Written by: Mahnaz Shujrah
Posted on: July 16, 2018 | 
My grandmother looking at the Pakistan timeline
I consider myself very lucky that I visited the new National History Museum in Lahore with my grandmother. As we would walk through the exhibits, she would tell me about her parents and grandparents contributions to and experiences in Pakistan, which turned the entire visit into a memory I will cherish forever.
The National History Museum was inaugurated in April this year, and officially opened to the public on the 1st of July. Located in the Greater Iqbal Park next to the Lahore Fort, this was a project organized under the Punjab Government. The physical structure was built by Parks and Horticulture Authority (PHA), while the curators of the museum were working under The Citizens Archives of Pakistan (CAP). They have been deciding the content, and working on the project for more than two years.
The museum is built in the shape of a semi-circle, with the entrance on one end and exit on the other. There are five different halls with various exhibits, along with a Heroes Gallery, a gift shop, and an amphitheater. The museum is organized to highlight some of the most important moments and people in Pakistan’s history. The first hall included exhibits about The Lahore Resolution, Gandhi-Jinnah Talks, The 3rd June Plan and the Indian Independence Act of 1947, along with an overarching timeline of Pakistan. The second hall was dedicated to how Pakistan came into being with the following exhibits: Journey to Pakistan and 1947 Fasadaat. Hall three was divided into categories, which included the Wagah Station, Refugees, The Government of Pakistan, The Citizens of Pakistan and the Armed Forces. Hall four showcased Popular Culture, and acted as a link to present-day Pakistan, while hall five included Sports, Quwwat-e-Pakistan and Young Historians. This influx of information could naturally be overwhelming for a first time visitor, but to my delight, there were well informed guides in each hall to guide the visitors through the exhibits.
The museum is the first one of its kind in the country, creatively incorporating technology in the displays and exhibits. The primary sources from the archives, such as images, visual footage, as well as original documents, are displayed through interactive screens. All the text in the exhibits was presented in both English and Urdu, making the information more widely accessible. In my opinion, the best aspect of the museum was how it incorporated oral histories and testimonials throughout. Can you imagine picking up an old fashioned telephone set, and hearing the voice of Quaid-e-Azam Mohammed Ali Jinnah on the other end, giving one of his famous speeches?
Minahil Mehdi, the manager at the museum, pointed out what she believes is one of the most important aspects of this project, “In a time when narratives are manipulated, and discourses lack freedom, we present the experiences of people in their own words, and we try to share the narratives as they were witnessed. Again, these are stories of the people, for the people.”
One of the most interesting exhibits was “1947 Fasadaat”. The display was arranged in a hallway, with visuals projected on three different curtains on each side. On each curtain there were different videos and images, showing the events of Partition. With the visuals and sounds surrounding you, it felt as if you were standing amidst the chaos. The Popular Culture hall was also unlike what one typically expects in a museum. I looked at the posters of films from our ‘golden age.’ Although, they were merely posters for me, but my grandmother would have stories to tell about each one, and what the popular trends were of the time. Conversations which don’t normally come up at home were triggered by walking through the halls. For example, as we were looking at old passports and documents, she would tell me how the layout has changed over the years and how she still has the passport and pictures of her own grandfather. It made me realize how many stories are kept safely in our own households, but which we rarely get around to sharing. I also thoroughly enjoyed the exhibits of our famous artists, writers and singers, especially Noor Jehan, whose voice filled the entire hall.
In a conversation about the response of visitors thus far, the director of the museum, Hiba Ali mentioned how they have feedback mechanisms towards the end, and so far all of the feedback received has been positive. However, she expected more critical feedback, as historians and other experts visit, since there is always room for improvement. She also talked about how this museum could perhaps lead the way, for setting up similar museums in other cities of Pakistan. When asked about the possibility of regular school visits, she admitted that one of their priorities was to make our history interesting and engaging for children. As I walked around, I saw how younger generations were excited to interact with the digital exhibits, and much more comfortable with the use of technology.
Personally, as a history enthusiast, I hope that the museum will showcase more information over time, since the possibilities are endless. Considering that space is always limited, whether in a textbook or a building, the museum has done a spectacular job in bringing together the different pieces of our national history under one roof. Hopefully, visitors will see this as a good starting point to dive deeper into our history.
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