Pak Tea House

Pak Tea House is an intellectual tea–café located in Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan known for its association with progressive academics and left-leaning South Asian intelligentsia.[1][2]

Traditionally frequented by country's notably artistic, cultural and literary personalities, it was founded by a Sikh family in 1940 and quickly acquired its current name after it was leased to one of the locals in Lahore after the independence of Pakistan in 1947. Intervention of Lahore High Court and personal initiatives of Nawaz Sharif led to the re-opening of the Tea House in 2013. Noted for being the birthplace of influential literary movement, the Progressive Writers' Association (Progressive Writers Association), the place is described as "house of writers and thinkers who serve the nation selflessly.[3]

History

The café is believed to have been set up in 1932 and was owned by a Sikh family in Lahore as its rightful owners; it was later given to Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA) 1940s.[4] After the independence of Pakistan in 1947, a local food supplier named Sirajuddin Ahmad rented the house from the YMCA administration and renamed it as "Pak Tea House" in 1947.[4] The place was traditionally frequented by the city's artistic, cultural and literary personalities.[4] Attendees including were: Faiz Ahmed Faiz, Agha Shorish Kashmiri, Ibn-e-Insha, Ahmed Faraz, Saadat Hasan Manto, Ahmad Rahi, Muneer Niazi, Meeraji, Kamal Ahmed Rizvi, Nasir Kazmi, Professor Sayyid Sajjad Rizavi, Ustad Amanat Ali Khan, Dr. Muhammad Baqir, Intezar Hussain and Syed Qasim Mahmood.[4]

The house became a birthplace of the influential literary movement, the Progressive Writers' Association, which had been known for left-wing politics since its early foundation.[4] Many writers frequented it, and it was also a favourite haunt of the section of Lahore youths with non-mainstream points of view.[4] It maintained a reputation as a forum for people of diverse backgrounds to voice their opinions in a non-judgmental atmosphere.[4]

A few years ago, it was shut down by its owner due to lack of business, a decision criticized by the intellectual community of Lahore.[4] But on 2 February 2012, on the orders of the Lahore commissioner, Pak Tea House was put under the control of the Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA). On 10 March 2013, Pak Tea House was reinaugurated by the Government of Punjab.[4] Pak Tea House is located on the Mall Road, near Anarkali Bazaar and Neela Gumbad.[4]

Reopening

In June 2012, the government of Punjab announced its intention to reopen the Pak Tea House, where it would support itself.[5] On Friday 8 March 2013, Pak Tea House reopened after 13 years of closure.[6]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Pak Tea House". Retrieved 2016-11-06.
  2. ↑ "The end of Pak Tea House - The Express Tribune". The Express Tribune. 2013-03-06. Retrieved 2016-11-06.
  3. ↑ http://www.dawn.com/news/791223/nawaz-reopens-pak-tea-house-in-lahore, Nawaz reopens Pak Tea House in Lahore, Dawn newspaper, published 8 March 2013, Retrieved 20 Jan 2016
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Sabir Shah (March 9, 2013). "The Brief history of Pak Tea House". The News International, 2013. Retrieved 28 May 2013.
  5. ↑ http://tribune.com.pk/story/396573/court-paves-way-for-revival-of-pak-tea-house/, The Express Tribune newspaper, Published 20 June 2012, Retrieved 20 Jan 2016
  6. ↑ Nawaz reopens Pak Tea House in Lahore, Retrieved 20 Jan 2016
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