I had already visited most of the places associated with the legendary love tale of Heer and Ranjha, including their tomb in Jhang and Takht Hazara, the birthplace of Ranjha. Yet, a very important piece of this picture had remained unseen. Finally, almost exactly five years after visiting the tomb of Waris Shah in Jandiala Sher Khan, I found myself standing in front of a mosque in Malka Hans, a small town in District Pakpattan.
Located in the heart of this old town, the mosque lies in a narrow street off the main road, at coordinates 30°25'28.03" N, 73°16'29.14" E.
This site holds great historical and literary significance, as Syed Waris Shah served as the Imam of this mosque, and it was here, in 1762, that he penned his magnum opus, Heer Waris Shah. He is believed to have lived here for a significant period, residing in a room of a seminary attached to the mosque. It was within these walls that he composed the epic Punjabi poem that immortalized the names of Heer, Ranjha, and himself for generations to come.
The mosque was built in 1340 AD, during the reign of Sultan Muhammad Tughlaq, making it historically significant for both its antiquity and architecture. It is also reassuring to see that the structure is still in remarkably good condition. However, it is evident that due to centuries of repairs and restorations, the mosque has lost much of its original decorative elements over time.
April 30, 2016.
Doha - Qatar.
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