LAHORE: The house of legendary poet and philosopher Muhammad Allama Iqbal, inside Bhatti Gate, Walled City Lahore is deteriorating and is presently being used as an office of a music band and an eatery shop whereas no attention is being paid towards its restoration by the Walled City of Lahore Authority (WCLA).
Sources say the house located inside Bhatti Gate opposite Mohallah Patranga has been turned into a music studio, whereas another house where Allama Iqbal resided for sometime has been converted into a naan shop and the upper portion has been completely changed by demolishing the original one.
Sources further added that due to lack of attention, the historic homes of Allama Iqbal were suffering, where they should have been declared “protected sites” and should have been turned into museums or some sort of a place where tourists could visit.
Sources further added that the heritage and high architectural properties inside Bhatti Gate were being rapidly demolished and many had been changed into commercial plazas, whereas until almost seven to 10 years ago, the Bhatti area had high heritage old properties including many havelis and houses which had antique decorative features. Sources lamented on the state of the buildings inside Bhatti Gate and said that if WCLA would not take steps towards the improvement and safeguarding of these monuments, the historic footprints would also be lost soon.
A local tourist guide living near the Bhatti Gate area, Muhammad Aziz, while talking exclusively to Daily Times, said that it was very embarrassing for him when the tourists asked about the houses of Iqbal.
“I conduct tours in the Bhatti Gate area which is highly admired by the tourists. It was once known as the ‘Chelsea of Lahore’ because most of the eminent and learned personalities lived here and so did our great poet Iqbal. He lived in two houses from 1901-1905 and there he wrote his first poem but now the houses are in miserable and deplorable conditions which embarrass me when I am showing them to the tourists. Many tourists question why the houses have not been preserved into a museum or a library and I am speechless, but I think the concerned authorities should make some efforts. There is just a small marble plaque placed on one property stating that he lived there and that does not do justice with the house of that extraordinary and respectable personality”.
He added that the barber shop where Iqbal often went was also inside Bhatti Gate along with a tharra where all the literary personalities sat and discussed their writings and social scenarios.
“I am depressed to see the present state of his heritage as it the house of which should be one of the most important places inside Bhatti Gate, Lahore,” Muhammad Aziz added.
The owner of Faqir Khana Museum and a resident of Bhatti Gate, Faqir Saifuddin, while talking to Daily Times expressed his concern over the two houses of Allama Iqbal located inside Bhatti Gate.
“Actually there are two houses of Iqbal which people do not know about and think that there is only one. From 1901 to 1905, he lived in two houses inside Bhatti Gate. One of the houses with a good architecture was purchased by some Gujjars and they opened a naan shop there. They demolished the upper portion and reconstructed it and now it doesn’t look like Iqbal’s house anymore. The other house occupied by the music band needs immediate preservation and it is essential in my opinion. It is opposite the Mohallah Patrangan. But the good aspect of housing a music band there is that the property is safe and the owners have been kind enough for not selling it or converting it into a plaza by demolishing the original house. I suggest that the WCLA should step forward and associate that house back to Iqbal and convert into a bethak, a gathering place or a museum of Iqbal so that people start getting awareness about the importance of the place.”
Socialite and maternal grandson of Iqbal, Yousaf Sallahuddin, who is also a resident of the Walled City said, “It’s been long that I have visited the place but I think that the locals who want to repair and maintain it should be given the permission to do so but a plaque should be placed there stating that Iqbal lived there.”
WCLA Conservation & Planning Director Najam Saqib, also while talking exclusively to Daily Times said that WCLA was planning to start the restoration works inside Bhatti Gate and the houses of Iqbal and all other important places would be given importance and would be restored.
Published in Daily Times, July 21st 2018.