ahore has attracted tourists, writers and historians for centuries. It has been a central part of South Asian politics for a long time. The great Mughal emperor, Akbar, made this city his capital. Its rich historical, cultural and political legacy has made Lahore a central subject of study for many writers.

For many people, Lahore mostly means Minar-i-Pakistan, Badshahi Masjid and a few other historical monuments.

My own relationship with Lahore has always been romantic. As somebody who hails from Dera Ismail Khan, Lahore has fascinated me in many ways. Even after visiting Delhi last year, I am tempted to rank the Punjab capital above the Indian capital.

Two years ago, I happened to visit a book fair in Lahore where I picked up a book about the history of Lahore written by Kanhaya Lal. I couldn’t finish reading it because it was written in old-style Urdu, more suited for academics. But I always wanted to read more about the city, and explore stories behind the fascinating buildings of old Lahore. Talha Shafique’s book, titled Lahore Aik Qaus-i-Qazah, is just that.

The book describes Lahore’s cultural, political and literary history through its architecture and people. Shafique, currently pursuing an MPhil in history at Government College University, Lahore, is known to be an avid collector of history books on the city.

The first thing that strikes one about the book is its language —simple, easy-to-understand Urdu. Secondly, it includes the history of some of Lahore’s less-known buildings and places — places such as Bradlaugh Hall and Barkat Ali Hall. The book introduced me to places and stories I’d never have known had I not read about them here. The fascinating history of the Amrit Dhara Building is one of those.

When I asked the author why he had described Lahore as qaus-i-qazah (rainbow in English), he said that that was because the city has many colours and shades. From whatever lens or perspective you view it, Lahore never ceases to amaze you.

The author shows complete command over various accounts of Lahore. The knowledge empowers him to challenge the fallacies in previous writings. Of course, it’s going to be a great resource for future researchers.

The city, which is over 1,000 years old, has hosted kings, conquerors, Sufis, poets, travellers and many more. The book quotes Father Monserrate, a Portuguese priest who visited Lahore during Akbar’s reign, as saying, “The city is second to none, either in Asia or Europe, with regard to size, population and wealth. Moreover, there is no art or craft useful to human life that is not practiced here.”

The opening pages of Lahore Aik Qaus-i-Qazah carry literary tributes to the city by famous poets and writers over the centuries. The book debunks many a popular myth about the city. For instance, the myth of Masjid Shab Bhar, a mosque claimed to have been built overnight to prevent the land from being granted to Hindus for a mandir, turns out to be more complex than the stark version one has heard in popular lore.

Ask any young Lahori today about Charles Bradlaugh, Pandit Thakur Dutt Sharma, Begum Mumtaz Shahnawaz or Ruchi Ram Sahni, and they’ll most likely be unfamiliar with these people. Many other people, too, who contributed significantly to the city’s development, have been forgotten. Shafique’s book brings back the great lovers of Lahore who deserve to be remembered as legends.

Lahore is a multicultural and multi-ethnic city. People of all faiths — Hindus, Sikhs, Parsis, Christians, Muslims and others — have lived here and called it their home. The presence of diverse religious buildings is a testament to the city’s pluralist past. Shafique brilliantly highlights these places without any religious prejudice. It’s a rare quality in today’s non-fiction literature.

What makes Lahore Aik Qaus-i-Qazah unique is its authenticity. The author displays complete command over various accounts of Lahore. This knowledge empowers him to challenge the fallacies in some of the previous writings. Besides being a fun read, it is going to be a great resource for future researchers.

Lahore Aik Qaus-i-Qazah

Author: Talha Shafique

Pages: 416

Category: History

Publisher: Kitaabnagar.com

Ehtesham Hassan is a freelance graphic designer. His X handle is @Ehteysham1