School bell replaces temple bells

Khanewal's pre-partition Hindu worship site now serves as school

PIRUWAL:

A historic Sanatan Dharam Temple in Khanewal, once a major place of worship for the Hindu community before the partition of the subcontinent, has transformed over the decades into a government primary school, reflecting both the city's changing social landscape and its layered cultural heritage.

Located in Block 6, one of the city's oldest areas, the temple was established around 1925 and served as a central religious and cultural hub for Hindus living in Khanewal before 1947.

Local historians say the two-storey complex included temples dedicated to Shiva and Krishna, bathing areas, and a large courtyard where festivals such as Holi, Diwali and Janmashtami were celebrated with enthusiasm.

Before partition, Khanewal was known as a multicultural town where people of different faiths lived together, with mosques, churches, gurdwaras and temples standing across the city.

Following the creation of Pakistan, many abandoned religious buildings were repurposed for public use.

The historic temple building now functions as Government MC Primary School 4-G, where classrooms have replaced prayer halls and children's voices echo through corridors once used for worship.

Despite renovations and changes over time, several rooms and architectural features still reflect the building's original design and religious significance.

Local elder Nasir Qureshi said his elders often recalled how the temple remained a vibrant centre for prayers, bhajans and religious gatherings before partition.

Researcher Prof Ajmal Siddiqui described the site as more than a place of worship, saying it once represented the cultural identity and traditions of the Hindu community in the region.

Another resident, Sheikh Mansooruddin, who worked as a carpenter in the area, said he personally witnessed the temple during its earlier years and remembered the atmosphere of harmony and communal interaction associated with it.

Officials from the education department said several former religious sites handed over after partition were later converted into educational institutions, where children now receive schooling while the historical structures continue to preserve traces of the past.