Homecoming of the offspring

It seems like I have already been here, says Kesha Ram

LAHORE: I am sure that many people still laud the wonderful services of Sir Ganga Ram towards the development of modern-day Lahore, said his great-great-granddaughter, Kesha Ram Hinsdale, at the Alhamra Art Centre.

Kesha Ram, a member of the US Senate, along with her husband had come to Lahore recently for a week on the invitation of a private institution in a move to reestablish ties between the city’s founding family and the region. In actuality, it was the first time that any member of the famous Lahore builder had ever visited Pakistan.

Kesha also visited the home that her ancestor had built, but was unable to dwell in it due to the partition of India in 1947. She had heard many tales from her grandmother about the house, so she was excited to see it for herself. “My grandma used to frequently discuss the Lahore house’s two kitchens, swimming pool, and veranda. This may be because the home is a woman’s domain, and she had always owned it. Even though she lived in Delhi, Bombay, London, and other places, she frequently talked about her Lahore house”, said Kesha Ram. “It seems like I have already been here as I had heard so much about it”, she added.

Although Ganga Ram utilised his time and expertise for the construction of his own house, he dedicated his life towards creating a model of an inclusive society. “He designed and built the Model Town of Lahore, which was truly a model”, she opined. “He envisioned the housing society as a happy, livable place for Muslims, Sikhs, Hindus, and Christians, and for that reason, he had planned temples, gurdwaras, churches, and mosques existing side by side. This would create a model of harmony among different communities”, Kesha Ram said while highlighting her ancestor’s vision of unity and tolerance.

In the wake of partition, as Ganga Ram left the city, his dream Model housing society became an elite-only town. But Kesha is happy that the legacy of her ancestor is alive and thriving in the shape of educational institutions and welfare projects.

“Of course, it means a lot to my family, but the credit goes to the people of Lahore for appreciating the creativity, compassion, and vision of Sir Ganga Ram, she emphasised. Sir Ganga Ram was a civil engineer and an architect who had dedicated his resources towards erecting monumental structures in Lahore for the posterity of the region during the British rule over undivided India.

The city is known for the buildings conceived, funded, and constructed by the “father of modern Lahore”. Over the decades, Ganga Ram’s works such as the General Post Office, the Lahore Museum, Aitchison College, the Mayo School of Arts (now the National College of Arts), Ganga Ram Hospital, Lady Maclagan Girls High School, the Government College University’s chemistry department, the Albert Victor wing of the Mayo Hospital, Sir Ganga Ram High School (now Lahore College for Women University), and the Hailey College of Commerce (now Hailey College of Banking and Finance), have evolved into institutions.

“Sir Ganga Ram, while planning the buildings, imagined his work to be scaled out, and not scaled up”, said Kesha. She used Ganga Ram Hospital as an illustration, which her great-great-grandfather constructed for the area’s poor, destitute, and outcast residents. “The Government Fatima Jinnah Medical College and the hospital are now partners. That will alter the lives of numerous female doctors. The ultimate goal of Ganga Ram was that no one should feel excluded from society and that everyone should feel as if they have a purpose”.

Sir Ganga Ram designed places for the future growth of numerous civilisations in addition to the actual buildings for the metropolis. The well-preserved and well-maintained institutions located in the structures connected to the late architect reflect this.

During her visit, Kesha Ram also visited the samadhi (grave) of Ganga Ram, and praised the government for meticulously restoring it.

What brought her to politics?

“Well, when my father migrated to the US from then-Indian Punjab, he faced discrimination in the US”, she apprised. “I was often mistreated because of my skin, and people would often ask me, ‘are you Mexican?’ Instead of feeling broken, I moved ahead with community engagement, and now I love being a public representative. Just like in Pakistan, the youth in the US are also not represented at the public forums, but now the youth is taking interest in Pakistan as well”, she said.

Kesha and her husband interacted with the public at the “Makers of Lahore” exhibition, which was organised by the Office for Conservation and Community Outreach. The exhibition featured images and maps of the Lahore structures designed by Sir Ganga Ram, John Lockwood Kipling, and Nayyar Ali Dada. The exhibition demonstrated how Pakistan’s cultural capital was erected piece by piece, brick by brick, and building by building to make room for the next generation.