The people of Lahore are familiar with Sir Ganga Ram, but not many may have a clue that the samadhi (final resting place) of this great Hindu philanthropist and architect, who has been hailed as the Father of Modern Lahore, is also located in the city.

The samadhi has long presented a picture of desolation. But all this is likely to change for good, as the building is scheduled to be opened to public later this month. Currently, renovation work is under way.

When it was constructed, circa 1933, the entire area around the samadhi was green. Besides, it offered a grand view of the Ravi River. Today, the building has been squeezed between big and small houses.

Architecturally, it follows the pattern of a temple. It has a courtyard and is enclosed by walls on which iron fences have been erected to check unauthorised entry. The building’s central hall is home to the samadhi of Sir Ganga Ram. It’s a smallish platform, tiled with marble, which carries an inscription of a brief history of Sir Ganga Ram, along with his photograph.

The place is currently manned by a single guard who, according to the locals, does not let anyone in. In fact, he directs all visitors to the office of the Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) where they can obtain a letter of permission to go inside the samadhi and take photographs.

Sir Ganga Ram was a noted civil engineer of his time. Most of Lahore’s landmark buildings, dating back to the British-era, were designed and constructed under his supervision. Notable among these are the Lahore High Court, the General Post Office, the Lahore Museum, the Mayo School of Arts (now the National College of Arts), the Ganga Ram Hospital, the Aitchison College, the Chemistry Department of the Government College University, Lahore; the Albert Victor wing of Mayo Hospital; Hailey College of Commerce (now Hailey College of Banking and Finance); Ravi Road House for the Disabled; and Lady Maynard Industrial School. The British government awarded him the title of Rai Bahadur for his enormous contributions in the field.

Sir Ganga Ram was a noted civil engineer of his time. Most of Lahore’s landmark buildings, dating back to the British-era, were designed and constructed under his supervision. The British government awarded him the title of Rai Bahudar for his enormous contributions in the field. Lahore’s Model Town Society was the last project he completed, in 1926. He passed away in London the following year.

Lahore’s Model Town Society was the last project Sir Ganga Ram completed, in 1926. He passed away in London the following year.

Recently, renovation work on the samadhi was started on the directions of the ETPB chairman, Dr Aamir Ahmed. According to details available with TNS, the building is being restructured, repainted and varnished.

An ETPB spokesperson says that maintenance work is also being carried out at the various temples and gurdwaras across the country. Additionally, the Shrine Branch of the Board is working to protect the religious places of Hindus and Sikhs.

Khalil Ahmed, a resident of Ravi Road, says that the building of Sir Ganga Ram’s Samadhi faced damage in reaction to the demolition of Babri Masjid in India. Following the incident, the family of Sir Ganga Ram donated funds to the then government for rebuilding the samadhi.

Ameen Shah, another local, regards the restoration of the building as a step in the right direction. He recalls how growing up in the vicinity of the samadhi he hadn’t known anything about Sir Ganga Ram. “I was in college when I fell from our rooftop, and was taken to Ganga Ram Hospital for treatment,” he says. “It was only later that I came to know about the great contributions of the late Hindu architect and philanthropist.

He urged the government to include the samadhi of Sir Ganga Ram among the tourist sites of the city so that more and more people can know of his contributions for the city of Lahore.

The writer is a city   reporter at The News