Annual Report - Part-I, 1937 to 1938

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Introduction The belated appearance of this Report is due, in the first place, to the fact that the late Mr. N. G. Majumdar could not send in his contribution on the excavations carried out by him during the year 1937-38. After his regret- table murder in November 1938 it was found that the account of his work at Kosam had to be entrusted to somebody else who had to work on this site. Un- fortunately, this took a considerable time, inasmuch as the officer, who was en- trusted with the work, could not cope with it and the contribution was consequently delayed.

The format of the consolidated Annual Reports of the Department Since 1920-21 has continued unchanged. It was, however, felt that, while much of the routine matter relating to the administration of the Department, which is comparatively of little interest to the public, was printed on costly paper, the scientific part of the Department's work in which more interest is being taken was beyond the means of the larger public owing to the heavy cost of the publication. The advent of the European War emphasized the need for economy, particularly in the matter of imported and costly art paper. With the sanction of the Government of India it was, therefore, decided that the Report should henceforth be published in two parts, one with a simple paper cover containing administrative and routine matters, such as conservation, treasure trove, etc., and the other devoted to exploration, epigraphy and other items of research. While the former part will conform to the size and get-up of most of the Annual Reports of Government Departments, the latter will in future appear in a handier form with adequate illustrations. It is hoped that these changes, which are designed primarily for the benefit of the interested public, will be widely appreciated.

In regard to the administration of Museums under the control of the Department, it may be mentioned that a new policy of distributing as widely as possible duplicate antiquities, has been definitely adopted during the year and sets of antiquities prepared for every important Museum in India.

A sum of Rs. 67,934 was spent on the conservation in the Punjab and North- West Frontier Province including Rs. 8,559 on the maintenance of water supply and pumping plant and Rs. 1,540 on account of Agency Charges to the Public Works Department.

In and around Lahore special Repairs were done to Hazuri Bagh, Jahangir's Tomb, Nur Jahan's Tomb and the Lahore Fort. At Hazuri Bagh the southern and northern facades were repaired and the Roshanai Gate near Maharaja Ranjit Singh's Smadh was made tidy and secure on stone pivots embedded in cement concrete.

At Jahangir's Tomb, the old and decayed Mughal cause-ways, towards the north and south of the central western tank of the Mausoleum, were dug out and re-laid on a damp proof course with special size bricks laid in cement, showing diaper pattern resembling the old on the surface. The dilapidated compound wall of the Mausoleum on its Rout was restored by brickwork in superior kankar lime. The open and wide joints were well raked and pointed sunk to match the adjoining surface.

The spelled facing stones of the plinth in the eastern gateway of the Tomb were replaced by neatly dressed red sand stone slabs, the new paneling work being similar to the old. The decayed marble slabs in the Chhatri of the north- west minaret were replaced by new polished stones embedded in cement concrete and the loose stones were carefully reset. The open joints of the white marble chhajja stones of the minaret were grouted and pointed sunk with white cement. The staircases leading to the roof of the Tomb in all cardinal points were repaired and the loose and bulged out slabs reset in their original position.

The western facade of the Tomb had decayed. The stone slabs containing marble inlay work in geometrical patterns, including the stones in the cornice above had become loose, especially in the southern half. These were replaced by new fine dressed red sandstone slabs with marble inlay pieces. Other slabs which were not totally decayed were made serviceable by chiseling off about I", and fresh inlay pieces were provided, similar to the original.

At Nur Jahan's Tomb, the construction of the pavement of the pathways resumed from last year was completed on the west, north and south-laid in diaper pattern in cement mortar with new special size bricks enhancing thereby the beauty of the Tomb. The broken brick jail ventilator was replaced by a new one. A neat iron railing about 3' high was provided round the well on the north-east corner of the pathway, as a measure of safety.

At the Lahore Fort, the Fort wall was repaired in patches with old country bricks in lime. The work of preparing the lawns and pathways to the Rout- east of Diwan-i-Am is in progress. The pathways and lawns were demarcated during the year by constructing walls and steps.

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