|
Lahore has played an
important role in Pakistani history. It was in this city that
Pakistan’s independence declaration was made. It was the largest
city in the newly formed Pakistan at the time of independence and
provided the easiest access to India, with its porous border near
the Indian city of Amritsar only 48 km to the east. Large
numbers of Hindus, Sikhs, and Muslims lived closely in Lahore before
the independence of Pakistan. The city has many significant
connections with Sikhism and played an important part in the history
of Sikh Gurus. Guru Ram Das was born at Bazaar Chuna Mandi,
Lahore in 1534 A.D. Guru Arjan Dev got the foundation stone of
Harmandir Sahib, laid by a Muslim Saint Hazrat Mian Mir Ji of Lahore
in December 1588. Guru Arjan met an untimely death when he was
tortured on the orders of the Emperor Jahangir in 1606 in this city.
The Gurdwara Dehra Sahib and the Samadhi (Mausoleum) of Ranjit Singh
are located in Lahore. |
