From royal luxury to rust: The Indus Queen needs us
Historic Treasure at Risk
Heritage and culture enthusiasts, including intellectuals, scholars, and former members of the Bahawalpur Museum board, have called for urgent action to preserve the Indus Queen. They want the over-a-century-old steamer relocated to the Bahawalpur Museum for public exhibition.
Currently, the skeleton of the Indus Queen lies abandoned near Kot Mithan, corroding by the Indus River.
Past Efforts Fell Short
In the past few years, former South Punjab Additional Chief Secretary Saqib Zafar and Commissioner Raja Jahangir Anwar attempted to shift the ship to the museum. However, transfers and administrative delays left the task incomplete. As a result, the Indus Queen continues to deteriorate, raising concerns among heritage advocates.
Raja Anwar had even led a delegation of former board members to inspect the ship and plan its relocation. Unfortunately, the proposal stalled after his and Mr. Zafar’s departures from Bahawalpur.
The Story of the Indus Queen
Built in 1867 by Thomas Reid & Sons in Paisley, Scotland, the steamer was initially named Sutlej Queen. Commissioned by Nawab Sadiq Muhammad Khan Abbasi IV, it transported the royal family along the River Sutlej, with its three stories accommodating 400 guests in separate male and female sections.
After the Partition of India and the Indus Waters Treaty, Sutlej’s water flowed to India. Nawab Sadiq Abbasi V moved the ship to the Indus River and renamed it Indus Queen. Later, he gifted it to devotees of poet Khawaja Ghulam Farid for travel between Kot Mithan and Chachran Sharif.
A fire eventually damaged the ship, rendering it unusable. Construction of the Ghazi Ghat Bridge docked it permanently. Today, it lies in ruins at Kot Mithan, Rajanpur district.
A Replica at Noor Mahal
Visitors of Noor Mahal in Bahawalpur see a replica of the Indus Queen on the palace lawns. This replica, three stories high, even hosts a restaurant on the second floor. Light and sound shows entertain visitors, but the real Indus Queen remains neglected.
A Heritage in Peril
The Indus Queen is more than a ship. It represents Bahawalpur’s royal history and cultural identity. Heritage lovers insist that relocating it to the Bahawalpur Museum will preserve it for future generations. They have approached Punjab Archives, the archaeology department, and Commissioner Musarrat Jabeen to advocate its shift.
For context, Bahawalpur Museum successfully preserved a vintage steam engine from Panjnad Headworks, which now draws large crowds. Similarly, the museum safeguards artifacts from the Cholistan Desert and Nawab Sadiq Abbasi’s vintage vehicles. Preserving the Indus Queen can continue this legacy.
My Reflection
Neglecting the Indus Queen risks losing a priceless link to Bahawalpur’s royal past. The failure to act in the past shows how bureaucracy often sidelines heritage. Immediate relocation and preservation could turn a rotting relic into a symbol of pride for locals and tourists alike.