By Shahab Ansari
LAHORE: Hazuri Bagh, the venue of the three days long historic 2nd Aman Ki Asha Indo-Pak Economic Conference, is a living symbol of religious tolerance, peaceful co-existence and a favourite hangout of the people who love art, literature and finer things in life.
Situated in the heart of this City of the lively-hearted and overlooking the grand monumental reminders of our glorious past, which include the Lahore Fort, Badshahi Mosque and Samadhi of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, Hazuri Bagh was built in 1813 by Maharaja Ranjeet Singh, the Sikh emperor who has been known as a great patron of art and culture and also had tremendous respect for Sufis, men of God, scholars, poets and artists.
This historic green patch is surrounded by the Lahore Fort (east side), Badshahi Mosque (west side), the Samadhi of Ramjet Singh (north side) and the Roshnai Gate (south side). The Hazuri Bagh is a small enclosure between the Alamgiri Gate of the Lahore Fort and eastern gate of the Badshahi Mosque. Ranjeet Singh built this beautiful ‘Baradari’ to celebrate the capture of the famous Koh-i-Noor diamond from Shah Shujah of Afghanistan. Earlier, Serai Alamgiri stood there before it was turned into a garden by the Maharaja. The garden was planned and built under the supervision of Faqir Azizuddin (A son of one of the most respected and well-off family of Lahore, who lived in Bhatti Gate). The Hazuri Bagh was built in the traditional Mughal style layout. After its completion, it is said, Maharajah Ranjeet Singh, at the suggestion of Jamadar Khushhal Singh, ordered that marble be removed from various mausoleums of Lahore to construct a baradari (pavilion) here. This task was given to Khalifa Nooruddin. Elegant carved marble pillars support the baradari’s delicate cusped arches. The central area, where Ramjet Singh held court, has a mirrored ceiling. Both the garden and the baradari, originally a 45-foot, three-storey square with a basement approached by fifteen steps, suffered extensive damage during the fratricidal Sikh wars and was only reclaimed and laid out according to the original plan during the British period. On 19 July 1932, the uppermost story collapsed and was never reconstructed.
Besides its placement, as it is situated between the most renowned historic architectural and cultural assets of the glorious past of the people of Indo-Pak i.e. sandwiched between the Badshahi Mosque and the Lahore Fort, it has been an abode of the literate and the common art and literature lovers of the city of Lahore. This place has been a witness to good old peaceful days when Ustad Daman, Allama Iqbal and many great figures would frequent the lush green lawns and the stoned pavements of this over two centuries old monument of the past. Every Sunday afternoon, people would gather in the Hazuri Bagh to hear the folk singers to recite excerpts from the traditional Punjabi Classics such as Heer Ranjha and Sassi Punnun, and other Punjabi Sufi poetry, whole evening in the cool surroundings of this refreshing garden. There could have been no better choice for such a historic confidence building measure and peace-enhancing initiative than the Hazuri Bagh for 2nd Aman Ki Asha Economic Conference between the two neighbours, who share the same cultural assets and the glorious legacy of the gold past. There is a great hope attached to this three days long Conference and perhaps this time something really big and concrete is going to come out of this grand gathering of peace loving minds who are going to send three long days in deliberations, suggestions and proposals to make the dream of a last peace nurtured by millions on both sides of the border, into a long lasting reality at the Hazuri Bagh.
