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‘I manifested a dream of mine’—Pakistani designer who renovated Ganga Ram’s 1928 Lahore house

The house of Sir Ganga Ram celebrates the legacy of the visionary who shaped modern Lahore and left a lasting mark on Pakistan’s civic life.

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New Delhi: When Pakistani businessman Haroun Rashid shared pictures of a renovated house, appreciation poured in from both sides of the border. It represents a shared history. The house in Lahore belonged to Sir Ganga Ram, the father of modern Lahore. Hospitals built in his name in both Delhi and Lahore continue to uphold his legacy.

“That Lahore chooses to honour him today shows that the best of any city can’t be amputated from its own history. This is Lahore remembering itself,” wrote X user Ambarish Satwik.

Rashid agrees. The city carries his name with pride.

Ganga Ram remains very much a part of Lahore life and is a highly respected figure here, he told ThePrint.

“He is deeply respected in Lahore and Punjab. Since Partition, none of the buildings or monuments bearing his name have been altered. The most notable among them is Ganga Ram Hospital in Lahore, which remains one of the city’s leading hospitals and continues to be widely known by its original name, Ganga Ram Hospital,” he added.

 Omer Nabi
Omer Nabi (left) with others in front of the house after the renovation in June 2024 | Photo: Omer Nabi

Lahore bears the marks of his legacy. He is renowned for designing and constructing several iconic buildings, such as the Lahore Museum, Aitchison College, the General Post Office, the Albert Victor Wing of Mayo Hospital, and the Government College Chemical Laboratory.

In addition to Ganga Ram Hospital, there are Ganga Ram Mansions and several other buildings in Lahore that bear his name, showcasing his involvement in both design and engineering. His contributions extend beyond architecture to significant work in agriculture and irrigation. One of his most notable feats is the powerhouse he built on a canal—which, Rashid notes, still stands today.


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A manifestation and a renovation

The house, built in 1928, has now been restored to its former glory, and the person behind it—interior designer Omer Nabi—claims he “manifested it.” He had long admired Sir Ganga Ram, having been born in the hospital built by Ganga Ram’s trust. Nabi regarded him as a hero—he even carried a black-and-white portrait of him on his phone.

Nabi’s journey to restore the house began when Ganga Ram’s great-granddaughter, U.S. Senator Keisha Ram Hinsdale, visited Lahore in 2023. The house, which has now been leased by Lahore-based businessmen Faraz Zaidi and Ali Hassan, had long been neglected, hidden in a sea of smaller homes, with few knowing about its existence. Over the years, it had fallen into disrepair, even serving as storage for a shoe factory. Upon Nabi’s first visit, he found the house in a state of decay: the interior was in bad shape, with sagging ceilings, outdated marble flooring, and a crumbling courtyard.

“It was a massive property, about three acres, surrounded by smaller homes. It had become an island in the middle of this neighbourhood,” Nabi said.

Sir Ganga Ram
The restored house of Sir Ganga Ram in Lahore | Photo: Omer Nabi

That was until he received a call: the house needed renovation, and Nabi was tasked with the project. He had never taken on a renovation project before—it was his first.

“He’s a huge Lahori icon, and we all love him deeply. I am sure I manifested a dream of mine,” he told ThePrint.

The renovation took over a year to complete. Nabi worked to restore the house to its former glory while preserving its original character. The terrazzo flooring, originally part of the house’s design, was reinstated. The courtyard, which had been destroyed, was also restored, with Nabi returning the terrace—previously converted into a room—to its original state.

Omer Nabi
(L-R) Granddaughters of Sir Ganga Ram in Lahore | Photo: Omer Nabi

“The house had to be comfortable, as it would be used as an event space, but we wanted to make sure it felt like it always had,” Nabi said. He carefully preserved the integrity of the structure while making the necessary changes for functionality. The staff quarters were transformed into event spaces, with separate bathrooms created for men and women.

It was officially completed in 2024. Hinsdale sent Nabi a thank-you note. The restoration also brought other members of Ganga Ram’s family together. In a poignant moment, two great-granddaughters of Sir Ganga Ram visited the house from Delhi, bringing stories and photographs from their family’s past. The house had been a part of their heritage, and seeing it restored sparked fond memories.

“This was the house they were born in. They had heard stories. They felt it was magical,” Nabi said.

(Edited by Prashant)

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