LAHORE: Some gold-plated parts of Sonehri Masjid`s domes which most probably gave the historic mosque its `golden` name have gone missing after its decaying minarets failed to attract the attention of authorities concerned.
Built at an elevated plinth in Kashmiri Bazaar in the Walled City, the mosque has three large domes and several small minarets whose tops were covered with gold-plated sheets that would glitter, especially when washed by rainwater.
The mosque that is more than 250 years old has markets on its three sides that remain crowded till late night.
Historian Kanhayya Lal wrote in his book `The History of Lahore` that the mosque was built in 1753 by Nawab Bikhari Khan, who was the chief administrator of Mir Mueenul Mulk, the deputy governor of the Punjab, during the reign of Muhammad Shah.
In the reign of Maharaja Ranjit Singh the mosque was occupied by Sikh zealots. Known as Akaldas, these fanatics who had earlier built a bauli (temple) to the west of the mosque demanded that the historic structure either be demolished or given under their control, claiming the Azaan disturbed them while they worshiped.
The Maharaja responded by ordering the seizure of the mosque and the property attached to it. Consequently, the prayer leader (imam) was ejected from the mosque and its possession given to the sevadaars (custodians of temple).
Before placing the Granth (Sikh holy book) inside the mosque, the sevadaars plastered its walls with cow dung to `purify’ the place. The Muslims, hurt by that action, approached Faqir Azizuddin, a minister of the Sikh ruler, and his brother, court physician Faqir Nuruddin, in an effort to get back the possession of the mosque and its property.
But, the Faqir brothers seemingly could not do much against pressure of the Sikh sevadaars. However, the brothers advised the aggrieved Muslims to contact one Gulloo Mashki (water carrier), who was a close friend of the Sikh ruler.
Gulloo Mashki agreed to broach the subject with the Maharaja at an appropriate moment. After some time, he succeeded in persuading the Sikh ruler to restore the mosque to the Muslims. But, the Maharaja did not agree to restore possession of the shops to the Muslims.
Some 32 years after elimination of the Sikh empire, British Governor Egerton allowed the restoration of the shops to a committee when two Muslim notables of the city, Nawazish Ali Khan and Khan Bahadur Muhammad Barkat Ali Khan, agitated the issue again, writes Kanhayya Lal.
Lahore Conservation Society’s Information Secretary and historian Dr Ajaz Anwar said the mosque had been a splendid piece of architecture with its ribbed, bulbous domes. The pattern has also been followed in the construction of Samadhi of Maharaja Ranjit Singh.
“Though this medium-sized mosque has survived the vicissitudes of time, it may not survive the apathy we show towards our heritage,” he said.