Institute of Global and Historical Studies

02/05/2026

A Bittersweet Farewell at the Institute of Global & Historical Studies
What a day to remember!

The faculty and students of the Institute of Global & Historical Studies gathered yesterday for a truly heartfelt get-together at Windmills Buffet Restaurant.

The afternoon was dedicated to celebrating the journeys of our graduating Undergraduate and Postgraduate batches in:

GCUL_Archive Studies 📜

Department of History of Art 🎨

GCUL History 🏛️

It was a beautiful time spent "Making Memories Over Lunch: Past, Present, and Plates". The hall was filled with an incredible mix of emotions—from the roars of laughter and bright smiles shared over a meal, to the bittersweet tears as our scholars prepared to depart.

To our graduates: Whether you are preserving the past, analyzing our visual heritage, or chronicling the human story, you have been an integral part of our institute. As you step out to write your own next chapters, we wish you nothing but success, wisdom, and joy.

Wishing you a wonderful journey ahead! 🌟

29/04/2026

🎨 Spotlight: The Friday Times Explores "The Pulse of Everyday Lahore" at Department of History of Art

We are delighted to share a brilliant feature on our latest exhibition, recently published in The Friday Times! In his insightful review, Dr. Adnan Tariq explores the profound impact of Muhammad Javed’s work, currently showcased in the Department of History of Art’s newly upgraded gallery.

Dr. Tariq perfectly captures the essence of Javed Sahib’s role as a "Visual Archivist," noting how his canvases bridge the gap between Lahore’s dignified heritage and its rapid modern transition.

As the very first exhibition hosted in our modernized facility at GCU, having such a scholarly perspective from Dr. Tariq underscores the immense academic and cultural weight of this showcase.

Read this article:

From congested traffic at Regal Chowk to politically charged protests on Mall Road, Javed captures the raw energy and constant movement of his city

27/04/2026

GCU Unveils Newly Upgraded Art Gallery with Muhammad Javed’s Exhibition "CONTEMPLATION OF EXPERIENCES"

The Department of History of Art at the Institute of Global and Historical Studies (IGHS), officially inaugurated its newly upgraded art gallery today. The debut event featured a solo exhibition by veteran artist Muhammad Javed titled "CONTEMPLATION OF EXPERIENCES," showcasing over 50 artworks that chronicle Pakistan’s urban evolution and social consciousness. The Exhibition is curated by Ms Shifa Ahmad, In-Charge, Department of History of Art.

The exhibition is a landmark event, serving as the first showcase hosted in the facility following an extensive technical and aesthetic upgradation. The modernized gallery now provides a professional-grade environment for the Department of History of Art to facilitate academic engagement between students and master artists.

Punjab Council of the Arts Executive Director and PILAC DG Mahboob Alam Chaudhry and Vice-Chancellor Prof. Muhammad Omer Chaudhry were the Chief Guests.

Muhammad Javed’s work is recognized as a fusion of Impressionism and Social Realism. Known for capturing the "urban pulse" of Lahore, his canvases explore the friction between heritage and rapid modernization.

Reflecting on the showcase, Javed shared:

"My work is an attempt to freeze the fluid transitions of our society—from the crumbling textures of our heritage to the vibrant pulse of our streets. To see these pieces in GCU’s upgraded gallery is a moment of pride. My message to students is: do not just look at the world; contemplate it, critique it, and then paint it."

As visitors and students wandered through the newly upgraded space, several pieces sparked lively conversation, acting as a visual diary that tracks Lahore’s journey from its quiet heritage to the high-energy chaos of modern life. In "In Front of Dyal Singh Mansion", guests were struck by a "visual tug-of-war" where a soft, dotted style depicts bright orange construction machinery as a loud intruder against the calm, dignified beauty of the colonial mansion. This sense of urban movement continues in "Through an Underpass", which many described as feeling like a movie scene; its low angle pulls the viewer into the "belly of the city," using industrial greys and cool blues to capture the tight, metallic atmosphere of modern infrastructure. The "beautiful chaos" of the city is perhaps best felt in "Traffic Hazard at Regal Chowk", where fast, energetic brushstrokes show individual faces blurring into a single moving mass under the harsh, bright heat of a Lahore afternoon.

The exhibition also delves into deeper emotional and social territories. Pieces like "Love People" and "In Search of Justice" utilize a signature palette knife technique to add thick, emotional texture, moving away from the streets and into the heart as gentle reminders of our shared need for kindness and fairness. This role of the artist as a witness is further cemented in Kashmir, Nowadays (August 2019), a powerful canvas where bold, heavy strokes capture the resilience of a community under immense pressure.

In his 2012 works, "On the Road Side of Murree" and "Necessity", Javed takes the ordinary—like colorful fabrics in the mountain mist or a busy clothing market—and makes it poetic, reminding us that everyday survival is layered with color and memory. Finally, works like "Transfer of Power" and "On the Footpath" celebrate the weight of intellect; the former uses sharp lines and intense reds to suggest that real power lies in knowledge, while the latter honors "sidewalk wisdom," showing that learning belongs to everyone on the street rather than being locked away in private institutions.

The Curator of the Exhibition, Shifa Ahmad, stated:

"The objective of hosting this exhibition, particularly within our newly upgraded gallery, is to ensure our students have direct access to excellence. By analyzing Mr. Javed’s professional work within these walls, our scholars gain a practical understanding of how art documents our collective history and shapes our cultural future."

The Chief Guest, Mr. Mahboob Alam Chaudhry, praised the exhibition for its cultural depth, noting that the event stood out due to the vibrant presence of the youth. "This showcase is unique because it bridges the gap between veteran mastery and youthful inquiry," he remarked. "The active engagement of scholars and students in academic discourse surrounding these themes proves that art is not just to be seen, but to be studied as a reflection of our collective identity."

Vice-Chancellor Prof. Muhammad Omer Chaudhry highlighted the university's commitment to providing world-class facilities for the arts.

23/04/2026

The walls are ready. The frames are set. 🖼️

We are thrilled to share a first look at the mounting of Muhammad Javed’s latest exhibition, "Contemplation of Experiences."

This is a particularly special occasion as it marks our first exhibition following the extensive upgradation of our Art Gallery.

We invite you to experience the journey of Lahore’s daily life, captured through the masterful eye of the artist, in our beautiful new space.

🗓 When: Monday, April 27
🕚 Inauguration: 11:00 AM Sharp
📍 Where: Art Gallery, Department of History of Art, Institute of Global and Historical Studies, North Wing, First Floor, Academic Block, New Campus, Government College University, Lahore, located at Kala Shah Kaku.

20/04/2026

🎨 Exhibition: Contemplation of Experiences 🎨

Join us for a solo exhibition by the living legend, Muhammad Javed. With a career spanning over six decades, Javed is one of Pakistan’s most distinguished visual artists and a recipient of the President’s Award for Pride of Performance.

This exhibition offers an intimate journey through a lifetime of creative mastery. His art captures the rhythmic pulse of society and the enduring heritage of our cities.

Event Details

📅 Date: 27–28 April, 2026
🕒 Time: 11:00 am – 4:00 pm
📍 Venue: Art Gallery, North Wing, Institute of Global and Historical Studies (1st Floor, Academic Block), New Campus, Government College University, Lahore (Kala Shah Kaku)

About the Artist

Muhammad Javed’s visionary work has been celebrated across Pakistan, Europe, and the United States. His contributions continue to enrich Pakistan’s cultural landscape for new generations.

Curated by: Shifa Ahmad
Hosted by: Department of History of Art, IGHS, GCU Lahore

📧 Inquiries: [email protected]
📞 Phone: 03004469488

20/04/2026

We are thrilled to announce that the upgrade of our Art Gallery at the Department of History of Art is nearly complete! We’ve been hard at work behind the scenes to create a world-class space for students, artists, and art enthusiasts alike.

What’s new? *

🖼️ Expanded Capacity: With the addition of 8 new art walls, we can now showcase up to 80 paintings at a time.

💡 True-to-Life Lighting: We’ve installed 30 professional-grade natural gallery lights designed to reveal the authentic textures and vibrant colors of every masterpiece.

✨ Fresh Canvas: A crisp, pure white finish on the walls provides the perfect backdrop for diverse artistic expressions.

The transformation is breathtaking, and we are already preparing to curate our next exhibition!

A Heartfelt Thank You:
This project wouldn’t have been possible without the dedication and support of everyone involved in the renovation process. Your contributions have helped us turn this vision into a reality.

Stay tuned for exhibition dates and opening details. We can’t wait to welcome you back!

18/04/2026

The Department of History is hosting a specialized Thesis Workshop designed specifically for History Majors. Whether you're just starting to narrow down your topic or you're deep in the archives and need some guidance, this session is for you!

Join us as Dr. Irfan Waheed Usmani shares expert insights on navigating the complexities of historical research and academic writing.

📍 Event Details:
Resource Person: Dr. Irfan Waheed Usmani (Assistant Professor, IGHS)

Date: Wednesday, April 22, 2026

Time: 10:00 AM – 12:30 PM

Venue: Institute of Global and Historical Studies (IGHS), Government College University, Lahore

04/03/2026

Following the successful panel discussion organized by the Society of History of Art, we are reflecting on the provocative themes explored in "Is the Museum a ‘Laundromat’ for Value?".

The session brought together six student speakers to investigate whether museums truly recognize cultural value or if they actively manufacture it through institutional power. Central to the debate was the "laundromat" metaphor, which illustrates how objects of contested or colonial origin are passed through acquisition and curation until they emerge "clean" as world heritage. This transformation often involves replacing an object's original meaning with an institutional "sign," essentially manufacturing a new social and monetary status.

The discussion mapped the institutional pipeline—from the interpretive act of conservation to the ideological environment of the "white cube"—demonstrating that every stage is a performative act of meaning-making. Our speakers highlighted how structural silences in museums are often political acts, using examples like MoMA’s 1984 Primitivism exhibition to show how context is stripped to serve dominant narratives. We also examined the circuit between auction houses and galleries, where cultural legitimacy is effectively used to launder economic capital.

The panel concluded that while the museum's operations are never ideologically neutral, the path forward lies in institutional honesty—acknowledging colonial provenances and working toward restitution rather than hiding behind the label of "masterpiece".

02/03/2026

Preserving Our History: Major Upgrades at the GCUL Archives 🗞️

We are thrilled to share that the Newspaper Section at the GCUL Archives (IGHS) is currently undergoing a significant upgradation!

This project has been made possible through a remarkable donation by the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP). Our collection now boasts 16 prominent Pakistani newspapers—split equally between Urdu and English—capturing the narrative of our nation from the 1970s through 2022.

🔍 What’s in the Collection?

National Staples: Comprehensive archives of Dawn, Pakistan Times, Jang and Nawa-i-Waqt.

Historical Landmarks: Rare and limited editions of Frontier Post, Masawat, and Mashriq.

🚧 Work in Progress: Dedicated Preservation

We aren't just storing these papers; we’re protecting them for future generations. Our team is currently:

Cataloging & Organizing: Systematically sorting each year for easy research access.

Restoring Brittle Copies: Carefully handling and preserving fragile, aging papers.

Binding Files: Consolidating loose editions into durable, bound volumes to ensure they withstand the test of time.

This is a vital resource for historians, researchers, and students alike. We invite you to visit the IGHS and witness history through the headlines that shaped it.

Stay tuned for more updates as we continue this important preservation journey!

02/03/2026

Project Kickoff: Day 1 at Civil Services Academy, Lahore!

We are proud to announce that today marked the official start of our collaborative digitization project at the Civil Services Academy (CSA)!

In partnership with the National Archives of Pakistan, our team has arrived on-site and the work to preserve our national history has begun. Under the expert supervision of Dr. Lubna Akram (In-charge, Department of Archive Studies), we are diving straight into the arrangement, digitization, and metadata development of vital historical records.

Meet the team on the ground:

✨ Mohsin Ali (Archive Studies)
✨ Muhammad Atif (Archive Studies)
✨ Ali Faisal (Art History)
✨ Nishat Hussain (Art History)
✨ Ayesha Amanullah (Art History)

It’s a big task, but we are ready to safeguard these documents for future generations. Stay tuned for updates as we progress!

02/03/2026

Seminar on Map Reading – Understanding Symbols, Scale, and Direction

The Undergraduate History Society (UHS) today organized a very informative seminar on "Map Reading: Understanding Symbols, Scale, and Direction." The session was held at the Lecture Theatre, North Wing of the Institute of Global and Historical Studies.

The main aim of this seminar was to help students move beyond just looking at maps and actually start "reading" them. For students of History, Global Studies, Art History and Archives, maps are not just drawings—they are primary sources that tell us how people in the past viewed their world.

Key Takeaways for Students

The session was highly practical and focused on how geography and history go hand-in-hand. Here are the main points discussed:

Understanding the "Where" and "Why": Students learned that history isn't just about dates; it’s about locations. Understanding the terrain helps us realize why certain battles were won or why specific cities became trade hubs.

Decoding Symbols and Scale: Our guest speaker explained how to interpret different symbols and how "scale" helps us understand the actual distance between civilizations. This makes our historical research much more accurate and "to the point."

Spatial Analysis: The seminar helped students develop the skill to analyze how different regions and empires related to each other spatially. This is a big plus for those of us studying Global Studies and Art History, as it helps us track the movement of ideas and culture.

Connecting Geography to History: It was clearly shown that geography often dictates historical developments. If we can’t read a map properly, our understanding of history remains incomplete.

A Big Thank You!

We would like to extend our heartiest thanks to Mr. Yasir Usman, Assistant Professor from the Department of Geography.
Your way of explaining complex geographical concepts in such an easy-to-understand manner was truly helpful. You showed us that a map is a storyteller in itself. We are very grateful for the time and effort you put into making this session so engaging for the students.