Bradlaugh Hall (Urdu: بریڈلا ہال) is a historic hall located in Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan.[1] It was founded in the memory of a British member of the parliament, Charles Bradlaugh.[2][3] It hosted the meetings of the Congress during the Indian independence movement.
History
editBradlaugh Hall was constructed in the late 19th century.[4] The Indian National Congress, after five years of planning and fundraising, utilized this structure for its annual session in Lahore in 1893.[4] This initiative was significantly assisted by Sardar Dyal Singh, a noted newspaper publisher who secured Lahore as the session venue in 1888.[4] Surplus funds of Rs 10,000 from the session were allocated for the construction of Bradlaugh Hall.[4]
The building was named in honor of Charles Bradlaugh, a British MP during the late Victorian era, recognized for his advocacy for social justice and affinity towards India.[4] Bradlaugh attended the Indian National Congress's 5th annual session in India in 1889.[4] In recognition of his contributions, a dedication plaque was installed at the hall by Surendra Nath Banerji, a senior leader of the Indian National Congress, on October 30, 1900.[2]
Over the ensuing decades, the hall served as a venue for several advocates for the Indian subcontinent, particularly during the 1920s and 1930s.[4] However, with the rise of the Muslim League in 1946, the Indian National Congress discontinued using the hall.[4] Subsequently, the hall was repurposed as a grain storage facility, a residence for migrants from Amritsar, and a storage facility for ironworkers.[4]
After a flood in 1956 rendered the hall unsuitable for habitation or storage, it was transferred to the National Technical Institute.[4] Following the institute's closure in the late 1990s, the building was rented out to teachers of nearby government schools and other short-term tenants.[4]
In 2024, the building was conserved and restored by the Walled city of Lahore Authority (WCLA), to preserve its legacy for future generations.
References
edit- ^ "Bradlaugh Hall, hub of Indian freedom movement, now a crumbling ruin in Lahore". Arab News PK. August 15, 2022.
- ^ a b Ali, Aown (September 26, 2015). "Revolution to ruins: The tragic fall of Bradlaugh Hall". DAWN.COM.
- ^ "Bradlaugh Hall — the lost splendour!". September 4, 2019.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "Bradlaugh Hall, Lahore, Pakistan". Asian Architecture.
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