Indian writer says charm of Lahore will never die

LAHORE

Pran Nevile, an eminent Indian writer and author of “Lahore-a sentimental journey” on Tuesday said: “Lahore is still Lahore; the beauty, magic and charm of this great historical city would never die.” 

“Need-based developmental changes are not unnecessarily needed to be resisted or criticised, because they can't change Lahore. This City is not merely its roads, buildings and bazaars. It is its atmosphere, ambience, moods of joy and sorrow, madness and sadness, fun and excitement and above all its people who constitute its soul,” said the 94-year old writer while addressing a launch of the latest editions of his books “Carefree days” and “Lahore - a sentimental journey” at the Government College University Lahore. 

According to a press release, Lahore Arts Council Chairman Kamran Lashari chaired the books’ unveiling ceremony which was also addressed by noted playwright Madeeha Gauhar, actress Feryal Ali Gauhar, artist Dr Ajaz Anwar, theatre and television director Shahid Mahmood Nadeem, political scientist Prof Dr Istiaq Ahmed and Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Hassan Amir Shah. When a student asked Pran Nevile to compare the existing and pre-partition Lahore, the writer says “you can't compare the two beauties. I admire the present Lahore as much as you are admiring the 1930s Lahore. We must welcome and cherish the changes in lives.”

However, he said that he missed the voices of Bo-Kata (There it is a cut) in Lahore because kite-flying had been a passion with Lahorias who were eloquent of their kites and boasted of their accomplishments in the field. It was said there was no other place in the world where kite-flying as a sport had reached such commanding heights as in Lahore. However, the Indian writer also believed that safety must be priority in every sport.

In a question on hostility between the two countries, Nevile said politics was not his area of interest. However, he believed in spreading positivity and love between the two nations whose art and culture are somehow integrated. 

He explained that the revised edition of his book “Lahore - a sentimental journey” includes a chapter about Government College, an “Epilogue” and an “Afterward” with his latest perceptions of the city of Lahore, the heartbeat of Punjab. Feryal Gauhar read some extracts from the books of Pran Nevile, saying Nevile’s reminiscences no-doubt took the reader into the heart of 1930s Lahore which was a hub of arts and literary activities.

Kamran Lashari said Nevile’s work is helpful in restoration of Old Lahore, saying: “While we move on, we must have some connection with our history.”  Prof Shah said Parn Nevile was born in Lahore in 1922 and studied for six years at the Government College Lahore, adding that to the best of their knowledge, Pran Nevile was the oldest of living Old Ravians. “We hope six years later, his alma mater would be launching his new publications at the occasion of his centenary birthday,” he added.  The speakers highlighted the distinguished career of the author in Indian Foreign Service and United Nations after which he became a freelance writer and had written extensively on Indian Art and Culture.