Sir Ganga Ram is known as the father of modern Lahore. He had the task of modernizing an ancient city like Lahore.
Sir Gangaram (File Photo)
People living in Delhi are well acquainted with the name of Sir Ganga Ram. The reason behind this is a famous hospital located in the capital. But very few people are aware that a famous hospital exists in his name in the city of Lahore (Pakistan), located about 482 km northeast of Delhi. Gangaram was an amazing engineer and was recognized as a philanthropist.
Gangaram is known as the father of modern Lahore. He worked to modernize an ancient city like Lahore. Gangaram had its 170th birth anniversary yesterday i.e. on 13 April. People across Lahore remembered the father of modern Lahore on this day. It is to be noted here that a person coming from a Hindu community in a conservative country like Pakistan is remembered by very few people for their contribution. However, Lahore residents have not forgotten Sir Gangaram’s contribution.
Sir Gangaram was born in Lahore
Sir Ganga Ram’s full name was Ganga Ram Aggarwal. He was born on 13 April 1851 in Mangtanwala village, near Lahore. His family settled in Amritsar from Lahore during Gangaram’s childhood. He started his early education in Amritsar. Then he went there to study at the prestigious Gourmet College in Lahore. After this, Gangaram received scholarship from Thomson Civil Engineering College, Roorkee and went to study there. After completing his studies, Gangaram started working as an assistant engineer in the Central Public Works Department.
Stage built for queen victoria
Seeing his skill at work, the British government called him to Delhi to build an amphitheater (circular open platform) for the Delhi Durbar. He prepared it and it was here that Queen Victoria was declared Queen of India. After this, he was entrusted with the task of working on the Amritsar-Pathankot railway line of strategic importance in the railways. Impressed by Gangaram’s work, the Governor General of India, George Robinson, sent him to Bradford Technical College to study.
These buildings were ready in Lahore
After completing his studies from England, Gangaram returned to India from England in 1885. The British government entrusted him with the task of giving a new look to Lahore, the Delhi Sultanate and the provincial capital of the Mughals. Gangaram chose Indo-Islamic architecture, which was traditional Indian architecture, to recreate Lahore. Gangaram designed and built Mayo School of Industrial Arts (now National College of Arts). He then built Aitchison College. Gangaram also prepared the post office and museum of Lahore. After this, Model Town and Gulberg Gangaram designed. Both these places are the symbol of modern Lahore today.
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