FAISALABAD: Dr Pashaura Singh from the University of California highlighted the empowerment of farmers during the colonial period due to the establishment of canal colonies, which led to the ‘Pagri Sambhal Jatta’ movement against the Britishers from Lyalpur in 1907.
He was speaking at the International Lyallpur History Conference. “On the establishment of Lyallpur, skilled farmers were settled here and lands were given to sections loyal to the British. However, considering the effects of the movement on the army, the British had to repeal the anti-peasant laws,” he added.
Manveer Singh from the Menlo School, Atherton, California, presented research on the rise and fall of the Lahore Durbar, noting that Punjab’s revenue at the time exceeded that of many European countries and it had diplomatic relations with France and Russia.
Punjabi researcher Amir Riaz from Lahore noted that nearly 400,000 people migrated from Lyallpur during the partition. Lyallpur Literary Council President Musadaq Zulqarnain said the International Lyallpur History Conference is playing a vital role in highlighting the importance of preserving the city’s history and cultural heritage. In the inaugural session, he discussed the significance of regional history.
He noted that Lyallpur was initially established as a canal colony with its robust cotton production playing a key role in transforming it into the future Textile City and the Manchester of Pakistan.
Zulqarnain also mentioned that the city’s culture had evolved alongside its development particularly with the establishment of industries like foundries, agricultural equipment, chemicals, and automobiles.
Dr Ali Usman from the Lahore University of Management Sciences, Dr Philipp Zehmisch from the University of Heidelberg, Germany, and Dr Anne Castaing from the Centre for South Asian and Himalayan Studies, France, also spoke at the session. They emphasised the importance of regional history. The inaugural ceremony was also attended by Commissioner Silwat Saeed who praised the conference for advancing the work on Lyallpur’s history and culture.
Notable photographer Razzaq Vance photographs of historical sites in Faisalabad were also displayed at the event.
The first session of the conference focused ‘Religious Tolerance in Punjab, Post-Migration Dynamics and the Aftermath of Partition’. Dr Kanwal Khalid, a research consultant at Aga Khan Cultural Services, chaired the session and highlighted the neglect of local heroes in the region’s history due to religious biases.
She stressed the need for further studies on the impact of partition on women, who were the most affected.
Dr Pippa Virdee from De Montfort University, UK, compared the histories of Lyallpur and Ludhiana, noting the similarities in their stories due to population exchanges during partition. Dr Najeeb Haroon from Government College Samanabad, Faisalabad, discussed the significant role of migrants in the city’s development after Pakistan’s creation.
Dr Muhammad Yaseen from the National Textile University, Faisalabad, urged the young generation to verify information before sharing it on social media. Dr Chaman Hussain from the University of Punjab, Lahore, discussed the contributions of women to Lyallpur’s industrial development.
French filmmaker and researcher Dr Pierre Alain Baud screened his documentary ‘A Global Messenger of Qawwali’, celebrating the life of Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan. The third session of the conference focused on ‘Revolutionary Voices, Labour Movements and Sectarian Identity in Colonial Punjab.
The session was chaired by Dr Iqbal Chawla from the University of Punjab, Lahore. He discussed the challenges faced by farmers in Punjab. Research scholar Muhammad Nasir from Quaid-e-Azam University presented a paper on bonded-labour among kiln workers, highlighting the discrimination faced by Muslims and Christians in this profession.
Dr Saima Azhar from the International Islamic University discussed the ongoing labour movements in Lyallpur. Dr Abrar Zahoor from the University of Sargodha noted that the religious division of Punjab in 1947 had the most significant impact on the region, with the promotion of Urdu newspapers playing a role in religious propagation.
The final session of the day was chaired by Dr Nomana Kiran from the Pakistan Study Centre at the University of Punjab, Lahore. Dr Omar Hamid from the National Textile University highlighted the institution’s evolution from a college in 1959 to the leading centre of textile engineering education in the country.
Dr Zille Huma from GC University, Faisalabad, presented a paper on madrassa reforms in Faisalabad and Jhang, revealing that Faisalabad had a higher proportion of registered madrassas. Research scholar Irfan Valara from Quaid-e-Azam University discussed the work of village trackers ‘Khojee’ in Punjab. The International Lyallpur History Conference would continue on Tuesday (today).