Analysis of information sources in references of the Wikipedia article "Aram Bagh, Karachi" in English language version.
The religious books of Hinduism have it about this ground that Ram had spent a night here during his journey to Hinglaj (Balochistan).
An office bearer of a Hindu social organisation told me on guarantee of anonymity that this Ram Bagh is located near the Swami Narayan temple. Ram Bagh was a park. What the Swami Narayan temple has for us in its history is a tale for another time. The office bearer told me that it was in 1939 that a Hindu, Deewan Jethanand who had made the construction of Ram Bagh possible. The place still exists by the temple on Burne's Road.
On page 738, he writes, "Ram Bagh is an old, historic ground in Karachi. Parts of the ground have a bit of grass, while some flower beds can also be seen. Before the partition, this ground was always reserved for Hindu religious events and gatherings. However, sometimes it was also used for political gatherings."
Before and after the partition, Ram Leela (the story of Ram) was presented on stage in Karachi. Ram Bagh was the place where the theatre was usually held. From Ram's exile to his return home, every event of the tale was presented through dramatic art. ... Where was this Ram Bagh in Karachi, a centre for Ram Leela every year? Imagine a 10-day long theatrical event on Hinduism in Karachi.
Later, the riots slowly spread to the Top Khana Maindan and Ram Bagh, where some homes of the Hindu community were looted.
The Ram Bagh is still there but it does not host any more Ram Leela performances. The stage where the acts were performed is now replaced by a mosque.
Aram Bagh or Ram Bagh as it supposedly was known prior to partition was famously visited by Ram and Site en route to Hinglaj from Mahadev Temple. For obvious reason the place turned into a pilgrimage site for Hindus and many temples were built to mark the holiness of the area.
"At present, around 40 Hindu families reside in Aram Bagh. And some families have moved to other parts of the city." He says Hindus have good relationships with other communities. "Most Hindus are business partners with Muslims. They even attend each other's social gatherings, especially when someone gets married or passes away." Lakhwani says he has never witnessed someone disturbing Hindus. "We understand that both communities have been living here together in harmony for decades, so none of us can even think of anything against each other." He recalls that the first custodian of the Rameshwar Mahadev Mandir, Arjandas T Aswani, was born in Aram Bagh; he was educated at the NJV School, where he later served as a teacher. "Aswaniji was on good terms with the then imam of the Jamia Masjid. They used to sit together to discuss social issues."
According to Kaleemullah Lashari, Sindh Antiquities Department Secretary, Prior to the Partition, Arambagh was Rambagh, and there was a cluster of temples here. The temples were built in the garden where, according to Hindu mythology, Ram and Sita spent a night while on their way to Hinglaj for offering thanks, after Ram completed 14 years of exile in the jungle with Lakshman and Sita, following court intrigues. Till the 20th century, the area was called Rambagh. It was converted into a refugee camp after 1947 and named Arambagh. ... According to Hasan, Hinglaj is one of the seven places most sacred to Hindu. In fact, lore has it that after Ram rescued Sita from the demon king Ravana, they went to the Mahadev temple in Karachi and spent a night at this Bagh hence the name. After that Rambagh became a place of pilgrimage too, Hasan said. Karachi itself is also known as Ramya in some Greek texts, he added. Eminent conservation architect and town planner Yasmeen Lari points out that closely following the boundaries of the Artillery Maidan Quarter was the Rambagh Quarter, which boasted three water tanks, including the Rambagh Tank, giving the quarter its name.
Behind Arambagh, in the heart of Karachi city is a small, obscure and faceless Shiv temple that remains closed six days a week. It remains locked except on Monday evenings for a short while, said a hawker who sits outside the temple. Requesting anonymity, he said: I have been here for the last 18 years but have seen it open only on Monday evening. The temple was built by Astan Shrimati Hajeebai in memory of her husband Seth Ochi Ram Mangat Ram, it says in Sindhi language on a small foundation stone in the temple.
Prominent architect and academic Yasmin Cheema points out that Rambagh, spread over nine acres, contained three tanks, the Ram Chandur Temple and several wells. The most famous of the three tanks was Rambagh. Later, the wells of the area supplied water to the British army camp, as well as its cantonment, according to Cheema. Most of the wells are located within the Tank while five are distributed along its periphery, another 10 are scattered in a five-acre irregularly-shaped compound to the north, which also included one of the four temples situated at the four corners of the Tank.
According to Kaleemullah Lashari, Sindh Antiquities Department Secretary, Prior to the Partition, Arambagh was Rambagh, and there was a cluster of temples here. The temples were built in the garden where, according to Hindu mythology, Ram and Sita spent a night while on their way to Hinglaj for offering thanks, after Ram completed 14 years of exile in the jungle with Lakshman and Sita, following court intrigues. Till the 20th century, the area was called Rambagh. It was converted into a refugee camp after 1947 and named Arambagh. ... According to Hasan, Hinglaj is one of the seven places most sacred to Hindu. In fact, lore has it that after Ram rescued Sita from the demon king Ravana, they went to the Mahadev temple in Karachi and spent a night at this Bagh hence the name. After that Rambagh became a place of pilgrimage too, Hasan said. Karachi itself is also known as Ramya in some Greek texts, he added. Eminent conservation architect and town planner Yasmeen Lari points out that closely following the boundaries of the Artillery Maidan Quarter was the Rambagh Quarter, which boasted three water tanks, including the Rambagh Tank, giving the quarter its name.
"At present, around 40 Hindu families reside in Aram Bagh. And some families have moved to other parts of the city." He says Hindus have good relationships with other communities. "Most Hindus are business partners with Muslims. They even attend each other's social gatherings, especially when someone gets married or passes away." Lakhwani says he has never witnessed someone disturbing Hindus. "We understand that both communities have been living here together in harmony for decades, so none of us can even think of anything against each other." He recalls that the first custodian of the Rameshwar Mahadev Mandir, Arjandas T Aswani, was born in Aram Bagh; he was educated at the NJV School, where he later served as a teacher. "Aswaniji was on good terms with the then imam of the Jamia Masjid. They used to sit together to discuss social issues."
Behind Arambagh, in the heart of Karachi city is a small, obscure and faceless Shiv temple that remains closed six days a week. It remains locked except on Monday evenings for a short while, said a hawker who sits outside the temple. Requesting anonymity, he said: I have been here for the last 18 years but have seen it open only on Monday evening. The temple was built by Astan Shrimati Hajeebai in memory of her husband Seth Ochi Ram Mangat Ram, it says in Sindhi language on a small foundation stone in the temple.
Prominent architect and academic Yasmin Cheema points out that Rambagh, spread over nine acres, contained three tanks, the Ram Chandur Temple and several wells. The most famous of the three tanks was Rambagh. Later, the wells of the area supplied water to the British army camp, as well as its cantonment, according to Cheema. Most of the wells are located within the Tank while five are distributed along its periphery, another 10 are scattered in a five-acre irregularly-shaped compound to the north, which also included one of the four temples situated at the four corners of the Tank.
