3XczBRjSbGVxXyuoXh_W_Tp8nnpYlhyphenhyphenBIVZusy1ipPFgpzBEwFvs2vPOyBLqoXlF53s2ZRuI_RPsXwocuZWUEGzdoZ/s1600/330714_10151949503560249_644432443_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" height="295" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrs0F2UL7aP-VHTaAiHYKUg-X8Z7nSHJo6veGYU7Ffk6BA42EdFw3XczBRjSbGVxXyuoXh_W_Tp8nnpYlhyphenhyphenBIVZusy1ipPFgpzBEwFvs2vPOyBLqoXlF53s2ZRuI_RPsXwocuZWUEGzdoZ/s400/330714_10151949503560249_644432443_o.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">With Onir at Indo-Pak SOCMM12 in Karachi</td></tr>
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<div id="fb-root"></div><iframe allowtransparency="true" src="//www.facebook.com/plugins/like.php?href=http%3A%2F%2Fshirazhassan.blogspot.com%2F2012%2F09%2Fonir-sees-good-times-ahead-for-indian.html&send=false&layout=standard&width=450&show_faces=false&action=like&colorscheme=light&font&height=35&appId=217000841662049" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" style="border: none; height: 35px; overflow: hidden; width: 450px;"></iframe>Shiraz Hassanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04697000384383256108noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8599059807906544662.post-9226314536111367232012-07-29T10:23:00.003-07:002012-10-06T15:43:00.495-07:00Haveli Soojan Singh— A Crumbling Heritage of Rawalpindi <a class="twitter-share-button" data-text="Haveli Soojan Singh— A Crumbling Heritage of #Rawalpindi" data-url="http://shirazhassan.blogspot.com/2012/07/haveli-soojan-singh-crumbling-heritage.html" data-via="ShirazHassan" href="https://twitter.com/share">Tweet</a>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdoEW8qCk0huHc1po7FU6PV3y4MDZON_0aInOhEM37ZPa_Gl16E0eXkONUGUAUHxlzgsaTbXlhSBK7sIv-2OGeIOKCOwcQvO7ybcp-DY2dYz9a4PBCWeHkvnRqCJ1pKBeZ_DftaGAkpKa2/s1600/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdoEW8qCk0huHc1po7FU6PV3y4MDZON_0aInOhEM37ZPa_Gl16E0eXkONUGUAUHxlzgsaTbXlhSBK7sIv-2OGeIOKCOwcQvO7ybcp-DY2dYz9a4PBCWeHkvnRqCJ1pKBeZ_DftaGAkpKa2/s400/1.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Haveli Soojan Singh, Bhabra Bazaar, Rawalpindi</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<i>Text and Photography by:</i> Shiraz Hassan<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">This is the voice of Rawalpindi
– a city which has a lot to tell about its history and heritage— but only to those
who commit themselves to the listening to the tales of this old city.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Recently my dear friend
<a href="https://twitter.com/osamamotiwala" target="_blank">Osama Motiwala</a> visited Islamabad/Rawalpindi. Like many Karachiites he had also
heard of ‘boredom’ of the twin cities. So, instead of spending time in the lavish
restaurants in Islamabad I decided to show him the real face of the city and
not its facades - the old, but glamorous and sensational view of the city. We
roamed around the different bazaars and streets of the old city of Rawalpindi.
Thus started and continued our journey! <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Wandering through the
narrow streets of old city one could not ignore the amazing architecture of the
pre-partition era - the magnificent buildings, beautiful wooden doors, the <i>Chobaraas </i>and<i> Jharokhas. </i>Just imagine life here some 100 years ago when these
areas were best known for the people who lived here! Gurdwara, Temple and
Mosque, all in one lane, now that’s what we call pluralism! But then, Partition
wreaked havoc. What happened at the time of partition is a heart wrenching, sad
history. Today the narrow streets of the city force us to revisit history. They
tell us a sorry tale of being neglected and in ruins but still holding itself -
strong. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">It is a glaring fact
the old heritage and architecture of the city are in complete shatters today. Among
the overcrowded and narrow streets of Bhabra Bazaar area of Rawalpindi there
lies a historic landmark. One of the most magnificent architectures of its time,
Haveli Rai Bahadur Soojan Singh. But…Alas! the dilapidated condition of the <i>haveli</i> shows the gloomy picture of heritage
crumbling right in front of our eyes and our negligence towards preserving
history and its landmarks.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Haveli Soojan Singh was
built by Rai Bahadur Soojan Singh in 1893 as a residence for his family. He was
a distinguished personality of his era<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">,
a wealthy business man in Rawalpindi who had a flourishing timber business</span>.
He had a unique sense of architecture and design. But this house was not just another
<i>Haveli</i>. It was a living museum – in a
class of its own. The <i>Haveli</i> was
deliberately decorated with pictures of Rai Bahadur’s family, antiques,
Victorian furniture and a milieu of silver and gold-ware decorated its walls. <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The four storied
building is divided into two parts, either side of the street and the roof connected
through a bridge supported by iron mudguards/railings and decoratively covered
with wood.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The wooden artwork on the
roof, floors and windows is just marvelous. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The covered area of the
<i>haveli</i> was 24,000 sq.ft (2,230 sq.
meters) spread over four stories comprising of 45 rooms lit on evenings by huge
lamps and chandeliers.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">According to historians,
the <i>haveli</i> glowed and sparkled like
gold in the evenings when all these lamps and chandeliers were lit in all its massive
rooms spread over such a huge area. <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Historians also say
that it was almost like a royal palace with a majestic throne made of gold and
bedrooms furnished with ivory furniture. In the courtyards tiptoed peacocks and
a tiger strolled through its corridors. Live music filled the <i>haveli </i>in the evenings. The <i>haveli</i> had its own water supply system
with a water-well connected to 30 lines.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Ms Shehla Shams<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: #222222;">,</span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;"> a student of Fatima Jinnah Women
University, writes in her thesis on the <i>Haveli</i></span>:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> <i>The
Soojjan Singh Haveli was initially built as a residence for the Rai Bahadur’s
family but then it was given to the Sikh generals to be used as a residential
headquarters. It is a two-storied building with two viewing decks on the third
and fourth floors that were probably built as lookout posts by Sikh soldiers in
the 19th century.<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<i><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Made
from brick and timber, the Haveli reflects traditional building styles of the
Sikhs of that era. </span></span></i><i><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The
timber used was local and must have been easily procured since the Singh family
had a flourishing timber business. The iron used in the pillars and embellishments
of the doorways was imported from UK.</span></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<i><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span style="line-height: 115%;">One
thing that stands out about this building is that the staircase remains the
same from the ground floor up to the fourth floor. The embellishments of the
Haveli borrow a lot from Central Asian and European architectures. One finds
intricately carved wooden false ceilings on the first floor. The pattern on the
panels is clearly Central Asian and follows the same patterns as the Sethi
Mohallas in Peshawar</span></i><span style="line-height: 115%;">.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Over
the years since partition of the Indian Subcontinent it has housed refugees
from Kashmir until General Zia-ul-Haq had it vacated; handing it over to
nuclear scientist A.Q. Khan to house a science college for girls but that
project for some reasons did not see the light of the day.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Later
the former Railways Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed decided to turn it into a
campus of the Fatima Jinnah Women’s University. However this plan too could not
materialize due to its present overcrowded location in a busy commercial area."<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<i><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Now, the government is mulling
over an idea of starting a School of Cultures, Heritage, Architecture and
Designs for girls. This project too may be shelved as there are no funds
available for it<i>.</i><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The splendid <i>haveli</i> of Rai Bahadur Soojan Singh is in
utter shambles these days due to lack of proper maintenance. One part of the
haveli is completely damaged. Several parts of the roof have collapse and other
parts are also fragmented. The majestic wood-work over the doors and windows
are now being eaten away by termites and seepage through the walls has made the
whole structure of the building weak raising fears that it could fall apart any
day.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The grand rooms and
halls which were once bright and echoed of gossips, music and laughter now lie
vacant wearing a ghostly shroud. The <i>haveli</i>
requires extensive renovation efforts to restore it to its original glory.
Today, in place of the dazzling structure stands a haunted bungalow. One can
sense the grandeur of its beauty in spite of the skeleton that it is today as
through the passage of time, it has been robbed and looted of its shimmering
ornaments. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">However, it is obvious
that among all the hue and cries raised by politics one cannot expect that Haveli
Soojan Singh to really ever return to its glorious past. It is as if we are
knowingly sending it on its way to a complete oblivion, a total wipe-out from
the landscape of our collective memories.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">With the current
situation of the country where politicians have other, more important
priorities, will the dying <i>haveli </i>ever
be restored to its youthful charm? <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I don’t think so.
Nothing more heart-wrenching and frustrating than to see a living witness to
history and our own heritage crumbling to dust and we are unable to do anything
at all!</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKVC40QPYVtPURiGcotP1OaNgJA5r0jhpvoa4qN4tDBC0f7lloqyhopVcS1zSAuzBPgBf_VxZ_Um-S_BnK_8vdDQHeiYehF6NSGygTigf_XwBVTauMoW7JBxnHhfmAI15UgFxJOHapb43z/s1600/DSCN1880.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKVC40QPYVtPURiGcotP1OaNgJA5r0jhpvoa4qN4tDBC0f7lloqyhopVcS1zSAuzBPgBf_VxZ_Um-S_BnK_8vdDQHeiYehF6NSGygTigf_XwBVTauMoW7JBxnHhfmAI15UgFxJOHapb43z/s400/DSCN1880.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Haveli Soojan Singh, a view from outside</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKi58vvsyjg6w1l-ssF3ayPMyvDfOxq4e0GvEX4MSZkvOrDiIZRnPmCPgf2mjI5I20iPsxRzFkAlASQlzADVtlxMFJE_RNdW2b9X8H6vkanuy7uJy25XdiUKm4XECfLiJvWB5EOt_Vp6z5/s1600/DSCN1884.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKi58vvsyjg6w1l-ssF3ayPMyvDfOxq4e0GvEX4MSZkvOrDiIZRnPmCPgf2mjI5I20iPsxRzFkAlASQlzADVtlxMFJE_RNdW2b9X8H6vkanuy7uJy25XdiUKm4XECfLiJvWB5EOt_Vp6z5/s400/DSCN1884.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Main door at right side</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga65yhklr61xhG-IDDgnzIJwvV42A1CTYX8j8qpyKcrWtDRTPbo5LMkwn7idcHKymXUYI_I4i963hyagOybP5R1Tn_gcdMiY2wn7r2T026vfV-07ykQXDEMdFj5tyLLZriT6Av32mS76Al/s1600/DSCN1888.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga65yhklr61xhG-IDDgnzIJwvV42A1CTYX8j8qpyKcrWtDRTPbo5LMkwn7idcHKymXUYI_I4i963hyagOybP5R1Tn_gcdMiY2wn7r2T026vfV-07ykQXDEMdFj5tyLLZriT6Av32mS76Al/s400/DSCN1888.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Above, the bridge connecting both parts of haveli</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3F_I_9zZSC2vJkZjW56hUpAwu4TY1NHjKE5kKXUU7Nd3hMPhpLUh6cLO8EPqUrGAOYC7CvUCFKvApH4u7F1FXIuFyA6wJYQqKJBrXbE-IKbFDC_sq-2t6CQrV7_OMXH5wjP5Hp_8-2UyJ/s1600/DSCN1889.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3F_I_9zZSC2vJkZjW56hUpAwu4TY1NHjKE5kKXUU7Nd3hMPhpLUh6cLO8EPqUrGAOYC7CvUCFKvApH4u7F1FXIuFyA6wJYQqKJBrXbE-IKbFDC_sq-2t6CQrV7_OMXH5wjP5Hp_8-2UyJ/s400/DSCN1889.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chaubara [Balcony]</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn007kFPXlFPRxbRmYj1kj0fHKAQt9WnItcmvapSn8htPlBif5zbgDTIOa1V8NMi9GI-2I5T3j7uUSB2cgBZb53loZWE31kSvmfbXR4Rp_rN8QcTb3qg_tPUZYjRGUiiarF9YuKuU0bL-x/s1600/DSCN1890.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn007kFPXlFPRxbRmYj1kj0fHKAQt9WnItcmvapSn8htPlBif5zbgDTIOa1V8NMi9GI-2I5T3j7uUSB2cgBZb53loZWE31kSvmfbXR4Rp_rN8QcTb3qg_tPUZYjRGUiiarF9YuKuU0bL-x/s400/DSCN1890.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sign Board, Just a sign board.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4muCXIlfHCQxTZlEV_5alUbtoxMjdCVsWnZU14xhHViNdMfhKTPC5zw0ICNHukMR8jsP0qJ564ytGmmroKJCBrmQ5aNcYWOjJqJ4C3SkIfZynBWn6AYKyOAOzNKZnZQYXkAraSkzY1vra/s1600/DSCN1893.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4muCXIlfHCQxTZlEV_5alUbtoxMjdCVsWnZU14xhHViNdMfhKTPC5zw0ICNHukMR8jsP0qJ564ytGmmroKJCBrmQ5aNcYWOjJqJ4C3SkIfZynBWn6AYKyOAOzNKZnZQYXkAraSkzY1vra/s400/DSCN1893.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Courtyard </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh34wYDMs0HjHoowkUeyiM6vhJcFbD_QMOXQXOsSmzIY4IDSzj0JgYN6uamXkK8imzvyW55RPg-zLPFS6nPkGYK9hpBO-0k4nxUMj8F2S27nOssw0E_1OivUcO-HdXGjYIVyjHYeRw8OuOA/s1600/DSCN1900.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh34wYDMs0HjHoowkUeyiM6vhJcFbD_QMOXQXOsSmzIY4IDSzj0JgYN6uamXkK8imzvyW55RPg-zLPFS6nPkGYK9hpBO-0k4nxUMj8F2S27nOssw0E_1OivUcO-HdXGjYIVyjHYeRw8OuOA/s400/DSCN1900.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From stairs</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW3sTyPvhVvZS5CTx0KsffgMFWMaKK4a8h-0NkZkxQ6tvuh_EcrYjZpTFdBs4BVxgOqwerkdQKVlTROtirepIDcIfNLUvhXbiIZ7AzVSwXxvl3Rg9N9IUUvDV9r1pPTmVFTelvDj93TcdL/s1600/DSCN1903.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW3sTyPvhVvZS5CTx0KsffgMFWMaKK4a8h-0NkZkxQ6tvuh_EcrYjZpTFdBs4BVxgOqwerkdQKVlTROtirepIDcIfNLUvhXbiIZ7AzVSwXxvl3Rg9N9IUUvDV9r1pPTmVFTelvDj93TcdL/s320/DSCN1903.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">3rd and 4th floor</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3882dTKft3n2qWcfJMeLQ-D6o4AoY6uP6TnQL5EYE2M_IANLZoM9ZwtK5-Zvqd9CvHh85VVDrYZ0slcLyraNMrnxumiIjFweZwlRBAQSCmImZF_Vy_mCX0d3w7Swtzdx2s10Hwhkd7FSj/s1600/DSCN1905.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3882dTKft3n2qWcfJMeLQ-D6o4AoY6uP6TnQL5EYE2M_IANLZoM9ZwtK5-Zvqd9CvHh85VVDrYZ0slcLyraNMrnxumiIjFweZwlRBAQSCmImZF_Vy_mCX0d3w7Swtzdx2s10Hwhkd7FSj/s400/DSCN1905.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The iron pillers. Made in Glascow, UK.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqK7ZeOpjm8st3fHR1X_IYQPW61GVJCgoKXr8CyjP0BDPNfBkfUU2oE0ROAwcWfabWIpUUoh0ExBQOXuZXJCbFdSEvifgpPDI375iKuKrrKTnTyqczCX6cEWr4cp4alpn8muAI3QsOvcpP/s1600/DSCN1907.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqK7ZeOpjm8st3fHR1X_IYQPW61GVJCgoKXr8CyjP0BDPNfBkfUU2oE0ROAwcWfabWIpUUoh0ExBQOXuZXJCbFdSEvifgpPDI375iKuKrrKTnTyqczCX6cEWr4cp4alpn8muAI3QsOvcpP/s320/DSCN1907.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Roof top</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQlC-pkSWSe-XIDtW_7GgOdLCpY5ClyPqOoPZCQWK52d3E_36PUkgaS3L3DSAodVsXFqBzvfncl_fH14LYBFEqZ2wTrIt4h1EcxhirXBhIPvZ6txFuxX18SiEdsRS9tLjzg3WgkAJlGamk/s1600/DSCN1908.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQlC-pkSWSe-XIDtW_7GgOdLCpY5ClyPqOoPZCQWK52d3E_36PUkgaS3L3DSAodVsXFqBzvfncl_fH14LYBFEqZ2wTrIt4h1EcxhirXBhIPvZ6txFuxX18SiEdsRS9tLjzg3WgkAJlGamk/s320/DSCN1908.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Windows, Rooms and all</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDPEkc6_jlZquA3u9t1MD9sbkg8VZszLRwB2F3Hf_1lcr2d01VZ1EsrgQntvxl7gXtCbi8EJ0Wft0YfEGtufWsU1Mj_NyIsw31XWq35zspiD5P3LC69_a6Z0Z6YIemi1OsP5gWaayFcdRd/s1600/DSCN1914.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDPEkc6_jlZquA3u9t1MD9sbkg8VZszLRwB2F3Hf_1lcr2d01VZ1EsrgQntvxl7gXtCbi8EJ0Wft0YfEGtufWsU1Mj_NyIsw31XWq35zspiD5P3LC69_a6Z0Z6YIemi1OsP5gWaayFcdRd/s400/DSCN1914.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">That tells us the complete story </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdeJWpoRFP4dXGrsEICMqTCIsEW1jqSVjm6VhDibES3FLNtwJoY23tdZ2NT5uKoVWuCiWpBli5im1z-SRzGtrlu4jTME6-IgW8ksvL4QWj9VcA4ZwAgXHWk8sANzc8NaJFnyFvr2w0iJX3/s1600/DSCN1915.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdeJWpoRFP4dXGrsEICMqTCIsEW1jqSVjm6VhDibES3FLNtwJoY23tdZ2NT5uKoVWuCiWpBli5im1z-SRzGtrlu4jTME6-IgW8ksvL4QWj9VcA4ZwAgXHWk8sANzc8NaJFnyFvr2w0iJX3/s400/DSCN1915.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Pavilion </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi19c3Pbmv8i-cutE9qaS6FPB8XYsDbwa0-Yw7f_6lp4dykY-zxnf1EVokVU1w81W2ZRIxN2qj7kQmBNY2uZ1M_hxaSVXmMEOIxT4aqNMC-3GCALOZW2Tm9l0wB2oI3WMQ50yrZ_PC5PM-3/s1600/DSCN1916.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi19c3Pbmv8i-cutE9qaS6FPB8XYsDbwa0-Yw7f_6lp4dykY-zxnf1EVokVU1w81W2ZRIxN2qj7kQmBNY2uZ1M_hxaSVXmMEOIxT4aqNMC-3GCALOZW2Tm9l0wB2oI3WMQ50yrZ_PC5PM-3/s320/DSCN1916.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Balcony and Pavilion</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy4YhsjxUtmKSc75tNgSOPyWjpZj8kkIJLMGpaU0ZHrpvh3G6qEMyNPcaNr4ByNn5vMIIs8zkO0nc2M4kD-GDpKzgqKUbGOgGGCXs5r8Hvhrlwt4MLiXehDEuuBkCyiEOXzOjL-vuWBdKx/s1600/DSCN1917.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy4YhsjxUtmKSc75tNgSOPyWjpZj8kkIJLMGpaU0ZHrpvh3G6qEMyNPcaNr4ByNn5vMIIs8zkO0nc2M4kD-GDpKzgqKUbGOgGGCXs5r8Hvhrlwt4MLiXehDEuuBkCyiEOXzOjL-vuWBdKx/s400/DSCN1917.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Queen Victoria? Still hanging here.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgD0lbAo8Pi1YoqOnhS5sfRlIJNsuSQUExKbwzplKjMavL-FI-R5pYX12S0HN8ce8TS1-KoQ0P9uUfHfjfFIJFYwiHHrMTirBGPUnwwbarMHK5v5zw8UjDvX9EbgU9VUMw4oQ96NnoHTjB/s1600/DSCN1940.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgD0lbAo8Pi1YoqOnhS5sfRlIJNsuSQUExKbwzplKjMavL-FI-R5pYX12S0HN8ce8TS1-KoQ0P9uUfHfjfFIJFYwiHHrMTirBGPUnwwbarMHK5v5zw8UjDvX9EbgU9VUMw4oQ96NnoHTjB/s400/DSCN1940.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The marvelous wood work at ceiling </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6v-4UIIrqGwTuy6MQxAueV8qlVrEyVS3UDde6pTXtU_Z7d9iNaK_ARWbgwBgLK91NwqO6IKOvWad_JZ19CH5DgL7h9RQMqEOw5powlw-oTz_hU62vScrKESIJjg1GjrsEnHk6xvZqVUqC/s1600/DSCN1951.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6v-4UIIrqGwTuy6MQxAueV8qlVrEyVS3UDde6pTXtU_Z7d9iNaK_ARWbgwBgLK91NwqO6IKOvWad_JZ19CH5DgL7h9RQMqEOw5powlw-oTz_hU62vScrKESIJjg1GjrsEnHk6xvZqVUqC/s400/DSCN1951.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">view from 1st floor</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo1kMTON5XNLifMjHuh5R67oY3vD_IIe5IhBrQSxrYHt5K3a3eOn85oSlWLuA-FFYUM_1NcOavpf1ANOs1gVbWf4GhsPC1llj5Hj55QYdGyL6H57VQHlpWUmNuKm7Tw1VUAcGIlH4053OC/s1600/DSCN1963.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo1kMTON5XNLifMjHuh5R67oY3vD_IIe5IhBrQSxrYHt5K3a3eOn85oSlWLuA-FFYUM_1NcOavpf1ANOs1gVbWf4GhsPC1llj5Hj55QYdGyL6H57VQHlpWUmNuKm7Tw1VUAcGIlH4053OC/s400/DSCN1963.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Main Door at Left side.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span id="goog_833454692"></span><span id="goog_833454693"></span></span></span></div>
<a class="twitter-share-button" data-text="Haveli Soojan Singh— A Crumbling Heritage of #Rawalpindi" data-url="http://shirazhassan.blogspot.com/2012/07/haveli-soojan-singh-crumbling-heritage.html" data-via="ShirazHassan" href="https://twitter.com/share">Tweet</a>
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<iframe allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" src="//www.facebook.com/plugins/like.php?href=http%3A%2F%2Fshirazhassan.blogspot.com%2F2012%2F07%2Fhaveli-soojan-singh-crumbling-heritage.html&send=false&layout=standard&width=450&show_faces=true&action=like&colorscheme=light&font&height=80&appId=217000841662049" style="border: none; height: 80px; overflow: hidden; width: 450px;"></iframe>Shiraz Hassanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04697000384383256108noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8599059807906544662.post-76025402288022498032012-05-04T10:11:00.002-07:002012-05-04T13:29:54.713-07:00Why I miss Lahore!<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1ExDtcHGX8mijmwYXt8RP31t_YUjMs5VM8uklJaaZWhTXgCqDdtoz0SoHDWhDUUdphr5R2dj19tSoxoRl06fS-QzuwHOGP026MB5e2nT8Z_wkDWQglVlRjiJrV45UOyFHw3OzIsnhyy1e/s1600/5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1ExDtcHGX8mijmwYXt8RP31t_YUjMs5VM8uklJaaZWhTXgCqDdtoz0SoHDWhDUUdphr5R2dj19tSoxoRl06fS-QzuwHOGP026MB5e2nT8Z_wkDWQglVlRjiJrV45UOyFHw3OzIsnhyy1e/s400/5.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At Baoli Bagh, Rung Mehal. Walled City of Lahore</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<b><br /></b></div>
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<b>Lahore – My city, my love!</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><br />
</b>Lahore, a city which has been ruled by several kings, and conquered by many
invaders, is rightly known as the heart of Pakistan and cultural hub of Punjab
today. </div>
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<br /></div>
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The city is not only known as a
shelter which offer living opportunities to the immigrants, but also as one
which always welcomes the outsiders with wide open arms and embrace them like
no one. This city provides a reason to live, it gives you a life! </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Today, when I look back over the
past, I remember nothing as vivid as the golden period of my life that I have
spent in Lahore. Those six years of my life in the city of wonders, were
absolutely wonderful, a roller cost, a journey of dreamland, precious and
unforgettable experience. <br />
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGegU3HkZGHdL8H4W2z6zrkJMoHIAEvd064DuS7-f3d2lx7YXjAOILN_krbGu0vMHc48xOXB9OeVlpayjoN7EglZkozMSDj9Ov1oRWvVZ7OLGV3muIQyVYyPpCWpANYBPKSsW-zjiB20ig/s1600/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGegU3HkZGHdL8H4W2z6zrkJMoHIAEvd064DuS7-f3d2lx7YXjAOILN_krbGu0vMHc48xOXB9OeVlpayjoN7EglZkozMSDj9Ov1oRWvVZ7OLGV3muIQyVYyPpCWpANYBPKSsW-zjiB20ig/s400/1.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At Noor Haveli, Interior Lohari Gate, Walled City</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b>Lahore – Turning to the city
of wonders</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8J-s9SfX8geLJyQiGRr_JX001HLRm3sVaG-DTpOVYbuOVjGUXPzWI6s0akgrFezBR3WxCp0JdCzL0Eg2LQJCCbQ2ZcI6JaQcbLXGdm9mDuspAhro_rvI3DipZZgrAPc1iENkXx5ZrXjOU/s1600/3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8J-s9SfX8geLJyQiGRr_JX001HLRm3sVaG-DTpOVYbuOVjGUXPzWI6s0akgrFezBR3WxCp0JdCzL0Eg2LQJCCbQ2ZcI6JaQcbLXGdm9mDuspAhro_rvI3DipZZgrAPc1iENkXx5ZrXjOU/s320/3.jpg" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Roaming around inside Mochi Gate area</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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I have spent most of childhood in the old areas of Rawalpindi, but after my
graduation I planned to move to Lahore for Masters in Mass Communication. Back
then, I had no idea that there was a great life waiting ahead for me. I came to
Lahore in October 2005, soon after the deadly earthquake in Azad & Jammu
Kashmir and N.W.F.P (Now KPK). For me it was like a dream coming true. As I
moved to the city, I found the hassle-bustle of the city very appealing. <br />
<br />
At first, the feeling to belong to Lahore was overwhelming and indescribable
but now that I am recognized as Lahori, I can proudly say that this city has given
me an identity. I feel that Lahore belongs to me and I belong to Lahore. I
completed my studies here, and also started my career from this city. <br />
<br />
During my stay in Lahore I never thought about leaving this city, in fact, I
could not believe that I was actually leaving the city till my last day in
Lahore.<br />
<br /></div>
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<b>Lahore – good ol’ memories</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><br /></b>
Now that I am miles away from Lahore, I remember Lahore for many good reasons; actually
there are hundreds of good memories related to Lahore.<br />
<br />
Firstly, I miss the city! For me, Lahore is not just a city, it is a living
character, a companion, who gives you company, and who listens you, who never
lets you alone. Then, I miss gathering of my friends and places where we used
to sit together late night and Tea and discussion ware essential parts of our
meetings. <br />
<br />
Just imagine sitting in front of an old house, where prestigious Urdu writer
Saadat Hassan Manto used to live, at an open air tea stall in Old Anarkali,
families and young people walking around and eating. Students, lawyers,
activists and all kinds of people sitting nearby you, and you are sitting at a
tea stall, busy in discussing ‘Literary Criticism’ or 'Magical Realism and
Gabriel Garcia Marquez' or perhaps new aspects of Urdu poetry. That is how I
spend many nights in Anarkali like that. And I miss it now.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihKE8WF3rVpC7SE3OpTEABRL1JotCkVQtj1Ea7lHcBTxOkDqNFSXhB3nPGcxOZhbxcNUfXRq8TIDPEtTzS_mQSU2ezbYPhr0q9vg_vQ_KtlzXLJMnSxMyIqV_agV4aJC6aBZT2vGnQ3oGx/s1600/6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihKE8WF3rVpC7SE3OpTEABRL1JotCkVQtj1Ea7lHcBTxOkDqNFSXhB3nPGcxOZhbxcNUfXRq8TIDPEtTzS_mQSU2ezbYPhr0q9vg_vQ_KtlzXLJMnSxMyIqV_agV4aJC6aBZT2vGnQ3oGx/s400/6.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dhol and Dhamal at Urs Data Gunj Baksh (Photo: AFP)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Other place that I used to visit
frequently is Al-fazal Hotel in Laxmi chowk, Lahore. This is a bit different place
as compared to Anarkali. It’s an ordinary hotel, where poets, artists and other
like-minded people sit together. It was quite ‘school’ of a group of writers,
but with the passage of time many people quitted coming here due to some
reason. But I always enjoyed sitting there. One of the key memories of that place
is that we never ate anything or took tea from this hotel despite of sitting
several hours there. Our tea usually came from a tea stall adjacent to hotel
and <i>‘Channay’ </i>from famous Tooba restaurant, located at the right side of
Al-Fazal hotel.<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Other places where I spend some
good quality time are those which make up vital part of my memory of Lahore.
They include: Qehwa Stall at Jail road, Nairang Art gallery, Alhamra at The
Mall, Liberty Market, Krishan nagar, Tea Stall and Desi Food shops at Temple
road, Mashallah parathay, Mohammadi Nihari, Basheer Machhli at Mozang, Pulao shop
outside Mori gate, Dehi Bhallay and Koozi haleem at Regal Chowk, Gawalmandi and
Lahore Press Club.<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b></b><br />
<b></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b>Lahore – changing face of the city </b> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br />
The year I came to Lahore I also witnessed the closure to ‘Pak Tea House’, a
historic place at The Mall (once it was known as India Tea House), where writers, intellectuals, poets, artists,
student and all of the seniors and junior persons from literary circle of
Lahore used to gather here. I visited this place a few times because it was
closed in 2005-6 and never re- opened since that. (Now, although commissioner Lahore has ordered reopening of Pak Tea House but it hasn't opened yet. Renovation work is in progress)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWApuH0y-SETlvf_gtEpZwWNAZQHthqj5HTGGw-gtP4r359hQJ6krEy62CC6S_Dd194xsJnrLA7wmiIVoTznbLTZHaSxxWXuvy0QcJwCoeN5_7xCXYdOYQ5YdcvPxyJKTy7lVvMrTFblRH/s1600/331207-PakTeaHouse-1328213824-748-640x480.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWApuH0y-SETlvf_gtEpZwWNAZQHthqj5HTGGw-gtP4r359hQJ6krEy62CC6S_Dd194xsJnrLA7wmiIVoTznbLTZHaSxxWXuvy0QcJwCoeN5_7xCXYdOYQ5YdcvPxyJKTy7lVvMrTFblRH/s320/331207-PakTeaHouse-1328213824-748-640x480.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pak Tea House, The Mall (Photo: Google images)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br />
Another place where I liked to visit was ‘Alhamra Adbi Bethak’, a hall provided
by the Govt. as the alternative of Pak House. Alhamra 'Adbi Bethak' is a nice place but it is not as healthy and
‘cultural’ place as Pak Tea House used to be. <br />
<br />
Lahore, at its peak, was better known for its lively Lahori culture and
festivals such as Basant festivals, Jashn-e- Baharaan, Rafi Peer Festivals,
Cricket Matches, Mela Charaghaan, Weekly Dhol performance of Pappu Saayn at
Shah Jamal Darbar. And also known for the world famous Food Street, Gawalmandi.<br />
<br />
Unfortunately, I also witness this rich culture of turning into a nightmare.
During the past six years I have seen several dramatic changes in Lahore. First
of all Food Street of gawalmandi was demolished by the Muslim League (N)’s
government because it was the initiative of General Pervez Musharraf. It was a
big blow to the Lahoris and people visiting here. But I realized that it was
just the beginning of the worst.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
In 2007 Lahore was the hub of
judiciary crises; I covered all these rallies and protests for radio network Mast
FM 103, and witnessed a unique enthusiasm in the citizens of Lahore. But after the Laal Masjid,
Islamabad crises terrorism knocked at the ‘door’ of Lahore. It was the worst of
all that we experienced in this culturally rich city.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
I saw bloodshed, I felt terror,
and I saw tears, I heard screams. I witnessed terrorism so closely. I witnessed
blasts at FIA building at Temple road, Rescue 15 office at Queen’s road and
near High Court, as I used to live nearby.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf-vf5Za0oslE2NgfM_4JBpg-OO30u2qGUWOGiv_aM8EGnYDNZHUtfc8dkcWlLAQ9B4yzMGktVe5MyZcDdyeFgDITKuK4Vup3Ab1PQ-EpTXyRdTOQ0kWBq9bT-M8qjzXIu-NgSUrYUhKW0/s1600/_45528080_466-afp-windscreen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="206" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf-vf5Za0oslE2NgfM_4JBpg-OO30u2qGUWOGiv_aM8EGnYDNZHUtfc8dkcWlLAQ9B4yzMGktVe5MyZcDdyeFgDITKuK4Vup3Ab1PQ-EpTXyRdTOQ0kWBq9bT-M8qjzXIu-NgSUrYUhKW0/s320/_45528080_466-afp-windscreen.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Attack on Sri Lankan Cricket Team (Photo: AFP)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Lahore was being targeted by the
terrorists several times. Attack on Sri Lankan cricket team in Lahore made
things more complicated which resulted in withdrawing of cricket matches held
in Pakistan. This is how Pakistan lost the hosting of Cricket World Cup 2011 and
Lahore also lost the Semi-Final venue (India vs Pakistan semi-final could have
been played in Lahore).</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Within few years Lahore lost
almost everything! Cultural festivals and places like Basant, Food Street, and Pak
House. But the most tragic of all things is that no one is bothered about it, everyone
is isolated and culture of Lahore is going to have a terrible end.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b>Exploring Lahore – a life time
experience<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
I got a unique opportunity to ‘Explore’
Lahore when I discussed my idea of writing detailed features about old places
of Lahore with my management. Later, I wrote more than 40 features regarding
gates of walled city, old bazaars of walled city, historic educational
institutes and shrines of Lahore.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
This was something I really
wanted to do, a life time experience. Visiting all these places, especially
narrow and dark streets of old city, meeting people living there, photographing
and collecting information etc. For me, it was just like re-visiting past. The
feeling you have while passing by a narrow street of old city, while you see
old architecture, lovely windows and <i>chobaraas</i> (pavilions), well
designed, magnificent wooden doors. From Bhaati gate to Lohari, Mochi and
Taxali, areas inside all the 13 gates of Lahore have their unique feelings, which
is incomparable, I bet.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSypn46gUf5g8TAuvPCOYiU0YKOb0CXDdGbHd-tCwwYZi9cg6xRC2FSmnEenxpi-fxdmFE5Ap6xkbBZcUDocbQspitFAhvJBPPlF__RbNpW93VLWkZsz1wdX92-tgh0EaXYBXpXJY5JWfe/s1600/2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSypn46gUf5g8TAuvPCOYiU0YKOb0CXDdGbHd-tCwwYZi9cg6xRC2FSmnEenxpi-fxdmFE5Ap6xkbBZcUDocbQspitFAhvJBPPlF__RbNpW93VLWkZsz1wdX92-tgh0EaXYBXpXJY5JWfe/s320/2.jpg" width="257" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Interior Sherwanwala gate area</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
And how can I forget the
experience I had during visit of historic educational institutes like Govt.
College University, Punjab University old campus, National College of Arts,
Islamia College Civil Lines, Islamia College Railway road, Kinnaird College,
King Edward Medical University and others. Most of them are red bricked
buildings built in Anglo-Mughal style, with hue roof and gothic arched verandas
and corridors. Have you ever experienced walking down these corridors, isn’t it
like walking into the past? <br />
The great personalities of this region also once used to pass these paths.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
The best thing about Lahore is
Lahore city itself. Lahore never lets you alone; one doesn’t need a companion to
experience Lahore. Lahore gives you company all the time while you roam around.
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Once one of my friends asked <i>‘tum
kya puraanay imaarto’n mai dhoondhtay rehte ho?</i>’ (What the hell are you
searching for in these old buildings?) </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
And I replied simply: “You first have
to fall in love to experience love”.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b>Lahore- a place like nowhere!</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><br />
</b>I have a different approach about Lahore. Although Lahore is a modern city,
and as a metropolitan city it has many shopping malls, skyscrapers (though no
very tall), some lavish food places (such as M.M Alam Road), markets like
Liberty, Moon market, Y Block DHA and several others. But so What? Almost every
metropolitan city in this world has all these facilities.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
But, Lahore Fort is the only one
in the world! Shah Jamal Shrine is nowhere else in the world except Lahore! You
cannot build a Walled City like Lahore city! These places have a history, history
of hundreds of years. These walls, doors, windows, pavilions, streets and old
trees have witnessed the history of Lahore. I smelled them; I felt the
fragrance of past, and it sent me back to the golden era of Lahore. But now I
miss the dust of Lahore, I miss the fragrance of Lahore.<br />
<br /></div>
<a class="twitter-share-button" data-hashtags="Pakistan" data-text="Why I miss #Lahore" data-url="http://shirazhassan.blogspot.com/2012/05/why-i-miss-lahore.html" data-via="ShirazHassan" href="https://twitter.com/share">Tweet</a>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0GCxnuShzfg9WEEAKqwr6hcFD34tazzn_Czo0LSX4j4xSNghcOeuTo4QnSlGPxzF5U1rK6uByXy4W_KHJStWKwvpguPcMVr0jcz3tskSo7nhXKIe04zw29C5RMzBYkbcSuWMvkD41tOaa/s1600/b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0GCxnuShzfg9WEEAKqwr6hcFD34tazzn_Czo0LSX4j4xSNghcOeuTo4QnSlGPxzF5U1rK6uByXy4W_KHJStWKwvpguPcMVr0jcz3tskSo7nhXKIe04zw29C5RMzBYkbcSuWMvkD41tOaa/s400/b.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Show your ID card” the security
personnel asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I took out my ID card and showed it
to him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“No, you can’t go inside” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“But why?” I asked<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Muslims are not allowed to enter the
Gurdwara, now move on” He said while gently pushing me aside. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“But why?” I kept on asking…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I was at the gate of Gurdwara Siri
Panja Sahib, Hassan Abdal. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Muslims are not allowed to enter”
- it felt like a hard slap on my face. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I think this was the first time I realized
how it feels like to be a minority in a country. When you are under different
sanctions and restrictions or when you are stopped from doing things or
visiting any religious or other places. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">What also crossed my mind was that
this place was associated with one of the greatest personalities of South Asia
and Punjab in particular, Baba Guru Nanak Dev Ji, who spread the message of
peace, love and humanity among all human beings, without any discrimination.
Baba Guru Nanak Dev Ji is equally respected among Muslims too. Peace does not
have any religion; Love does not have any borders. Where there is peace and love, we all
bow our heads. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But I couldn’t also forget the fact
that the current security issues of Pakistan are a major concern and needless
to say that there is always a threat to security. We have to admit that
terrorism has affected us in ways more than we can fathom. Even we cannot visit
those holy places which are respected and highly regarded among peace-lovers. I
hope things will change for the better and the gates of these havens of peace
will be soon opened to all. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">However, my friend <a href="https://www.facebook.com/shahzad.ahmad" target="_blank">Shahzad Ahmed</a>
finally made it possible to enter the Gurdwara Panja Sahib, thanks to his
strong willed efforts. During our visit we also met another nice and humble
young man Inderjit Singh. Shahzad’s friend Umar introduced him to us. I, along
with my friend <a href="https://www.facebook.com/shafqat.aziz" target="_blank">Shafqat</a> stepped inside the Gurdwara in the company of Inderjit. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPVIB-PH10Zox479I_aWupTkqcymoTRj5Ica63jwen3L8EGbnZKsqo-1C3lEgMaNt6nr5xJxrRQe3IReR79cGqxMLx0knzvLprWcuwrcWfUyEpY5CydKFgrhTZO974QkmfZbNzR-bZUokN/s1600/a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPVIB-PH10Zox479I_aWupTkqcymoTRj5Ica63jwen3L8EGbnZKsqo-1C3lEgMaNt6nr5xJxrRQe3IReR79cGqxMLx0knzvLprWcuwrcWfUyEpY5CydKFgrhTZO974QkmfZbNzR-bZUokN/s320/a.jpg" width="240" /></span></a></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Gurdwara Panja Sahib is one
of the holiest places of the Sikh religion. I am not going into the details
here but it is important to mention the religious and historical significance
of this place. According to the <a href="http://www.sikhiwiki.org/index.php/Gurdwara_Panja_Sahib" target="_blank">Sikhiwiki </a><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“<a href="http://www.sikhiwiki.org/index.php/Guru_Nanak" title="Guru Nanak"><span style="color: #5a3696; text-decoration: none;">Guru
Nanak</span></a><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>along
with<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://www.sikhiwiki.org/index.php/Bhai_Mardana" title="Bhai Mardana"><span style="color: #5a3696; text-decoration: none;">Bhai Mardana</span></a><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>reached<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://www.sikhiwiki.org/index.php/Hasan_Abdal" title="Hasan Abdal"><span style="color: #5a3696; text-decoration: none;">Hasan Abdal</span></a><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>in<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://www.sikhiwiki.org/index.php/Baisakh" title="Baisakh"><span style="color: #5a3696; text-decoration: none;">Baisakh</span></a><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>Samwat 1578 B.K. corresponding to 1521
A.D. in the summer season. Under a shady cool tree, Guru Nanak and Bhai Mardana
started reciting<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://www.sikhiwiki.org/index.php/Kirtan" title="Kirtan"><span style="color: #5a3696; text-decoration: none;">kirtan</span></a><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>(sacred hymns) and their devotees
gathered around. This annoyed<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://www.sikhiwiki.org/index.php/Wali_Qandhari" title="Wali Qandhari"><span style="color: #5a3696; text-decoration: none;">Wali Qandhari</span></a><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>but he was helpless.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">According to legend,<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://www.sikhiwiki.org/index.php/Bhai_Mardana" title="Bhai Mardana"><span style="color: #5a3696; text-decoration: none;">Bhai Mardana</span></a><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>was sent three times to<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://www.sikhiwiki.org/index.php/Wali_Qandhari" title="Wali Qandhari"><span style="color: #5a3696; text-decoration: none;">Wali Qandhari</span></a><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>so that he would provide him with some
water to quench his thirst. Wali Qandhari refused his request and was rude to
him. In spite of this, Mardana still very politely stuck to his demand.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Wali ironically remarked:<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><i>"Why don't you ask your Master
whom you serve?"</i><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>Mardana
went back to the Guru in a miserable state and said<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><i>"Oh lord! I prefer death to
thirst but will not approach Wali the egoist again."</i><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>The Guru replied<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><i>"Oh Bhai Mardana ! Repeat
the Name of God, the Almighty; and drink the water to your heart's
content."</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://www.sikhiwiki.org/index.php/Guru" title="Guru"><span style="color: #5a3696; text-decoration: none;">Guru</span></a><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>put aside a big stone lying nearby and a
pure fountain of water sprang up and began to flow endlessly.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://www.sikhiwiki.org/index.php/Bhai_Mardana" title="Bhai Mardana"><span style="color: #5a3696; text-decoration: none;">Bhai Mardana</span></a><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>quenched his thirst and felt grateful
to the Guru. On the other hand, at about the same time, the fountain of<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://www.sikhiwiki.org/index.php/Wali_Qandhari" title="Wali Qandhari"><span style="color: #5a3696; text-decoration: none;">Wali Qandhari</span></a><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>dried up.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">On witnessing this, Wali in his rage threw
part of a mountain, a huge rock towards the Guru from the top of the hill. The
Guru stopped the hurled rock with his hand leaving his hand print in the rock.
Observing that miracle, Wali became the Guru's devotee. This holy and revered
place is now known as<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://www.sikhiwiki.org/index.php/Panja_Sahib" title="Panja Sahib"><span style="color: #5a3696; text-decoration: none;">Panja Sahib</span></a>.”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">The word
"Panja" in<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><a href="http://www.sikhiwiki.org/index.php/Punjabi" title="Punjabi"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: #5a3696; text-decoration: none;">Punjabi</span></a><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;"> </span></span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">means an
"outstretched palm" from the word "panj" which means
"five".<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4cBDxBefKIel4R8JzGI9MF_S_x58XicaKb5QXaxNNgbKy4wYZw5LX_NdNJ0eRw1pmptPrVYDYQy56wTI_bERfVMVIiVf9Ow99BCJbN1fv_spQChDzwsLR4XFkbG5soyUiUQd232D7_AF4/s1600/c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4cBDxBefKIel4R8JzGI9MF_S_x58XicaKb5QXaxNNgbKy4wYZw5LX_NdNJ0eRw1pmptPrVYDYQy56wTI_bERfVMVIiVf9Ow99BCJbN1fv_spQChDzwsLR4XFkbG5soyUiUQd232D7_AF4/s320/c.jpg" width="240" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Passing through the gate, I raised
my head and saw the magnificent architecture of the Gurdwara, the gold and
white colored domes shining brightly under the sun. Families were sitting along
in corridors and near the holy water pool. Children and men were taking the holy
bath or dip in the pool (Ashnaan). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Vaisakhi Mela had ended just a
day before our visit and though most of the pilgrims from India and other
countries had left for Lahore and Nankana Sahib, there were still many local
and foreign pilgrims around. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I have visited many Shrines and
Darbaars before and I should say that I felt the same calm and peace in this place
as well. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">While showing us around, Inderjit
Singh narrated to us the historical and religious significance of this place.
He told us about the architecture, rituals, Siri Granth Sahib and Panja Sahib.
He guided us through the different parts of Gurdwara and in the end we dipped
our feet in the holy water of Panja Sahib and touched the Holy Stone. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The experience of this visit shall forever
remain a memorable one for me as throughout day I could literally feel the peace
and calmness of its air in my heart. Just before leaving Inderjit Singh asked
us about experience and feelings after visiting Gurdwara. Before I could
collect my thoughts and express in words (which was quite impossible at that
high time) Shafqat said “We are peace seekers and where there we will find it,
we’ll bow our heads”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDMz1QLil5tDktktYRQTo1nG1hzTpis7nFTHteWoTkch9JIAPCM3HuOCqk3FEKt7RGLGlD07dmWg2VlMxriOaaa-ZntYqGeHtAtrWzgTM6wWdNOguj_m0O0J895vDuvNvV0HjDG2YEGT4V/s1600/e.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDMz1QLil5tDktktYRQTo1nG1hzTpis7nFTHteWoTkch9JIAPCM3HuOCqk3FEKt7RGLGlD07dmWg2VlMxriOaaa-ZntYqGeHtAtrWzgTM6wWdNOguj_m0O0J895vDuvNvV0HjDG2YEGT4V/s400/e.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">I, Inderjit Singh and Shafqat Aziz</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">All I can wish for is that the walls
of hatred to be brought down and message of love, peace and harmony be spread
around. If something had gone wrong somewhere in the past, we have to work hard
and correct it ourselves now. I hope peace prevails and people from different
religious faiths live together in harmony. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And to remember Baba Guru Nanak Dev
Ji through his own words<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Love the saints of every
faith:<br />
Put away thy pride.<br />
Remember the essence of religion<br />
Is meekness and sympathy,<br />
Not fine clothes,<br />
Not the Yogi’s garb and ashes,<br />
Not the blowing of the horns,<br />
Not the shaven head,<br />
Not long prayers,<br />
Not recitations and torturings,<br />
Not the ascetic way,<br />
But a life of goodness and purity,<br />
Amid the world’s temptations</span><o:p></o:p></span></i><br />
<i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">***</span></span></i></div>
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</script><iframe allowtransparency="true" src="//www.facebook.com/plugins/like.php?href=http%3A%2F%2Fshirazhassan.blogspot.com%2F2012%2F04%2Fpeace-seekers-at-peaceful-place.html&send=false&layout=standard&width=450&show_faces=false&action=like&colorscheme=light&font&height=35&appId=217000841662049" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" style="border: none; height: 35px; overflow: hidden; width: 450px;"></iframe>Shiraz Hassanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04697000384383256108noreply@blogger.com13Hassan Abdal, Pakistan33.8194868 72.689025533.8062948 72.6692845 33.8326788 72.7087665tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8599059807906544662.post-25144319313000370962012-04-17T12:13:00.001-07:002012-04-17T12:18:23.821-07:00Pakistan: Art is in the artist’s hands<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>A</i></b></span><i>rt is in the artist’s hands, turning color in to art of the promise land, we all wish we had these hands, but it’s a gift that can't be taken in by any hands. They need to be artists hands, all different colors even have a flow or tone but look at the beautiful promises they have for me and you... </i><br />
Amanda Shelton<br />
<br />
These are some photographs of Pakistani artisans taken at Lok Mela, held in Islamabad recently.<br />
<br />
<b><i>Photo Credits</i>: Shiraz Hassan</b><br />
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