Latest news with #LahoreMuseum
Express Tribune
20-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
Night at the Museum: the Lahore Chapter
Listen to article My Dear Kim, Last week, I visited the Lahore Museum after a long time. My eyes instinctively searched for you, the curious little chap - English but not white, rather "burned black as any native who spoke the vernacular", rider of the Zamzama cannon and the "friend of the world". I was introduced to you on my eleventh birthday when I received two books by Kipling as gifts - Kim and The Jungle Book. As Kim is an autobiographical novel and knowing that Father Kipling was the museum curator, I often imagined you moving around the halls and galleries - hiding behind exhibits, reading late in the manuscript room and enjoying treasures of wisdom that weren't accessible to many Indians in your time. Of course, Kipling didn't highlight all the details of your mischiefs; he focused instead on your connection with the Lama, Buddha and the "Great Game" between Russia and Britain over Central Asia. Being Bano, I was particularly interested in your "Jewel Game", which enhanced one's capacity to observe and remember details - essential for becoming a good spy or detective. By the way, have you watched Night at the Museum? It was the most sought-after movie for sleepover playdates among my children. I considered introducing the kids to Sherlock Holmes - my second crush after you - to help them develop acute observation and logical reasoning or perhaps Star Trek, inspiring them to seek out new life and civilisations "to boldly go where no man has gone before." However, giving in to the popular demand, we ended up watching the film featuring Ben Stiller. I had hardly taken notice of Stiller as a film star - neither his looks nor his acting had captured my attention - until he spent a night in the Natural History Museum, NY, in 2006 and then at the Smithsonian in 2009. Throughout the movie, I couldn't help but wonder what he would do if locked inside your "Wonder House", the red-bricked Mughal-British Colonial architecture that stands tall as a custodian of South Asian legacy on the Mall, Lahore. If he allowed me to plan his confinement, I would suggest that he start by learning about branding tactics using the small clay tablets as logos or trade seals of our ancient Indus ancestors. The Indus seals, with their undeciphered script, remain among the mysteries yet to be solved. He would miss the Dancing Girl though, as she resides in the Delhi Museum, while the Priest King is in Karachi; however, their presence is felt through everyday items proudly displayed in the prehistoric gallery. He might also be interested in meeting Buddha reincarnated as a Gandharan prince. We have several specimens of this kind; they may not be as tall and magnificent as Greek gods but are sturdy, agile and kind, setting standards for South Asian male beauty. Would you like to introduce Stiller to the Fasting Buddha, who is in pursuit of spiritual realisation and mukti from human suffering? Ask him to be respectful of Buddhist relics as stupas are sacred to many and one must be respectful to all humanity regardless of faith system one follows. I am sure he would seek Krishna and the gopis, help Rama chase the deer for Sita or keep her company when she longs for her beloved under the moonlit nights of indigo Pahari skies in the Indian painting section. The manuscript gallery may pose a challenge due to language barriers. If it might bring him comfort, many of us - Indian in spirit and body - also find Persian, Arabic, Gurmukhi, and even Urdu to be alien languages. Fortunately, visual language often helps determine the meaning of the text. I would warn him not to underestimate the illustrations, despite a non-mathematical perspective or a preference to stylisation over naturalism. In Eastern cultures, "nothing" matters and I refer to abstraction in art. We have always been attentive to the void, the infinite and the formless - the ghaib - while the West set these ideals only in modern art. Perhaps we have been born modern. And yes, if the director is interested, I can propose a sequence for Pakistan Movement Gallery, coins collection and contemporary art section housing the great ustaads of modern art. Bano Feb, 2025
Express Tribune
18-02-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Urdu, Bangla varsity chairs urged
Punjab Governor Sardar Saleem Haider Khan has stressed the need of setting up Urdu language chairs in Bangladeshi universities and Bangla chairs in Pakistan for better understanding among the countries. Speaking to a 10-member media delegation from Bangladesh that called on him, the governor expressed hope that new vistas of cooperation would open under the interim government in Bangladesh. The delegation invited Governor Saleem Haider to visit Bangladesh. The Bangladeshi journalists also visited the National College of Arts (NCA) and Lahore Museum. NCA Vice Chancellor Dr Murtaza Jafri discussed with the delegation cultural and artistic exchanges between the two countries. Lahore Museum Deputy Director Asim Rizwan briefed the journalists on the collections, particularly those representing the Gandhara and Indus Valley civilisations, Harappa and Mohenjo Daro. The visitors were taken on a tour of the Gandhara, Jain Temple, Contemporary Paintings, Prehistoric and Industrial, and the Muslim Art and Heritage galleries. They observed rare bronze artifacts from Harappa and Mohenjo Daro, weights and bullock carts from ancient settlements and seals from the Indus Valley civilisation. The delegation had earlier spent four days in Islamabad.
Express Tribune
13-02-2025
- General
- Express Tribune
A forgotten echo of postal history
LAHORE: Hidden within the grand premises of Lahore's General Post Office (GPO) stands a historic bell-silent for over a century. Once a vital part of the city's postal system, this bell, installed nearly 175 years ago, no longer chimes but remains a symbol of an era when it dictated the rhythm of postal operations. Originally placed in the old GPO building near the Lahore Museum in 1849, the bell was later relocated to the main GPO structure in 1904. This magnificent colonial-era building, constructed at a cost of Rs316,475, even featured on a postage stamp issued in 1996. The bell was installed by WT Clifford and played a crucial role in mail dispatch and delivery. During its active years, the bell rang twice daily - once to announce the arrival of mail from across the country and abroad and again an hour before dispatching outgoing mail. At the sound of the bell, postmasters and postal workers would rush to collect and sort letters and parcels. Back then, mail was transported via bullock carts, bicycles, and railways to destinations such as Lohari, Akbari Mandi, Moti Bazaar, Railway Station, Mian Mir, Raiwind, Manawan, and Shahdara. The postal system of that era categorised mail using red and white flagswhite signifying "Royal Mail" or highly important correspondence, while red represented regular and government mail. White-flagged mail was promptly dispatched through faster means, while red-flagged letters were transported via bullock carts. The bell's echoes were a daily routine until 1907, after which it fell silent due to advancements in postal technology. Eventually, letterboxes were introduced across the city, allowing people to drop their letters directly instead of visiting the post office. The postmen would then retrieve and deliver the mail, ringing their cycle bells as they moved through streets and neighbourhoods. This bell, now a silent relic, remains one of the few of its kind in the subcontinent. Similar bells once existed in the Mumbai and Kolkata GPOs, making Lahore's GPO home to a rare surviving artefact of South Asia's colonial postal history. Chief Postmaster Lahore, Huma Kanwal, while speaking to The Express Tribune, highlighted the bell's historical significance in shaping Lahore's postal system. She noted that while modern technology has replaced such traditional methods, the bell serves as a reminder of a time when it played a pivotal role in connecting people. She also pointed out the presence of century-old letterboxes in Lahore, further enriching the city's postal heritage. Though it no longer tolls, this silent bell continues to tell the story of an era when its chimes guided the flow of communication, marking an essential chapter in the history of Lahore's GPO.
Express Tribune
07-02-2025
- General
- Express Tribune
Lahore Museum to receive $8 million upgrade under UNESCO Master Plan
Listen to article The historic Lahore Museum is set to undergo a major upgradation project with an estimated cost of $8 million. Under UNESCO's master plan, the museum will be restored to its 1929 form. A digitalization study has already been completed, and the five-year restoration project aims to align the museum with both national and local cultural heritage. Located on Mall Road, Lahore, the museum was established in 1894 and is regarded as one of South Asia's largest museums. It houses nearly 60,000 artifacts from the Gandhara, Mughal, Sikh, and British eras, including rare sculptures, coins from various periods, woodwork, paintings, and artifacts from Mughal, Sikh, and British rule. Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has instructed the provincial cabinet to approve the upgradation plan. Senior Punjab Minister Maryam Aurangzeb stated that the Lahore Museum will be upgraded according to UNESCO's master plan, emphasizing its significance as a representation of the nation's history, culture, and heritage. She added that the museum will be modernized to meet contemporary standards and become a hub for both local and international tourists. This initiative is expected to be a milestone in cultural development and economic stability. The upgradation plan includes making the museum's roof waterproof, improving dampness and drainage capacity, and upgrading its internal environment, lighting, electrical system, fire safety, and security to modern standards. The project also involves the introduction of modern museography, new gallery designs, enhanced visitor services, and showcasing every artifact according to its historical and cultural significance. Lahore Museum authorities have developed short- and long-term strategies for the restoration. The building will be restored to its original form, and during the process, the museum will remain closed to visitors. Its 60,000 artifacts will be temporarily relocated to another location. Sources revealed that technical assistance for the upgradation project will be provided by the Aga Khan Cultural Service Pakistan and international experts. The Aga Khan Cultural Service has previously assisted in the restoration of several historical sites in Pakistan. Former Punjab Archaeology Director Afzal Khan welcomed the project, emphasizing its importance in modernizing the museum with advanced technologies and systems. He noted that improvements in lighting and display systems will enhance visitors' experience and increase their interest, ultimately boosting tourism. He added that if the project is implemented according to the master plan's guidelines, it would be a significant achievement and greatly benefit future generations.
