"Gumshuda Lahore" is the title of a new Urdu book on Punjab's capital, which was launched in the city on June 30 at the Lahore Arts Council. Written by Syed Sharafat Hussain, the book has a painting of Meeraan Bakhsh on its cover. Its launching ceremony, which was held under the auspices of Thinkers and Speakers Forum, was presided over by the Provincial Minister for Tourism.
It takes a long time, perhaps centuries, for a city to build its own socio-cultural traditions and character. The ancient city of Lahore developed its distinct personality after a long and protracted process of inter-communal interaction, trans-national cultural pollination and cross-cultural fertilisation of minds.
Lying in the pathway of conquerors from the North, and achieving the distinction of becoming both the provincial as well as country capital during different periods of history. It has been subjected to multifarious influences of its rulers, ethnic groups, cultural and the political currents emanating from Asia Minor, Iran, Afghanistan and England, notwithstanding the abrasive contacts it has had with the ancient Hindu civilisation, which has contributed wholesomely to the shaping of Lahore's unique character and personality.
Lahore has earned fame for its great historical historic monuments and spacious gardens, built by its Muslim rulers, especially the Mughals. At the time of the political division of India, Lahore had already attained the enviable distinction of being the cultural, political and education center of Pakistan.
"The mark of Islam has been impressed on the life and appearance of its cities, more indelibly than anywhere else.
There is a special look to an Islamic city, composed of a tangle of blocks badly ventilated by a labyrinth of twisted alleys and dark courts, the low houses endlessly broken up, along their little courtyards. "There is a special feeling in an Islamic city, dominated by the contrast between the noisy bazaar and the silence of the residential districts, where one hears only the cries and games of the children", observed Dr Samuel V. Noe, who conducted research on Lahore during the second half of the decade of 1970s.
A number of books in English, as well as Urdu, have been published on Lahore, especially after August 1947, mostly by Pakistani writers, which focused on the different aspects of the history, culture and political and social dispensations of its residents. However, there is still a need for publishing more books on this ancient city. "Gumshuda Lahore" is yet another good attempt at providing the readers a peep in the rich cultural history of Lahore.
The Punjab Archaeology Department has made plans to arrange light and sound shows at the historic Lahore Fort and Shalimar Gardens as a regular feature of its activities. The proposed shows will provide opportunities to the visitors to these places, to learn more about the grandeur of the Mughal rulers, supplemented by background commentaries.
On June 26, retired Chief Secretary of the province and Chairman, Board of Governors, Lahore Arts Council performed the inauguration ceremony of the 5-day long exhibition of paintings by veteran artists Haji Abdul Malik Khan, which remained open for public viewing till June 30, 2007. A number of senior artists of Pakistan, including Mehmood ul Hassan Rumi, Saeed Akhter, Rana Riaz, and the curator of Alhamra Art Gallery, and a large number of art students participated in the opening event.
About 100 pieces of Malik Khan's works, which are in a wide assortment of mediums, ranging from water colours, pencil works, poster colours to oil, were exhibited in the gallery. Also included in the collection were some of the artist's watercolor paintings and pencil works, apart from the landscapes, pen and ink drawings and figurative work.
The last exhibition of the Lahore-born artist was held in Lahore in 1995. In his recent exhibition artist Haji Abdul Malik Khan presented his works which consisted of paintings and drawings based on fantasy and imagination.
Round About was the title of the Punjabi play, staged at the Open Air Theatre on June 25 and continued till June 30. Staged by Laetaan Production, in collaboration with the Punjab Council of the Arts, the play was written by Umais Anwar and directed by Akifa Mian.
It focused mostly on the character Teefa, a drug addict and Tara, a mentally retarded individual, caught in the vortex of deteriorating social conditions.
The playwright discussed both the physical and metaphysical aspects of human feelings and used the dying River Ravi as a metaphor in describing the weakening morals and cloying values of our society. The play was well received by the attendees for its thematic thrust and good performance of the cast.