Jhang is an old city, situated almost in the middle of Pakistani Punjab. Its fertile lands are nourished by the waters of the Jhelum and Chenab rivers. It is home to the legendary Heer, heroine of the most famous love story in South Asia, the tale of Heer and Ranjha. Their tomb also stands in this historic city, which I first visited in 2009.
This time, I came in the hope of finding one or two gurdwaras. Despite the oppressive heat and the limited time, I discovered more than I had expected. Even in the small area I managed to explore, I became aware of Jhang’s rich architectural heritage. I saw many houses that could be considered fine examples of early 20th-century architecture.
First, I will take you to an old gurdwara, built around 1942. It is sad to think that such a beautiful building had to be abandoned just a few years after its completion. Today, it serves as a centre for the blind, managed by the Pakistan Association of the Blind. This vocational centre provides lodging and training to help the blind live independently.
We were warmly received by Mr. Akhlaq Ahmad, the Joint Secretary of the centre. Most of the staff are themselves blind, yet they manage the affairs of the institution entirely on their own.
The main entrance leads into a large hall, which was probably the darbar hall — the main prayer space. Rooms line three sides of the hall, and a staircase leads to the first floor. The building is well maintained and still retains much of its original charm. From the first-floor balconies, one can look down into the main hall. The gurdwara is located in Nabina Markaz Wali Gali at 31°16'37.75"N, 72°18'34.54"E.
The facade of the gurdwara in Jhang. (13.072017.)
The main entrance of the gurdwara. (13.072017.)
The main entrance of the gurdwara. (13.072017.)
پاکستان انجمن نابینا جھنگ
Pakistan Association For Blind - Jhang
A balcony above the door. (13.072017.)
੧ ਓ ਸਤ ਗੁਰਪਰਸਾਦ
One True God - Obtained by Guru's Grace
ਇਹ ਟਿਕਾਣਾ ਸ੍ਰੀਮਾਨ
ਮਹੰਤ ਕਰਮ ਚੰਦ ਸਾਹਿਬ
ਜੀ ਕੇ ਉਪਕਾਰ ਸੇ ਸਾਧ
ਸੰਗਤ ਮਾਈ ਭਾਈ ਨੇ
ਸੇਵਾ ਕਰ ਕੇ ਬਣਵਾਇਆ
ਚੇਤ੍ਰ ੧੦ - ੧੯੯੯
۱ اونکار ست گُرپَرَ ساد
ایہ ٹکانڑاں سریمان
مہنت کرم چند صاحب
جی کے اوپکار سے سادھ
سنگت بھائی مائی نے
سیوا کر کے بنڑوایا
چیتر10 - 1999 (مارچ/اپریل 1942ء)
1 True God Obtained by Guru's grace
This lodging / abode was constructed with the favours of Mahant Karam Chand,
by all congregation, brothers and mothers.
Chet 10 - 1999 (Samvat) March / April, 1942 AD
Street of the gurdwara. Nabina Centre wali gal. (13.072017.)
Stairs lead to the first floor. (13.072017.)
The main hall. (13.072017.)
A view of the first floor. (13.072017.)
Rooms, on the left side of the hall. (13.072017.)
A cupboard in the wall. (13.072017.)
Mr Akhlaq Ahmad (centre), the joint secretary, with his staff members. (13.072017.)
A corridor on the first floor. (13.072017.)
This portion is used for cooking and eating. (13.072017.)
Hatim Alvi Memorial Braille Library
Jhang Branch
Established: 14 February, 1987.
At a short
distance from this gurdwara exists a building which was probably a dharmshala
(a lodging house), associated with this gurdwara. It is a big house and has an
imposing entrance. It was built in 1938. It is located at 31°16'38.51"N, 72°18'36.33"E.
The main entrance of the dharmshala. (13.072017.)
ਇਹ ਟਿਕਾਣਾ ਸ੍ਰੀਮਾਨ
੧੦੯ ਮਹੰਤ ਕਰਮ ਚੰਦ
ਸਾਹਿਬ ਜੀ ਸ਼ਾਹ ਜੀਵਣ
ਵਾਲਿਉ ਕੇ ਉਪਕਾਰ
ਸੇ ਬਣਿਆ ਸਮਤ
੧੯੯੫
ایہ ٹکانڑاں سریمان
109 مہنت کرم چند
صاحب جی شاہ جیونڑ
والیوں کے اُپکار
سے بنڑیاں سمت
1995 (1938 ء)
This lodging / abode was constructed with the favours of sir Mahant Karam Chand
sahib ji shah ji, in Samat 1995 (1938 AD)
੧ ਓ ਸਤਿ ਗੁਰਪਰਸਾਦ
One True God - Obtained by Guru's Grace
ਅਵਹੁ ਸਜਣਾ ਹਉ ਦੇਖਾ ਦਰਸਨ ਤੇਰਾ
ਰਾਮ
Come my beloved God, let me now look at you God
ਝਾੰਗ ਟਿਕਾਣਾ ਸਾਹਿਬ ਸ੍ਰੀਮਨ ੧੦੯ ਸੰਤ ਭਾਈ ਹੇਮਾ ਸਾਹਿਬ ਜੀ ਮਾਘਿਆਨਾ
ਦਰਵਜੇ ਦੀ ਸੇਵਾ ਕਰਾਈ ਸਵਾਇਵਾ ਰਾਮ ਤਾਣੇਕਾ ਤਿਸ ਦੀ ਸੁਪਤਨੀ ਗੋਬਿੰਦ ਕੌਰ
ਅਈਏ ਜੀ ਅਇਆਂ ਨੂ ੧੯੯੫ ਸਤਿਨਾਮ ਸ੍ਰੀ ਵਾਹਿਗੁਰੂ
1اونکار ست گرپرساد
آہو سجڑاں اہو دکھان درسن تیرا
رام
جھنگ ٹکانڑاں صاحب سریمان 109 سنت بھائی ہیما صاحب جی مگھیانا
دروازے دی سیوا کرائی سوائیا رام تنیجا تِس دی سُپتنی گوبند کور
آئیے جی آیاں نوں 1995 (1938ء) ستنام سری واہِ گرو
Jhang Lodging of Sant bhai Hema Singh ji Maghiana
The service for the door was rendered by Gobind Kaur wife of Ram Taneja
1995 (1938 AD)
The imposing door of the building. An election poster is partially hiding the decorations. (13.072017.)
A closer view of the main door. (13.072017.)
੧ ਓ ਸਤਿ ਗੁਰਪਰਸਾਦ
(One True God - Obtained by Guru's Grace)
ਦੀਨਿ ਦੀਨਿ ਚਾੜੇ ਸਵਇਆ ਨਾਨਕ ਹੋਤਿਨ ਘਟ
(Day by day he prospers O Nanak, he shall not fail)
ਸ੍ਰੀਮਾਨ ਮਹੰਤ ਕਰਮ ਚੰਦ ਜੀ ਦੀ ਰਹੀ ਇਸ ਡੇਓਢੀ
ਦੀ ਸੇਵਾ ਕਰਾਈ ੨੧੦੦ ਇਕਿ ਸੋ ਰੁਪਿਅ ਅਰਦਾਸ ਕਰਾਈ
ਭਾਈ ਸਵਾਇਅ ਰਾਮ ਤਨੇਜਾ ਸਪੁਤਰ ਭਾਈ ਚਰਨ ਦਾਸ
ਜੀ ਦੇ ਟਿਕਾਨਾ ਭਾਈ ਹੇਮ ਰਾਮ ਸਾਹਿਬ ਜੀ ਮਿਘਾਨ
ਸੰਮਤ ੧੯੯੦ ਬਕ੍ਰਮੀ ਵੇਸਾਖ ੩
1 اونکار ست گرپرساد
دن دن چڑے سوائیا نانک ہوتِن گھٹ
سریمان مہنت کرم چند جی دی راہی اس ڈیوڈھی
دی سیوا کرائی 2100 اکی سو روپیہ ارداس کرائی
بھائی سوائیا رام تنیجا سپُتر بھائی چرن داس
جی دے ٹکانہ بھائی ہیم رام صاحب جی مگھان
سمت 1995 بکرمی وِساکھ 3
Bhai Savaia Ram Taneja, rendered a serivce of Rs 2100/- for this lodging of
Bhai Hem Ram Sahib ji Maghan, for the sake of Mahant Karam Chand ji.
Samat 1995 Bikrami Wesakh 3 (April, 1938)
The following are a few pictures of the narrow streets around the dharmshala. Showing its outer walls, with windows.
On the western outskirts of the city, I made a chance discovery of a striking building crowned with a dome. Most probably a gurdwara, it is almost a century old and a fine specimen of Sikh architecture. A plaque indicates that it was built in the early years of the 20th century. Even after a hundred years and seven decades of neglect, it still retains much of its beauty and grandeur. The building stands in a courtyard surrounded by rooms on all sides, now inhabited by a few families. This gurdwara is located at 31°16'30.28"N, 72°17'55.35"E.
The gurdwara with its beautiful dome. (13.07.2017.)
A plaque above the door of a room. (13.072017.)
੧ ਓ ਸਾਤ ਗੁਰਪਰਸਾਦ
___ਤਸ ਭਵ _____ਹੋਈ
_____________
ਆਜ ਜੁਗਾਦੀ ਰਖਦਾ ਸਚ ਨਾਮ ਕਰਤਾਰ
ਅਨੰਦ _________________
ਸ੍ਰੀਮਾਨ ____________ ਸਿੰਘ
____________ ਇਸ ਕੁਟਿਆ
ਦੀ ___________________
ਰਾਮਚੌਦਰੀ ______ਦਿਅਲ ਨਾਰੰਗ
ਮਿਤੀ __੧੫ ਸੰ: ੧੯੭੩
1 اونکار ست گرپرساد
__تِس بھاو _______ ہوئی _____
آج جُگادی رکھدا سچ نام کرتار
آنند_____________________
سریمان _____________سنگھ
_________________اس کٹیا
دی____________________
رام چودھری ______دیال نارنگ
متی ___15 سمت 1973 (1916 ء)
Ek Onkar Satgur Prasad
_____ tis bhav ________hoi ______
Aaj jugadi rakhda sach naam kartaar
(From beginning to present the True Name of the Creator has saved us)
Anand ____________________
Sriman _______________ Singh
___________________ iss kutia
di________________________
Ram Chaudhri _____ Dayal Narang
Miti ___15 Samvat 1973 (1916 AD)
The gurdwara is located in a vast courtyard. (13.072017.)
A closer look. (13.072017.)
Some old rooms one side of the gurdwara. (13.072017.)
The beauty of the structure is quite visible even today. (13.07.2017.)
The main entrance. (13.072017.)
Another view from the outside. (13.072017.)
The above three
buildings show the rich architectural heritage of Jhang city. There are many
more such examples, some of which I shall present to you in my next post
about Jhang City. At the end, I would like to sincerely thank
Dr. Tarunjit Singh Butalia, who was very helpful in reading the inscriptions in Gurmukhi, especially translating some Sabds from Guru Granth Sahib, the holy book of the Sikh religion. Dr Singh is currently residing in the USA and is actively engaged in promoting interfaith harmony and peace. He has a special relationship with Pakistan, as his ancestors were natives of Butala Jhanda Singh, near Gujranwala. You can see the details in the following post:
http://pakgeotagging.blogspot.com/2018/11/094-butala-sardar-jhanda-singh.html
October 6, 2019.
Doha - Qatar. 
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