Lahore, September 7
The shrine of Wasti Ram, a spiritual guru of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, which was demolished in 1992 by a Muslim mob, still lies unattended outside the Lahore Fort.
According to a Punjab Archaeology Department official, the Federal Archaeology Department had handed over the fort to the former, but the shrine was not part of the deal. Punjab Archaeology Department director-general Muhammad Shahbaz Khan said local Hindus had written to both departments to restore the shrine, but the preservation process was yet to take off.
A plan of the project had been prepared, but the Punjab government had to allocate funds for the same, Khan said.
A federal representative said there were two and not one shrine outside the walls of the fort. One shrine was that of Wasti Ram and the other of Jhenga Shah Suhtra.
The federal curator at the fort, Afzal Khan, described Wasti Ram as a spiritual leader of Maharaja Ranjit Singh and added that there had always been a caretaker of the shrine before it was attacked in 1992. The shrine was built in 19th century.
Khan said: “We want impartial Hindus to take over the shrine.” — ANI
http://www.tribuneindia.com/2007/20070908/punjab1.htm#7
I was not aware Wasti Ram was Maharaja Ranjit Singh's spiritual guru, does anyone here knows something about this.
The shrine of Wasti Ram, a spiritual guru of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, which was demolished in 1992 by a Muslim mob, still lies unattended outside the Lahore Fort.
According to a Punjab Archaeology Department official, the Federal Archaeology Department had handed over the fort to the former, but the shrine was not part of the deal. Punjab Archaeology Department director-general Muhammad Shahbaz Khan said local Hindus had written to both departments to restore the shrine, but the preservation process was yet to take off.
A plan of the project had been prepared, but the Punjab government had to allocate funds for the same, Khan said.
A federal representative said there were two and not one shrine outside the walls of the fort. One shrine was that of Wasti Ram and the other of Jhenga Shah Suhtra.
The federal curator at the fort, Afzal Khan, described Wasti Ram as a spiritual leader of Maharaja Ranjit Singh and added that there had always been a caretaker of the shrine before it was attacked in 1992. The shrine was built in 19th century.
Khan said: “We want impartial Hindus to take over the shrine.” — ANI
http://www.tribuneindia.com/2007/20070908/punjab1.htm#7
I was not aware Wasti Ram was Maharaja Ranjit Singh's spiritual guru, does anyone here knows something about this.
