Dr. Nadhra Shahbaz Khan, an art historian and Associate Professor at LUMS has been awarded the Ordre des Palmes Académiques (France's highest academic honor).
She worked on French culture and arts along with her students through her French arts courses and Lahore heritage. It worked as a milestone in reviving Lahore's forgotten French heritage, particularly the funerary monument known as the Kuri Bagh.
The remnants of the Kuri Bagh in old Anarkali, hidden between LAhore’s bustling streets, tell the poignant story of cultural love. Once Lahore was home of General Jean-François Allard who was a French officer in Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s army. His daughter Marie Charlotte died at an early age during his time of service in Punjab and her tomb is in Kuri Bagh. Her tomb is the symbol of father-daughter love.
Dr. Nadhra was determined to overlook the heritage site to reimagine Kuri Bagh in a contemporary context, with her students. Earlier it was just a class discussion that went out to the French Embassy and ultimately led to several discussions and presentations with French Cultural Attaché and Jean-Marie Lafont.
French Cultural Attaché and Jean-Marie Lafont is a French historian who brought the limelight to her tomb in the 1980s. In 2022, Dr. Nadhra and her class showcased creative projects at the LUMS exhibition in a well-curated manner. This action highlighted multiple themes connecting Pakistani and French culture and arts aesthetically.
On 22 Feb 2025, Dr. Nadhra was awarded the Ordre des Palmes Académique in a ceremony hosted by the Alliance Française in Lahore.
His Excellency Nicolas Galey, Ambassador of France to Pakistan, commented,
“My gratitude and honor for Dr. Nadhra who contributed to the celebration of French Pakistani cultural collaboration, hope you keep showcasing the historical culture of France and Pakistan through your artistic architecture in the beautiful city of Lahore.”
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Dr. Nadhra remarked art history made a great milestone in shaping my worldview by introducing different cultures and beliefs and people I wouldn't know without this exploration of history and culture. General Allard is a historical hero resting among us. We must ensure that his home is frequently visited to freshen his memories. This act will acknowledge history and heritage but also teach us to celebrate shared values of the present and promising future.”
This Prestigious Palmes Académiques is a powerful act of connecting humanities through cultural belongings but also ensuring reliving forgotten stories back into life.
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