Daily Times

LAHORE: The conservation of the Samadhi of Maharaja Sher Singh has been completed by the Archaeology Department of Punjab in an amount of Rs 19.095 million and the tourists and interested persons can visit it now as it has now been revived back to its original glory.

Most of the people living in Lahore were unaware of this site, Daily Times learnt. Funds were released to the Department of Archaeology in 2012 for the conservation of this site and after technical studies and planning, they had started the conservation of the monument.

According to sources, the Sikh Samadhi was dilapidating due to sheer neglect and later it was badly damaged and set on fire by people in Lahore in 1992 as revenge against the demolition of the Babri Mosque in India. Sources further added that the fresco work on walls had vanished, the building had cracks and most of the parts of the building had fallen apart during the riots of 1992.

Sources said that it was made a part of solid waste dump yard and several constructions had begun in the vicinity of the Samadhi whereas the dump site was built by the Lahore Waste Management Company.

Sources further said that drug addicts and garbage was also one of the reasons which led to the deterioration of this site and it could not be restored timely. Further, the sources added that the arches were derelict which could collide any time and so pillars were constructed to prevent them from falling apart.

Historian Faizan Naqvi said, “Maharaja Sher Singh was the third son of Maharaja Ranjit Singh also known as Sher-e-Punjab. He was the founder of the Sikh empire. Maharaja Sher Singh had ruled from 1841 until his death in1843AD. Both the Maharaja Sher Singh and his young son were murdered there and after that Rani Randhawi Singh and her family constructed their Samadhis near this Baradari. His Baradari is situated on the outskirts of Kot Khawaja Saeed locality in Lahore. The Baradari was also attacked in 1992 in the aftermath of Babri Mosque demolition in India. There is also a shrine of famous Sufi Saint Allama Mirza Syed Shah Bilawal Qadri in the same location of the Baradari where festivals were held and that is why it is also known as Baradari of Shah Bilawal. Writers like Kannahiya Lal Hindi and Latif have mentioned this festival in detail in their books which are considered most authentic on Lahore. It was a point of distress for the Sikh community to see their heritage and holy place in shambles but as the conservation is completed by the Archaeology Department, it is a good image building for us that we value heritage.”

Writer and historian Tania Qureshi said, “Heritage has no religion and whatever came to us with Pakistan is ours now and we need to look after it in every possible way. By restoring such pieces of heritage, we present a positive image of our thinking and Pakistan before the world and I think all such places should be conserved with the best possible practices and techniques. In my opinion the re-use of such site along with conservation is also important so that the heritage remains alive. I am glad that this piece of heritage is completely restored.”

Punjab Archaeology Department Deputy Director Malik Maqsood Ahmed said, “Samadhi of Maharaja Sher Singh possesses no architectural pretensions and is a simple shrine of masonry work. The reason is that after the assassination of Sher Singh there was entire absence of any regular form of government whereas the place is historically interesting because the tragic end of Maharaja Sher Singh occurred here. After the incidence of Babri Masjid, it was ruthlessly plundered and completely burnt the structure especially its ceiling. The only remains were some walls of Baradari and relics of Samadhi. Since its protection, the Archaeology Department has been doing its level best to preserve this architectural remnant of Sikh rule. The government of the Punjab took a positive step to restore the precious Sikh architectural jewel, and a Conservation scheme was launched at a cost of Rs 19.095 million to conserve and restore the Baradari and Samadhi to revive its original glory.”

Maqsood said that the major components were conservation restoration of special brick tile masonry, lime plaster, glaze lime plaster, fresco paintings in geometric and floral designs, lime terracing, wooden ceiling as per original pattern, doors and windows, tile on edge floors and protection of area with steel fence, restoration of vaulted roof of Samadhi, construction of apron and cleaning of and repair of old well.

Published in Daily Times, June 27^th 2018.