Images: Migration and Partition 1947

Here are few more images of Migration, thousands of families from both sides cross the border in 1947 and faced hardships! most of them lost their lives.  

                  

 

Rare Images of Partition

Today is the 14th of August!! the day Pakistan came into being 63 years ago!! 

and I wish u  

Happy Independence day!

Sharing some classic and rare images of 1947, migration and Independence!

Regards

For More Pics Click here 

Mian Mir: King of the Kings

Mian Mir was a renowned Sufi saint of Lahore. He belonged to Sistan in Central Asia. His original name was Shaikh Muhammad. He was born about 1550 AD. He had a religious bent of mind. As a child he attentively listened to religious sermons. He became a disciple of Shaikh Khizr of the Qadiri order of Sufis. Sufis believed in spreading Islam by peaceful means. As India was a great field for conversion, Mian Mir decided to come here. He was then about 25 years old. He settled at Lahore. He resided in the suburbs of the city called Begampura. The whole area is now called after him Mian Mir. He is famous for being a spiritual instructor of Dara Shikoh, the eldest son of Mughal emperor Shah Jahan. He is identified as the founder of the Mian Khail branch of the Qadiri order.

Mian Mir was a friend of God-loving people and he would shun worldly, selfish men, covetous Emirs and ambitious Nawabs who ran after Faqirs to get their blessings. To stop such people from coming to see him, Mian Mir posted his mureeds (disciples) at the gate of his house.

Once, Jahangir, the Mughal emperor, with all his retinue came to pay homage to the great faqir. He came with all the pomp and show that befitted an emperor. Mian Mir's sentinels however, stopped the emperor at the gate and requested him to wait until their master had given permission to enter. Jahangir felt slighted. No one had ever dared delay or question his entry to any place in his kingdom. Yet he controlled his temper and composed himself. He waited for permission. After a while, he was ushered into Mian Mir's presence. Unable to hide his wounded vanity, Jahangir, as soon as he entered, told Mian Mir in Persian: Ba dar-e-darvis darbane naa-bayd ("On the doorstep of a faqir, there should be no sentry").

Mian Mir, whose mind and soul were one with the Lord, caring little for the emperor's angst, replied in Persian: Babayd keh sag-e-dunia na ayad ("They are there so that the dogs of the world/selfish men may not enter").

The emperor was ashamed and asked for forgiveness. Then, with folded hands, Jahangir requested Mian Mir to pray for the success of the campaign which he intended to launch for the conquest of the Deccan. Meanwhile, a poor man entered and, bowing his head to Mian Mir, made an offering of a rupee before him. The Pir asked the devotee to pick up the rupee and give it to the poorest, neediest person in the audience. The devotee went from one dervish to another but none accepted the rupee. The devotee returned to Mian Mir with the rupee saying: "Master, none of the dervishes will accept the rupee. None is in need, it seems."

"Go and give this rupee to him," said the faqir, pointing to Jahangir. "He is the poorest and most needy of the lot. Not content with a big kingdom, he covets the kingdom of the Deccan. For that, he has come all the way from Delhi to beg. His hunger is like a fire that burns all the more furiously with more wood. It has made him needy, greedy and grim. Go and give the rupee to him."

Fifth Guru of Sikh religion Guru Arjan was responsible for the construction of many tanks and buildings. In 1588, he planned to build a temple in the centre of the holy tank called Amritsar or the pool of nectar. As the temple was to be thrown open to people of all castes, creeds and climes, he invited Mian Mir to lay the foundation stone of the Harmandir Sahib. He came to the city of Amritsar wearing a religious mendicant's long cloak made up of patches of coarse wool and a cone-shaped cap, with a rose flower on top.

Mian Mir was given one of the warmest welcomes for which Guru Arjan was famous. The two holy men embraced each other in sincere love and regard. The purpose of the temple was disclosed to the Sufi saint. Mian Mir was delighted at the fine objectives the Guru had in mind. The foundation-stone was laid. Hymns were sung in praise of God and sweets were distributed among the audience. Thus Mian Mir holds a pivotal legendary place in Sikhism and in Sikh history. Sikh Children and Sikh people around the world learn about him, his spiritual contribution and his place in Sikh history.

After having lived a long life of piety and virtuosity, Hazrat Mian Mir died on 11 August 1635 (7 Rabi’ al-awwal, 1045 according to the Islamic Calendar). He was eighty-eight years old. His funeral was read by Mughal prince Dara Shikoh, who was a highly devoted disciple of the Saint.

He was buried at a place which was about a mile from Lahore near Alamganj, that is at the south-east of the city.Hazrat Mian Mir's spiritual successor was Hazrat Mullah Shah Badakhshani. Hazrat Mian Mir's Mazar (Mausoleum) still attracts hundreds of devotees each day and he is revered by many Sikhs as well as Muslims.

Photography: Afzal Abbas

The Tomb

Yard

Pigeons

The Grave

Devotion

Shadows

sweets are commons attractions for vistors

Delhi Gate: The Royal Passage

Delhi Gate of walled city is one the thirteen historic gates of Lahore.

The Delhi gate is named as Delhi gate because of its opening on the high road from Lahore to Delhi.

It was first built in the Mughal era, but the British demolished the old gate and the buildings around it. The remains of the old gate still exist as “Chitta Darwaza” (the White Gate) about a hundred meters away from the present gate. It was once the main entrance to the city because of its proximity to the main road.

The area near the gate is a historical place, in which a number of old buildings, havelis and markets are located. The Wazir Khan Mosque and Sunehri Mosque of Mughal era can be accessed from this gate.

This building if Delhi Gate has quite a huge architecture. Adjoining, left-hand stair wall of the gate, are located beautiful Hammams made by Wazir Khan, the Governor of Lahore during Shah Jahan,s period. The Shahi Hamam is at the beginning of what is known as the Shahi Guzargah (Royal Passage). People travelling from Delhi and Agra to the Lahore Fort or Walled City used this Hamam to freshen up after a long journey. It was built during the reign of Shah Jahan by Wazir Khan and is the largest Mughal Hamam in Pakistan. More commonly known as Shahi Hamam, the Wazir Khan Hamam is spread over 1,110 square feet and was built using brick tiles and limestone cement.  There exists a small library and a reading room in a part of the monument. A visit to the building leads one into the city life of 16th century that is no more. Coming out of the Hammams, taking left turn, one moves in the bazaar towards Masjid Wazir Khan.

In the bazaar about 100 meters from the Delhi Gate there comes a Gate which is called ‘Sufaid Gate’. Nothing is either written or known about the background except that this is an entry point to Chowk Wazir Khan from where the bazaar leads to Chowk Purrani Kotwali. The Sufaid Gate is constructed of old small burnt bricks in lime mortar and should be coming down any moment, as it is in a really bad shape. One left side of Chowk Wazir Khan is Masjid Wazir Khan, in front Chowk Purani Kotwali behind which a modern market has been built. We have separately discussed the beauty of Masjid Wazir Khan as an architectural monument that is one of the two best mosques in the world. It is famous for its extensive faience tile work. It has been described as ' a mole on the cheek of Lahore'. It was built in seven years, starting around 1634-1635 A.D., during the reign of the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan. It was built by Shaikh Ilm-ud-din Ansari, a native of Chiniot, who rose to be the court physician to Shah Jahan and later, the Governor of Lahore. He was commonly known as Wazir Khan.

Continuing with the bazaar from Chowk Wazir Khan one will find that there is an upward height. This is because Lahore was founded on a mound and later built and re-built on the accumulated debris of many centuries. On the way you can the golden domes of Sunheri Mosque. The founder of the mosque was Nawab Syed Bhikari Khan, son of Raushan-ud-Daula Turrabaz Khan, deputy governor of Lahore during the reign of Muhammad Shah and the viceroyalty of Mir Noin-ul-Malik. It was built in 1753 CE and features three beautiful golden domes. The mosque is elevated on a higher plinth, surrounded by old bazaars.

 From Chowk Purani Kotwali the bazaar leads towards Chuna Mandi. All the houses both or right and left have been transformed into shos. This bazaar which is now being renovated and converted into proper shops had its old name as ‘Bazar Rada Tailian’ replaced by Azam Cloth Market’s extension. Infact Azam Colth Market has its extension known as Kashmir Block in this bazaar. The bazaar and street at the widest points is not more that 8-10 feet and with open drains running on both side of the walls leaving very little space for movement. In parts sewerage system has been laid but does not appear to be working. On reaching upto Chowk Jamia Masjid, Chuna Mandi from where on the righ side ‘Bungalow Ayub Road’ leads us out to Sheranwala and Yakki Gates.

There is a momentous Sikh Monument ‘Gurdawara Janam Asthan Sri Guru Ram Das Jee’. Guru Ram Das Je was the fourth Guru of Sikhs and was founder of the Sikh sacred city of Amritsar. This buiding is in good condition. I had a chance to visit that place and also had “Prasad”.

The area is full of life and history. Since mughal era this area has been the important political, economic and history factor. Whenever you get the chance to visit Lahore, must visit this historic place

Photography: Afzal Abbas

The Delhi Gate

Shahi Hamam , Top view

Shahi Hamam, inside view

You can see remains of Sufaid(white) Gate

old architecture

a sikh family was shopping there

The Bazaar

Masjid Wazir Khan

Masjid Wazir Khan

Sunehri Masjid

Janam Asthan Guru Ram Das ji