Monday, July 11, 2022, 4:55:18 PM
From Majeed Sheikh's Article
Amidst the lively and bustling atmosphere of Rang Mahal in the walled city, a remarkable building stands proudly, adorned with inscriptions that read 'Gobind Ram Kahan Chand' and 'Hindustan Commercial Bank Established 1805' in both English and Urdu. Despite the surrounding commotion created by vendors, gold traders, and crockery merchants, this building remains a tangible piece of history.
Interestingly, the intended purpose of this building, as a branch of the Hindustan Commercial Bank, never came to fruition. The bank, established in 1805, had plans to open a branch in Lahore, and Gobind Ram was one of the partners involved in this endeavor. Majeed Sheikh, a distinguished historian, shared that the Hindustan Commercial Bank Lahore was one of the five branches established in 1805, with its first branch opening in Amritsar. The bank eventually expanded its operations to Bengal on January 2, 1809. In Lahore, two branches were initially planned, one in the walled city and the other in Neela Gumbad.
Recalling the past, Badar Munir Butt, the owner of AL-Sadiq Jewellers, reminisced about his childhood during the time of partition in 1947. Though he was only four years old at the time, he had heard stories about Gobind Ram and the building. His shop stands adjacent to the partially burnt structure. According to Butt, Gobind Ram used to own a shop on the ground floor of the present building. Known for selling achaar (pickles), chatni (chutney), and sharbat (refreshing drinks), Gobind Ram's sharbat was renowned in the area. Considered one of the wealthiest individuals in the vicinity, he was also highly respected. Naturally, his affluence came with a certain level of influence. Before leaving Lahore for India with his family, Gobind Ram stored his money and jewelry in the basement of the same building. Years after the partition, he returned with officials from both India and Pakistan's armies to retrieve the valuables that had been safely kept there. Much to the surprise and disappointment of the neighbors, they discovered that loads of gold and money had been lying in the basement, unbeknownst to them all those years.
An elderly man, who owns a shop in the basement of the building and happens to be one of the oldest residents in the area, shared his recollection of Gobind Ram's sharbat. He described it as "famous, and if one bought it for one takka (a small denomination), they could reach Amritsar, yet the sharbat would never run out." This statement reflects the reputation and popularity of Gobind Ram's sharbat, known for its exceptional taste and seemingly limitless quantity.
The building, with its intriguing history and unique blend of languages engraved on its facade, serves as a silent witness to the vibrant past of Rang Mahal. While the original purpose of housing a bank branch never came to pass, the stories surrounding Gobind Ram and his legendary sharbat continue to captivate the imagination of locals and visitors alike, adding an air of mystique to this remarkable architectural gem.
