Daily Times

LAHORE: The name of the Bansa Wala Bazaar, Gawalmandi is proposed to be renamed as Nasir Saeed (late) Road and an advertisement was printed in the newspapers for informing the masses and getting their opinion/objection (if any) by the Metropolitan Corporation Lahore (MCL).

Sources informed Daily Times that the proposal for changing Bansa Wala Bazaar, Gawalmandi’s name had ignited the residents of the area and heritage societies of Lahore, as it was one of the oldest areas of Lahore and was popularly known all over Pakistan because of its unique name. Sources further added that the proposal of renaming the area was initiated by the Lahore Chamber of Commerce & Industries (LCCI) as Nasir Saeed was the former LCCI vice president and was also the president of Traders Wing of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz Lahore. Sources said that renaming the area would result in the loss of identity of that market as it is one of the oldest markets established in 1938 and supplied bamboo items to the entire country having more than 50 bamboo shops. Sources were of the view that Nasir Saeed was a only a trader having political association whereas he had not served the country in any memorable manner neither he worked for welfare like Edhi or was not a martyr and they were unable to understand the changing of this name with his name. Sources said that a street or a mohallah could have been renamed instead of this historic market which is known for its name since long and if the names of roads and bazaars were frequently being changed after political figures than the old Lahore and heritage would lose its popularity and the new generation would remain unaware of it.

LCCI Secretary General Shahid Khalil while talking to Daily Times said that Saeed had met an untimely death during a meeting therefore the Executive Committee of LCCI sent a proposal to rename the Bansa Wala Bazaar and at present the case was with the local government and they would decide it as per policy and public opinions and objections.

MCL Chief Public Relations Officer Nadeemul Hassan Gillani said that the proposal was received from LCCI.

“We had advertised in the newspapers that if anyone has objections on the new name or renaming Bansa Wala Bazaar they should approach us within a given time. I think if the civil society, historians or anyone else has objection on this proposal they should come to us with logic and sensible reasoning and later the local government secretary would decide the case,” Nadeemul Hassan Gillani added.

The local shopkeepers, when asked about their opinion over change of name, showed their distress and said that changing the name would kill their identity. They were of the opinion that Bansa Wala Bazaar, Gawalmandi had been their representation, icon and also the postal address since long and it was the unique name which symbolised the place as an old part of Lahore. The locals said that they would never call the place with the new name even if it is changed. The local shopkeepers of Bansa Wala Bazaar, Gawalmandi said that even if they would raise their voice against the matter no one would listen to them as they had not been consulted while giving the advertisement for changing the name. Elderly persons of the area were of the opinion that the names of old places having historic significance should never be changed as those names are their identity.

Talking to the Convener Lahore Bachao Tehrik and Lahore Conservation Society General Secretary Imrana Tiwana said, “This is an act of erasing identity of Lahore and our heritage. It is wiping out the history and if all the roads are to be renamed after political people then who will know about the significance of that place in the past. A cultural connotation is associated with Bansa Wala Bazaar and reflects the trade of the market and is called so since ages, how would the future generations know about it. If the MCL needs to name a place after anyone, they should select a side lane or place a plaque in the memory of that particular person outside his shop, which is not difficult for them. In my opinion plaques should also be put up for known people who have served the country not for anyone having political associations. I am against this proposal as it is a cultural place and the true identity should not be taken away on any proposal. Its identity for all times to come should remain as Bansa Wala Bazaar.”

Published in Daily Times, June 2^nd 2018.