Aram Bagh

آرام باغ
Locality
Aram Bagh Mosque, built across from Aram Bagh Park by Muslim refugees from India following Partition
Aram Bagh Mosque, built across from Aram Bagh Park by Muslim refugees from India following Partition
Coordinates: 24°48′36″N 67°01′30″E / 24.8099°N 67.0251°E / 24.8099; 67.0251
Country Pakistan
ProvinceSindh
CityKarachi
Government
 • ConstituencyNA-247 (Karachi South-II)
 • National Assembly MemberAftab Siddiqui (PTI)

Aram Bagh (Urdu: آرام باغ meaning Garden of relaxation), formerly known as Ram Bagh (Urdu: رام باغ meaning Garden of Ram)[1] is a neighborhood located in historic center of Karachi, Pakistan that was built around the Aram Bagh Park. Aram Bagh has a high concentration of listed and protected heritage buildings, with many in a good state of conservation.

History

There has been an abundance of water in the Ram Bagh area of Karachi since ancient times and many wells were dug here to supply water to the residents that settled around it. According to Hindu belief, the Hindu avatars Ram, Sita and Lakshman stayed at this location on their way to Hinglaj pilgrimage after spending 14 years in a jungle.[2][3][4][5] Since that time, Ram Bagh became a place of pilgrimage for Hindus.[3][6] Arif Hasan claims Karachi was called Ramya in some Greek texts.[3]

The British built an army cantonment in Ram Bagh area after they conquered Karachi from the Kalmati in 1839. The Ram Bagh Quarter had three water tanks, including a prominent one named the Rambagh Tank,[3] which was 9 acres in size.[2] The British named the entire locality as Ram Bagh after this water tank.[2] Wells in Ram Bagh were used to supply the British Cantonment to the east.[2] During the 1857 Mutiny against British rule, rebels were blasted by canons by the British forces in Ram Bagh.

In 1939, Deewan Jethanand built Ram Bagh -a park positioned near Swami Narayan temple, which is located on the nearby Burns Road.[7] Ram Bagh was used for Hindu religious gatherings and celebrations, as well as political gatherings.[8] The Ramlila story was enacted in Ram Bagh annually which lasted ten days.[9]

During the partition of British India in 1947, some homes of the Hindu community in Ram Bagh were looted;[10] during this time, thousands of Muslim refugees from India set up camps in Ram Bagh and it was renamed as Aram Bagh i.e. Garden of relaxation,[3] to mark the end of their arduous journey to Pakistan. The area is still home to about 40 Hindu families, who report good relations with their Muslim neighbors.[11]

Religious sites

The Shiv Mandir is located in Aram Bagh and is open on Monday evenings.[12] It was built by Astan Shrimati Hajeebai in memory of Ram Mangat Ram, her husband.[12] Aram Bagh is also home to the Rameshwar Mahadev Mandir, built in the 1920s and still in use.[13] In the past, Ram Bagh also contained the Ram Chandur Temple, among three other mandirs, each of which were "situated at the four corners of the Tank."[14]

Aram Bagh Masjid, as well as the Shiv Mandir and Swami Narayan Mandir, are located in the Aram Bagh area.[7][12][6] The Aram Bagh Masjid was built in Aram Bagh, atop the stage on which Ramlila performances occurred, by the Muslims refugees that settled around the Aram Bagh.[15]

Aram Bagh is also home to a functioning Sikh temple, the Guru Nanak Satsang Sabha Gurdwara, built in 1935, which serves the small Sikh community of Aram Bagh as well as Nanakpanthi Hindus[13] The Gurdwara had come under of Hindu residents until 2016, when the Pakistani Supreme Court ordered it to be handed back to the Sikh community.[13]

Heritage buildings


As per the Sindh Directorate of Antiquities:[16]

Protected

  • Shahab Mansion
  • Wasim Mansion
  • Rooman Building
  • Sobhraj Chetumal Maternity House
  • Sindh Wildlife Building
  • Y. M. C. A. Building
  • National Academy of Performing Art (Hindu Gymkhana)
  • Aiwan-e-Saddar
  • Muslim Gymkhana
  • Old State Bank Building (Victoria Museum)
  • D. J. Sindh Government Science College Extension
  • N. E. D University City Campus
  • D. J College (Deyaram Jethmal College)
  • Geetumal (Giddu Mall) Building
  • Ather Mansion
  • DMD Trust Building
  • Dr. Khan Building
  • Sarnagati Building
  • P. K. Shahani Building
  • Badruddin Building
  • Sitakunj Building
  • Salika Company
  • Sewa Kunj Hostel
  • Mendoza Building
  • Raza Library Building/Kashif Manzil
  • Lucky Chambers
  • Manzoor Sons Building
  • Jamila Nighat Maternity Home (Dhani Ram Sons)
  • Hasan Manzil
  • Log Ram Building
  • Zainab Manzil
  • Saify Electric Trading Co.
  • Markaz-e-Ehl-e-Sunnat
  • Shams Light House
  • Sadik Manzil
  • Yousuf Manzil
  • Abu Bakar Siddique Manzil
  • Haji Ibrahim Building
  • Mollai (Bhagwani) Mansion
  • Opal Building
  • Talpur Building
  • Gul Trading Company Building
  • Coffee House (Wassumal) Building
  • Sami Chambers
  • Awan Lodge
  • Sindh Zamindar Hotel
  • Zubaida Mansion
  • Dost Manzil
  • Wadhumal Deumal Panchayat Trust Building
  • J. M. B. Girls School (Sita Ram Building)
  • Haridas Lalji Building
  • Bhojraj Building
  • Shikarpuri Mansion (Ceasor Building)
  • Darul-Ishaat (Tayyab Ali) Building
  • Hassan Ali (Lekhra) Building
  • Bholchund Zehra Building
  • Thakurdas Building (Zarina Manzil)
  • Bhojaj Building
  • Sheikha Building
  • Ganga Ram Building
  • Malkani Mansion
  • Rehman Dental Clinic Building
  • Azfar Mansion (Rehman Building)
  • Thakurdas Building (Thakur Singh Building)
  • Mukhi Wadhumal Building
  • Government Veterinary Hospital (Richmond Crawford Dispensary)
  • Dawakhana Hakim Ajmal Khan
  • China Amersi Building
  • Domed Structure at intersection of Rattan Street and Satsing Shivan Street
  • Qadeer Brothers Building
  • Hotel Home (Lahori) Building
  • Mehmood Library (China Amersi)
  • Silver House
  • Rehmat Building
  • Fatima Manzil
  • Jahangir Game Company Building
  • Saeeda Manzil

Unprotected

  • Old Shahani Building
  • Anubehar Building
  • Premkunj Building
  • Alfalah Manzil
  • Naveen Mansion
  • Haji Manzoor Building
  • Afundi Manzil
  • Karachi Mansion
  • Ramkrishan/ Nawab Manzil
  • Khan Mansion
  • KB Noori Building
  • Sugan Mansion
  • Shams Manzil
  • Saheli Mansion
  • Jamnadas Building
  • Moti Ram Building
  • Madan Mohan Teckchand Building
  • Mohandas Tekamdas Building
  • Rais Manzil
  • Wazir Ali Building
  • Wazir Ashraf Building
  • Darul Aman
  • New Lekhraj
  • Muhammad Ali Building
  • Mama Parsi Building
  • Bholchund Building
  • Kalavati Nivass
  • Ahmed Ali, Akber Ali Building
  • Asnand Khatori Building
  • Aziz Mehel
  • Narayan Gopal Building
  • Shakeel Mansion/Chaki Compound
  • Government Boys Primary School
  • Ramchandra Temple

See also

References

  1. ↑ Khalid, Haroon (4 August 2017). "What's in a name? In Pakistan, it could be an attempt to deface (and reclaim) history". Scroll.in.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "From Rambagh to Arambagh". www.thenews.com.pk. Retrieved 2020-04-02.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 "Infiltration by the gods". The Sunday Indian. 19 July 2009. Archived from the original on 7 July 2017. Retrieved 14 January 2013. According to Kaleemullah Lashari, Sindh Antiquities Department Secretary, Prior to the Partition, Arambagh was Rambagh, and there was a cluster of temples here. The temples were built in the garden where, according to Hindu mythology, Ram and Sita spent a night while on their way to Hinglaj for offering thanks, after Ram completed 14 years of exile in the jungle with Lakshman and Sita, following court intrigues. Till the 20th century, the area was called Rambagh. It was converted into a refugee camp after 1947 and named Arambagh. ... According to Hasan, Hinglaj is one of the seven places most sacred to Hindu. In fact, lore has it that after Ram rescued Sita from the demon king Ravana, they went to the Mahadev temple in Karachi and spent a night at this Bagh hence the name. After that Rambagh became a place of pilgrimage too, Hasan said. Karachi itself is also known as Ramya in some Greek texts, he added. Eminent conservation architect and town planner Yasmeen Lari points out that closely following the boundaries of the Artillery Maidan Quarter was the Rambagh Quarter, which boasted three water tanks, including the Rambagh Tank, giving the quarter its name.
  4. ↑ Hasan, Arif (2002). Understanding Karachi: Planning and Reform for the Future. City Press. ISBN 978-969-8380-60-1.
  5. ↑ Akhtar Balouch (10 January 2014). "The story of Ram Bagh". Dawn. The religious books of Hinduism have it about this ground that Ram had spent a night here during his journey to Hinglaj (Balochistan).
  6. 1 2 "City Landmarks – Aram Bagh". The Karachi Walla. 20 December 2010. Aram Bagh or Ram Bagh as it supposedly was known prior to partition was famously visited by Ram and Site en route to Hinglaj from Mahadev Temple. For obvious reason the place turned into a pilgrimage site for Hindus and many temples were built to mark the holiness of the area.
  7. 1 2 Akhtar Balouch (10 January 2014). "The story of Ram Bagh". Dawn. An office bearer of a Hindu social organisation told me on guarantee of anonymity that this Ram Bagh is located near the Swami Narayan temple. Ram Bagh was a park. What the Swami Narayan temple has for us in its history is a tale for another time. The office bearer told me that it was in 1939 that a Hindu, Deewan Jethanand who had made the construction of Ram Bagh possible. The place still exists by the temple on Burne's Road.
  8. ↑ Akhtar Balouch (10 January 2014). "The story of Ram Bagh". Dawn. On page 738, he writes, "Ram Bagh is an old, historic ground in Karachi. Parts of the ground have a bit of grass, while some flower beds can also be seen. Before the partition, this ground was always reserved for Hindu religious events and gatherings. However, sometimes it was also used for political gatherings."
  9. ↑ Akhtar Balouch (10 January 2014). "The story of Ram Bagh". Dawn. Before and after the partition, Ram Leela (the story of Ram) was presented on stage in Karachi. Ram Bagh was the place where the theatre was usually held. From Ram's exile to his return home, every event of the tale was presented through dramatic art. ... Where was this Ram Bagh in Karachi, a centre for Ram Leela every year? Imagine a 10-day long theatrical event on Hinduism in Karachi.
  10. ↑ Akhtar Balouch (10 January 2014). "The story of Ram Bagh". Dawn. Later, the riots slowly spread to the Top Khana Maindan and Ram Bagh, where some homes of the Hindu community were looted.
  11. ↑ "Aram Bagh: a stronghold of diversity and pluralism in the heart of Karachi". www.thenews.com.pk. Archived from the original on 2019-08-26. Retrieved 2020-04-02. "At present, around 40 Hindu families reside in Aram Bagh. And some families have moved to other parts of the city." He says Hindus have good relationships with other communities. "Most Hindus are business partners with Muslims. They even attend each other's social gatherings, especially when someone gets married or passes away." Lakhwani says he has never witnessed someone disturbing Hindus. "We understand that both communities have been living here together in harmony for decades, so none of us can even think of anything against each other." He recalls that the first custodian of the Rameshwar Mahadev Mandir, Arjandas T Aswani, was born in Aram Bagh; he was educated at the NJV School, where he later served as a teacher. "Aswaniji was on good terms with the then imam of the Jamia Masjid. They used to sit together to discuss social issues."
  12. 1 2 3 "Infiltration by the gods". The Sunday Indian. 19 July 2009. Archived from the original on 7 July 2017. Retrieved 14 January 2013. Behind Arambagh, in the heart of Karachi city is a small, obscure and faceless Shiv temple that remains closed six days a week. It remains locked except on Monday evenings for a short while, said a hawker who sits outside the temple. Requesting anonymity, he said: I have been here for the last 18 years but have seen it open only on Monday evening. The temple was built by Astan Shrimati Hajeebai in memory of her husband Seth Ochi Ram Mangat Ram, it says in Sindhi language on a small foundation stone in the temple.
  13. 1 2 3 "Aram Bagh: a stronghold of diversity and pluralism in the heart of Karachi". www.thenews.com.pk. Retrieved 2020-04-02.
  14. ↑ "Infiltration by the gods". The Sunday Indian. 19 July 2009. Archived from the original on 7 July 2017. Retrieved 14 January 2013. Prominent architect and academic Yasmin Cheema points out that Rambagh, spread over nine acres, contained three tanks, the Ram Chandur Temple and several wells. The most famous of the three tanks was Rambagh. Later, the wells of the area supplied water to the British army camp, as well as its cantonment, according to Cheema. Most of the wells are located within the Tank while five are distributed along its periphery, another 10 are scattered in a five-acre irregularly-shaped compound to the north, which also included one of the four temples situated at the four corners of the Tank.
  15. ↑ Akhtar Balouch (10 January 2014). "The story of Ram Bagh". Dawn. The Ram Bagh is still there but it does not host any more Ram Leela performances. The stage where the acts were performed is now replaced by a mosque.
  16. ↑ "RAM BAGH QUARTER MARCH 2008". www.antiquities.sindhculture.gov.pk. Retrieved 2020-04-02.
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