Occasionally, a refreshing breeze begins to blow in the neighboring country, bringing news that is seldom seen or heard there. Recently, the government of the Pakhtoonwa province has dedicated Rs 3.3 crore for the upkeep and restoration of the ancestral homes of Indian film icons Raj Kapoor and Dilip Kumar. This funding is part of the World Bank's 'KITE' initiative, which aims to promote tourism among filmmakers and cinema enthusiasts worldwide. However, it remains uncertain whether the Kapoor and Dilip families, along with some film aficionados from India, will be permitted to visit as tourists.
Sporadic efforts have been made in Pakistan before, but still that country is not able to guarantee travel safety for Indian and other foreign tourists. The experiment of 'Shri Kartarpur Sahib Corridor' and 'Katasraj Yatra' was successful, but these trips still could not open the doors of tourism earnings. Some time back, the doors of Sir Gangaram's mansion and kothi were opened for his family in Lahore, but that process could not be continued. There are indeed a few places there that can open the doors of revenue earning for this neighbouring country, which is known as an empty bowl.
For example, if package tours to all Sikh Gurudwaras, tour to Aditya Mandir in Multan and Hinglaj Mata Mandir in Sindh, tour to 'Love-Mandir' in Lahore and other 19 Krishna temples, etc. are opened, then the windows of revenue earning can open for Pakistan. There are two conditions - the first condition is that the Mullahs and fundamentalists should be reined in. The second condition is that the return of government terrorist organisations like 'ISI' should also be ensured to the barracks. Geography may change but heritage does not change. The statements of the ruins take me back about five thousand years. This is Sindh province. Larkana is one of its districts. Mohenjadaro is a part of this district. In Sindhi language it means 'mound of the dead'. Obviously this is not the real name of this land. This place is located 25 miles south of Larkana city. It is situated on the banks of Sindh river. The pages of history tell us that Mihran river used to flow in the east of Sindh. The shared water of both the rivers, Mihran and Sindh, made this area fertile.
A city lies sleeping under the 'mounds of the dead', which has faced foreign invaders, looters and villagers in search of the buried unknown treasures. Whoever got hold of anything, took it with him. Some British engineers were also involved in this destruction, but the remains are still there waiting for their testimonies to be recorded. However, the correct identification of the period of Mohenjadaro still remains a puzzle. The discovery of seals from these ruins of about 25 centuries before Christ proves that a civilization was present here in its full glory around 30th century BC. The ruins also testify that even after the destruction of Mohenjodaro, the settlements of Harappa remained. These settlements have also testified that at one time there was a constant movement of ships from the Mediterranean to the Arabian Sea and caravans also used to move on the land route. Even though the neighbouring country Pakistan takes pride in being called an Islamic state, it has become impossible for it to disconnect from its past and heritage. The structure of this subcontinent is such that despite political, geographical and religious changes, it is not possible to disconnect from the partnership.
At the time of India-Pakistan partition, about 44 lakh Hindus and Sikhs entered Indian territory, while about 41 lakh Muslims entered Pakistan from Indian territories. However, there is still controversy about the figures of the time of partition. Some scholars and historians claim that about 1.5 crore people were displaced from their homes. The number recorded in the government figures is only of those who registered their names for compensation or relief. There were also lakhs of people who died in the riots or kept repeating the story of their displacement from the margins. In the 1998 Pakistani census, only 25 lakh Hindu population is recorded there. Most of these people also live in Sindh province. In 1951, Hindus were 22 percent of Pakistan's population but then present Bangladesh was a part of Pakistan. Now there are 9.2 percent Hindus in Bangladesh while only 1.6 percent in Pakistan. Despite such a small population, remnants of Hindu faith and symbols of rich heritage are present in almost all provinces and cities of Pakistan.
Pakistan can neither be free from 'Mohenjadaro', nor from Katasraj, nor from Aditya Temple, nor from Varundev Temple, nor is it possible to get rid of the remnants of Hindu temples and stories of the past spread in the streets and lanes of Lahore, Karachi, Multan and Pindi. The names of the streets and lanes of Lahore are still Ganga-Jamuni. The fragrance of incense and frankincense still comes from the temple of 'Sheetla Mata' in Anarkali Bazaar. Small bells still ring in the Lachcho Wale Mandir. Lakshmi Mansion and Lakshmi Market are still dedicated to Vishnu-wife Maa Lakshmi. Krishna Gali is still Krishna Gali. The Loh Mandir established in the name of Ramsut Lav still exists. The Krishna Mandir of Ravi Road, Balmiki Mandir alias Neela Gumbad Mandir and Ramgali Mandir, Doodhwali Mata Mandir situated between Shah Alami Gate and Lohari Gate, Akbari Mandi Mandir, Arya Samaj Mandir and the temples of Model Town B-Block and D-Block still exist. Jain Shwetambar, Digambar Jain, Shikhar Mandir still exist in Garhi Bhabdibian Lahore. The recitation of Gurbani in low voices still continues in Sikh Gurudwaras. The echo of Gurbani still continues, albeit in low voices. The major Gurudwaras include Gurudwara Dera Sahib, Gurudwara Prakash Asthan, Shri Guru Ramdas, Gurudwara Bapoli Sahib, Gurudwara Chaumala, Gurudwara Samadhi Maharaja Ranjit Singh etc. A limited langar tradition is also continuing in some Gurudwaras and apart from the Paath as per the rules, Gurpurab and some other festivals are also celebrated. In some Gurudwaras, some old Muslim families also come occasionally in the name of community harmony.