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How a Hindu temple was renovated by a Muslim and a Sufi shrine revamped by a Sikh in Pakistan
These ancient places of worship offer an alternative and more syncretic view of history.
Haroon Khalid
Takht-e-Babri, the first Mughal construction in the subcontinent, is grand only in name
This raised rock platform in Punjab was Babur’s throne – befitting of a pauper prince in search of an empire.
How a gurudwara in Nankana Sahib promoted Punjabi for centuries
Gurudwara Patti Sahib was where Guru Nanak composed poetry, elevating Punjabi to a language of literature and learning.
A world without written words: the remnants of Pakistan's oral tradition
While the written word was the preserve of the elite, the ordinary folk preserved their history in other ways.
As Pakistan cracks down on love, hate makes deeper inroads into the country
While the Islamabad High Court banned Valentine's Day celebrations, terror attacks continued in the country.
Has Lahore forgotten why January 26 was chosen as India's Republic Day?
It was in Lahore that the Congress asked for 'purna swaraj', fixing the last Sunday of January 1930 as Independence Day.
The tale of Guru Tegh Bahadur and Aurangzeb embodies simplification of Sikh-Mughal history
Today, the narrative of the guru's assassination on the emperor's order is stripped of all its political realities.
As Pakistan marches to modern time, the winter festival of Lohri falls off the calendar
Punjab once recognised 12 seasons. It is now left with only four.
How shrines helped indigenise Islam and Christianity in South Asia
Many of these places of worship have developed a unique relationship with their geographical surroundings.
A visit to Gujranwala's Eimanabad throws new light on Babur's legacy
While some in India see him as a plunderer, those across the border hail him as a symbol of Islamic pride.
Burnt after Babri attack, this Pakistani temple celebrates Christmas with as much joy as Diwali
One of the two functional Hindu places of worship in Lahore is a rare example of religious syncretism in the country.
In Pakistan, the efforts of a few have preserved fragments of forgotten Hindu links
Every now and then, you can spot a lone temple that has been kept preserved by residents of the area.
Sacred geography: Why Hindus, Buddhist, Jains, Sikhs should object to Pakistan being called hell
What India's Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar referred to as hell is home to several shrines of major religions.
Lahore's iconic mosque stood witness to two historic moments where tolerance gave way to brutality
The Badshahi Mosque, built by Emperor Aurangzeb, has a bloody past that not many know about.
Malangi and Nizam Lohar, the Robin Hoods who ruled the forests of Punjab
Dacoits have been so romanticised, songs are sung about their bravery.
Are Pakistani authors doing justice by writing in English?
'We may be more successful than regional writers, but does our writing truly represent our people?'
Is celebrating love not a part of our culture?
Isn't Heer Ranjha the most celebrated folk story in Pakistan? We not only celebrate love, we worship it.
Royal Kohinoor: Why Pakistan should enter the debate but won’t
Both India and Pakistan are the offspring of British-India and both are inheritors of the 'Indian civilisation'.
Beyond shiny houses — Lahore’s story
Any mention of Lahore's culture is incomplete without these hamlets, whose histories predate the city itself.
Crumbling gurudwaras blur the lines on the India-Pakistan border
It's easy to accidentally step into Indian territory while travelling through the border towns near Lahore.