Re: New Ideological Battle in Pakistan: Traffic Circle’s Name
I don't understand the fuss about changing the name altogether. If the circle was named after Bhagat Singh and was changed later to Shadman, it would make sense asking to revert it back (as the case with Layalpur).
There are much better ways of honoring heros. Instead of wasting time and energy on insisting change of names, why not spend the same efforts in educating people about Bhagat Singh. Everyone in Lahore and around knows "Ganga Ram Hospital", but how many would know who Sir Ganga Ram was and what he did?
Re: New Ideological Battle in Pakistan: Traffic Circle’s Name
I don't understand the fuss about changing the name altogether. If the circle was named after Bhagat Singh and was changed later to Shadman, it would make sense asking to revert it back (as the case with Layalpur).
There are much better ways of honoring heros. Instead of wasting time and energy on insisting change of names, why not spend the same efforts in educating people about Bhagat Singh. Everyone in Lahore and around knows "Ganga Ram Hospital", but how many would know who Sir Ganga Ram was and what he did?
Agree with you.... they should rename it back to Bhagat Singh Chowk and make a small library sort of nearby it highlighting his efforts and what he did for the motherland.
Re: New Ideological Battle in Pakistan: Traffic Circle’s Name
Very interesting bio. I did not know he was an atheist. Most people think he was Hindu or a Sikh.
Born 28 September 1907
Jaranwala Tehsil, Punjab, British India
Died 23 March 1931 (aged 23)
Lahore, Punjab, British India
Organization Naujawan Bharat Sabha,
Kirti Kisan Party,
Hindustan Socialist Republican Association
Influenced by Anarchism, Communism, Socialism
Political movement Indian Independence movement
Religion Atheist
Re: Shadman Chowk should be renamed to Shaheed Bhagat Singh Chowk
Your link says it was named after Ch. Rehmat Ali in 2010.
“The circle was named in 2010 for Chaudhry Rehmat Ali, a Muslim student who coined the name Pakistan in the 1930s, and there was an outcry at the news that it might be renamed for a non-Muslim.”
So why the need to change it now? Something is missing here.
Lahore is a big city. They should find another traffic circle and do more to acknowledge Bhagat Singh so people can remember him.
Re: New Ideological Battle in Pakistan: Traffic Circle’s Name
There is absolutely no need to name anything in Pakistan after Bhagat Singh, a dangerous militant, in a time when Pakistan is trying to conbat militancy.
Bhagat Singh represents the exact opposite of Jinnah's beliefs and methods.
Jinnah was elected to and was a member of the Central Legislative Assembly; Bhagat Singh bombed and fired shots in the Central Legislative Assembly!
Bhagat Singh's most famous act was to kill a police officer in revenge for the police killing a celebrated activist during a lathi charge. Should we celebrate anyone in Pakistan who murders Pakistani police in revenge for police actions?
Jinnah never advocated violence against authorities as a means of effecting political change. Kinnah stood for working within the system to effect orderly change - adhering to the Islamic ideal of not creating chaos.
Bhagat Singh was just a dangerous terrorist, and should never be celebrated in as terrorism-afflicted country as Pakistan
Re: Shadman Chowk should be renamed to Shaheed Bhagat Singh Chowk
I agree with you
It was great nonsense to change the names of cities , roads and institutions .
That is true. I don't know who did it but the person was head over heels to the name Faisal and Saudis.
In Karachi, they changed Airport road to Sharea Faisal (not the spelling. It is not the more usual SHAHRAH). They changed Drigh colony to Shah Faisal Colony. Made Shah Faisal mosque in Islamabad. And even changed the name of the whole city to Faisalabad from Lyalpur.