Daily Times

You all must be familiar with the stunning Shahi Hammam and the picturesque Wazir Khan Mosque which were built by the famous Hakim Ilmuddin Ansari who was later given the title of Wazir Khan by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan, but while travelling on Mall Road at the backside of Lahore Museum have you ever seen a majestic structure standing intact today and reflecting the glory of its past?

This structure is of the Baradari of Wazir Khan. It is seen today between the Punjab Public Library, the famous National College of Arts, Lahore Museum and from Tollinton Market now the City Heritage Museum. You can take the road that leads you to this place which is now a part of the Punjab Public Library.

According to historic references, we get to know that once Wazir Khan was done with the construction of the magnificent Wazir Khan Mosque and the splendid Shahi Hammam, he started planning to develop a garden in 1634. The same garden became popular as Wazir Khan’s Nakhlia Garden because of the large number of date palm trees. According to historic references when Wazir Khan was asked why he was developing a garden after constructing a Masjid he said that the Masjid was for the people to believe in the unseen God and the garden would be to make people believe in the nature and colours of God.

Just like Shalimar Gardens, Wazir Khan built a pavilion called Baradari in the middle of the garden. Unfortunately, the garden does not exist now but the Baradari is standing gorgeously there. The Baradari which means a building or pavilion with 12 openings was titled because of 12 dars or doorway openings in the pavilion.

According to many historians this garden was as beautiful as the Shalimar Gardens.

This is a two storey pavilion like structure and is well intact today serving as a library. It has four corner towers, terminated by sloping chajjas (eaves) and capped by cupolas which are a typical Shah Jahani era construction. I am sure that in the early days when it was at its peak and zenith the garden and pavilion would have been a wonder similar to other majestic sites constructed by Wazir Khan.

Like Shalimar Gardens this garden of Wazir Khan also had fountains in it which and the pavilion is said to be surrounded by pools on all four sides containing fountains. I wonder if we could go into the past and feel the coolness and serenity at this place which is now one of the busiest places in Lahore and you will always meet a traffic jam there.

Just like Shalimar Gardens, Wazir Khan built a pavilion called Baradari in the middle of the garden. Unfortunately, the garden does not exist now but the Baradari is standing gorgeously there. The Baradari which means a building or pavilion with 12 openings was titled because of 12 dars or doorway openings in the pavilion

According to historic references this monument, like many other Mughal Era buildings, also went through numerous alterations and served various purposes. With the downfall of the Mughals the Sikhs took over Lahore and transformed the place into cantonment. This beautiful Baradari tolerated 40 years of absolute plunder when it was the cantonment of Sikhs and the elite officers of the French in the Sikh Army. It is also recorded in history that this beautiful garden was ransacked and its exquisite fountains and embellishments were plundered ruthlessly.

The British after annexing Punjab for sometimes used it as a cantonment and later this place served as a Settlement Office and the first telegraph office in Lahore.

At one point the Lieutenant Governor of the Punjab, Sir Charles Atchison, desired to have a library that reflected the colors and history of Lahore and thus a library was built and was named the Punjab Public Library. According to references, Sir Charles donated his entire library and other well-connected people followed likewise. Well-known collections from, Munshi Naval Kishore, from Sardar Attar Singh and the huge and rare collection of Fakir Syed Jamaluddin also came into this masterpiece, a library of its kind. On the December 21, 1885, Sir Charles Atchison inaugurated the library.

Sir Charles got the library registered under the Charities Act, declaring its intentions as being non-profit oriented. Great librarians then headed this unique library, which was seen as one of the finest libraries in northern India. According to references it is said that in 1886 Lala Kirpa Ram became the chief librarian who set good standards of the library and served for 27 years. During this time he made it the finest library of the sub continent. Later Lala Labbha Ram served for eight years till 1921 and then a famous librarian Vidya Saggar Gorewara served for just two years. In 1923 Lala Ram Labhaya worked as the librarian and he continued till the August 14, 1947.

In 1947 the first Pakistani Chief Librarian of the Punjab Public Library, Khawaja Nur Elahi took over and served for 19 years till 1966.

The Baradari has been put to good use as a reading room for the adjoining library and is therefore considered a part of the library. It also reflects the taste of its builder Hakim Ilm Ud Din who loved reading and literature.

I think it’s a must visit site for the people and also there should be guided tours of this location which has such a valuable and rich history.

The writer can be reached at taniashahab2016@gmail.com