Monday, January 22, 2007

Lahore Revisited

I just returned from a brief trip to Lahore and despite having only a few days there I was able to spend almost a full day inside the enchanting walled city area. I started out at Mori Gate and walked all the way across to Roshnai Gate at the end of Shahi Mohallah Road just past landmarks such as the Mazaar of Hazrat Naugaza Pir and the famous "Phajjay ke Pai" restaurant. Walking through the Roshnai gate I entered the Hazuri Bagh area and past the garden to the entrance of Gurdawara Dera Sahib / Ranjit Singh Smadhi.

The visit to the Gurdawara turned out to be the highlight of my visit. For a long time I have wanted to see this classic Sikh structure but, for reasons unknown, Muslims are not allowed to visit this sacred monument. On a whim I asked a turbaned Sardar standing outside if I could see the Gurdawara. He thought it might be possible and agreed to ask a caretaker. He went inside the complex and returned a few minutes later with an elderly gentleman who after asking me a few questions invited me to come inside. Mr. Harpal Singh was exceptionally kind and gave me a guided tour of the premises, pointing out historic facts about the building. The thing I did not know was that this monument also contains the "Shaheedi Asthan" (the site of martyrdom) of Guru Arjun Dev (the fifth Guru of the Sikhs). Harpal Ji took me to the sacred area where the Guru Granth Sahib is kept and explained the concept of the "Akhand Paath" (the recitation of the entire Granth Sahib in a single setting which can take more than two days). There is an Akhand Paath in the Gurdawara on June 12th, the day of Guru Arjun Dev's martyrdom. Guru Arjun Dev died during the reign of Emperor Jahangir. During his confinement in a prison in the Lahore Fort, the Guru is believed to have vanished into the water miraculously and attained martyrdom after his captors were persuaded to allow him to go bathe in the River Ravi.

After thanking Harpal Ji I walked back into the walled city via Roshnai Gate and winded my way through the streets and alleys all the way to Masjid Wazir Khan inside Delhi Gate passing innumerable shops, bazaars, historic landmarks, shrines, mosques and imambargahs in Mori Gate, Lohari Gate, Shah Alam Bazaar, Mochi Gate and Akbari Mandi. Masjid Wazir Khan is one of the most beautiful and famous mosques in Lahore. It is an oasis of peace set in the midst of crowded bazaars pulsating with constant, loud and hectic commercial activity. In the courtyard of the mosque is the mazaar of the 13th century sufi saint known as Sabz Pir. I sat in the mosque courtyard for a while looking at the delicate decorations on the walls, the surrounding brick buildings overlooking this serene 17th century structure and flocks of pigeons fluttering on the mosque's domes and minarets.

On my way to the walled city I made the essential stop at Kim's; a tiny but wonderful bookstore which is part of the Lahore Museum complex and sits just across from Kim's Gun and Punjab University's Old Campus and adjoins the National College of Arts. I always discover books there that I never find anywhere else in the city. I bought Majid Sheikh's new book called "Lahore: Tales without End" and Som Anand's "Lahore: Portrait of a Lost City". Both books, in very different ways, are treasure troves of vignettes about Lahore and its people. Among dozens of fascinating Lahori tales recounted by Majid Sheikh is the story of the Renault Benz gifted by Adolf Hitler to Allama Mashriqi (founder of the Khaksar Tehreek). This car in a rusted, dilapidated state is still parked in Icchra in the courtyard of Allama Mashriqi's house. Allama's descendants still live in that house.

8 comments:

readerswords said...

Thanks for the virtual trip, made me feel I was actually there...one reason less for visiting Lahore :-)

This surprised me though,
>Muslims are not allowed to visit this sacred monument

Anyone is allowed to go anywhere inside a gurudwara, with the ritualistic covering of the head, not necessarily a turban, and the shoes taken off.

Fawad Zakariya said...

Bhupinder, restrictions on Muslim visitors surpised me as well. Last year I visited Gurdawara Janam Asthan in Nankana Sahib and there too I had to accompany visiting Sikh yatrees. I have a feeling that this must be some restriction of the Pakistani government and is a bureaucratic vestige of an earlier era.

Despite your kind comments on my piece you should still consider visiting Lahore if you get an opportunity. It is a marvellous city (terrible air pollution not withstanding):-)

Anonymous said...

Fawad,
thanks for this post. I have in my own way paid a tribute to your post here: http://razarumi.wordpress.com/2007/01/24/more-woodcuts-from-mahboob-ali-revisiting-lahore/

Fawad Zakariya said...

Raza, thanks for your kind tribute. One of the other highlights of my trip was actually getting to connect with you after several years.

Anonymous said...

Exceptional post. Thank you for this. I spent a couple of weeks in Lahore recently but never did get time enough to take the sojourn you've described here. I want to shoot myself!

Hopefully my next trip to Lahore will ensure that I see and experience what I've missed this time around.

Great blog by the way.

Anonymous said...

Pictures of Allama Mashriqi's car (Renault -1926)
Here's a link of pictures, which the submitter claims is the current condition of Allama Mashriqi's old 1926 Renault car. The rotting state of the car is a testament to the fact that there is endless discussion and headlines regarding Pakistani politicians - who have brought nothing but misery to the nation - but have no time to preserve the legacy of the true heroes of the Pakistani nation.

The car was not gifted by Hitler. Read Nasim Yousaf's reponse to wrong information on the following URL:
http://www.allamamashraqi.com/faqsaboutmashraqi.html

Link:
http://www.pakwheels.com/forumreply_az_TopicID!59124~ForumID!6~page!3~pw.html

Info on Mashriqi:
http://www.allamamashraqi.com/grandsonsarticles.html

Azmat Ali Shah said...

I am a Lahori and my family is living in the city for the last 500 years or so.I am presently 63 years old and want to share my memories about Lahore many many decades back.In my childhood,Lahore was very green and there used to be heavy monsoons each year.We used to run on roads in rain right from Temple Road Mozang to Lawrence Garden.There was no traffic no cars only some tongas or local buses.Mall road was surrounded with trees on both sides and tongas used to ply on The Mall.Queen Victoria's statue was there in front of Assembly Hall and there were no Wapda House and Alfalah Building etc.Atmosphere was so peaceful and pleasing.One could eat "Samosaas,Dehi Bulley,Haleem,Kala Khan's Pan,chikar Channay and other things.There was a Hindu guy selling potato cutlets outside Regal Cinema,the taste of which is not found now.In front of present AG Office there was a aloo channay Chat stall and that was so tasty that we used to have it atleast twice a week for just two anna per plate.Shah Jamal Urs,Mela Chragan,Basant festival not present basant night nuisance were treat to enjoy.Lahore I cant forget you,your memories will go with me whereever I go.I can only wish,if I can see my Lahore and its wonderful people again.

Banu said...

mr.@Azmat ali shah plz tell me about boota singh and zainab singh story.