Lohari
Gate is one of the thirteen gates of Lahore. Being your guide to the walled
city, today I will take you to Lohari Gate. In Urdu loha means iron and the
gate is named Lohari because many lohars (blacksmiths) had their workshops just
outside this gate. Lohari and the bazaar behind it comprise the oldest arterial
route in the Walled City built by Akbar the Great. Caravans and travellers
coming from Multan used to enter the city from this gate. Behind Lohari Gate
also, once stood a brick fort called Kacha Kot that was probably the first fortified
city of Lahore rebuilt by Malik Ayyaz. Among the few city gates which British
Government cared to reconstruct, only Lohari Gate has retained its original
form, and when I say original form I mean original form, because nobody has
ever tried to reconstruct or preserve this unfortunate gate since British
rule.
When I was a kid I used to read the history of
this ancient city of Lahore. Because I born here and being a true citizen of
the old city, I feel a deep association with it. I have read many stories about
invasions and renovations of this historical soil. In the very beginning when I
was 10, I had an imaginary vision of the walled city. I thought there would be
some old havelies, the rich old culture and narrow but clean lanes. This is all
because of the anecdotes my grandparents related to me.
Now
I am 26 after sixteen long years, and I still hear people saying that the times are
changing and quoting the common cliche of local news channel: “we are moving
towards a bright future.” Today when I enter the narrow lanes of Lohari Gate, I
am stunned to see that self proclaimed ‘bright future’ of ours. Maybe people
living here, within the walled city are not considered as human beings or maybe
they don’t have their share in that bright future. Whatever it is, it’s sad.
You don’t need
to go further inside the gate; the present condition of the gate will tell you
its painful story. Cracks in the huge walls, people living inside the structure
of the gate, which was first, used as military barracks in the Mughal era; now
it is occupied by some gypsies.
Okay, let’s walk
into the gate; on either sides of Lahori bazaar you can see some outstanding
ancient architecture, wooden balconies, beautiful wood-carving on doors and
windows but how brutally this architectural heritage has been defaced is
atrocious. This looks like some forgotten or neglected place where people are
living --- just living --- no matter how. Now how can I describe the glorious
past of this city, when I am beholding the sight in front of me. This is all
that is left of those splendid times of yore.
I
have tried to show you the current condition of the Walled City, in-front of
you. Almost everybody knows the past of the Walled City but how many of us
know, about its present. What is happening to these ancient buildings? We all
claim that we are a developing country, how can a nation develop forward, when
nothing is left behind. In fact, are we developing in any direction when we are
so negligent and disrespectful towards our culture and heritage.
Forgive me if I
use some harsh words. Poverty and ignorance are two major curses on our society
just because of the insensitivity of higher authorities. I am not doing this
just to criticize our system. I am not a philosopher not even a scholar.
However, I am just an ordinary citizen
of Pakistan who cares. Being a citizen I would like to make a few suggestions.
Firstly if we all be little more sincere to our soil that will help a lot.
Secondly we all should take our responsibilities towards our country a little
more seriously, just like we do for our families, then slowly it may bring
about a change of attiude amongst us. This is not our enemy’s land this is our
own motherland if we destroy or show disrespect to it like this, we can’t be
successful in the world as a nation. Last but not least, it’s for our
authorities to actually spend at least a little of the money for which millions
of dollars have been allocated in the budget. All the foreign aid we get for
the preservation for this architectural heritage should be used for the right
cause. These are not slums, this place is our fountainhead!!
