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Featured Pakistan: The Archaeological Marvel

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Tomb of Bibi Jawindi in Uch Sharif. —Photographed by Shah Zaman Baloch
 
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Jain Mandir or Jaina temple belongs to the Suembra Sect of Jain Religion. It is located near Chowk Bazar, near Masjid Phool Hathan, Inside Bohar Gate, Inner Walled City Multan.
 
Sir Ganga Ram Samadhi

Samadhi of Sir Ganga Ram is located on Ravi Road, in the locality of Karim Park. It is an imposing structure built in 1927 in the style of a Mughal baradari and is topped by a raised bulbous dome. On the inside, it is a rather simple structure owing to renovation work following the damage done to the building during the riots of 1992, after the demolition of Babri Mosque in India. Currently, it is quickly being encroached upon and is in dire need of attention from the relevant authorities.
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Sir Ganga Ram, the great son of Punjab, was born in 1851 in Mangtanwala, a small town about 64 km from Lahore. From the beginning, he proved to be a brilliant student and in 1869, he joined the Government College in Lahore on a scholarship. In 1871, he obtained a scholarship to the Thompson Engineering College at Roorkee, India. He graduated in 1873 and was awarded with a gold medal.

In 1873, he was appointed to Lahore in the engineering department, where he served under Rai Bahadur Kanhaiya Lal, the Executive Engineer, and author of the distinguished "History of Lahore". In 1885, he was appointed Assistant Engineer at Lahore. Here, he supervised the construction of the new High Court Building and the beautiful Lahore Cathedral. He occasionally officiated as Executive Engineer, and four years later became Special Engineer for the design and construction of Aitchison College, where he worked in conjunction with Bhai Ram Singh. Finally, once his work at Aitchison College was completed, Ganga Ram was promoted to the post of Executive Engineer of the Lahore Division, occupying the chair he had once sat in as a lowly student, but which he could now occupy in his own right. He held this position for the next twelve years, during which time he constructed the Lahore Museum, the Mayo School of Arts, the General Post Office, the Albert Victor Wing of Mayo Hospital, and the Government College Chemical Laboratory. The City of Lahore substantially owes its metalled streets, its paved lanes and its properly laid drains to Ganga Ram's unstinting efforts. In 1900, Ganga Ram was selected by Lord Curzon to act as Superintendent of Works in the Imperial Durbar to be held in Delhi in connection with the accession of King Edward VII.

In 1917, he applied for 23,000 acres of barren, unirrigated land in Montgomery District near Bari Doab Canal. The land was situated on higher ground and he could only water it by the lift irrigation system. He was successful in his endeavours, and his arid acres soon turned into tracts of rich soil. He was then leased another 40,000 acres of higher ground land for a period of seven years, which he was able to irrigate successfully once again. He constructed a hydro-electric station on the Bari Doab Canal, and was able to complete his project within the time limit given to him. By 1925, he had constructed 75 miles of irrigation channels, 625 miles of water courses, 45 bridges, 565 miles of village roads, and 121 miles of boundary roads, all at his own cost – the list of his achievements is endless. Altogether 89,000 acres of waste land had been developed successfully by this miracle worker. This was the biggest private enterprise of the kind, unknown and unthought-of in the country before. By now he was 70, and in 1922 he was recommended for a richly deserved knighthood by the then Governor of Punjab, Sir Edward Maclagan.

Sir Ganga Ram’s services to education included the establishment of the Lady Maclagan School for Girls and Punjab’s first college of commerce, Hailey College, was made possible by a donation of his residential building “Nabha House” opposite the University Grounds for exclusive use to establish a College of Commerce.

However, the most impressive charitable act of all performed by him was the construction of the Sir Ganga Ram Free Hospital. In 1921, he purchased a piece of land at the junction of Queen’s Road and Lawrence Road to construct a hospital building at a cost of Rupees 131,500 which was open to the needy, irrespective of caste or creed. In 1923 the hospital was taken over by the Ganga Ram Trust Society, and today it ranks second only to Mayo Hospital in its services to the people of Lahore.

In 1927, Sir Ganga Ram traveled to London where he suffered a heart attack and passed away at his London home. The cremation ceremony took place at the Golders Green Crematorium, and was attended by dignitaries befitting a man of his stature. His ashes were brought back to India by his son, and the main portion of these were scattered in the waters of the Ganges, where about ten thousand people attended the ceremony. The remaining ashes were then taken to Lahore, and the urn containing his ashes was bedecked with roses and jasmine blossoms. It was carried on the back of a magnificently caparisoned Kotul horse from his house to the Town Hall and then to his samadhi near Taxali Gate. The crowds chanted ‘Gharibon key wali ki jai’ (Long Live the Friend of the Poor) as the procession wended its way towards the old city. After his death and right up to 1947, on Baisakhi Day a great fair used to be held in honour of him.

A statue of Sir Ganga Ram once stood on Mall Road outside Lahore Museum. Saadat Hasan Manto, a famous Urdu writer, relates a shameful incident that occurred during the frenzy of religious riots of 1947 when an inflamed mob in Lahore, attacked the statue of Sir Ganga Ram. They first pelted the statue with stones; then smothered its face with coal tar. Then a man made a garland of old shoes and climbed up to put it round the neck of the statue. He was shot by the police and as he fell to the ground, ironically the mob shouted: “Let us rush him to Ganga Ram Hospital.”

Sir Ganga Ram was a great engineer and a great philanthropist and no doubt a great human being. He devoted his life to the service of the common man. Sir Ganga Ram is also known as “Father of Modern Lahore”, but unfortunately like many others we have forgotten this great man, the son of our soil. He was truly a legend. In the words of Sir Malcolm Hailey, the once Governor of Punjab, "he won like a hero and gave like a Saint". What he did for Lahore can never be forgotten.

*Photo courtesy of Syed Yasir Usman.
 
Ruins of Jaulian Monastery, Taxila in 1938.


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Far away from the noise of the city of Taxila-Sirsukh, the monastery and university of Jaulian was situated on a mountain top that rises some 100 meters above the surrounding country - on a cool and dustless site.

Like other monasteries in Gandara and the Punjab, the cells surrounded a rectangular central court with verandas. It was surrounded by a bathroom (jantâghara), an assembly hall (upasthâna-sâlâ), a store-room (koshthaka), a kitchen (agni-sâlâ), a refectory (upâhâra-sâlâ), and a latrine (varchah-kutî). There was no well at Jaulian, but there were sources at the foot of the hill.


Jaulian, court
Jaulian does not really differ from the settlement at Mohra Moradu, which is just over a kilometer away.

The settlement had been restored shortly before it was abandoned, after the invasion of the White Huns at the end of the fifth century. Therefore, the decorations are better preserved than those at Mohra Moradu, but unfortunately, they are of a poorer quality.

The main stupa is badly damaged, but is surrounded by twenty-one beautifully decorated votive stupas. They betray Greek influence, although no longer as obviously as in Sirkap, which was founded by a Bactro-Greek king. The motifs that had been adapted by the Buddhist artists of the second and first centuries BCE, had by now become part of the Punjab culture, and artists made variations. Still, you need only a little bit of imagination to recognize that the decorated cube in the center of one of the photos below is derived from a Greek, Corinthian column.


Jaulian, buddha
There are many reliefs of teaching Buddhas.

Their feet are naked for walking and they cut their garments to resemble the exomis

writes the Greek author Philostratus in his vie romancée of the Greek philosopher Apollonius of Tyana, who is reported to have visited Taxila.note An exomis is a Greek mantle that leaves a shoulder and an arm uncovered.

The monastery was recovered after the invasion of the White Huns and must have been in used after about 530, but is is not known when it was abandoned.


Jaulian, wall




Jaulian, entrance





Jaulian, votive stupa (1)





Jaulian, votive stupa





Jaulian, head of a Buddha





Jaulian, Buddha





Jaulian, Corinthian capital





Jaulian, small sculpture

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Conservation of Shah Allah Ditta Caves in Pakistan Scheduled to Commence in March

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Pakistan’s Department of Archeology and Museums (DoAM) has announced that it plans to start conservation work on the Shah Allah Ditta caves, just north of Islamabad. The conservation plans have been drafted by Pakistan’s Ministry of Information, Broadcasting, National History and Literary Heritage, and the DoAM.

Though overshadowed by other, more prominent Buddhist sites in Pakistan, the 2,500-year-old Buddhist caves near Shah Allah Ditta village, at foot of the Margalla Hills—part of the Himalayan foothills—combined with the region’s pleasant climate, lush green surroundings, and historic importance, attract hundreds of visitors each weekend.

The centuries-old murals of the caves and the road leading to Shah Allah Ditta village, however, are crumbling away under the region’s harsh weather conditions and unregulated tourist and research activities, and require immediate conservation and maintenance efforts to be preserved.

According to Abdul Azeem, director of archeology at the DoAM, archeological experts will start conservation efforts within a week, after the required funds are released. He noted that encroachments at the site had already been removed by the relevant authorities.

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In June last year, the executive committee of the Archaeology and Literary Heritage Endowment Fund approved Rs3.6 million (US$27,000) for the preservation and promotion of the site, but to date little effort to preserve the caves and their ancient murals has been made.* In a recent meeting, the executive committee stressed the necessity of the conservation effort and asked for it to be completed within a given timeframe.

The archeological team has already collected the necessary data regarding the historical site, and will commence its work under the supervision of a three-member committee including archeological expert Abdul Ghafoor Lone and site supervisor Arshad Khan, who will oversee the project and properly collect and document any relics discovered at the site.

The caves, known locally as Sadhu ka Bagh, are located next to the shrine and tomb of Shah Allah Ditta, a Mughal-era dervish. The caves contain 2,400-year-old Buddhist murals that can still be seen on the walls, as well as Buddhist relics dated to the eighth century. According to archaeologists, the caves and the natural platform-like formations surrounding them were used for meditation by Buddhist monks, Hindu sadhus, and Muslim ascetics during the Mughal period.

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From a distance, it seems as if the caves are hidden behind ancient trees that cover their entrances with leafy vines and function as their natural guardians. However, the exposed façades of the caves are in a decrepit state, having endured harsh weather conditions for many centuries, and later unregulated tourism. The weather and tourism have also had an effect on the murals inside the caves, which are said to be crumbling off the walls and in need of immediate attention.

According to researchers, the nearby Shah Allah Ditta village (itself 700 years old) once lay on a trade route between Kabul to the Gandharan city of Taxila used by Alexander the Great and Sher Shah Suri, the founder of the Suri empire, and later by Mughal rulers and other emperors as a route between Afghanistan and India.

Preservation efforts at the Shah Allah Ditta caves might be part of a larger focus on the preservation and development of ancient sites in Pakistan. For instance, on 8 January, Pakistan’s minister for National History and Literary Heritage Shafqat Mehmood mentioned that the government planned to establish a heritage fund for the upkeep and preservation of archeological and cultural sites across the country. Seperately, the embassy of the Republic of Korea recently adonated US$50,000-worth of state-of-the-art equipment for the conservation and preservation of Buddhist artifacts in the country.

https://www.buddhistdoor.net/news/c...es-in-pakistan-scheduled-to-commence-in-march
 
Sagri - Where "Their Sincerity Still Exists"

On a beautiful sunny winter day, I planned an excursion to the Potohar region. One of the places on my list was Sagri, a small town in district Rawalpindi, just 30 kms from the Zero Point of Islamabad. I was expecting to find a significant haveli of a Sikh Sardar. His name was probably Ratan Singh, as I read on some sources available on the internet. To my great disappointment, the haveli had totally been demolished and only a crumbling structure of probably an adjoining shop existed. Which I completely forgot to take pictures of in a mood of disappointment.

The mission looked like a complete failure. But luckily while taking the pictures of two small Hindu temples (33°27'37.54"N; 73°15'52.62"E) near the centre of the town, we met Mr Riaz. He was just three or four years old in 1947 but had heard a lot from his elders about the people of different faiths living together in Sagri.


Twin temples in Sagri. (14.12.2016.)





Another view of the two small temples. (14.12.2016.)


First of all Riaz sahib took us to the location of the aforementioned haveli and told us about its demolition a few years back. After sensing our disappointment, he raised our spirits by hurriedly taking us to a nearby old gurdwara. The building, or whatever is remaining of it, is in a poor condition. The building was used for some time as a school but now it is totally abandoned. He could not inform us of the date of construction. But the concrete roof, clearly indicates that it was constructed not long before the partition. We found some plaques inside the gurdwara in memory of those people who contributed to different services. But now dates are written on the plaques. Which is an unusual practice.




Compound and the main building of the old gurdwara. (14.12.2016.)



The main hall of the gurdwara. (14.12.2016.)



Concrete roof of the hall. (14.12.2016.)




This heap of rubble probably was the Takht (throne) where sacred book Guru Granth sahib was once kept. (14.12.2016.)




51 ਰੁਪਏ ਭ: ਅਰਜਨ ਸਿੰਘ
ਸਪੁਤ੍ਰ ਭਾਈ ਲਖਾ ਸਿੰਘ
ਨੇ
ਆਪੜੇੰ ਸੁਵਾਰਗ ਬਾਸ਼ੀ ਭ੍ਰਾਤਾ
ਸ੍ਰ: ਨਾਨਕ ਸਿੰਘ
ਦੀ ਯਾਦਗਾਰ ਵਿਚ
ਅਰਦਾਸ ਕਰਾਈ
51 روپے بھائی ارجن سنگھ
سپُتر بھائی لکھا سنگھ
نے
آپڑیں سورگ باشی بھراتا
سردار نانک سنگھ
دی یادگار وچ ارداس کرائی۔
51 Rs were offered for Ardas (prayer) by Bhai Arjan Singh son of Bhai Lakha Singh, for his brother in the heavenly abode Sardar Nanak Singh's memory.





_______________________
ਨੇ
----- ਸੁਵਾਰਗ ਬਾਸ਼ੀ
ਸਪੁਤਰਨੀ ਲੱਛਮੀ ਦੇਵੀ
ਦੀ
ਯਾਦਗਾਰ ਵਿਚ
ਅਰਦਾਸ ਕਰਾਏ ਆ।


نے
______ سورگ باشی
سپُترنی لچھمی دیوی
دی
یادگار وچ
ارداس کرائی آ۔


_________ arranaged Ardas (prayer) for his / her daughter in the heavenly abode, Lachmi Devi's memory.


101 ਦੀ ਸੇਵਾ
ਸ੍ਰਦਾਰ _________ਸਰਦਾਰ
ਜਵਾਹਰ ਸਿੰਘ ਸਪੁਤ੍ਰ
ਚੌਧਰੀ ਸਰਦਾਰ ਹਰਨਾਮ ਸਿੰਘ
_____________ ਸੁਰਗ ਬਾਸ਼ੀ
ਕਾਕਾ ਮਾਨ ਸਿੰਘ
ਦੀ
ਯਾਦਗਾਰ ਵਿਚ
ਕਰਾਏ
101 روپے دی سیوا
سردار __________ سردار
جواہر سنگھ سُپتر
چودھری سردار ہرنام سنگھ
_____________ سُوَرگ باشی
کاکا مان سنگھ
دی
یادگار وِچ
کرائی۔
A service of Rs 101 was rendered by Sardar __________ Sardar Jawahar Singh son of Chaudhry Harnam Singh _______________ in memory of Kaka Maan Singh in the heavenly abode.



1 ਓਂਕਾਰ
31 ਸੇਵਾ ਕਰਾਏ
ਚੌਧਰੀ ਦੀਦਾਰ ਸਿੰਘ ਜੀ
ਕੋਹਲੀ ਸਗਰੀ ਨੇ
ਅਪਣੇ ਪਿਤਾ ਚੌਧਰੀ
ਚੰਦਾ ਸਿੰਘ ਜੀ
ਦੀ ਯਾਦ ਵਿਚ
اِک اونکار
31 روپے سیوا کرائی
چودھری دیدار سنگھ جی
کوہلی ساگری نے
آپڑیں پِتا چودھری
چندا سنگھ جی
دی یاد وچ۔
(۳۱ روپے سیوا کرائی چودھری دیدار سنگھ جی کوہلی ساگری نے اپنے پتا چودھری چندا سنگھ جی کی یاد میں)
31 Rs were offered in service by Chaudhry Didar Singh ji Kohli Sagri in memory of his father Chaudhry Chanda Singh.


Riaz sahib, despite his age, is a very active man. He took us just outside the town and showed us a huge water tank. According to him the tank is almost three centuries old and was built by a very rich Hindu trader for the public use. It was filled with rain water. He also informed that public baths also existed nearby, but now have completely vanished. He also told us a legend related to the construction of this tank. One day the Hindu trader came to check the progress of the work, he noticed the Muslim labourers offering their prayer at the side of the pond, but not prallel to the tank. On asking the reason, he was informed that the tank is not aligned to the direction to the holy Kaaba, in Makkah. On hearing this, the gentleman ordered to construct the tank in alignment with the direction to Kaaba. He was all praise for Hindus for their politeness and their philanthropic spirit. But I also felt an undercurrent of resentment, when he informed that the whole trade was in the hands of Hindus and Sikhs and the Muslims were generally very poor. The tank is located at 33°27'54.61"N; 73°15'47.69"E, spread over an area of 1.5 acres.


An old water tank in Sagri. (14.12.2016).


A view of the vast tank. (14.12.2016).




Sides of the tank lined with hewn stones. (14.12.2016).




Stairs leading to the water level. (14.12.2016).





Broadsides of the water tank. (14.12.2016).


The tank is still in a reasonably good shape.


Though not in a proper use, the tank still stores some rainwater.




A side view of the tank. (14.12.2016).



After showing us the tank, Riaz Sahib took us to the other side of the town to the Khalsa High School. It is another example of numerous educational institutes built all over the Punjab by the Sikh community. It clearly showed their interest in education. At the gate we informed the guard, armed with a most modern looking rifle, our purpose of visit. After taking the permission from the Principal he allowed us in. We were welcomed by principal Mr Malik Haq Nawaz and his deputy Mr Masood Ahmad Bhatti. Principal sahib informed us that the building was nearly a hundred years old. I asked him about any plaque or writing on the building. His answer was unforgettable "Nothing (plaques etc.) has survived but their sincerity still exists." He also pointed out the better construction standard as compare to the new section.
 
Sagri - Where "Their Sincerity Still Exists"

On a beautiful sunny winter day, I planned an excursion to the Potohar region. One of the places on my list was Sagri, a small town in district Rawalpindi, just 30 kms from the Zero Point of Islamabad. I was expecting to find a significant haveli of a Sikh Sardar. His name was probably Ratan Singh, as I read on some sources available on the internet. To my great disappointment, the haveli had totally been demolished and only a crumbling structure of probably an adjoining shop existed. Which I completely forgot to take pictures of in a mood of disappointment.

The mission looked like a complete failure. But luckily while taking the pictures of two small Hindu temples (33°27'37.54"N; 73°15'52.62"E) near the centre of the town, we met Mr Riaz. He was just three or four years old in 1947 but had heard a lot from his elders about the people of different faiths living together in Sagri.


Twin temples in Sagri. (14.12.2016.)





Another view of the two small temples. (14.12.2016.)


First of all Riaz sahib took us to the location of the aforementioned haveli and told us about its demolition a few years back. After sensing our disappointment, he raised our spirits by hurriedly taking us to a nearby old gurdwara. The building, or whatever is remaining of it, is in a poor condition. The building was used for some time as a school but now it is totally abandoned. He could not inform us of the date of construction. But the concrete roof, clearly indicates that it was constructed not long before the partition. We found some plaques inside the gurdwara in memory of those people who contributed to different services. But now dates are written on the plaques. Which is an unusual practice.




Compound and the main building of the old gurdwara. (14.12.2016.)



The main hall of the gurdwara. (14.12.2016.)



Concrete roof of the hall. (14.12.2016.)




This heap of rubble probably was the Takht (throne) where sacred book Guru Granth sahib was once kept. (14.12.2016.)




51 ਰੁਪਏ ਭ: ਅਰਜਨ ਸਿੰਘ
ਸਪੁਤ੍ਰ ਭਾਈ ਲਖਾ ਸਿੰਘ
ਨੇ
ਆਪੜੇੰ ਸੁਵਾਰਗ ਬਾਸ਼ੀ ਭ੍ਰਾਤਾ
ਸ੍ਰ: ਨਾਨਕ ਸਿੰਘ
ਦੀ ਯਾਦਗਾਰ ਵਿਚ
ਅਰਦਾਸ ਕਰਾਈ
51 روپے بھائی ارجن سنگھ
سپُتر بھائی لکھا سنگھ
نے
آپڑیں سورگ باشی بھراتا
سردار نانک سنگھ
دی یادگار وچ ارداس کرائی۔
51 Rs were offered for Ardas (prayer) by Bhai Arjan Singh son of Bhai Lakha Singh, for his brother in the heavenly abode Sardar Nanak Singh's memory.





_______________________
ਨੇ
----- ਸੁਵਾਰਗ ਬਾਸ਼ੀ
ਸਪੁਤਰਨੀ ਲੱਛਮੀ ਦੇਵੀ
ਦੀ
ਯਾਦਗਾਰ ਵਿਚ
ਅਰਦਾਸ ਕਰਾਏ ਆ।


نے
______ سورگ باشی
سپُترنی لچھمی دیوی
دی
یادگار وچ
ارداس کرائی آ۔


_________ arranaged Ardas (prayer) for his / her daughter in the heavenly abode, Lachmi Devi's memory.


101 ਦੀ ਸੇਵਾ
ਸ੍ਰਦਾਰ _________ਸਰਦਾਰ
ਜਵਾਹਰ ਸਿੰਘ ਸਪੁਤ੍ਰ
ਚੌਧਰੀ ਸਰਦਾਰ ਹਰਨਾਮ ਸਿੰਘ
_____________ ਸੁਰਗ ਬਾਸ਼ੀ
ਕਾਕਾ ਮਾਨ ਸਿੰਘ
ਦੀ
ਯਾਦਗਾਰ ਵਿਚ
ਕਰਾਏ
101 روپے دی سیوا
سردار __________ سردار
جواہر سنگھ سُپتر
چودھری سردار ہرنام سنگھ
_____________ سُوَرگ باشی
کاکا مان سنگھ
دی
یادگار وِچ
کرائی۔
A service of Rs 101 was rendered by Sardar __________ Sardar Jawahar Singh son of Chaudhry Harnam Singh _______________ in memory of Kaka Maan Singh in the heavenly abode.



1 ਓਂਕਾਰ
31 ਸੇਵਾ ਕਰਾਏ
ਚੌਧਰੀ ਦੀਦਾਰ ਸਿੰਘ ਜੀ
ਕੋਹਲੀ ਸਗਰੀ ਨੇ
ਅਪਣੇ ਪਿਤਾ ਚੌਧਰੀ
ਚੰਦਾ ਸਿੰਘ ਜੀ
ਦੀ ਯਾਦ ਵਿਚ
اِک اونکار
31 روپے سیوا کرائی
چودھری دیدار سنگھ جی
کوہلی ساگری نے
آپڑیں پِتا چودھری
چندا سنگھ جی
دی یاد وچ۔
(۳۱ روپے سیوا کرائی چودھری دیدار سنگھ جی کوہلی ساگری نے اپنے پتا چودھری چندا سنگھ جی کی یاد میں)
31 Rs were offered in service by Chaudhry Didar Singh ji Kohli Sagri in memory of his father Chaudhry Chanda Singh.


Riaz sahib, despite his age, is a very active man. He took us just outside the town and showed us a huge water tank. According to him the tank is almost three centuries old and was built by a very rich Hindu trader for the public use. It was filled with rain water. He also informed that public baths also existed nearby, but now have completely vanished. He also told us a legend related to the construction of this tank. One day the Hindu trader came to check the progress of the work, he noticed the Muslim labourers offering their prayer at the side of the pond, but not prallel to the tank. On asking the reason, he was informed that the tank is not aligned to the direction to the holy Kaaba, in Makkah. On hearing this, the gentleman ordered to construct the tank in alignment with the direction to Kaaba. He was all praise for Hindus for their politeness and their philanthropic spirit. But I also felt an undercurrent of resentment, when he informed that the whole trade was in the hands of Hindus and Sikhs and the Muslims were generally very poor. The tank is located at 33°27'54.61"N; 73°15'47.69"E, spread over an area of 1.5 acres.


An old water tank in Sagri. (14.12.2016).


A view of the vast tank. (14.12.2016).




Sides of the tank lined with hewn stones. (14.12.2016).




Stairs leading to the water level. (14.12.2016).





Broadsides of the water tank. (14.12.2016).


The tank is still in a reasonably good shape.


Though not in a proper use, the tank still stores some rainwater.




A side view of the tank. (14.12.2016).



After showing us the tank, Riaz Sahib took us to the other side of the town to the Khalsa High School. It is another example of numerous educational institutes built all over the Punjab by the Sikh community. It clearly showed their interest in education. At the gate we informed the guard, armed with a most modern looking rifle, our purpose of visit. After taking the permission from the Principal he allowed us in. We were welcomed by principal Mr Malik Haq Nawaz and his deputy Mr Masood Ahmad Bhatti. Principal sahib informed us that the building was nearly a hundred years old. I asked him about any plaque or writing on the building. His answer was unforgettable "Nothing (plaques etc.) has survived but their sincerity still exists." He also pointed out the better construction standard as compare to the new section.
 
..


Govt. Boys' Higher Secondary School, Sagri. (Khalsa High School of the past) (14.12.2016).





The old building of the school. (14.12.2016).




Beautiful facade of the building. (14.12.2016).




Old and new sections, both can been seen. (14.12.2016).


Another view of the beautifully constructed building. (14.12.2016).









Veranda of the school. (14.12.2016).

There is a small but very neat and clean village Mohra Bhattan near Sagri. There we saw an old Hindu temple. This beautiful example of architecture should be preserved. It is located at 33°29' 7"N; 73°15'46" E.



A small temple at Mohra Bhottan - (14.12.2016)





Sagri is an old town and there must be many more interesting stories to be discovered and things to be explored. But my attention was fixed on the historic Buddhist stupa at Mankiala, less than three kilometers from Sagri, another neglected historic monument of Pakistan. So as often happens, lack of time forced me to leave Sagri in a hurry with a sense of incomplete work. For the exact locations, please refer to the map given below.

Tariq Amir
 
Archaeologists discover layers of Indo-Greek city in Swat

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Archaeologists excavate Indo-Greek and Saka-Parthian structures at Bazira, Swat. — Dawn photo

MINGORA: Archaeologists in their fresh excavations here at Bazira, Barikot, have discovered large layers of the Indo-Greek city with weapons and coins as well as important pottery forms imported from Greek Bactria and from the Mediterranean area in second century BCE.

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Indo-Greek coins discovered during the recent excavation at Bazira, Barikot, Swat. ─ Courtesy Italian Archaeological Mission in Swat

Dr Luca Maria Olivieri, head of the Italian Archeological Mission in Pakistan, told Dawn that during their recent excavation in April-June his team unearthed some very important discoveries in Bazira, Swat.

The team was formed by Italian and Pakistani archaeologists, including Elisa Iori of Bologna University, Cristiano Moscatelli of Naples University and Amanullah Afridi and Syed Niaz Ali Shah of the KP Directorate of Archaeology And Museums. Excavation trainings at Barikot are funded by the Pakistan-Italian Debt Swap Programme.

“Very little is known in the archaeology of the sub-continent about the material culture of the Indo-Greek. However, this time we discovered at Barikot ample layers associated not only to the Indo-Greek city (when the settlement was encompassed by the Defensive Wall, 2nd BCE), but also to the pre-Greek city, the Mauryan settlement (3rd BCE),” he said, adding that outside the Indo-Greek defensive wall extensive evidence of the proto-historic village (Gandhara Grave Culture; 7th-8th century BCE) were also found.

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Indo-Greek coins discovered during the recent excavation at Bazira, Barikot, Swat. ─ Courtesy Italian Archaeological Mission in Swat

He said that during the recent excavations they also discovered a large late-Kushan Temple with four pillars on the northern part of the excavated area (3rd century CE). “This is the third coeval public cultic space found in the late city, and it is confirming the existence of Buddhist architecture, which has nothing to do with the mainstream stupa-cum-viharas layout of the contemporary Buddhist complexes. Vice-versa, these new architecture have more in common with Central Asian coeval examples and antecedents,” he added.

He said that during the excavations the archaeologists also discovered that all the pre-Greek layers were artificially destroyed and obliterated along the Defensive Wall at the time of its construction, to make space to the fortification, revealing conspicuous traces of the Iron Age village (7th BCE).

Dr Luca said that his team was currently excavating one hectare with a stratigraphy from 7th BCE to 3rd CE in Bazira. The area corresponded to circa 1/12 of the entire city. “The KP government is about to acquire all the excavated areas and a large buffer area around them. We are really grateful to the efforts of the provincial department of archaeology and the government,” he said.

Terming the archaeological site of Barikot one of the largest and most important sites in future, he claimed: “I foresee that in future Barikot will become one of the largest and long-lasting excavation projects in Pakistan (30 years so far) if not in the entire sub-continent. It already represents the only Indo-Greek city excavated at that scale, and one of the few examples of a Kushan urban settlement scientifically excavated in South Asia.”

http://www.dawn.com/news/1267322/archaeologists-discover-layers-of-indo-greek-city-in-swat

Maps of the Indo-Greek Kingdom (centred around the Potohar Plaeteu and KPK), with their capitals at Taxila, Sagila (Sialkot) and Pushkalawati (Peshawar). Kapisa/Alexander in the Caucauses (modern Bagram) was also a major Indo-Greek city.

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what a great thread. It is a breath of fresh air. Hopefully no politics and agenda driven discussion here :)
 
Korea Extends Support for Pakistan’s Efforts to Preserve Buddhist Heritage

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Korea has pledged to help Pakistan preserve its ancient Buddhist heritage. From tribune.com.pk

The Republic of Korea’s embassy in Pakistan has donated US$50,000-worth of state-of-the-art equipment for the conservation and preservation of Buddhist artifacts, and announced a pilot pilgrim tour of ancient Buddhist sites in the country, scheduled to take place in March or April this year.

“The equipment will surely be instrumental in promoting [Pakistan’s] capacity to conserve its cultural heritage to the international level,” South Korean ambassador Kwak Sung-kyu said at a handover ceremony at the Islamabad Museum on 15 February. “The project has been administrated jointly by the Cultural Heritage Administration of Korea, the Korea Cultural Heritage Foundation, and the Department of Archaeology and Museums, Pakistan, with the common aim.” (Dawn)

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South Korean ambassador to Pakistan Kwak Sung-kyu. From diplomaticfocus.org

The senior diplomat emphasized that friendly cultural ties between the two countries were founded in the shared heritage and history of Buddhism, which would be of particular importance for further cementing bilateral relations going forward. Kwak noted that numerous joint projects had already been successfully organized in the last two years, including a seminar title Hyecho in Gandhara: Footsteps of a Korean Monk in Pakistan in the Eighth Century, held in Islamabad in October last year, and an exhibition of Gandharan art titled Alexander the Great Meets the Buddha, which was held in Seoul from June to September 2017.

“The Republic of Korea and its embassy in Pakistan are committed to increase relations with Pakistan for the preservation of cultural heritage and to promote tourism in Pakistan,” said Kwak. “As part of [these] cooperative efforts, the Korean government has provided conservation equipment for treating and preserving Pakistan’s movable heritage—especially specimens of Buddhist art uncovered from the archaeological remains of Buddhist sanctuaries in the ancient Gandhara region.” (Dawn)

The conservation equipment donated to the South Asian nation’s Department of Archaeology and Museums includes environmental control systems for museums, and various pieces of equipment for cleaning and conserving antiquities, such as a stereo-microscope and ultrasonic cleaners.

“The current government [of Pakistan] is working toward the safety of religious sites as well as the promotion of tourism,” Kwak observed, pointing out that as Pakistan is home to a large number of ancient Buddhist sites, religious tourism should be promoted to help stabilize the national economy. (The Express Tribune)

“We will provide international-standard machinery and equipment to Pakistan to help it excavate historic sites and artifacts,” he added. (The Express Tribune)

Separately, the South Korean ambassador announced this week that he was making arrangements for a pilot tour of Buddhist pilgrims from Korea to visit sacred places in Gandhara and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa by March or April this year, aiming to strengthen religious tourism in Pakistan.

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Ranigat, a remnant of the Buddhist Gandhara civilization. From dawn.com

In October last year, during a visit to Pakistan’s Swat Valley, a major centre of early Buddhist thought as part of the Gandhara civilization, South Korean scholar and economist Dr. So Gil-su commended that, “Koreans have great regard for Pakistan as the Indus flows through it and Mahayana Buddhism spread to Korea from here in the fourth century when the Buddhist monk Malananda traveled from Gandhara to South Korea. Also, in the eighth century, [the Korean] monk Hyecho traveled to Gandhara for pilgrimage and wrote a travelogue.” (Dawn)

Dr. So emphasized that the Indus civilization and Mahayana Buddhist sites in Pakistan, including the Swat Valley, were held in high regard around the world and had the potential to attract millions of tourists and Buddhist pilgrims, “especially from Korea, for which the government of Pakistan must chalk out an effective tourism plan.” (Dawn)

https://www.buddhistdoor.net/news/k...kistans-efforts-to-preserve-buddhist-heritage

what a great thread. It is a breath of fresh air. Hopefully no politics and agenda driven discussion here :)

Thank you :)
 
Old Jamia Masjid, Built by Jam Tamachi a Famous ruler of Sindh from Samma dynasty, in 793 A.H, 1391 A.D


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Sammas are possibly the greatest rulers of Sindh. Many historians believe they were local Rajput Muslims, while some believe them to be from Baloch tribes. They toppled Soomro dynasty, who were Ismaeli Shia Muslims, in Sindh & became the ruling dynasty. Ostensibly they were not happy with Soomro dynasty's treatment of non-Muslims in Sindh. Sammas established Thatta as their capital, embarked on developmental projects, with Sindh reaching its golden age under them. Thatta became an educational, commercial, & cultural centre in the region. Sindh at that time included what is now South Punjab & Eastern Balochistan. Thus, you can see some historical buildings built by them in these areas. Tombs in Uch Sharif, are also credited to them. They founded the Makli necropolis, which is their resting place also. The greatest of Samma rulers is Jam Nizamuddin II, also known as Jam Nindo. He is buried in Makli & his tomb is built on Gujarati architecture. Bellow is the picture of his tomb (credit: Dawn News).

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Hundreds of years ago, at the edge of a desert in Sindh, the Talpurs constructed a pompous fort atop a hill. This emblematic fort, dominating the town of Kot Diji in Khairpur district Sindh Pakistan and known as Kot Diji Fort, was built between 1785 to 1795.

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