Mochi Gate
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Mochi Gate locally known as Mochi Darwaza (موچی دروازہ) is located within the Walled City of Lahore in Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan. Mochi Gate is a historical gate built by the Mughals. It is located at the entrance of Mochi Bagh and there is also a bazaar around the Mochi gate. In Urdu, Mochi means cobbler (shoe repair person) which indicates that the bazaar was a market for shoes and repair shops.
According to a legend it is named after Moti, a guard of the gate during the Mughal era, who guarded and looked after the gate all his life. Over time, the name was distorted and became Mochi. The bazaar around the Mochi gate is renowned for its Dried fruit, kites and fireworks.
Contents |
[edit] Mochi Baagh
Mochi Baagh/Garden (موچی باغ) is Pakistan's most famous political rally spot. Mochi Baagh is located on the immediate right of Mochi Gate. All the renowned political leaders of Pakistan and the pre-independence era have delivered speeches here.[1][2]
The list of famous political speakers includes
- Allama Iqbal
- Muhammad Ali Jinnah
- Allama Mashriqi
- Jawaharlal Nehru
- Fatima Jinnah
- Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan
- Huseyn Shaheed Suhrawardy
- Liaquat Ali Khan
- Zulfikar Ali Bhutto
- Nawaz Sharif
- Benazir Bhutto
- Nawabzada Nasrullah Khan
- Lala Lajpat Rai
- Saifuddin Kitchlew
- Shaikh Abdullah
- Fazl-e-Hussain
- Maulana Hasrat Mohani
- Sheikh Mujibur Rahman
- Maulvi Farid Ahmad
- Masihur Rahman
- Ataur Rahman Khan
- Ghulam Mustafa Khar
- Shahbaz Sharif
The list of eminent religious leaders (ulema), writers, poets and activists includes
- Syed Ata Ullah Shah Bukhari
- Sayyid Abul Ala Maududi
- Maulana Habibur Rehman Ludhyanvi
- Maulana Zafar Ali Khan
- Maulana Mazhar Ali Azhar
- Sahibzada Faizul Hassan
- Allama Hafiz Kifayat Hussain
- Maulana Dawood Ghaznavi
- Agha Shorish Kashmiri
- Ustad Daman
Till the late 80s, it was commonly held that unless a politician could deliver a speech to a packed Mochi Baagh crowd s/he was not worth his/her political salt.
Currently Mochi Baagh has been spoilt by the right half of it being encroached upon by heavy duty truck drivers using it as a parking stand in violation of public area laws.[3].[4]
In March 2007, the PHA (Parks and Horticultural Authority) announced that maintenance works would be carried out in Mochi Baagh. Works proposed include the construction of a 27x33 (feet) stage, maintenance of stairs around the park, setting up of fountains, jogging tracks, the installation of benches and lights and the plantation of grass.[5]
[edit] In popular culture
- In response to the opposition chanting slogans in the Pakistan assembly, the speaker Chaudhry Amir Hussain said “This is no Mochi Gate, Such slogans should not be raised in the assembly,”.[6]
- It is said that it was a Pakistani from Lahore’s Mochi Gate who first taught the London policeman what a bribe meant.[7]
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ Through the labyrinths of Mochi Gate. http://www.thepost.com.pk.
- ^ PHA undertakes Mochi Gate park repairs. http://www.dailytimes.com.pk.
- ^ Lahore Government News. http://www.lahore.gov.pk.
- ^ Circular Gardens eaten up by encroachers. http://www.dawn.com.
- ^ PHA undertakes Mochi Gate park repairs. http://www.dailytimes.com.pk.
- ^ Scuffles break out in parliament. http://www.dawn.com.pk.+Retrieved on 2007-07-19.
- ^ Don’t get beheaded: OF MICE AND MEN. http://www.dawn.com.pk.
