EP 2 | “Life of a Vagabond” ft. Salman Rashid

In this conversation, Salman Rashid explores the evolution of Pakistan's academic travel writing, beginning with his childhood wanderings in Lahore and culminating in a twenty-two-hour trek on foot to Rani Kot Fort. He discusses how travel became a profession for him, how history influenced his journeys, and how forgotten cities, ruins, and archives revealed deeper connections to the land and identity. This episode looks at Pakistan beyond typical tourist brochures, highlighting Sindh's hidden clues, Punjab's overlooked heroes, Gujranwala's lost heritage, and the indigenous wisdom rooted in the soil. It's a reflective journey through landscapes, memories, and the experience of becoming a traveller. 00:00 Introduction 00:54 Remaining travel destinations: Exploring the allure of Balochistan and the coastal highway. 03:45 Childhood Beginnings: Discovering the Walled City of Lahore 05:00 Taking travel as a profession — journeys during army service 09:00 Twenty‑two hours on foot — the obsession with Rani Kot 14:15 Becoming a writer — magazines, Hamsafar, and archaeology readings 17:44 Exploring Sindh — clues from history & forgotten cities like Kalan Kot 19:00 Exploring Self Through Soil: Indigenous Wisdom 20:00 India & challenges of exploring Pakistan 24:16 Book on Gujranwala: Jain Mandir and Overlooked Heritage 29:01 Modern Gujranwala — forgotten founders & lost memory 30:34 Forgotten Punjabi Heroes: Identity, Rebellion, and Myths of Ranjit Singh 35:02 Surrogate sons of Aimanabad 37:24 Punjabi history & who we were before 39:45 Academic travel writing vs sensationalism 41:17 Future Plans: Writing About Sindh and Its Hospitality Credits: Produced by: Kahé Panjab Productions Content & Research: Warda Shehzadi Cameramen: Tanveer Ahmed, Shoaib Tariq Editor: Ghayoor Hussain Audio Recordist: Ali Fida Social Media Head: Ukasha Sarwar Awan Your contribution helps us continue creating meaningful content. Support Our Channel: PK44UNIL0109000254053764 #SalmanRashid #PakistanTravelWriter #AcademicTravelWriting #TravelPakistan #HistoryOfPakistan #SindhHistory #PunjabHistory #GujranwalaHistory#RaniKot #Makli #KalanKot #TravelPodcast #PakistaniPodcast #ExploringPakistan #IndigenousWisdom #CulturalHeritage #vichaardaachaar #punjabipodcast #wardashehzadi