Just how old is Lahore? This is a question that boggles not only the minds of its dwellers, as well as those who love the ancient city, as also serious scholars. Which is the way forward to solve this ‘mystery’?

The normal academic solution is to depend on a number of routes, they being written texts, mythological pointers and archaeological proof of a ‘possible minimum age’. Beyond this there are few pointers. Last week an Iranian newspaper carried a story about the search for the fabled Laodicea Temple in Nahavand, Iran, for which an impressive budget has been allocated by the government. “Our ancient culture is our most important asset”, said a spokesman for the Iranian government.

Archaeological digs over the last three years at the Iranian site have uncovered Greek bronze statues among other finds. The city of Nahavand is probably among the oldest city in Iran, and the example given is that it could be as old as the city of Lav (Lahore) in the sub-continent’s Punjab. It makes me wonder whether our ancient culture is the most important asset for our different shades of rulers.

Just for the reader’s guidance the Laodicea Church in Laodicea, Turkey, is one of seven first Christian churches in Asia. At least the ‘Book of Revelation’ (3.14-22) claims so. It is near Troy of ‘Helen of Troy’ fame. This was the first of seven churches in Asia and the search for another one in Nahavand in Iran is part of that effort. What does this mean for Lahore? There is a reference to the city of Lav in these descriptions. Given we know a lot about our city’s Chajj rulers, especially Bhandara the Great and his Sun Temple of Lahore of the pre-Islamic age, there is a need to concentrate on discovering our real ancient history, which is our real culture.

But first let us see just what is available in written form as well as the myths that abound around it. The oldest written mention is in the Islamic era in Baihaqi’s ‘Tarikh-e-Baihaqi’ as well as in Firishta’s ‘Al-Yaruq’. But to my mind the very oldest mention is in the Veda’s describing Ramayana wherein Ayodhya seems located where Lahore is. The very word ‘Ayodhya’ is derived from the Sanskrit word ‘yudh’ meaning to fight a battle. It is the city where Rama was born, as were Lav and Kush. Lahore is named after Lav and Kasur after Kush. Indian nationalist scholars seriously dispute this. Vedic pointers to this effect indicate so, but then they are indicators only.

The ‘Dasanrajan’, or Battle of Ten Kings, in Sanskrit - a language that evolved from the two main languages of the land that is today Pakistan - mentions this and the battle was primarily to control the river trade from the ancient river port and the grain markets of Lahore. The battle took place on the Ravi at today’s Mahmood Booti area. So in my books this is the oldest clear description of the ancient city. The ruler of Lahore, the Prince Bharata – from whom India’s gets its official name, won the day. For that matter even India is a corruption of the word Sindhu of River Sindh, which Arabs pronounce as ‘Hindu’. Call it a linguistic limitation of the Arabic language. Thus all sub-continental inhabitants were termed Hindustani.

Now how does one go about tracing the ancient archaeological traces of Lahore? My pick would be three major locations. We know that Bhandara the Great stood on the walls of Lahore Fort – then a mud construction - to view the Sun Temple located on the highest mound of the walled city. Now that is where today is located the Paniwala Talab at Chuna Mandi. This is the location where we know that Mahmud of Ghazni knocked down the temple.

Trying an archaeological experiment at this place can yield considerable information about the pre-Islamic era of ancient Lahore. To this end I approached a professor of archaeology at Cambridge University, only to learn that this was one for five points which were marked out by British archaeologists worth exploration. This sounds like an exciting prospect.

But the only archaeological dig in Lahore was in the Lahore Fort in 1959 as a collaboration between British and Pakistani experts. A brief description might help. In the open lawn opposite the Diwan-e-Aam a trench measuring 180 feet by 60 feet was laid. Then the explorers carefully went down to the agreed 50 feet depth. The official document says that 20 ‘stratified cultural levels’ were explored starting from the British period going right up to the pre-Islamic period.

The pottery remains in the lowest location were taken to the UK for carbon-testing, which came up with the surprising age of 3,250 years, allowing for 250 years both ways. The team proposed several other sites, but the Pakistani government refused and the report, for some bizarre reason, still remains classified as ‘Secret’. This was the beginning of Pakistan’s ‘Age of Piety’ where all time before Mahmud of Ghazni is looked down upon. This remains the ‘silent’ policy still.

It would be very interesting to dig up the original draft proposal and try to locate other locations. Any expert would be able to point out two or three points of archaeological interest within the Lahore Fort. This is something that must be pursued, that is if we are interested in our past.

Next we know from the ‘Tripitaka’, the Buddhist holy book, describing the sayings and journeys of Siddhartha Gautama (the Buddha). The same is also mentioned in the ‘Mahayana Sutras’ another holy book of Buddhism. The Jataka Stories also clearly mentions him staying in Lahore for three months. There has been considerable research into where he stayed. This is where Buddhist scholars have pinpointed the Mohallah Maullian inside Lohari Gate. My search for the meaning of the word ‘Maullian’ led me to the Pali language, in which it means ‘holy touch’.

So with probable sites within the Lahore Fort, a few around the Paniwala Tallab and a probable dig near the Mohallah Maullian street might come up with some evidence, no matter how small it be. This brings me to another development. Many years ago a scholar on a visit to Lahore passed Mohallah Maullian and saw a deep dig preparation for a commercial plaza. Deep down pottery pieces lay. The site owner let him take two broken pieces. In Cambridge their carbon-dating informed of an age 2,850 years going 150 years either way. Need I say more!

The question about Lahore’s age can only be determined by scientific inquiry. Yes, myths and documents can add to our understanding, but as an ancient city there is a need for us to explore more into our past. After all our city has been a Buddhist city, a Jain city, a Hindu city, a Muslim city and till very recent in historical terms a multi-cultural, multi-faith and multi-ethnic city. Even today its ethnic mix is varied in terms of languages and origin. Culture has just got to be our priority. Everything else is personal.

Published in Dawn, January 17th, 2021