**Lahore
One often comes across the popular statement : Lahore Lahore Hay, but rarely pays it due attention. It’s become one of those cliches- full of meaning yet said without thought or accounting for the depth in these words. If a person sits down and thinks about it from a completely fresh and out-of-the-box perspective, he would be overawed by the realisation which hits him about this wondrous city which has given birth to the phrase.
Lahore isnt famed for its people. No Lahoris can very well prove to be the most deviously streetsmart and cut-throat people you have ever had the misfortune to come across. There’s some innate coding built into them which kindof makes you feel as though you are sitting in a gathering of wolves in sheep’s clothing, thereby exposing you to extreme danger even as you indulge in the famed Lahori hospitality lavished upon you by them. Their eyes are forever searching, forever calculating, and yet their motives will be cloaked behind ingenious facades of congeniality. So no, Lahore isnt Lahore for its people.
Nor is Lahore Lahore for its landscape. There’s nothing special about Lahore’s landscaping. Nothing aesthetic or planned in its wayward growth over the years. No there’s nothing perfect about it at all. Karachi is more cosmopolitan, Islamabad more verdant. Then what is it exactly?
I sat down to ponder this question recently when I realised that despite all of the places I have called ‘home’ over the years, Lahore has become and forever shall be what I think of in the future when I’m asked about ‘home’. Lahore has claimed yet another victim. Myself.
Why though? I haven’t seen enough of Lahore to have fallen in love with the architecture, or the culture. What I’ve seen and experienced of the people leaves much to be desired. The job market is depressing, the weather fair to dismal, the water and electrical facilities aren’t anything to ‘yeeha!’ over either. Then what is it? Why do I feel as though Lahore is a part of me–Nay, I a part of it?
The answer is as obvious as can be. Lahore is historical. Lahore has lived, loved, conquered and been conquered, known wealth and poverty, greed and generosity, kings and paupers. Lahore has enveloped it all, from saints to sinners. Lahore has a permeating sense of endurance. Of durability. Lahore’s spirit has existed for centuries passed and will for centuries to come. Maybe that’s what the subconcious minds of newly settled people in Lahore sense. The definitive endurance of Lahore. Maybe that’s the guarantee which makes them put down their roots in this age-old soil, knowing that where so many have lived and loved, they will be sure to too. Knowing that despite whatever upheavals come its way, Lahore will prevail and live on to see more. And by association, so will they.
Truly, Lahore Lahore hi hay. But not because of its perfection. Nay, Lahore Lahore hay because of its imperfections.
Lahore Lahore hay my friends, and there’s no other place like it in the world. Lahore is my home. Lahore IS home.**
The article complete with pictures is provided in the link above.
