Stories by Haroon Khalid

Haroon Khalid has an academic background in anthropology from Lums. He has been travelling extensively around Pakistan, documenting historical and cultural heritage. He is the author of four books — Imagining Lahore, Walking with Nanak, In Search of Shiva and A White Trail.

SATIRE: BREAKING THE WEDLOCK DEADLOCK

If the head of a marriage bureau were to win the elections, this would be her inaugural speech…

Published 26 Nov, 2023 07:05am

HERITAGE: A TALE OF TWO MIRAGES

What ties together the cities of Lahore and Amritsar? Although divided by geographical and political boundaries today, the two...

Published 09 May, 2021 07:04am

How a Lahore landmark named for a British radical came to be linked with Jallianwala Bagh massacre

It was a meeting at Bradlaugh Hall which set in motion the chain of events that culminated in the Amritsar tragedy.

Updated 30 Sep, 2019 04:14pm

The little-known religious history of Balakot

Today, the city of Balakot espouses uniquely South Asian religious traditions.

Updated 10 Feb, 2020 07:36pm

Nanak to Gobind Singh: How did the attire of Sikh gurus change so dramatically?

Nanak's attire was meant to obfuscate his religious identity but Gobind's clothing was meant to make him stand out.

Updated 04 Nov, 2019 02:16pm

A forgotten shrine near Lahore stands witness to the havoc wreaked by Ahmed Shah Abdali

Till a few years ago, there used to be an annual urs at the shrine, as is the custom at all Sufi shrines.

Updated 10 Jan, 2019 01:01pm

How old is Lahore? The clues lie in a blend of historical fact and expedient legend

How can the significance of the contemporary city be established without a glorious past?

Updated 02 Jan, 2019 07:21pm

5 gurdwaras that could be made part of Kartarpur Corridor

Five Sikh shrines in Pakistani Punjab with historical links to Guru Nanak and the other gurus now lie forgotten.

Updated 14 Dec, 2018 01:01pm

The Kartarpur Corridor is more than a symbol of new peace

A visa-free corridor, where there is no Pakistani or Indian but a devotee of Nanak, is the ultimate tribute to the Guru.

Updated 03 Dec, 2018 07:10pm

How Chenab, the river of love, flows seamlessly from one legend to another

In Punjabi folklore, this river of many tragic love stories is a powerful symbol.

Updated 22 Nov, 2018 04:08pm

Allahabad renamed: how 'correction' of 'historical injustices' reveals problematic narratives

The rename may come across as new, but there have been traces of it from the start.

Updated 04 Nov, 2019 02:18pm

With his ashes immersed in the Ravi, Kuldip Nayar becomes one with the river’s legends

Tales of Valmiki, Ram and Sita, Lav, Guru Nanak and countless others are intertwined with the history of the river.

Updated 20 Oct, 2018 01:24pm

The legacy of Guru Nanak lives on in four historic gurdwaras in Punjab

Kartarpur Sahib, Sacha Sauda, Sacha Khand and Beri Sahib are associated with key events in the Sikh guru’s life.

Updated 04 Nov, 2019 02:17pm

If Pakistan shuns the term ‘Ancient India’ in its history books, is it entirely to blame?

India’s exclusive use of the term has spread the perception that it is the only inheritor of subcontinent’s legacy.

Updated 07 Sep, 2018 12:17pm

In Pakistan, appreciation of the Indus Valley civilisation ties in with attempts to erase its Hindu past

The message is clear — Pakistan’s pre-Islamic history is acceptable as long as it is separated from its Hindu influence.

Updated 30 Aug, 2018 01:02pm

Post-Partition Lahore emerged as Pakistan socio-cultural hub, but it lost something along the way

As long as there is a new Lahore, its predecessor, the old Lahore will continue to survive in its shadow.

Updated 13 Aug, 2018 05:55pm

With Pakistan’s rivers dying, are its ancient cities running out of time?

The mighty rivers of Punjab are the reason why civilisation exists — and has for thousands of years — in this region.

Updated 12 Feb, 2019 05:42pm

How a valiant Sikh woman ruler helped Ranjit Singh rise from a chieftain to the Maharaja of Punjab

Sada Kaur’s military support and tactical advice proved pivotal as her young son-in-law went about creating an empire.

Updated 03 Jul, 2018 06:08pm

This village near Lahore serves as a reminder of Sikhism’s diverse past

A non-mainstream narrative asserts that Guru Nanak was not born in present-day Nankana Sahib but in Dera Chahal village.

Updated 21 May, 2018 10:13am

The 1915 Ghadar plan to free India from the British was a failure — but it sparked a revolution

The movement set into motion a series of events such as the Jallianwala Bagh and the Non-Cooperation Movement.

Published 04 May, 2018 05:18pm