A GHAZNAVID EVIL EYE IN LAHORE
PROTECTING COINS OF SULTAN IBRAHEEM GHAZNAVI

Turkish talisman in Lahore

There are channels on TV and you see some of them carrying archaeological news all the time. A couple of bricks are discovered and it makes national news. A host of people sifting through the dirt, working at theories, old maps, old books and coming up with vague conclusions. It is like a lust for old times. Here in Lahore, something is discovered, it is covered up quickly, lest someone finds out and puts the owner to host of pains. It reminds me of accidents in Lahore, before Pervaiz Elahi started the 1122 emergency service. An accident in Lahore meant sure death, because no one was willing to take the risk of police badgering them. Somebody helps and that somebody got it for questioning him as the original suspect. Really Pervaiz Elahi deserves heaven for just this venture. I hope someone comes up with clauses in the business chat room called a National Assembly in Pakistan, to devise ways to protect heritage here. A totally disregarded field in Pakistan. The whole system of provision of water for the Shalimar Gardens was destroyed for some needless road. Our bureaucracy is like this that it is very possible that one day someone gets the idea that the Badshahi Mosque is of too old a design and get a new one built made by some Japanese architect, of course with a Japanese garden and cactus trees. Nobody better in India too, where they do the same things. The Bagh of Roshan Ara was being planned to be replaced by a Japanese Garden. The Mughal Gardens of Pakistan Memorial were removed for a Japanese Garden. Yes, people here are ruthless towards heritage. The Hindus plan to demolish 5000 mosques in India, regardless of historical content. And yes, the Taj Mahal is a Mandir of old times, and should be made a Mandir again. Just Google and check what we are saying and you will find it a correct assessment of the futility of heritage here in the region.

That is when we discovered an ancient EVIL EYE of Turkish origin sitting over some coins of Sultan Ibraheem Ghaznavi (obviously 30 feet down the earth level of Lahore), we were really amazed at the protection afforded by the Talisman. A thousand years it had kept the small trove of coins safe and sound. Amazing! I do not believe in any Talisman but it is proving interesting. A lot of Good luck is being generated, so what the hell! Relax and enjoy the irrationality of it all. And pray for an EVIL EYE to safeguard Pakistan too!