Tradition and Future
Unimaginable – a generation ago, the journey from Lahore to Thatta Ghulamka Dheroka (TGD) took eight hours; a round trip in one day was hardly possible. Tongas and rickshaws were the usual means of transport in rural areas. There wasn't a single gas station between Lahore and Okara.
The situation improved with the construction of the Lahore-Multan Highway, so that visitors, by car or bus (e.g., from universities), increasingly visited the village of TGD.
Sustainable tourism developed. Guests could stay overnight with accommodation and meals; thanks to the drinking water project, fish could be offered for local consumption; neem tree leaves for insect repellent were available, as were sugarcane spread and fresh buffalo milk.A prize was regularly awarded for the most beautiful mud house (Preservation of Cultural Heritage).
Historical sites were highlighted in the surrounding area (the fort in Gogera, Lord Berkeley's cemetery near Gogera / separatist terrorists rebelled against the occupiers – the first days of independence); the publication "
Dolls, Toys and More" by S A J Shirazi, published by Feroszons, draws attention to places of interest: Patoki, Sahiwal, Okara, and Sher Garh.
The project's sustainability in this context was repeatedly hampered by major political events (nuclear tests), security concerns, and natural disasters such as earthquakes, floods, and pandemics, so that domestic and international guests and visitors could take advantage of the pleasant temperatures between September and March.
TK (Thatta Kedona) lives on, preserving its traditional character. Local culture and looks optimistically to the future:
-In 2019, an art project (Artist in Residence
Peter Hecht) was successfully carried out,
-In 2021, the crime novel *The Village of Dolls* by Hans Sachs was published,
-In 2024, Dr. Gwendolyne Kulick received her doctorate with a research dissertation in which the TK project also played a role.
-In 2025, after 25 years, the doll project participated in the
Bazaar 2025 in Berlin with its own stand, under the patronage of Dr. Senta – a wonderful sign of the connection between tradition and the future.
Labels: Dolls Toys and More, Dr Norbert Pintsch, Gwendolyn Kulick, Peter Hecht, TGD, Thatta Kedona, The Village of Dolls
posted by S A J Shirazi @ 3:15 PM,
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Friends of Thatta Kedona and residents of Dolls Village are very well familiar with
Peter Hecht - an artist who was in the village in March and April 2019. Morals he helped create in the village are still there (also can be seen here). Detailed report about Hecht Art can be viewed
here.
Labels: CULTURA e V, DGFK e V, Norbert Pintsch, Peter Hecht, Richard Wehler, Senta Siller, Zeeshan Mazher
posted by S A J Shirazi @ 9:17 AM,
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Before my trip to Pakistan, my friends had warned me, but despite all my fears, I decided to come to Pakistan. On my return, I will try to convey a positive image of Pakistan. "
Okara (Office Report) Pakistan is a very attractive country for tourism and it was a good decision to come to Pakistan. Pakistanis are very hospitable and hardworking. This is how the German artist, sculptor and musician Peter Hecht spoke to the delegation of journalists, who had come to visit the handicraft center in the village of Thatta Ghulamka near Okara.
The delegation included journalist and columnist Mazhar Rasheed Choudhry, senior journalist Rasheed Sajid and Choudhry Irfan Ejaz.
Peter Hecht, who resided for a month under the "Artists in Residence" program at Thatta Ghulamka, thanked the renowned broadcast journalist Amjad Ali and his staff.
Mr. Hecht has traveled through many countries. He mainly draws animals and birds. Mr. Hecht said that animals are a topic that interests all people. During his stay in the village he drew various birds and animals. As a trained farmer, he visited the livestock centers of the village and talked to the farmers about their problems.
He organized drawing workshops at various schools in the village and surrounding areas and worked with the children. Two such workshops were held at the Ahmad Jalal School Kids Campus in the city of Okara.
Peter Hecht was so taken with the hospitality and affection of the villagers that he had wet eyes when he thanked the villagers and said goodbye to them. He said he would want to come to this village one more time because he got so much love and affection he could not have imagined. He said that many of his compatriots had warned him against this trip and advised him not to travel because of poor security in Pakistan. But despite all fears, he decided to come to Pakistan and this decision proved to be the right one because he was received here with open arms.
Peter Hecht said he will try to convey a positive image of Pakistan on his return to Germany and persuade his friends and acquaintances to visit Pakistan as tourists.
(This article was published on March 30, 2019 in the newspaper "Aaftab" in Lahore)
Labels: AFA (NGO), Amjad Ali, CulturaeV, DGFKeV, Norbert Pintsch, Peter Hecht, Senta Siller
posted by S A J Shirazi @ 9:05 AM,
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The A-e-F-e-A (NGO) has taken a future-oriented path:
Artistic activity in the countryside, as a means for the promotion of a positive perception of projects, also for students as interested participants!
In cooperation with the DGFK and Cultura (two German NGOs), Peter Hecht, Draftsman, sculptor and musician, spent a month in TGD.
Read more »Labels: Amjad Ali, DGFK, FPAC, Norbert Pintsch, Peter Hecht, Senta Siller, Thatta Kedona
posted by S A J Shirazi @ 11:26 AM,
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By Omar M. Ali
Spring visit of Prof Dr Norbert Pintsch, in Pakistan for the purpose of keeping in touch with people (Prof Dr Noor, S A J Shirazi, Prof Aamir Rafique, Arch Ghayyoor Obaid, Calligraphy and artist Anees Yaqub, Prof Dr Amir H. Malik, Prof Dr Rubeena, a.o.) and Institutions (PU, LSE, AFA, FPAC a.o.) always beings the plathora of activities in the Dolls Village and also in Lahore. Here are glimpses of some of the activities:
Visit to the AFA project in TGD
Students of the Punjab University visited the village under the supervision of Prof Aamir Rafique.
Read more »Labels: Aamir Rafique, AFA, Amjad Ali, DGFK, Peter Hecht, Prof Dr Marnix Dressen, Prof Dr Norbert Pintsch, Prof Dr Rubeena Ashraf, Thatta Kedona
posted by S A J Shirazi @ 10:36 AM,
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