105 - A Tour of Jhang City 2: A Few Glimpses of Pre-partition Era

In my previous post I shared a few examples of rich architectural heritage of Jhang from pre-partition era. Here I am sharing a few more. Roaming about narrow alleys of the old part of Jhang was a fascinating experience.  

On the edge of the old city, on Circular road I saw a primary school. Its significance lies in the fact that it was built by the Hindu community of the city. On the front wall of the school I found a few plaques that give information about the people who generously donated money to build this school.  My colleague Mr Sameer Kashinath was very helpful in reading these plaques. But the problem was that the years given on the plaques were not easy to understand. According to Mr Sameer, after the independence Hindi writing has undergone some changes, especially the numerals. But later on I realized that the numbers are neither Hindi nor Sanskrit, but Gurmukhi. That solved the problem. This school is located at  31°16'46.21"N, 72°18'40.12"E. 

گورنمنٹ ماڈل ایم-سی پرائمری سکول نمبر 6

جھنگ صدر

Government Model MC (Municipal Corporation) Primary School No. 6

Jhang Sadr (13.07.2019.) 

An inscription in Hindi / Sanskrit at the main entrance of the school. Thought some alphabets are quite visible, but I could make no sense of them. (13.07.2019.) 

ऑम

श्रीमान सेठ दूनी चंद जी कटयाल ने स्वर्गीय पूज्य पिता 

ला. राम कौर जी की स्मृती में यह कमरा 510 रुपये से बनवाया 

सं: ੧੯੯੬  

اوم

شری مان سیٹھ دُونی چند جی کٹوال نے سَوَرگیئے پوجیئے پِتا

لالا رام کور جی کی سمرتی میں یہ کمرا 510 روپے سے بنوایا

سمت 1996 (1939 ء)

Om

Mr Seth Duni Chand ji Katwal, got constructed this room for Rs 510/-in memory of 

his heavenly abode father Lala Ram Kaur ji.

Samvat 1996 (1939 AD)

ऑम

परम साधवी श्रीमती नेतज माई माता 

ला.चन्द्र प्रकाश जी सपडा मे स्वर्गीय पती ला. देवी लाल जी

की स्मृती में ५१० रुपये मे यह कमरा बनवाया

सं: ੧੯੯੬

اوم

پرم سادھوی شریمتی نیتج مائی ماتا

لالا چندر پرکاش جی سپڈا نے سَوَرگیئے پتی لالا دیوی لال جی

 کی سمرتی میں 510 روپے میں یہ کمرا بنوایا

سن۔ 1996 (1939 ء)

Param Sadhvi Mrs Netaj Mai, mother of Lala Chandr Prkash ji Sapda, in memory of his 

heavenly abode husband Lala Devi Lal's memory got constructed this room in Rs 510.

Samvat 1996 (1939 AD)

ऑम

यह कमरा श्री १०८ स्वामी __हम दास जी वा. 

श्री १०੮ स्वामी शिव राम दास जी को स्मृती में 

कुटिया  प्रेमी भक्त मंडली ने ५००\ रुपये से बनवाया

सं:੧੯੯੬

اوم 

یہ کمرہ شری 108 سوامی --ہم داس جی وا۔

شری 108 سوامی شیو رام داس جی کی سمرتی میں

کٹیا پریمی بھ__منڈلی __ 500 روپے سے بنوایا

سن: 1996 (1939 ء)

This room was by Premi Bha___ circle/team in memory  of Swami Shiv Ram Das ji, 1996. 

 (1939 AD)

At a distance of just a hundred meters I saw another old building. This too was an educational institute and was also built int the same year, 1939. Unfortunately, a section of the writing is damaged and cannot be read. However, it is clear that it was a college. This building is located at  31°16'45.64"N, 72°18'43.98"E. Now some families are living in this building. 

An old college building in Jhang. (13.07.2019.)

The main entrance. (13.07.2019.)

ॐ

_________________कालिज विभाग

वेशख सं: १੯੯੬ 

اوم

_______________ کالج وبھاگ

وِساکھ سن: 1996 (1939 ء)

____________ Collge Deparmtne / Section

Wesakh Samvat: 1996 (1939 AD)

__________

यह कमरा

श्री मान ब्रज लाल जी खन्ना 

झांग निवासी ने भेंट किया

सं: ੧੯੯੬

یہ کمرا

شریمان برج لال جی کھنہ 

جھنگ نواسی نے بھینٹ کیا

سن: 1993 (1993 ء)

This room was donated by Mr Braj Lal ji Khanna, resident of Jhang. 

Samvat 1996 (1939 AD)

During this short excursion into Jhang city, I saw many alleys that still retain the air of a bygone era. You can see houses, with beautifully carved wooden doors and balconies. All these houses were around Nabina Markaz wali gali (Street of the centre for the blind) or Bank wali gali in  Bhabhrana Mohalla. 

੧ਓ  ਸਤਿ ਕਰਤਾਰ ਸਮਤ  ੧੯੭੦   

۱ اونکار ست کرتار  سمت 1970

(1 Onkar - Sat Kartar Samvat 1970 - 1913 AD)

Sahibzada Riaz Ahmad. He endured with patience the terrible heat throughout the day, and six hours of travel from and to Sargodha, just to give me company. (13.09.2019.)

مملوکہ مکان سیٹھ بشن داس حکم چند صاحب سہگل

म्मलुकह मकान सेठ बिशन दास हुकम चंद साहिब सहगल 

The house property of Seth Bishan Das Hukam Chand sahib Sehgal

An old shop in Jhang Bazar. (13.07.2019.)

A street in the Jhang Bazaar. (13.09.2019.)

As you can see in the pictures above, beautiful works of art are on display everywhere. These houses provide a great opportunity for those who are interested in studying architecture, especially the old traditional style of house building. 

Tariq Amir

October 12, 2019.

Doha - Qatar.