Lahore
Lahore(Urdu:لاہور) is the second biggest city inPakistan.It is thecapitalof the province ofPunjab.It is also known as the 'City of Gardens' because of its many parks and gardens. This city is known for its rich culture and lively atmosphere.Pakistan'smajor Urdu film industryLollywoodis based here at the "Cultural Heart of Pakistan". It is 60 km (35 mi) west ofAmritsar,India.It has a semi-arid climate (BShin theKöppen climate classification).
Origins[change|change source]
According to legend, the city was founded thousands of years ago by Lava orLav,[1]son of the deityRama(hero of theRamayana). Its original name was either 'Lav-garh' (Fort of Lav/Lava) or 'Lavapuri' (Place of Lava/Lav) which was later changed to 'Lavhur' or 'Lahor' and then 'Lahore'.[2]
According to historians and archaeologists, Lahore was the capital of severalHindudynasties from around 300-250 BC onwards. Probably the first of these dynasties was the 'Loh'(or Lav) dynasty of theGujartribe. Some people also believe that this city is the same one mentioned byPtolemyin hisGeographia.[3]
The ancient 'Walled City' was the old, proper Lahore, which later expanded in different directions. Quite a lot of work was done on it by the kings of theDelhi Sultanate[4]and then theMughals.Most of the newer areas and suburbs of the city are from the laterBritish Rajfrom 1849 to 1947.
Historical importance[change|change source]
Lahore is historically an important place in theSouth Asiansubcontinent.[5]Famous buildings made here during the time of theMughal Empireinclude theBadshahi Mosque,theLahore Fort,and theShalimar Gardens.It was the capital of the Sikh Empire of the early 19th century. Many of the city's old artifacts and historical treasures over the ages, can be seen at the famousLahore Museumbuilt later in the 19th century duringBritish Indianrule.[6]
Lahore is also important due to its role as a center of thePakistan Movementlater, and the famousLahore Resolutionof 1940 was passed here by theWorking Committee of the All-India Muslim League,which eventually led to the making of an independent state of Pakistan in 1947. This event is commemorated by theMinar-e-Pakistanbuilding inIqbal Park.
To the north of Lahore, near theRavi River,lies the old suburb ofShah Dara,which is also considered to be historically significant, as the tombs of theMughalEmperorJahangirand his wifeNur Jahan,are situated here.[6]According to the earlyEnglishtraveler,Thomas Coryat,who visited Lahore in its 'Golden Age' during the reign of Jahangir, it was probably the finest city in the world at that time, and 'exceedeth evene Constantinople in greatnesse' (It was even greater thanConstantinople).[7]
Education[change|change source]
Lahore is Pakistan's top educational center. The oldUniversity of the Punjabhas two campuses in the city. Other old and famous institutions of higher learning include theGovernment College University(GCU), theForman Christian College,and theKinnaird College for Women.TheNational College of Arts,a specialized fine arts institute, is also located here.
The city is also home to Pakistan's most prestigious high school and college,Aitchison College Lahore.Other institutions include the Central Model School, St Anthony's School, the Beaconhouse School System, Lahore College of Arts and Sciences (LACAS), and the Lahore Grammar School, and the world-famous King Edward Medical University is also located in Lahore.
Cultural life[change|change source]
Lahore is Pakistan's cultural, literary, and artistic heart. It has some of the best food in the wholeIndian subcontinentat theGawalmandi Food Street,near the old Walled City; and several notable cultural centers like theAlhamra Theatre,the Punjab Arts Council, theLahore Museum,theShakir Ali Museum,theFakir Khanamuseum, and the Rafi Peer Theatre Group. TheLawrence Gardens, Lahoreare another site from British times that is worth visiting. The famedHeera Mandiin the oldTaxali Gatearea is also a part of Lahore's historic culture. TheAnarkali Bazaaris also a great place for traditional shopping.
Lahore is also important in Pakistan as a center of cultural and religious tolerance.[8]The city does not have many religious fanatics or extremists, unlike some other parts of this country. The main reason is because of the strong influence of many famousSufisaints who lived here in the past. Theshrines(burial places) of some of them are still visited by many people. The shrines ofHazrat Daata SahibandMian Mir Sahibare especially famous.
Related pages[change|change source]
Additional reading[change|change source]
- Griffin and Massey, Chiefs and Families of Note in Punjab, revised edition 1910-11.
- WG Osborne, The Court, and Camp of Runjeet Singh, London, 1846.
- Lady Emily Eden, Up the Country, new edition, London, 1983.
- Hakim Ahmad Shuja, Lahore ka Chelsea (Urdu), Lahore, 1969.
- Ian Talbot, Divided Cities: Lahore and Amritsar:1947-1957, Karachi, 2005 edition.
- FS Aijazuddin, Lahore: Illustrated Views of the 19th Century, Lahore, n.d.
- WJ Glover, Making Lahore Modern: Constructing and Imagining a Colonial City, Karachi, 2011.
- B. Gascoine, The Great Mughals, London, 1971.
- M. Athar Tahir, Punjab Portraits, Lahore, 1992.
- Isobel Shaw, Pakistan Handbook 1988.
References[change|change source]
- ↑JW McCrindleAncient India as Described in Classical Literature,London 1901, np
- ↑Dr ZH Salahuddin,Lahore since Ancient Times,Lahore:Moon Publishers, 1999, p.13
- ↑Cited in R ThaparA History of India Vol 1,Pelican edition 1966, p.101
- ↑Thapar, p.236
- ↑Isobel Shaw,Pakistan Handbook1988 ed
- ↑6.06.1Shaw, aa
- ↑Coryat, quoted by W Dalrymple,In Xanadu:A QuestLondon, 1989, p.184
- ↑TJ Stephens, 'Lahore:The Living City of Saints' article in daily Dawn, Karachi, Pakistan, January 21st 1997
Other websites[change|change source]
- Metropolitan Corporation LahoreArchived2019-11-23 at theWayback Machine