Daily Times

LAHORE: The Walled City of Lahore Authority (WCLA) is installing a life-size statue of Maharaja Ranjeet Singh in Lahore Fort near the Haveli of Rani Jindan in Jahangir’s Quadrangle, Daily Times has learnt reliably.

The statue is being sponsored by SK Foundation, based in United Kingdom, and all the expenses are being taken up by them whereas they plan to place it before the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev Ji,

According to the memorandum of understanding between WCLA and SK Foundation UK, the approximate weight of the statue would be 250-330 kilogrammes (kg) and the material would include 85% bronze, 5% tin, 5% lead and 5% zinc.

The duration for making the statue and bringing it to Pakistan will be four to five months and will be installed before the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev Ji. According to SK Foundation, the statue would be placed before the birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev Ji to coincide with the large influx of tourists and pilgrims during the birth celebrations.

WCLA Media and Marketing Deputy Director Tania Qureshi said that it was one of the initiatives to add tourists’ attractions to Lahore Fort. “Previously, we had housed the costumed guards of Mughal, British and Sikh era inside the Lahore Fort and they had become the most interesting point for the tourists. Such characters and tourists attractions are very popular worldwide but so far they were missing in Lahore Fort. We are now trying to improve the tourists’ attractions by adding such items and WCLA is also working to build up a court of Emperor Akbar and the Jahangir’s Chain of Justice inside the fort.”

WCLA Marketing Director Asif Zaheer said that the concept and idea was shared with the Heritage Conservation Board during its meeting and the board members appreciated and approved it.

WCLA Conservation and Planning Director Najam Saquib said that the Sikh community from United Kingdom had contacted the WCLA for the purpose. “I think that the statue would influence tourist attraction in Lahore Fort. The material being used in making the statue is of good quality and weather-friendly. We have been assured by the SK Foundation that it will be a state-of-the-art statue and is being made keeping in view the stature and importance of Maharaja Ranjeet Singh.”

WCLA Heritage Conservation Board member Faqir Saif said, “Maharaja Ranjeet Singh was our hero but we have forgotten him. He was the one who expanded the boundaries of Punjab. In my opinion, this is a brilliant initiative to install Maharaja’s statue inside Lahore Fort near the Haveli of Rani Jindan as it will revive the lost history and would also influence tourist attraction.”

“Once there were statues of Queen Victoria and King Edward in Lahore but with the passage of time they were removed without thinking that they were adding value and charisma to the city look. Similarly, Ganga Ram’s statue was also pulled down. “Statues do not mean that people would start worshipping them, it is just a reminder of the past heroes and I think it does not harm anyone.”

WCLA Heritage Conservation Board Chairman Mian Yousaf Sallahuddin said, “Obviously there is a Sikh history here in Lahore and the Lahore Fort. The right place has been selected for placing the statue which is Rani Jinda’s Haveli as it also houses the Princess Bamba’s collection. The statue will be placed outside the gallery.”

“Placing the statue of Ranjeet Sindh will add great value to Lahore Fort and it will surely be something unique to experience,” he added.

Published in Daily Times, July 11^th 2018.