Pirak

Architecture and material culture

The excavaotor records three phases of unbroken occupation in Pirak, In the first period, structures of unburnt brick associated with a large platform were found. A major part of the pottery was a coarse ware decorated with applique bands and fingertip impressions. Both terracota and unburnt clay figurines of horses and camels were found, along with numerous bones of both the species. Terracota button seals of circular, square or curved forms were common. The second period also showed a similar assemblage with large numbers of terracota and clay figurines, which include not only Bactrian camels and horses but also human figures, including riders. Along with numerous tools of copper and bronze, first pieces of iron are also found. The third period (c.1000-800 BCE) produced a greater quantity of iron and a continuation of all the elements of the earlier periods. Along with three varieties and two varieties of barley, rice and sorghum were also found here, which is the first recorded appearance of these two cereals in this region.

Tomb of Jahangir

The entrance to the mausoleum is through two massive gateways of stone and masonry opposite each other (to the north and south) which lead to a square enclosure known as the Akbari Serai. This enclosure leads to another one, on the western side, giving full view of the garden in front of the mausoleum, which is traversed by four-bricked canals proceeding from the centre, and in which many fountains were placed which are now in ruins. The corridor around the mausoleum is adorned with a most elegant mosaic, representing flowers and Quranic verses.

The interior of the mausoleum is an elevated sarcophagus of white marble, the sides of which are wrought with flowers of mosaic in the same elegant style as the tombs in the Taj Mahal at Agra, India. On two sides of the sarcophagus the ninety-nine attributes of God are inlaid in black. Beautiful ‘jalis’ admit light in various patterns.

Once known as Serai of Aurangzeb, the Mosque forecourt would be thronged by the cavalcade of the emperor when he came to offer his Friday prayers at the grand mosque. Hazuri Bagh provided the stage on which the pomp of the Mughal emperor was showcased, his train a throng of mace-bearers, omerah, grandees and nobles. The traveler Francois Bernier recorded that the way from the citadel, would be lined by hundreds of soldiers in their dazzling uniforms making a glittering passage for the emperor.

The entrance to the mosque with its lofty plinth, makes it imperative to climb its 22 steps to reach the platform, and provides a foretaste of the grandeur within the mosque enclosure.

The Mughalised attractive marble baradari adorning the Hazuri Bagh was put together on the orders of Ranjit Singh in 1818 to celebrate the capture of the famous Koh-i-Noor Diamond from Shah Shuja of Afghanistan. Its Mughal character is beholden to the material removed from Mughal monuments and reused here.

The pavilion was constructed in 1818 and originally consisted of a basement and two storey above ground. Elegant carved marble pillars support the baradari’s delicate cusped arches. The central area, where Ranjit Singh held court, has a mirrored ceiling. Both the garden and the baradari, originally a 45-foot, three-storey square with a basement approached by fifteen steps, suffered extensive damage during the fratricidal Sikh wars and was only reclaimed and laid out according to the original plan during the British period. On 19 July 1932, the uppermost story collapsed due to heavy rainstorm and lightning. Because of a paucity of funds the top storey was never restored; however, the first floor marble fretwork balustrade, which had also been severely damaged, was rehabilitated three years later.

From contemporary illustrations the design of the top storey is evident: a chamber punctured by cusped arch openings, set in the middle of a large terrace and well set back from the edge of the ground floor roof.

The Baradari was the focus of regal displays during the Sikh rule. Although the takht (or throne) was the citadel, Ranjit Singh used the venue of the baradari for conducting functions of state. After his death, the pavilion continued to be utilized by his successors.

Although sometimes erroneously dated to 1865,the house was built in the last decade of the nineteenth century and was designed by Moses Somake had the habit of signing his buildings by inscribing his name in an obscure place and if you took the trouble you will find his name etched on an inner face of the porch.

This double-storey bungalow is Somake first known commission and was built during the last decade of the nineteenth century while the single storey annexe is a later  addition .You will notice that Somake has lavished most of his attention on the façade facing Fatima Jinnah Road(Bonus Road),which was the main thoroughfare at the time.

The bungalow lay neglected until 1985 ,when ,as a result of representation by Heritage Foundation, it was acquired by the Government of Pakistan ,restored and declared a national monument .as Quaid-e-Azam House Museum. The house provides an exciting and appropriate setting for relics of the founder of the nation ,at the same time brings to life the nostalgic aura of the colonial period.

The museum is a remarkable achievement for the preservation of the history of Pakistan Air Force, and will be of particular interest to aviation buffs. The PAF Museum has well-thought out displays of vintage and historic aircraft. It was designed and built with an aim to make it “the window of the history of the PAF” and a setting where “children would dream that impossible dream “.

The museum, which which opened its doors in 1997,presently occupies over 27 acres of the 80 acres allocated for it. In the lush green, seemingly open countryside in the midst of the bustling city of Karachi,28 aircraft are displayed. The huge hangar ,which is the focal point of the displayed. houses the rare relic of the Viking, the aircraft used by Father of the nation,Quaid-e-Azam jinnah,as well as an Indian Gnat which was forced to land during the 1965 Indo-Pak war.

The Museum has four airconditioned galleries dedicated to specific themes:History of Aerial Warfare demonstrated through model aircraft and paintings; fighter aircraft models of the world;Shohada(martyrs) of 1965 and 1971 Indo-Pakistan Wars. Two other galleries exhibit rare photographs,reprints,and paintings demonstrating the achievement of different P.A.F squadrons. An interesting aspect of the museum is the Multimedia Kiosk which provides all information regarding different aspects of P.A.F through touch-screen interactive technology, allowing the viewer to explore the text, image ,audio and video on the subject of his or her choice.

He was born in Ghazna (in present day Afghanistan) in the beginning of Ghaznavids period (around 990) and died in Lahore (in present day Punjab, Pakistan) in 1077 CE. His most famous work is The Kashf Al Mahjub (“Unveiling the Veiled”) written in Persian language. The work debates Sufi doctrines of the past.

Hujwiri belonged to the Junaidia school of Sufism. These sufis followed Junaid Baghdadi of Baghdad. Hajwiri is also viewed as an important intercessor for many Sufis.

Hujwiri probably entered the Sufi path very early in his life and spent many years travelling to Iran, Iraq, Syria etc, during which he met several Sufi saints. He studied Sufism under Abu’l-Fadl Muhammad b. al-Hasan al-Khuttali through whom he is spiritually connected) with Junaid Baghdadi. He settled for some time in Iraq where he had a short experience with married life. Finally he was taken as a captive to Lahore, where he spent the rest of his life and compiled the major portion of his book, The Kashf Al Mahjub.

Although a Sunni Hanafite, Hujwiri’s theology was reconciled with the concept of Sufi annihilation. However he strenuously campaigned against the doctrine that human personalities can be merged with God, instead likening annihilation to burning by fire which allows the substance to acquire fire like properites while retaining its own individuality. He also was a great upholder of the Sharia and rebuffed the idea that outward observances of Islam are not important for Sufis. Hujwiri believed that individuals should not claim to have attained “marifat” or gnosis because it meant that one was prideful, and that true understanding of God should be a silent understanding.

It has a been a practice of Sufi saints coming to the Indian subcontinent to first visit the shrine of Hazrat Usman Ali Hujwiri. Hazrat Khwaja Muinuddin Chishti first came to Lahore to pay his respects at Data Ganj-Bakhsh upon his arriving in the subcontinent. There he was directed to settle in Ajmer Sharif and commence his spiritual mission in India. Hazrat Moinuddin Chishti paid homage to Hazrat Usman Ali Hujwiri in the following words:
Ganj Bakhsh-e faiz-e aalam, mazhar-e Nur-i Khuda
Naqisaan ra pir-e kaamil, kaamilaan ra rahnuma

Translation:
Ganj Bakhsh is a manifestation of the Light of God for the people
A perfect guide unto the imperfect ones and a guide unto the perfect ones

His mausoleum, popularly known as Data Durbar, is located in Lahore, Pakistan.

Culturally people living close to the shrine have become emotionally and economically dependent on the shrine. Food stalls, flower sellers and numerous beggars are dependent on Shrine visitors.

On special occasions, the shrine is lit up with lights, dinner is prepared for hundreds of people and Fakirs dance around and musicians play music for hours.

In the boundary of shrine, Muslims recite Qur’an, and pay tributes to Muhammad.

The samadh of Sher Singh (1807-1843), son of Maharaja Ranjit Singh and ruler of Sikh state of joint Punjab, in Lahore has been vandalised beyond recognition.

No trace is left of the samadh of his son Kanwar Pratap Singh. Its remains have been painted red and green to merge with the mosque nearby.

Bobby Singh, director of the UK-based S.K. Foundation (dedicated to preserving the Sikh heritage), stated this after a tour of Pakistan to The Tribune here today.

He also discovered that the samadh of Bhai Vasti Ram, spiritual guide of the Maharaja in Lahore, also lay derelict and vandalised.

Inscriptions on the samadh are, however, still visible. Bobby Singh said if action was not taken, the invaluable
Sikh heritage would vanish forever.

In a search for Sikh monuments, the Foundation director also visited the hostile terrain of Peshawar by imperilling his life.

He said he travelled further north into a tribal territory near the Afghan border at a great risk and ventured into the Jamrud Fort, built by the founder of the Sikh commander in 1823.

Describing his visit to Pakistan’s hostile terrain, Bobby Singh said he visited the area with his security guards where ordinary shopkeepers had displayed rifles, Ak-47 rifles and rocket launchers like vegetables. They are proud selling such firearms and it is just normal in this arid landscape.

The highlight of his itinerary was the Jamrud Fort, the foundation stone of which was laid by Gen Hari Singh Nalwa and was completed in six months by Kanwar Nau Nihal Singh, grandson of Maharaja Ranjit Singh.

He said the amazing mud fort which at present was under the border paramilitary forces, still stands defiantly and some parts of the walls are 2-m thick.

The actual cremation site of General Nalwa is clearly visible, but out of bounds for the public.

He, however, was able to take some snaps despite the presence of watchful Army sentries who were clearly glancing down at him.

“I thought for a moment that perhaps I was the only Sikh that had come to Jamrud since Partition and fulfilled dream of viewing the famous Jamrud Fort”.

Further northeast in Hazara, Bobby Singh located the Harkrishan Fort also built by General Nalwa during his stint as Governor of the province.

However, nowadays only some parts of the fort exist that house a police station. Originally, the fort was surrounded by water and a drawbridge must have been used to gain access into the fort.

There are numerous Sikh monuments that lie in ruins in Peshawar. Bobby Singh said the S.K. Foundation (UK) was set up for trying to highlight and educate others to the cause before it was too late.

Prior to the initiation of construction on Bagh-e-Ibne Qasim, 73 acres (300,000 m²) of land was freed from the grip of land grabbers. The entire Clifton beach, and the area now covered under the park. In June 2005, Sindh Governor Dr. Ishrat-ul-Ebad Khan took it upon himself to restore this major historical entertainment area to its original splendor. City Nazim Syed Mustafa Kamal also played a part in gifting the Jehangir Kothari Parade back to the people of Karachi.

For entertainment purposes of visitors, the park has a turtle pond, in addition to which it also has 24 state-of-the-art washrooms. In order to create an element of originality, the park also has 20 stone canopies. Moreover, hundreds of thousands of unique rose saplings have been planted throughout the park. The park will also feature fast food outlets able to accommodate 500 persons at a time. This park has various murals of dinosaurs that are extremely huge and add to the excitement on the faces of the visitors that come from various parts of Pakistan. This park overlooks the 90 meter fountain of kpt and thus adds to the beauty of the Clifton area.

Museum Hall

In the museum hall, there are rare items on display including watches, pendulums, kerosene Tilley lamps, gate signal lamps, crockery, fans, arms and ammunition, surgical items used at railway hospitals, a 1904 hand pump, long armed chairs used in waiting rooms and Dak bungalows, a Railway time table of 1943 and historic photographs.

A majority of the items displayed at the museum belong to the North West Railways, as Pakistan Railways was called before Independence, dating back to year 1890. The attempt is to preserve and display vintage items and artifacts related to the history of railways at the Heritage Point.

Outside Museum Hall

Items on display outside the museum include a hand pump of 1901, and a ‘Heritage Special Train’, driven by an ancient steam engine accompanied by passenger coaches. The 110-year-old narrow gauge steam locomotive, steam cranes, 100-year-old hand crane, saloons, passenger and freight coaches. The saloon was said to belong to the Viceroy-e-Hind but no name was mentioned on it.

An interesting fact about the 110-year-old steam engine is that, it was in regular use, as early as 1990 and was still in running condition. The narrow gauge steam engine was run on the less frequent lines. A display model of the lane changing and up and down signal had also been installed. Different kinds of hand railway carts were also put on display and would offer a unique photo-moment to picnickers.