Lahore in Pre-Colonial British Intellectual Space (1799-1849)

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to explore the image of Lahore in the British empirical literature such as travelogues, memoirs and observations along with the paintings, sketches and engraving before the British conquest of Punjab in 1849. Exploring the nature of British intellectual and political interest in Punjab, the paper brings to light the demographic, cultural and urban state Lahore at the time of decline of Mughal power at the end of eighteenth century and rise of Sikh power at the beginning of nineteenth century. Exploring the demographic structure, condition of the city, cultural activity and such other variables, the paper indicates a rise of Lahore again to a status of ‘imperial metropolis’ by the second quarter of nineteenth century and to a status of ‘coveted Lahore’ by the beginning of 1840’s. However, the decline of Lahore as Sikh Imperial centre remains out of the scope of this paper.