LAHORE largely stayed within the limits of the Walled City until the arrival of the Imperialists. By the early 20th century, the city had expanded outward, including into an area called Donald Town. A 1913 plan known as the “Charing Cross Scheme” for Donald Town included creating a garden at the intersection of the Mall, Egerton, and Montgomery Roads. This garden was to feature a pavilion designed by the renowned architect Bhai Ram Singh.
In the past, the Charing Cross of Lahore was the spot of sensory experience. At that time, people liked to be there for their daily activities. It was the place preferred and visited by the ruling class. Bhai Ram Singh, designed the pavilion in the center of the green space. The pavilion had a magnificent sculpture of Queen Victoria facing the inclining Queen’s Road. A year prior to Queen’s death, in 1900 B. Mackennal engraved the sculpture in London. The model was relocated to Lahore Museum, where it still stands.
There are two historic buildings confronting the pavilion, i.e., the Shahdin Building (also known as Shahdin Manzil) and Masonic Temple of Lahore on the east and west, respectively. A bank purchased the Shah Din Manzil and the Govt. of Punjab appropriated the Masonic Temple and converted it to an office. At the west side of the pavilion was a park in the past, where Alfalah Building is located today. The Punjab Assembly is located at the rear side of the pavilion. In the past, there were a number of shops in the Mela Ram Building and Jodha Lal Building, and those were replaced by Wapda House later on.
Book by the author Khursheed Kamal Aziz, named “The Coffee House of Lahore: A Memoir” express vibrant life that surrounded the Shahdin Building. He writes and describes the opposite of the assembly was metro, where tea named alfresco was served in summers, and cabaret dance was performed by Angela. Large hall and exceptional restaurant of Lahore named Lorangs, which was visited by the upper class. An English themed restaurant beside it named Stiffles had a dress code of jackets in the evening with dance performances.
At the node, to commemorate the Second Islamic Summit held in 1974, a structure similar to an obelisk, the Summit Minar stands in the mid of the garden today. The Islamic Summit Minar was constructed at the site. In 1981, Charing Cross was officially renamed Faisal Chowk to honour King Faisal of Saudi Arabia.
Presently, the area faces challenges in preserving its historical character amid rapid urbanisation and infrastructural changes. Modern developments are gradually overshadowing the historic aspects of Charing Cross, raising concerns about the loss of its cultural heritage.The history of the charring cross is forgotten, and its character is experiencing decay. Efforts are needed to ensure urban fabric and traditional essence are preserved even as the area evolves to meet contemporary demands.
—The writer is a civil servant and a gold medalist in architecture and planning.
