Gujrat –kal aur aaj

Posted on February 3, 2010
Filed Under >S.A.J. Shirazi, Travel
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S.A.J. Shirazi

While cities are dynamic centres of creativity, commerce and culture, these benefits are often undercut by environmental problems, lack of civic amenities, inefficient governance, and administration. Centuries old historic city Gujrat is a classic example where one can see all the hazards of urbanization.

There are many tales about the remote origin of the place. As per one legend Gujrat was founded by daughter in law of famous Raja Rissalu. Like most historic cities it has been ruined and reconstructed many times in the era gone by. During the rule of Mughal King Akbar, it was called Akbarabad. The final battle between Sikhs and the British (under the command of Lord Gough) was fought here. In the centre of the town there are relics of Akbar’s Fort and a Bawli (bath house locally called Akbari Hamam) of the same period.

Commuter who prefer to drive on familiar and congested Grand Trunk Road (N5) rather than going on isolated Islamabad-Lahore Motorway pass through Gujrat city that has stretched from bridge on the River Chenab to the bridge on Bhimbar Flood Stream.

There is an airstrip in the suburbs of Gujrat from where fighter airplanes used to fly during World War II. Citizens learn driving on that disused strip these days. The people of Gujrat are motivated, ingenious, and industrious. These are outstanding characteristics of the people of Gujrat, which enable them not to be bogged down by status quo. During all Indo Pak wars, the people exhibited an exemplary courage and resilience. Nishan-e-Haider – highest gallantry military award – has been conferred upon many sons of the soils that are the testimony to the fact.

Gujrat is notable for ceramics, which brings to mind the fact that the town is the setting of the famous Panjabi romance about Sohni and Mahinwal. Folk lore has it that Sohni was a potter’s daughter who used to swim across the River to meet Mahinwal using a pot as a buoyancy aid. One night her jealous sister in law exchanged the pot for an unbaked one which dissolved in water.

On the other bank, Mahinwal, hearing Sohni’s wails jupmed into the water but was unable to save her. Unable to face the prospect of life without her, he also let himself go and joined her in death. The folk lore has been composed in Punjabi poetry and is sung where ever Punjabi language is spoken.

Besides ceramics, Gujrat is also famous for furniture items. Special furniture of international quality is made here and sold all over the country. This internationally acclaimed craft of the town needs an institutional patronization and an extensive efforts for international marketing. It can be a potent source of earning foreign exchange if attention is paid to and earnest efforts are made in this regards. Sadly, the ineptitude of those responsible for export promotion do not see this and the unique potentials are not being taped yet. Similarly the fan and shoes industries are also the town’s claim to fame.

As Gujrat began to evolve into a more industrialized town, it started growing without any planning. The rapid rate of population growth and torrent of migration from countryside have strained the capacity of basic civic services. The population of Gujrat has mushroomed; unplanned abadis have sprung up around town, which has spread much beyond the defined municipal limits. Result: town is facing problems like none existing sanitation, contaminated water supplies, air and noise pollution, encroachments and congested streets. Even the new bypass around the town is packed with traffic and lined with shops and houses on both sides.

The buss terminal was shifted out of the town but the town has already grown past the terminal. The public property where in the past used to be Government Transport Service Terminal still stands deserted right on the Grand Trunk Road.

There is an acute shortage of houses and the real state prices are skyrocketing. Since land is essential for urban growth, devising equitable and efficient land development policies is one of the major challenges facing planners and policy makers in the town.

Without any proper arrangements, people deposit their waste in streets, where domestic animals are also live freely, or at any open space they find. The streets are completely littered with trash. The toxic smoke from the garbage put on fire and stinking smell coming out of waste in the streets are making the lives of people increasingly miserable.

Animal transport is probably the most pervasive and most correctable problem of Gujrat. The common means of transport in the town is sturdy and inexpensive tonga. It is Gujrat’s vehicle of convenience, which has come to symbolize the town. The tongas (and rehris) move very slow and can not keep pace with other traffic – hence cause traffic congestion on dilapidated roads where right of way has already been reduced due to excessive encroachments. The district headquarters is without any public transport system so tongas are doing good business.

Lots of young boys are also seen holding the reins of horses put before the tongas overloaded with passengers and goods. Accidents involving animals (untrained, wild, or afraid horses or unwilling donkeys) are the commonest scenes on roads of the town. Much more than tongas and rehris registered with Municipal Committee come from the suburbs to do the business in the town every day.

The units of fan industry are spread in the residential areas. The tar-coal drums, electric wires, and old tyres are burnt in order to separate the iron from them in furnaces inside the residential areas that emit poisonous gases. Town traffic and heavy traffic plying on Grand Trunk Road also add to the air (and noise) pollution in this soot-choked town. These gases are very harmful for human health.

A short walk in the town reveals the neglect of all concerned. The town of saints, powerful political families, actors, and spirited people may be managed efficiently with a little attention and futuristic planning.

A lot has changed in historic Gujrat city. Some for good and some for bad. The city however, still deserves a visit from a causal as well as a planned visitor. Do make a stop over here on your next visit. You will be in for a treat.

16 responses to “Gujrat –kal aur aaj

  1. JQ says:

    Every time I go to Gujrat, I feel it is a different place. But in the air is always present a very conspicuous sadness. That many of its ‘sons’ abandoned it for better prospects. That lazy, insecure sense always dominates. And even the good, the industry, the better(but still not great) roads, the access to modern facilities is drowned by the inability of rulers and citizens alike to keep the city clean and safe. It is becoming WAY too congested as rightly pointed out and if things are not put into check, there may be irreparable damage to a historic city.

    The security situation is not too flattering either. My village is there, and I can safely (pun intended) say that it is NOT a safe place to step out of your homes after dark. It just isn’t safe. Period.

  2. Q says:

    I dont understand why Ikhlaq has bring in his biased and one sided political views in when we are talking about our Gujrat. Gujrat has been in the thick of all thing political way before the independnec of Pakistan. We all know very well what the other side of the political coin looks like in Gujrat, so better left it at that.
    My respect to who ever is doing a good deed including Ikhlaq’s father in law. I wonder if he would have known about Mr Rathore ( like many in Gujrat) if he were not his father in law?

  3. Ikhlaq says:

    I would like to add that the article though short is very good.

    Though there are a few facts that you missed out like the Chaudhry’s of Gujrat. A family with very deep and historical connections to Pakistan’s Military Ruler. :-

    Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain President of the Pakistan Muslim League, has been in politics for over 25 years. The Chaudhry clan of Gujarat, who have always been known to support the military establishment. And, not surprisingly, their biradari tops the list of those political families of Pakistan who have been the main beneficiaries of all military regimes. They have served the military establishment loyally since the days of General Ayub Khan, when Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain’s father, Chaudhry Zahoor Elahi, was appointed secretary-general of the Convention Muslim League that had been cobbled together by the military dictator to serve his interests.

    Hussain’s father, Chaudhry Zahoor Elahi, a police constable in pre-Partition days, came from the lower middle class and had no political background. After the birth of Pakistan, he bought a textile mill and, in the early 1950s, entered local politics with the support of a local influential person namely Chaudhry Fazl Elahi who went on to become president of the country when Zulfikar Ali Bhutto was prime minister.

    I have also got connections to a wonderful man from Mohallahkhawagan called Masood Sarwar Rathore (My Father-in-law) who has been honored with the Quaid De Azam Gold Medal but turned it down and also turned down the Gold Medal from Hazour Elahi . His reason for this is that he felt that the only reward you need is from Allah (swt).

    I have pictures of him with Zulfikar Ali Bhutto at Larkana. Also pictures of M.S. Rathore with Muratza in Gujrat when he came to visit my Father-in-law. At Shahnawaz Bhutto’s funeral standing next to Benazir.

    So all in all a wonderful man that is still very much involved with the community in helping the poor with the dispensary that he pays for, Doctors included. Doing this while still living in the modest home that his Grandfather and Father built.

    When I asked him why he said materialism for the greedy and that he will leave the house feet first and only go with his deeds. As everything will be left behind.

    To leave on a lighter note there is one other person who went to Gujrat Boys College who has gone on to become someone very exemplary and that is Abrar Ul-Haq who still goes to Gujrat every so often to meet a very good friend of his. I could tell you his name but the Mr Lawyer Shaib would not be happy with the publicity.

    So once again just to say thank you.

  4. asdf says:

    Thank you for your great article. I also must say that your layout is a pleasure to view. Keep up the good work.

  5. shahran says:

    Gujrat northern limit is bordered by Bhimber mountains. Beyond that , it is Azad Kashmir’s Bhimbher region.

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