observed in Lahore

Puneet Pal Singh Gill
The Tribune July 12 2012

A Lahore-based NGO, Friends of Ganga Ram (FGR) has observed the death anniversary of Sir Ganga Ram, an Indian philanthropist and agriculturist, at his samadhi in Samadhi Ganga Ram area located in the heart of Lahore city yesterday.

Ironically, Sir Ganga Ram's samadhi is in a dilapidated condition and the FGR has vowed to take care of it, besides raising this issue with the Pakistani government.

Sir Ganga Ram had passed away in London on July 10, 1927. His body was cremated there, but his ashes were brought back to India. A portion of the ashes was consigned to the Ganga river and the rest was buried at this place in Lahore.

It was on July 6 this year that a group of friends, including SQ Mehdi from Punjab Lok Sujãg, Amjad Salim Minhas of Sãnjh publications, Qaisar Abbas from Punjab Lok Rahs and some others got together to form the FGR.  

Speaking to the Tribune over the phone from Lahore, Mehdi, a member of FGR, said philanthropists should be remembered irrespective of their caste, colour or creed.

He was the "father of modern Lahore". This man contributed so much to the Punjab and now no one really remembered him, he said, adding that it is sad that his samadhi had been neglected by the government.

"That is why we decided to form the FGR and work in this direction so that every body in Pakistan knows who Sir Ganga Ram was. The social movement started by him should be continued. The FGR has decided to look after Sir Ganga Ram's samadhi and other historical places in the city.

“I have come to know that a few years ago, his great granddaughter had visited Sir Ganga Ram Hospital of Lahore and was saddened to see its plight. She had donated a large sum of money to the hospital, but not many in Lahore know about this fact," said Mehdi.

"It is not just the responsibility of the government but also of the citizens to take care of these historical places. We have demanded from our government that funds generated from Ganga Pur Power Station be given to Sir Ganga Ram Trust so that places related to him can be taken care of," Mehdi said, adding: "Our NGO will also celebrate his birth anniversary in April next year by organising a seminar, dance and drama festival and other such activities".

More about Sir Ganga Ram

Sir Ganga Ram was born in Mangtanwala (now in Sheikhupura district) in 1851. While starting his career as an assistant engineer in 1873, he designed the Lyallpur (now Faisalabad) district courts complex, Lahore Museum, Aitchison College, Mayo School of Arts (now the NCA), Ganga Ram Hospital, Lady Mclagan Girls High School, the Albert Victor wing of Mayo Hospital, the Hailey College of Commerce and Lady Maynard Industrial School. He also designed and constructed Model Town, Lahore. He purchased thousands acres of barren land in Lyallpur and by using engineering skills and modern irrigation methods, turned the arid lands into fertile fields.

[Edited for apnaorg.com]