Pakistan pre-independence Pics & Memorabilia: Punjab

[OmI92]

Maulana Abul Kalam Azad with Sir Sikander Hayat Khan at a party in Lahore 1940

[OmI92]

Anarkali Tomb Lahore 1858

[OmI92]

A view of NWR passenger train in Lahore before partition in 1947

[OmI92]

Umrao Singh Sher-Gil with grandson Vivan holding camera, Lahore 1946

[farazilu]

Membership form All India Muslim League.

[Pakia]

Share Certificate - The New Bank of India - Lahore c. 1944

[Pakia]

[Intoxication]

Charring Cross, Lahore? Which area is/was this?

[Pakia]

Originally Posted by Intoxication

Charring Cross, Lahore? Which area is/was this?

Charing Cross, renamed Faisal Square ("Faisal Chowk" in Urdu and Punjabi), and now officially renamed as Shahrah-e-Quaid-e-Azam to honour the founder of the nation of Pakistan, is a neighbourhood of Lahore, Pakistan, located on Mall Road. Laid out during the British period, it is named for Charing Cross in London.[1][2]

Until 1951 a marble pavilion at Charing Cross displayed a bronze statue of Queen Victoria, but now the statue's place in the pavilion is occupied by a bronze replica of the Quran.[3]

The area was earlier known as Donald Town, which was named after Donald McLeod, who was later to become the lieutenant governor of the Punjab (1865–70), and after whom, people even today, call McLeod Road. He was earlier the president of the Lahore Improvement Committee, which then became the Lahore Improvement Trust, later to be renamed the Lahore Development Authority.

However, the term "Charing Cross" was first used in the context of Lahore, in 1908 in a publication by G.R. Elmslie titled “Thirty Five Years in the Punjab” (1908, Edinburgh).


Now

[pbuddy]

Originally Posted by Metropole

Bhai jaan, Sikhism didn't even start till the 15th century, and the city was in Muslim control till about 1800, after which the Sikhs ruled it briefly for 50 years. That's all.

Sikhs have a lot of attachment to Lahore because it was their capital for a short while and their great leader Ranjit Singh is buried there. Many Sikhs may have lived in Lahore before independence but they didn't control the city.

Its funny how you folks conveniently ignore the Hindu contributions, and more importantly, the Hindu Rajput origins. Lahore was originally known as Lavapuri, and was created by (and was under control of) Hindu kings/shahis for centuries, both before the Mughals and Sikhs came into power. Lahore holds an important place in the Ramayana.

And during partition, Lahore had a 60% Muslim population, while Hindus and Sikhs combined made up the other 40%. The hindus and sikhs were more influential though, and had more stake in the city (in terms of property and businesses). That is why many expected Lahore to go to India.

Conversely, Amritsar (now in India) had a 47% Muslim population, while the Hindus and Sikhs combined made up the other 53%. Individually, though, the Sikh and Hindu populations would be less than the Muslim population. And this is why many in the Muslim League wanted Amritsar to go to Pakistan.

Off topic, but interesting stuff.