Treasures in the Lahore Museum in Pakistan

In 1893 the construction was completed, which was designed by Sardar Sahib Ram Singh. On the right and left sides of Her Majesty there rests the heads on a small pillar of the famous King George V and King Edward VII, made with the same regal bronze material and casting the same proud expressions. On the left side of this section of the museum there are varieties of war weapons and tools dating back to 19th and 20th centuries from small knives to huge swords, war clothes and shields. Different kinds of bows and arrows of different sizes and shapes and many other brutal weapons, though may not be as sharp as they were before but they still cast the same sharp effect on our minds. Whereas on the right side this section there are beautifully placed war weapons and tools of the World Wars with some of them used during the Indo-Pak wars.

Our guide had a pretty good knowledge of these weapons and tools. He then showed us the huge shells placed in a glass box which were fired in 1965 Indo-Pak war. At the end of this section there lies the famous Grumukh inscripted Artillery Gun of the Sikh period.

The Freedom Movement:

Our guide then took us to the place to which this Lahore museum is famous for, The Pakistan Freedom Movement. This huge section has varieties of things. The whole right wall is dedicated to a great warrior and king, Tipu Sultan, with lot of pictures from his childhood to his death and the place where his body was found. Behind the wall there is another huge painting of Tipu Sultan during his last fight with the British painted by the famous Shahbaz Khan. While the rest of this section is dedicated, in pictures, to the making of Pakistan.

These pictures include different pictures of Quaid-e-Azam during speeches, in conventions meeting with VIP personnel, different photos of Allam Iqbal while studying, thinking, having huqa, photos with the Quaid, and a lot of photos dedicated to many of those who took active part in the struggle for freedom. Our Guide presented us with good information of these pictures in such a good fashion that for some time we thought we were watching a real freedom movement film! The corner of this room has personal things used by the great Quaid. These include a smoke pipe, a typewriter and glasses, beautifully preserved in a glass case. Another side of this section has a huge collection of stamps (approx. 1216), depicting the story of Pakistan. In 1973 the Pakistan Movement gallery and Pakistan postage stamps gallery were set up. These stamps are of different shapes and sizes and are dedicated to almost every field of life, from freedom movement to politics, wars, peace, sports, education and different achievements.

Just beside the wall of stamps there is another wall in the memories of the Martyrs of Pakistan, who sacrificed themselves to save this nation during the Indo-Pak wars. All of these great men have been rewarded the highest military award of Pakistan, Nishan-e-Haider. At the exit of this section there stands another huge portrait of Quaid-e-Azam with Lord Mount Batten having a speech by the same famous painter, Shahbaz Khan.

The Ancient Civilization:

This museum is also famous for preserving, in various galleries, objects from Harrappa, Mohen-jodaro and other parts of the world. The Hindu collection, which consists of carved stone sculptures of Krishna, Radha and other deities, portray the artistic skill of the craftsmen. Burmese, Tibetan and Nepalese collections are also found in the Hindu, Buddha and Jain gallery. Buddhist sculptures are unique. Some are present in sequence such as the life story of Buddha from his previous incarnations, birth, youth, enlightenment, preaching of the law and death at the center of the Buddha gallery, friezes and other pieces of a reconstructed stupa from Sikri are displayed.

Other displays are metal and stone objects, pottery and terracotta figures, and other belongings. The most prominent among the sculptures was that of the Fasting Siddhartha. I have to admit I was startled by the Fasting Buddha's ribs and didn't want to spend too long looking at him! We were also attracted by those four Asoka-Lions that were quite beautifully lit. Sikh gallery was also quite beautiful, especially the model of Golden Temple. Our Guide knew a lot about the Sikh era. We were amused by the history of all these Gods and Goddesses told by our historian guide.

This museum has vast collection of sculptures of these various Gods and Goddesses. Since we were science students it was difficult to predict what these statues were telling but our guide told very skilledfully almost every expression they were showing and we were amazed at the works of these craftsmen.