Moran Sarkar I Moran Masjid I Pul Kanjri I Prostitute Becomes Maharani of Ranjit Singh I Gilani Logs

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Moran Sarkar I Moran Masjid I Pul Kanjri I Prostitute Becomes Maharani of Ranjit Singh I Gilani Logs

Videography: Muhammad Tanzeem Baath

Moran Sarkar was a Punjabi Muslim married to Sikh ruler Maharaja Ranjit Singh of Punjab in 1806. She was a nautch girl before she became a queen. Maharaja Ranjit Singh was supposedly punished by flogging by Akali Phula Singh for marrying her. Mai Moran was sent to live in Pathankot district, in 1811.

Mai Moran was born in a Muslim family in Makhan Windi, near Amritsar. She later married Maharaja Ranjit Singh, a year after he became the maharaja of Lahore at the age of 21 and was officially given a name as Maharani Sahiba. She was a nautch girl. Maharaja Ranjit Singh used to meet her in the Punjab region of India and Pakistan. She used to dance for him at the Baradari of Maharaja Ranjit Singh halfway between Amritsar and Lahore. The place was since called Pul Kanjri but now its name has been changed to 'Pul Moran'.
She was considered to be very learned in arts and letters. She was known for her philanthropic acts and in bringing Maharaja's attention to many problems.

The Maharaja at Moran's request, built a mosque called as Masjid-e-Tawaifan, which was renamed in 1998 as Mai Moran Masjid in Lahore. This is located in Lahore's bazaar now called Pappar Mandi near Shah Almi Gate.

Pul Kanjri is a historical site situated 35 km away from Amritsar on Amritsar-Lahore road, near the villages of Dhanoa Khurd and Dhanoa Kalan on the Wagah border. It is one of the heritage sites built by Maharaja Ranjit Singh, where he used to rest while travelling with his troops. During his reign, Pul Kanjari was an important trading center. Some part of the bridge still exists. It was named Pul Kanjri. It was greatly in news during 1971 war. This fortress also contains a bathing pool, a temple, a Gurudwara and a mosque.

People used to come to Pul Kanjri from far-flung areas, including Amritsar and Lahore, for shopping. The town was inhabited by Arora Sikhs, Muslims and Hindus who lived together until the partition of India. The historical town has been reduced to a tiny village now.

"Moran" was a dancer from nearby village Makhanpura and used to perform in the Royal Court of Maharaja Ranjit Singh. On the way, she had to cross a small canal linked to river Ravi, which was built by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in order to irrigate Shalimar Gardens of Lahore. This canal did not have a bridge. One day while crossing the canal Moran lost her silver sandals that had been presented to her by the Maharaja. Disappointed over the loss, she refused to perform in the court of Maharaja. When the incident was brought to the notice of Maharaja, he immediately ordered the construction of a bridge on the canal. The dancers were not given much respect in those days and they were addressed as "Kanjari". Hence the bridge constructed to facilitate Moran was known as "Pul Kanjari".

Now, this historical memorial has been renovated and is being preserved by The Ministry of Tourism, Govt. of India and Govt. of Punjab. Renovations were made to the Mosque, Mandir, Baradari and a Sarovar.

On the right side of the memorial is a Shiv Temple made of Nanakshahi Bricks. Inside on the roof of the temple and sides is fresco work that has faded with the passage of time.

Originally, it was a store house (pool) for the water, but later on the name Sarovar was given to it. The water to the pool was supplied from the nearby canal. There is an open space for the gents to take a dip and a covered one for the ladies, whereas there is a separate slope for the animals.

The stay house of Maharaja Ranjit Singh known as baradari (the house with 12 doors), is almost in ruins.

Pul Kanjri was captured by the Pakistani army during the Indo-Pak wars of 1965 and 1971. However, it was later returned to India as a part of peace treaty between the countries.

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