Imagining Lahore

by Haroon Khalid

Please Read Notes: Brand New, International Softcover Edition, Printed in black and white pages, minor self wear on the cover or pages, Sale restriction may be printed on the book, but Book name, contents, and author are exactly same as Hardcover Edition. Fast delivery through DHL/FedEx express.

Genres: Pakistan, History, Nonfiction, Politics, Religion, Biography, Asia

304 pages, Hardcover

Published August 17, 2018

Reviews

[W · Rating 3 out of 5]

Having spent nearly a year of my life in Lahore,the city always interests me. This book starts in present day Lahore,which has been dug up repeatedly in recent times for so-called "development" projects like roads,the metro bus track and the Orange Line railway track. Till recently,Lahore was governed by such whims of one man,Shahbaz Sharif. These projects played havoc,with the cultural heritage of the city.

The book then flits back and forth,between Lahore's past and present. The author clearly has leftist leanings,and he goes rather needlessly,into Pakistan's political history. He talks about different time periods including Mughal rule,British colonialism,and the reign of the Sikh ruler,Ranjit Singh. There is a good deal about Sufism and Sufi shrines in Lahore. His focus is also on places of worship of different religions in Lahore,and historical monuments.

It's well researched,though the subject matter didn't always interest me. Brought back some of my own memories of Lahore,however.

[Omama. · Rating 4 out of 5]

My Lahore, the beautiful city I have called home all my life, the city of love and splendour, the city of allure and charm. ❤️ This book contains all the beautiful & ugly truths Lahore has hidden deep; the city that is, the city that was. A city of gardens that no longer exists, a city that was the playground of Mughal Royalty, a city of thousands, yet a city that belongs to only a handful.

This book made me want to go out and explore all the things which made Lahore, Lahore; that I have never done before despite being here. Too much history of Lahore, that goes way back to 11th century, the time period of Mehmood & Ayaz; Ayaz being the main architect force behind. Delhi Sultanate, Khilji Dynasty, Mughals, the Sikhs, the British; whoever came here, Lahore had to be the main city at some point. The author, having been to almost all the historical and forgotten sites, buildings and roads of Lahore, goes on to describe it’s history with major enthusiasm. This book made me realise that there’s still hope for me to wander in Lahore, romanticising the city, with the nostalgia of long gone past.

[Apratim Mukherjee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Haroon Khalid has his own way to tell his tale.The timeline of history is reversed and the reader slowly time travels in the past.In this book,the author makes the reader see Lahore with his eyes and its amazing.A lack of photographs of Lahore is made up by the unbiased story telling.I recommend this book to everyone who wants to read about Lahore.

[Hamza Sarfraz · Rating 4 out of 5]

As an introductory history of Lahore, this book works well. The author walks you through all the figures and events that made Lahore what it is today. He also discusses the social, cultural, and political milieu that defined Lahore through the ages. This is a city whose story is replete with betrayals, intrigue, colonial legacies, imperial symbolism, modern 'development', and then some. This well-researched book succeeds in showing the multi-cultural, multi-religious heritage of Lahore.

My only problem with the book is where the author tends to overreach in his narrative and provide easy explanations for what are complex historical phenomena. He tends to present some perspectives as facts that can be difficult to overlook.

Still, this book is a breezy read and a good place to start if you want to understand Lahori and even Punjabi history.

[Noor ul Ain · Rating 3 out of 5]

It started off well, however it became confusing after the second chapter. The author has researched well and has a wealth of knowledge about the different aspects of the city, the problem is that he has failed to organise them in a reader friendly way (in my opinion). He has also tried to cram as much as he could in this book.
I think it would have been much better if he had tried to focus on one aspect of the city only, maybe architecture or politics or religion. It has tried to cover everything from Aurangzeb's religious bend to town planning of model town, which left me somewhat bewildered.

[Marwa Shafique · Rating 4 out of 5]

Histories, like traumatic memories, cannot be easily cast away. They come back to haunt us. Surviving as tiny repositories of traditions are some of those names, preserving within them histories and stories not otherwise fully acknowledged. Despite the imposition of narratives and propaganda, these names endure, highlighting how, at the level of lived experience, Lahore carries along its past, which the state would rather have it forget."

I don't know when my fascination with Lahore quite began; maybe it was the numerous "Lahore Vs Karachi" tweets that I would often see, or maybe it was my best friend from Lahore sending me 80 messages, usually in excitement, about how truly magnificent Lahore is, how the cultural identity it holds is what makes it so endearing, and how "Jine Lahore nai vekhya o jamya-e-ni" I have never been there, but my heart longs to visit it in its beauty and see the city for what it truly is: relentless and fierce.

Whatever the reason may be, it is why I enjoyed this book so much. I felt like I was reading a piece of lost history, something that I would have never known otherwise; something that gives life to Lahore.
The centuries worth of stories that lay hidden underneath everything that makes Lahore what it is today shaped the narrative so beautifully that one found themselves yearning to know more. Amidst these tales were political observations that held everything together, keeping us well aware of what these political reinforcements were doing to the city - ripping it of its identity, or making it emerge as a stronger power? One does not quite know what is for the better, but I do know that the Lahore that used to be struggles to survive today; ceaselessly lost in translations to make it more developed without focusing on the actual calamities that it is facing.

This book is enlightening, and will hit home for those of us who are intrigued by what Lahore was and what it has become.

[Usman Baig · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 Stars. Nice informative read. Could’ve used a bit more structure though.

[Vivek · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very unique perspective towards Lahore and was an eye opener for me in terms of the diversity of cultural heritage that Lahore has in terms of Hindu, Sikh and Jain monuments. The author provides a very detailed and well researched background on the various stories, myths and telltale signs of a glorious past interspersed with modern day politics and the ground realities. Someday if I do visit Lahore, I'll probably re read this book to make sure I can visit those places he has highlighted, though as he mentioned - neo nationalistic movements are built on hiding pasts that don't suit the narrative so some of these diverse pages of history might already have been whitewashed by then.

[pallav mishra · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very good book on an ambitious topic that goes deep into the medieval to modern history of Lahore. The construct still seems very stream of consciousness, and at specific points, becomes confusing as it goes back and forth between Lahore in Ranjit Singh’s reign and that of his successors. Wish this had some “method to the madness”..but generally a very insightful book that is very easy reading too.

[Ashish Shukla · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book is a travel account but it is well researched and brings into light the ignored parts of Lahore. The author has made impartial analysis of historical events and has taken a rational and not rhetorical stance on many important historical issues. He does not deter from stating the fact that Pakistan, as a nation in his construction of Islamic nation, is systematically ignoring it’s glorious Hindu past. The important religious places of minorities dont get the respect which they are entitled too. However the author does talk about the efforts of brave writers like Habib Jalib who through his writings have always questioned the government policies. When Zia-ul-Haq brought anti women laws it was Habib who criticized the government openly. Author has focused on the growth of progressive writer movement and the famous tea stall were they indulge in intellectual discussions.

The execution of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and rise of dictatorship in Pakistan has been well analyzed with special focus on the importance of Lahore for the political developments of the nation. The author brings out many interesting stories of Mughal princes and princesses like the story of Zeb-un-Nissa and his lover, the folk tales of The Dutta rebellion and how the British mobilised Punjabi soldiers in 1857 rebellion against the Mughal by bringing in the picture of execution of Sikh guru in the hands of Aurangzeb and time has come to take revenge. Author state that the Britishers constructed a strategy were they carefully showed Hindu population that under Muslim rule they have suffered and now they must support british to end their sufferings.

By doing so the British built artificial boundaries which never existed in pre partition times. Author has given due importance to the ancient past of Lahore were it is believed that this city was founded by Lav, son of Ram and he talks about the rise of Ranjit Singh and how British captured Punjab after his demise and destroyed the indigenous education system of the state.

The book is a must read for those who want to go back into the past and enjoy its mesmerising events with an critical eye of today.

[MM · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book! It was written so that dense history is immensely understandable and interesting. The author gave an unbiased view, constantly offering background for the preferred interpretation of history on both sides of the border. Personally, I felt he also offered fresh stories and shed light on lesser known points in history through the focal lens of Lahore. For example he skipped a detailed rendition of partition, instead going for deeper looks at minority communities across Pakistan or else it’s modern politics. To me this makes sense- he didn’t gloss over partition, as much as treat it as an event in the background that everyone knows about. I especially enjoyed the section on the Valmiki Hindus and the Mughals. Also liked how he brought attention to the loss of a central Punjabi identity with the creation of Pakistan and a derision of Punjabi culture.

[Rabia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I always fascinate from Lahore's life in mughal era and imagine the era when the fort, mosques and gardens were alive and they have their inhabitants as well as illumination at their mean time.
Haroon Khalid tried to explain my imaginatory world into writings.
Haroon Khalid uniquely explain the period and Lahore's cultural diversity and heritage. He explained all folklore, myths and stories with Deep research.
Basically this book is on the heart of Pakistan "Lahore". It's an eye opener account as well as diversity of the city. How it convert from one culture to other culture. It might be confusing in first two chapters but it'll be more fascinating ahead.
I will visit for sure those places he has highlighted and I didn't visit yet.

[Karanvir Singh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Haroon Khalid has a unique way to share his experience amalgamating it with lores, legends and myths which keeps the reader hooked on. I, as an Indian, who never visited Pakistan let alone Lahore, was made to wonder about the city intrigues, its deep rooted history, its minarets, its culture and traditions. The book's contents are as colourful as its cover which keeps one hooked on till the last page.

[Ishita Dutta · Rating 4 out of 5]

A quick easy read. The book took me back on a historical ride. Well researched and well explained. The author will take you through the political upheavals faced by the city of Lahore. The author successfully portrays an unbiased side of the city. I would have however preferred a linear way of storytelling instead of starting from the present to going back to the time of Valmiki and Ram. But that's just me. Overall I enjoyed some of the chapters.

[T P S Sidhu · Rating 5 out of 5]

Haroon Khalid has a unique style of telling the story, relating the places with person and then telling their story. His style brings the person alive. Makes you curious about the location of the place, how it looks and when you search on the Google maps, see it photographs, you can see how that place looks now and makes you feel that you are actually visiting that place. Makes you imagine how it may have looked at that time. Excellent style of telling history.

[Raza · Rating 4 out of 5]

Imagine a city state with Ranjit Singh as the king, Nur Jahan as the queen, Aurangzeb as the crown prince, Manto/Habib Jalib as the poet of the people, Henry Lawrence as the Resident and Bhagat Singh as the revolutionary among the masses.
If this story does not fill one with awe, then maybe nothing will. Loved the book, its history and its characters.

[Meenal · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a fabulous account of the geopolitical history of the ancient city of Lahore, charting its changing course from the times of Maharaja Ranjit Singh to Shehbaz Sharif.

This is a must-read for fans of Major Gaurav Arya. I would strongly recommend it to geopolitical aficionados of the Indian subcontinent.

[Syed Umar Ali · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finally.
After a long time.
Looking forward to this beautiful book.
It looks interesting and engaging.
We should know about the city which used to be ours before 1947.

[Nate Rabe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliantly entertaining and informative. Sensitive and fair minded about the great city’s contested past. Weaves an ancient, colourful history in with contemporary observations. Well done!

[Ibrahim · Rating 5 out of 5]

A groundbreaking book. It does truly feel like Khalid single-handedly mended the connection between Lahore and Amritsar with this deeply spiritual and historical account.

[Ravinder Birdi · Rating 5 out of 5]

wow

[Stephanie Josine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book. The way Khalid uses physical places as a springboard to leap around through history is at times a little hard to keep up with - sometimes multiple timelines are being explored in parallel - but always fascinating and rewarding. I learnt so much about the heart and spirit of Pakistan by reading this; about not just the major events but their significance and their place in collective memory and the national identity. If you're a gora living in Pakistan, save the stuffy required-readings for later and pick this up instead.

[Yash Sharma · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lahore : The City That Is Eager To Forget Its Past
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Who live sees, but who travels, sees more.

- Ibn Battutah


Imagining Lahore, The city that is, The city that was is brilliantly written travelogue-cum-biographical sketch of the majestic City of Lahore.

The author of this book is renowned for his unbiasedness and the way he link the past of the Lahore with the present is laudable.

For the detailed review you can visit - https://dontbignorant.in/lahore-the-c...