Restoring a legacy: The revival of Sir Ganga Ram’s ancestral home in Lahore

New Delhi, Feb 22: A recent post on “X,” former Twitter by Haroun Rashid @HarounRashid2, announced “#Lahore the house of Sir Ganga Ram restored to its former glory” with four pictures of the historic building in the message.

The restoration of the neglected and depilated ancestral home of Sir Ganga Ram, marks a renewed recognition of a man whose contributions to India and Pakistan (then British India) continue to shape lives, even today, yet whose legacy remains unfamiliar to many today.

Sir Malcolm Hailey, a former governor of Punjab, once remarked about him: “He won like a hero and gave like a saint.”

For those from Delhi or Lahore, the name Ganga Ram Hospital is inescapable. Hospitals bearing his name in both cities continue to serve the people, yet few are aware of the man behind them—a visionary engineer, philanthropist, and agriculturalist whose work laid the foundations for modern infrastructure in the region.

Born in 1851 in Mangtanwala, Punjab (now in Pakistan), Sir Ganga Ram Agrawal came from humble beginnings. His father, Doulat Ram Agrawal, was a junior police sub-inspector, and the family later moved to Amritsar. Ganga Ram's brilliance in academics led him to Government College, Lahore, and in 1871, he won a scholarship to study civil engineering at Thomason Civil Engineering College in Roorkee, where he graduated with a gold medal in 1873.

Sir Ganga Ram's career as an engineer in the British Raj's Public Works Department (PWD) was marked by his innovative spirit and dedication to public welfare. His projects were perhaps first steps bringing modernised India's infrastructure, shaping both urban and rural landscapes.

Some of his most iconic projects include:

Lady Hardinge Medical College, Delhi (1914): Designed to provide medical education to women, this institution is a blend of Mughal and Victorian architecture.

Northern Railway Headquarters (1913): A stunning structure combining diverse architectural styles, reflecting his attention to detail.

St. Stephen’s College Chemistry Building (1910): An impressive red-brick edifice showcasing his signature blend of Mughal and Victorian influences.

Western Yamuna Canal (1913): A crucial irrigation project ensuring water supply to vast agricultural lands.

Lahore’s Urban Development: He designed the Lahore Museum, Aitchison College, Mayo School of Arts (now NCA), General Post Office, Hailey College of Commerce, and Lady McLagan Girls High School.

Beyond cities, he turned barren lands into fertile fields, using advanced irrigation techniques. Leasing 50,000 acres in Montgomery (now Sahiwal) and Lyallpur (now Faisalabad), he pioneered hydroelectric-powered irrigation, creating lush farmland from desert wasteland.

Despite his professional success, Sir Ganga Ram was deeply committed to social welfare. His contributions include:

Sir Ganga Ram Hospital: Established in Lahore, this hospital grew into a major medical institution. A counterpart was later built in Delhi.

Gangapur Model Village: He built a self-sustaining rural community with efficient irrigation and transportation systems in Lahore.

Renala Khurd Hydel Power Project: Using five turbines, he irrigated thousands of acres, ensuring agricultural prosperity.

Widows' Welfare: He established the Widows' Marriage Association and a Hindu Widows' Home, providing women with skills for financial independence.

Hindu Apahaj Ashram in Lahore: A refuge for the elderly and disabled, offering care and dignity in their later years.

Sir Ganga Ram was knighted by the British for his immense contributions to engineering and public service. However, the respect he earned from the people of Punjab transcended colonial honours. He passed away in London in 1927, and as per his wishes, as reported by media, part of his ashes was immersed in the Ganges while the rest was buried in Lahore near the Hindu Apahaj Ashram.

His name lives on in streets, hospitals, and institutions, yet his legacy remains underappreciated. A statue once stood on Lahore’s Mall Road in his honour, but in the chaos of Partition, it was desecrated by rioters as reported in 2019 by Daily Times newspaper of Pakistan.

Saadat Hasan Manto, the renowned Urdu writer, respected in both countries, famously captured the irony of this incident. During the violent riots of 1947, an enraged mob, unaware of Sir Ganga Ram’s contributions, attacked his statue. They smeared coal tar on its face, pelted it with stones, placed a garland of old shoes around its neck, and ultimately pulled it down. However, when the police arrived and opened fire to disperse the crowd, one of the wounded rioters was rushed to the hospital. As fate would have it, the injured man was taken to none other than Sir Ganga Ram Hospital. Manto’s account starkly illustrated the tragic irony of communal rage, where those who desecrated his statue still depended on the institutions he built for their welfare.

Lahore, a city laden with history and culture, owes much of its modern landscape to Sir Ganga Ram. Yet, over time, his contributions have faded from public memory. His ancestral home in Lahore, near Pakistan Talkies Cinema, was long-neglected but has now been restored. This restoration is not just about preserving a building; it is about reclaiming the legacy of a man who dedicated his life to progress, irrespective of borders.

Sir Ganga Ram was a man ahead of his time, blending science with compassion, engineering with philanthropy. His works, still standing tall, remain silent yet powerful testaments to his genius.

As one walks through the streets of Delhi or Lahore, passing by his hospitals and institutions, we must remember and honour the man who built them for the welfare of generations to come.