History of Lahore

Part 3

Lahore History

There was a social gulf between the middle classes and the working classes. The worker or the artisan belonged to • caste that did not enjoy any social status. They were lacking in education and did not have influential patrons. The attitude of the Hindus to manual labour also contributed to their having an inferior status. Caste pride lay not in showing authority but in observing a code of conduct within the framework of the established custom and practice. The most sulking feature of Hindu society in Lahore was that, unlike in other pans of the country, the Punjabi Brahmins did not enjoy any privileges or social status and exerted little or no influence on thecommunity. Most. f the Brahmins had settled down in rural areas, eking out a living through priestly functions on ceremonial occasions in the families of their KJutri patrons. This was a part of the Purohit-Yajmani system that had survived for generations. The upkeep of the Brahmin families was the responsibility of the Yaniuns, who provided them every day with cooked food called hawks. The Khatris had a condescending attitude towards the Brahmins, whom they considered inferior owing to their economic dependence on other castes. The Brahmins had generally kept away from the study of Persian, but now economic necessity forced them to study English and acquire educational qualifications in order to improve their social status. By the early 1930s, a number of educated Brahmins had settled down in Lahore, most of them in government service or in the teaching profession. There were also some Brahmin vaids whosucceeded in setting up a lucrative practice, the most prominent among them being Pandit Thalcar Dun of Murk Dhara fame. There were very few affluent Brahmins as they had seldom ventured into business. In the whole of Anarkali there was probably only one shop (Lail Bros., Goth Merchants) owned by Brahmins. On the Mall, perhaps the first shop to have been opened by a Brahmin was Vasudeva Radios in the late 1930s. Initially, Lahorias did not take very kindly to the new migrants who had come from the mofussil towns and villages. Within a short period, however, the newcomers adopted the local customs and lifestyles, and were able to win over the confidence of Lahorias with their simple outlook and helpful attitude.Until the end of the 1920s it was quite easy for educated young men to secure government jobs in different fields according to their qualifications. But after the great depression of 1930 and reservation of government jobs for Muslims and Sikhs, it became far more difficult for Hindus to secure suitable employment. Moreover, Lahorias were most reluctant to leave the city with a view to seeking employment in other towns. They preferred to hang on in Lahore and wait for suitable openings. The situation in those days is aptly described by Dr Preen Kirpal, the renowned educationist of Lahore, in one of his autobiographical poems: Problems of work and livelihood, in economic slump and financial blight, reservation of jobs and posts, for communities other than my own, cast their shadows on my efforts for choice of congenial and creative work. With his Oxford degree, Dr Kirpal did receive some offers of appointment in the educational field in mofussil towns, which he declined. He chose to wait for an opening in Lahore, which came his way later on. He followed the old maxim: Khaiye kanak chaai thug; bows Rahiye Lahore Maven fineggi hove (Take wheat even if it is moth eaten. Let it be a but only but live in Lahore.) I recall how I followed the same motto when I refused the offer of a lecturer's post in a college at Hoshiarpur soon after taking my MA degree. A popular saying on the lips of everyone used to be, Lahore ;whin dekhya ass* janna et whin' (One who has not seen Lahore cannot be said even to have been born). Here is an enchanting portrayal of Lahore by Dr Prem Kirpal: Old Lahore was gay and youthful, moving easily with the times, earning well and spending more. ma. ing joy and shunning gloom, it was a city of scholars and lawyers and a great high court of justice. The city of Lahore reveals itself to the eager longing eyes of youth its charms of landscape and bazars from Central Bank to Ravi river; old historic city and new structures mingled in vivid spectacles of colourful buildings, benign nature, warm-hearted and vital people of diverse faiths and traditions, united in confident resolve to enjoy life and reach its peaks. Until 1919, Lthorias took little Interest in the national political movement. After the Jallianwala Ragh tragedy and the Rowlatt Act satyagraha, the freedom struggle made a great impact on Lahore. Lala Lajpat Rai of I .'bore, the greatest orator of his time, became a national leader. In Bhagat Singh, Kimura and Sukhdev, !Abort:gave the nation threegreat revolutionaries who sacrificed their lives for their motherland. It was in I abort that the Indian National Congress held its historic session in December 1929 where full independence was declared as its goal. It was here, on the banks of the Ravi that the youthful Congress President, Jawaharlal Nehru, proclaimed 26 January as Independence Day. Along with the Congress session, a Swadeshi exhibition was also held to promote and highlight products of national industries. The Swadeshi movement made rapid strides and one could hear loud cries for boycott of foreign goods. There is an amusing episode of those days about an Ind:an soap producer of Himani brand carrying a newspaper advertisement with a testimonial from the Congress President, Jawaharlal Nehru, recommending the use of this soap. Again, it was in Lahore that the Muslim league under the leadership of
M.A. Jmnah adopted the historic resolution to achieve Pakistan at its session held on 22-24 March 1940.

The venue of all political meetings and public conferences in the city was the famous Mochi Gate, which was to Lahore what Hyde Park Cotner was to London. This site was witness to a whole galaxy of political, social and religious leaders routing their audiences to a pitch of excitement. Almost every other evening, the venue echoed with the thunderous slogans and cries of lnquilab Zindabae (Long live revolution). It was here that great musbairas (poetic symposiums) were also held. Here, the most eminent poet of his time, Mohammad !ghat, is said to have recited his Jawab-i-Sbikwa. The place was also a favourite haunt of petty traders, hawkers, magicians, snake charmers, quacks, swindlers and entertainers of all kinds. By the end of the 1930s, the tempo of the national movement in Lahore had slowed down considerably. Foe the educated young, government service became the foremost goal. It was important for them to keep away from politics lest their loyalty to the British Government should be questioned. The police kept secret records about young men and their families political leanings as well as their participation, if any, in anti-government demonstrations or processions. This was a strong enough deterrent for them to keep out of politics. Thus it was that Mahatma Gandhi's 'Quit India' announcement on 9 August 1942, which created an upheaval almost all over the country, had very little impact in Lahore. After the outbreak of World War II in September 1939, Lahorias, proud of their martial heritage, queued up to join the armed forces. The war years provided new jobs and business opportunities. Lahore came to enjoy much affluence and prosperity. But soon after the end of the war, Lahorias had to pay a heavy price for the freedom of India, which brought about the division of the country and the creation of Pakistan. It was a heart-rending experience to leave our beloved Lahore for good and seek refuge across the border that was created to divide the subcontinent. In the city that had been the home of our near and dear ones for centuries, there was no one left now to look back to. Suddenly, I..ihurc had become a foreign land. 

My beloved city of Lahore still standing not far from Delhi, within quicker reach by air or train, suddenly became a forbidden land guarded by a sovereign state of new ideologies, loves and hares. Homes were lost and hearts were bruised in both unhappy parts of Punjab. Spirit's Musings by Prem Kitpal Nevertheless, I belong to a generation born and brought up in Lahore. Even after a lapse of over five decades, my emotional attachment to this great city is as deep as ever. My memories of boyhood and youth are still fresh in my mind and are often a subject matter of conversation whenever I sit together with ex-Lahorias of my generation. I would like to pay homage to my beloved city by echoing the words of Data Shikoh: Khuda Punjab rot mehmur Jana Ba khaqe auha manes.r darad flood abaci dayam Shaba. Lahore Waba Wa Kahn Z bakha due Barad 

May God keep the Punjab prospering! May He protect the land of the saints! Oh, may Lahore be always full of bliss! May disease and famine never visit it!) (cont...............)