• English
    • en_USEnglish
    • en_GBEnglish
28 °c
26 ° Tue
26 ° Wed
26 ° Thu
26 ° Fri
Tuesday, January 31, 2023
Asiafreepress
Advertisement
  • Home
    • Latest
  • World
  • Asia
    • China
    • Pakistan
    • Afghanistan
    • India
    • Central Asia
  • News
  • Politics
  • Security
  • Law
  • Business
  • Review
    • Editorial
    • Analysis
    • Perspective
    • Literature
  • Science & Tech
  • Entertainment
    • Showbiz
    • Lifestyle
  • Sports
  • Multimedia
Breaking News
“No doubt the weather is not in favor of Kashmir, India will leave Kashmir,” Ambassador Asif Durrani avows in LFK webinar commemorating Kashmir’s Self-Determination DayToward Justice for KashmirSpeakers vouch for implementation of Chinese development model in PakistanChina has the capacity to reshape global order, its leadership has emerged as strongest in the world‘Well of Solutions’ or Problems: Why Reforming the UN is Critical
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
    • Latest
  • World
  • Asia
    • China
    • Pakistan
    • Afghanistan
    • India
    • Central Asia
  • News
  • Politics
  • Security
  • Law
  • Business
  • Review
    • Editorial
    • Analysis
    • Perspective
    • Literature
  • Science & Tech
  • Entertainment
    • Showbiz
    • Lifestyle
  • Sports
  • Multimedia
No Result
View All Result
Asiafreepress
No Result
View All Result
Home World

Tracing the Lost Glory of the City of Saints-Multan

Asia Free Press by Asia Free Press
September 25, 2021
in Perspective
0
Tracing the Lost Glory of the City of Saints-Multan

Shrine of Shah Rukn-e-Alam.

0
SHARES
27
VIEWS

The Golden City

Situated on the banks of River Chenab, Multan ranks as the 7th largest city of Pakistan. Having rested on decades of historical conquests and transformations, Multan remains the heart of Southern Punjab and a prominent cultural and economic center. Multan is the oldest city in Pakistan, dating back to the 7th century. It has witnessed the conquests of Ghaznavids, Alexander the Great, the Mughals, and so on. Given the ancient nature of the city, a famous Persian poet writes:

چهار چيز است تحفه در مولتان…..گرد وگرما گدا و گورستان

(Four things are Gifts of Multan. Dust, Summer, Saints, & Graveyards)

These poetic verses aptly encapsulate the essence of Multan by highlighting its arid yet windy climate and its decades-old relation with Islamic Mysticism and even Hinduism. For this, Multan is popularly known as “the city of saints.” The city not only served as a hub for Muslim saints, but before partition, Multan also used to be a spiritual destination for Hindus who resided here and even for those who traveled to the city to visit the sacred temples and shrines of their saints. If the history of Multan is studied, it is revealed that the city once radiated and thrived on inter-faith harmony. Many will be surprised to know that the Hindu festival of Holi originated from Multan. The Prahladpuri temple surviving to this day is a testimony to this fact.

Prahladpuri Temple, Multan before 1992.

 

Multan, the home of Sufism, has nurtured many shrines, temples, mosques, and ornate tombs. Among these, the shrines of Hazrat Baha-ud-Din Zakariya and Hazrat Shah Rukn-e-Alam are famous for their grandeur and unique architecture. Having historical roots, Multan’s culture is enriched with music, poetry, arts, and crafts. The city produces unique and traditional handicrafts such as blue pottery, Kashi tiles (blue glazed tiles), camel skin and bone lamps, Khussas (traditional shoes), and embroidered clothes. The city and region have given birth to icons of music and poetry.

 

Shrine of Shah Rukn-e-Alam.

Blue Pottery.

The Land Lost

 

Despite the historical significance and rich cultural landscape of Multan, the city’s relevance is on a decline. This can be gauged from the current condition of the walled city of Multan. The city used to have six gates but, due to neglect, has been reduced to only three. Many architects and urban planners agree that the historical decline began soon after partition when the indigenous Multanis migrated and new people settled in. This is true to a certain extent, but abandonment at the hands of our government and bad bureaucracy has added to the deteriorating nature of heritage in Multan. Nayyer Ali Dada, architect, and member of the heritage conservation board, exclaims that, “we have reached our rock bottom, and the problem is our rock bottom is quicksand. Thus, it doesn’t stop there; it keeps on going down”. With the out-migration of the natives and influx of new people, the value placed on heritage has also changed. This can be witnessed by the increasing nature of commercialization in the walled city of Multan. Entire neighborhoods and residences have been turned into warehouses and storage facilities. The relics of the past are now being used as engines of economic development.

Outside and Inside view of a residential building used as a warehouse.

 

Multan city and its Hindu temples stood as reminders of the interfaith harmony which once existed between Muslims and Hindus. After partition, these temples were reduced to the heritage of the minorities and were soon the victim of Muslims’ brewing intolerance and bigotry. The 1992 Babri Masjid demolition fueled extremist sentiments across the border, and the period following this witnessed the destruction and wreckage of many Hindu shrines and temples.

The Sun Temple in shambles due to negligence of authorities.

Ahmad Tahir—architect, urban planner, and resident of Multan—expressed that the lack of infrastructural investment and development in Multan has also added to the city’s decline.

According to him, provincial government and municipalities lack the power to make decisions that involve the demands and wishes of people. Ad hoc based development initiatives are being taken, which reflect the ignorance of the on ground reality of people and the city. He highlighted how authorized discourse around heritage only promotes monumentality, grand scale, and the idea of inheritance, which means that preservation efforts for historical sites are only made for commodification. This further complicates the scenario for locals as the tourist potential of historical sites is prioritized, whereby meanings and cultural values associated with the natives and locals are overlooked. Even the efforts to protect and preserve heritage are half-baked, and the National Antiquities Act of 1975 is an example. An act that has been passed in the spirit of conservation ironically only protects heritage sites in the city which are more than 75 years old.

In addition, to revitalize and reinvigorate the spirit of heritage, international actors are being involved. In Multan and its walled city heritage, “Sustainable, Social, Economic and Environmental Revitalization” of the Walled City Multan project (SSEER) was initiated between Italy and Pakistan governments. Such initiatives only act to undermine and exploit historical areas’ tourist potential, whereas efforts to benefit the residents of these places are further overlooked. It is ironic how the government aims to foster tourism in the city when it cannot support it. Dr. Muzammil, a tour operator in Multan, said “that few people are interested in visiting the city due to poor facilities, costly accommodation, and negligence by the authorities”. Multan in its current state only attracts religious tourism whereby devotees

make their way to different shrines to pay homage to their pledged saints, he added

 

A residential street showing poor sanitation and waste management .

However, religious tourism has also suffered a decline due to increased terrorist activities and sectarian violence. Thus, the relevance of the city in the present and its tourist potential paints a gloomy picture whereby its ancient and historical nature is losing traction

Tags: MultanSaintsShrine
Previous Post

US Spent Over $2 Trillion to Hunt Its Most Expensive Enemy

Next Post

Kashmir Dispute: Exploring the Humanitarian Dimension

Asia Free Press

Asia Free Press

Next Post
Kashmir Dispute: Exploring the Humanitarian Dimension

Kashmir Dispute: Exploring the Humanitarian Dimension

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Stay Connected test

  • Trending
  • Comments
  • Latest
Jammu Genocide: Forgotten human carnage of disputed region

Jammu Genocide: Forgotten human carnage of disputed region

November 6, 2021
Heroic Tale of a Pakistani SULTAN in 1971 War

Heroic Tale of a Pakistani SULTAN in 1971 War

December 1, 2021
Indian forces kill under trial inmate in staged encounter in Kashmir

Indian forces kill under trial inmate in staged encounter in Kashmir

October 26, 2021
Peace, development make way to Xinjiang. Experts reject US allegations of genocide in Xinjiang China

Peace, development make way to Xinjiang. Experts reject US allegations of genocide in Xinjiang China

November 26, 2021
Pakistan summons Indian diplomat over killing of Muslims  in Assam

Pakistan summons Indian diplomat over killing of Muslims in Assam

4
Jammu Genocide: Forgotten human carnage of disputed region

Jammu Genocide: Forgotten human carnage of disputed region

4
Peace, development make way to Xinjiang. Experts reject US allegations of genocide in Xinjiang China

Peace, development make way to Xinjiang. Experts reject US allegations of genocide in Xinjiang China

3
India’s senior army officer booked on rape charges

India’s senior army officer booked on rape charges

3
“No doubt the weather is not in favor of Kashmir, India will leave Kashmir,” Ambassador Asif Durrani avows in LFK webinar commemorating Kashmir’s Self-Determination Day

“No doubt the weather is not in favor of Kashmir, India will leave Kashmir,” Ambassador Asif Durrani avows in LFK webinar commemorating Kashmir’s Self-Determination Day

January 6, 2023
Toward Justice for Kashmir

Toward Justice for Kashmir

December 19, 2022
Speakers vouch for implementation of Chinese development model in Pakistan

Speakers vouch for implementation of Chinese development model in Pakistan

October 25, 2022
China has the capacity to reshape global order, its leadership has emerged as strongest in the world

China has the capacity to reshape global order, its leadership has emerged as strongest in the world

October 14, 2022

Recent News

“No doubt the weather is not in favor of Kashmir, India will leave Kashmir,” Ambassador Asif Durrani avows in LFK webinar commemorating Kashmir’s Self-Determination Day

“No doubt the weather is not in favor of Kashmir, India will leave Kashmir,” Ambassador Asif Durrani avows in LFK webinar commemorating Kashmir’s Self-Determination Day

January 6, 2023
Toward Justice for Kashmir

Toward Justice for Kashmir

December 19, 2022
Speakers vouch for implementation of Chinese development model in Pakistan

Speakers vouch for implementation of Chinese development model in Pakistan

October 25, 2022
China has the capacity to reshape global order, its leadership has emerged as strongest in the world

China has the capacity to reshape global order, its leadership has emerged as strongest in the world

October 14, 2022
Asiafreepress

Follow Asia Free Press (AFP) on Twitter, Facebook, Linkedin, Youtube and Instagram for the latest news from China, Pakistan, Afghanistan, India, Kashmir and across Asia.

Follow Us

Photo Gallery

Quick Links

  • Submission Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us

Stay in Touch

To be updated with all the latest news, offers, and special announcements.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
    • Latest
  • World
  • Asia
    • China
    • Pakistan
    • Afghanistan
    • India
    • Central Asia
  • News
  • Politics
  • Security
  • Law
  • Business
  • Review
    • Editorial
    • Analysis
    • Perspective
    • Literature
  • Science & Tech
  • Entertainment
    • Showbiz
    • Lifestyle
  • Sports
  • Multimedia

en_USEnglish (United States)
en_GBEnglish (UK) en_USEnglish (United States)