LAHORE: Kesha Ram Hinsdale, the great-great-granddaughter of Sir Ganga Ram, spent a busy day in Lahore by visiting several historical places on Sunday.

Ms Hinsdale serves as a member of the Vermont Senate in the US. She had served in the Vermont House of Representatives from 2009 to 2016.

Osman Khalid Waheed, the chief executive officer of Ferozsons Laboratories and a trustee of LUMS, who is the host of the visiting American senator and her spouse John Hinsdale, told Dawn that they visited the Samadhi of Sir Ganga Ram in the morning. He said Evacuee Trust Property Board Additional Secretary Rana Shahid Saleem spoke about Sir Ganga Ram’s contributions to Lahore, Punjab and the humanity of the subcontinent.

ETPB chairman Habibur Rehman Gilani, Secretary General Syed Faraz Abbas and member Dr Javeria Ghazanfar Suharwardy also attended the event. Mr Waheed said Lahore Sangat members worked closely with the EPTB for the event. He said the Board had done excellent arrangements for the visit during which the Pandit also performed a ceremony. The visitor prayed at her great-great-grandfather’s Samadhi.

Later, she visited Sir Ganga Ram’s house in Taxali, where Lahore Sangat placed a plaque. Fauzia Qureshi, an art educationist, told Dawn that Sir Ganga Ram’s house was 100 years or so old. “It is in bad shape and Lahore Sangat will try to conserve it,” she said. She said it’s a house that belonged to the early part of the 20th century. The house was under the ownership of Ganga Ram Hospital and the plaque the Lahore Sangat had placed there reads, “Sir Ganga Ram, Civil Engineer, Philanthropist used to live here,” she said.

Mr Waheed said the US senator was then given a tour of the Walled City and Walled City of Lahore Authority Deputy Director Ayesha Khan facilitated it. The senator visited Delhi Gate, Shahi Hamam and Wazir Khan Mosque where she enjoyed traditional food.

Ms Hinsdale also visited the residences of Ustad Daman and iconic singer Noor Jahan. She said Noor Jahan was the favourite singer of her father.

Published in Dawn, November 21st, 2022