Ewing Hall: A Window into Lahore’s Glorious Past
Ewing Hall (1916) is part of Lahore’s heritage. Walls and buildings are more than just bricks and cement. A few months ago, in an article from The Guardian (which a friend drew my attention to), I read this creative sentence:
“Buildings are the minimum clothing that human beings preserve and fossilize for future civilizations.”
It is important to realize that historic walls and buildings are the clothing of those who have passed away. To be without such clothing is inappropriate.
For a long time, Ewing Hall and Newton Hall (I hope that one can also be saved) have held a romantic fascination for me. Standing at an angle facing north, the face of Ewing Hall bears witness to countless eras. It is a living example of Firaq’s verse:
دل کو کئی کہانیاں یاد سی آ کے رہ گئیں
(The heart recalled many fading stories, passing unfinished.)
Over the last three or four years, I have had the opportunity to read numerous articles and books about the history of Lahore. Those who were separated from this city have kept this city of imagination alive in a way that is truly unmatched:
دل و دماغ کو پہرے پہ رکھ دیا ہم نے
ترے خیال کا کتنا خیال رکھتے ہیں
سعید اکرم
(We have set guards over our hearts and minds;
We take such great care of your memory.)
(Saeed Akram)
For the past two days, I have been looking at photographs of Ewing Hall. There is restlessness in my chest. May God preserve this heritage.
Suddenly, from the depths of memory, an article and interview by Ramesh Modi resurfaced in my mind. Three or four years ago, I had read these writings and saved some notes from them.
Ramesh Modi was born in 1926. He came to Lahore from Agra College in September 1944 to pursue his studies. He left Agra College and set out for Government College Lahore. His first companion and guide in Lahore was a letter of introduction from Professor Dr. Imdad Hussain, who was himself a former student of Government College Lahore.
Dr. Imdad had written this letter to Professor Sirajuddin, a well-known English teacher at Government College Lahore. Professor Sirajuddin warmly welcomed the young man. One of Sirajuddin’s friends, who taught at Forman Christian College (FC College), insisted on taking Modi there. Professor Sirajuddin was a sociable and friendly person and could not refuse his friend’s request. Thus, Modi remained associated with the Department of Economics at FC College until June 1947.
In those days, Ewing Hall was reserved for postgraduate students of FC College. It was also Ramesh Modi’s hostel. He writes:
“At that time, Ewing Hall was the only hostel in Lahore whose library and reading room were exemplary. The evening tea from Muhkamuddin Bakery and swimming in the Government College Lahore swimming tank made hostel life eternal.
Since my subject was economics, I frequently spent time with Professor Brij Narain and Dr. Durga Prasad. Both were counted among the leading economists in all of India.
Professor Brij Narain (who was slaughtered during the Partition violence in Lahore) was the principal of Sanatana Dharama College Lahore (SDC).
Dr. Durga Prasad was a distinguished professor at Government College. I often had evening tea with Dr. Prasad and Professor Sirajuddin on Hospital Road.
Professor Brij Narain also visited Ewing Hall several times along with his students.”
It should be remembered that in those days, teaching was often shared among Government College Lahore, FC College, and several departments of Punjab University.
After Partition, the non Muslim teachers of Lahore have largely been erased from the tablet of memory. The walls, buildings, and structures associated with them are the last remaining signs of their knowledge, scholarship, and love for Lahore.
In the words of Saadi:
نامِ نیک رفتگاں ضایع مکن
تا بماند نامِ نیکت یادگار
“Do not let the good name of those who have passed away be lost,
So that your own good name may also remain as a lasting memory.”
