Travelogue

Lahore is a city of poets and artistes. It has some of the finest gardens in the Indian sub-continent.


Jisne Lahore nahin dekha, usne duniya nahin dekhi. (One who did not visit Lahore, has not seen the world). This punchline from Habib Tanvir’s famous play reminds one of the fascination Lahore holds for all. For any Indian, Lahore has enormous attraction. My dream to visit Lahore came true when I was invited recently to participate in a workshop on ‘Human Rights and Development’ at Lahore.


Lahore has been the capital of Punjab for thousands of years. It had been the cultural center of north-western India extending from Peshawar to New Delhi and lies on the Grand Trunk Road (Calcutta to Kabul), built by Sher Suri in 16th century. Even today, it is a city of poets and artistes. It has some of the finest gardens in the Indian sub-continent.


Lahore reached its peak during the reign of Moghul ruler Akbar. His son is buried in its outskirts and his mausoleum is one of the places frequently visited by tourists. Close by lies the mausoleum of Nur Jehan, the queen-wife of Jehangir.


Akbar had his court in Lahore for 14 years from 1584 to 1598, and built the Lahore Fort, as well as the city walls, which had 12 gates. Some of these still survive. Jehangir and Shah Jehan laid the famous Shalimar Garden, built palaces and tombs. Emperor Aurangzeb built Lahore’s famous monument, the Badashahi mosque.


The Sikhs ruled it in the 18th and 19th centuries. Then the British took over. Even though the British were responsible for the desecration of many of its tombs and monuments, they compensated by harmoniously combining Moghul, Gothic and Victorian styles of architecture. Today Victorian heritage buildings rub shoulders with Moghul monuments. The GPO and YMCA buildings were built to commemorate the golden jubilee of Queen Victoria-an event marked by the construction of clock towers and monuments all over India. The most beautiful part of the Lahore Fort is the Sheesh Mahal. Other places include the throne room with its marble pavilion, the Dewan-e-Aam, the Elephant Gate, Jehangir’s Quadrangle, the Naulakha and the Moti Masjid. Museum preserves firmaans issued by Moghul emperors, miniature paintings, Mughal coins etc. Opposite to the Lahore Fort stands the majestic Badshahi Mosque, which is one of the largest mosques in the world. Close by is situated the mausoleum of Dr. Allama Iqbal, who gave us the patriotic song Sare Jehan se accha Hindustan hamara...


Lahore has many more historical mosques such as Sonehri Masjid (Tilayee Masjid), Wazir Khan’s Masjid and Dai Anga’s Mosque. Minar -e-Pakistan was built to commemorate the Pakistan Day i.e., March 23, 1940. It is 59-metre high and the top could be reached by a flight of 300 steps.. Islamic Summit Minar is a long imposing pillar with all modern Islamic architectural standing in the busiest square of Lahore’s Shahrah-e-Quaid-e-Azam (or the thoroughfare named after Mohammad Ali Jinnah. It commemorates the holding of the first Islamic Grand Summit held at Lahore in 1974 in which all heads of Islamic states gathered to symbolise the Islamic unity and faith.


Shalimar Garden is one of the most beautiful examples of Mughul landscape architecture. It is spread over an area of 40 acres. The exquisite garden is decked with more than 400 promenades and flowerbeds. Samadhi of Maharaja Ranjit Singh is situated opposite the Lahore Fort. It is a mixture of Mughal and Hindu style of architecture and was built in 1848 by Kharak Singh, the son of Ranjit Singh. Another tourist attraction we wanted to visit was Changa Manga, the biggest man-made forest, spread over an area of 12,150 acres of land, situated 68 km away from Lahore. An artificial lake, with boats and train ride through the forest, attracts many tourists.


With the peace process going on between India and Pakistan, the people-to-people movement for peace and friendship, many more Indians will be able to visit the enchanting city of Lahore. When more and more Indians visit Lahore, it will also promote communal harmony within India.

The World celebrated Mother’s Day on May 8. But Islam has bestowed a special status on Mothers and as Muslims we should revere them each day.


A man once consulted Prophet Muhammad (Pbuh) about taking part in a military campaign. The Prophet asked the man if his mother was still living. When told that she was alive, the Prophet said: “(Then) stay with her, for Paradise is at her feet.” (Al-Tirmidhi). On another occasion, the Prophet said: “God has forbidden for you to be undutiful to your mothers.” (Sahih Al-Bukhari)


One of the things, I have always appreciated about my adopted faith is not only its emphasis on maintaining the bonds of kinship, but also the high regard in which women, particularly mothers, are held. The Quran, states: “And revere the wombs that bore you, for God is ever watchful over you.” (4:1)


It should be obvious that our parents deserve our utmost respect and devotion - second only to God. Speaking in the Quran, God says: “Show gratitude to Me and to thy parents; to Me is thy final Goal.” (31:14)


The fact that God has mentioned parents in the same verse as Himself shows the extent to which we should strive in our efforts to serve the mothers and fathers who sacrificed so much for us. Doing so will help us to become better people.


In that same verse, God says: “We have enjoined on man (to be good) to his parents: in travail upon travail did his mother bear him.”


A man once asked the Prophet to whom he should show the most kindness. The Prophet replied: “Your mother, next your mother, next your mother, and then your father.” (Sunan of Abu-Dawood). In other words, we must treat our mothers in a manner befitting their exalted position - and, again, revere the wombs that bore us.


Each of us should appreciate what we have in our mothers. They are our teachers and our role models. Every day with them is an opportunity to grow as a person. Every day away from them is a missed opportunity.


I lost my own mother to breast cancer on April 19, 2003. Though the pain of losing her is still with me and her memory lives on in my siblings and me, I sometimes worry that I might forget what a blessing she was for me.


For me, Islam is the best reminder of my mother’s presence. With daily encouragement from the Quran and the living example of the Prophet Muhammad, I know I will always keep her memory close to my heart. She is my connection to the divine. On this Mother’s Day, I am grateful for the occasion to reflect on that.


(The writer is with the Washington-based Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) and can be reached at jbrockwell@cair-net.org)