Century-old Balmik Temple stands test of time

In the 200-year-old Lalkurti area of the Cantonment, the Balmik Temple—built in 1905—still stands strong, with worship continuing to this day.

What makes the temple unique is the grave of its first post-Partition administrator, Kheera Lal.

According to Hindu tradition, the deceased are cremated, but as per his will, Kheera Lal was buried inside a side portion of the temple. His grave still exists and is adorned with flowers by devotees.

The 120-year-old temple celebrates all major Hindu festivals, including Diwali, Holi, and Raksha Bandhan.

Its building reflects Mughal architectural style, and thanks to regular maintenance, it remains structurally strong and impressive even after more than a century.

Before Partition, Lalkurti was home mainly to Hindus and Christians, along with some Muslim families. After 1947, nearly 95 per cent of the Hindu community migrated to India, but Christians still form a significant part of the area's population.

Unlike many others, Kheera Lal chose to stay in Pakistan. He ran a small shop and took sole responsibility for managing the temple after Partition.

Local Muslim families provided him with protection and respect, ensuring his family's safety. The reason why he chose burial over cremation remains a mystery to this day. Currently, his son-in-law, Om Prakash Narain, manages the temple.

At 80 years old, he is also a member of the District Peace Committee, Interfaith Harmony Committee, and serves as General Secretary of the Pakistan Hindu Balmik Welfare Society.

Narain said his family has lived in Lalkurti since Partition and received love and protection from residents, government, and administration alike. "Even during riots, our neighbours acted as our protectors. Islam is a religion of peace; we are happy and content here. May Allah keep Pakistan safe forever," he said.

He added that regular beautification and renovation work is carried out at the temple, but the government should extend greater support through minority funds.

The temple, he stressed, is a historic landmark where daily worship and religious festivals continue with devotion. Pointing to the grave at the side of the temple, he said, "That's my father-in-law. He was the administrator before me, and now I have been managing it for years."

He also highlighted the Hindu community's biggest challenge: the lack of a cremation ground. "Whenever someone passes away, we face great difficulties in performing the final rites.

Our long-standing demand is that the government allocate a four-kanal plot at the junction of Rawalpindi and Islamabad, where we can build a temple with a proper cremation ground in a modern, safe, and scientific manner," he said. Around 6,000 Hindus currently reside in the twin cities.