CHRISTIANITY COMES TO LAHORE
MISSIONARY ZEALS TURN ZERO

The story of George Maxwell Gordon

Sir John Login was entrusted with the conversion of so called Maharajah Dallip Singh, a lost small boy, trying to recover his identity. Obviously a relation was crafted with the Queen of England, and the young Sikh boy embraced Christianity in Lahore. We have already talked about this in a previous blog. Now the missionary zeal was to convert all Lahore to Christianity. The Reverend T.V. French came here with a mission as other priests were there. The most famous is the missionary zeal of George Maxwell Gordon (1839-1880). Nothing wrong with that, but the saying stands, ‘You can take a horse to a trough of water, but you cannot force him to drink’.

Missionary Gordon’s own letters tell us a lot of things. For instance:

“Just think of a journey of 350 miles, from one end of England to the other, and only two Christians”.

He expressed difficulty in coping with ‘a race so naturally suspicious and alien, as the Hindus and the Mussulmans’, and was not content with sitting in the Church. He proposed bazaar propagation, so they hired a place as a chapel in Lahore, put chairs in front of it and invited people to listen to their sermons The experience, again, is told by him:

“One of the most curious features of the bazar preaching in Lahore is, that it has aroused opposition preaching on the part of the Hindus, Brahmans and the Mussulmans alike. It was commenced by the latter, and for weeks Mr French was annoyed by a Wahabi who took his stand at a particular place in the bazar, close to the little chapel, which we have built conjointly with the Americans. In front of this little chapel it is the custom of the missionaries to arrange benches for those who like to listen, and generally there has been a good attendance. Of course the preaching is not confined to this place, but as it was one much frequented, the Wahabi chose it as his point of attack, and often succeeded in drawing away all Mr French’s audience. By and by, a Hindu, ambitious of having his own voice heard, started a preaching on the opposite side, and attracted a large congregation. Then a Brahman followed , and the missionary of the Gospel was between these fires. Now (strangest of all) the Mussulman, Hindu and Brahman have made a joint-stock company, and they all preach from the same platform to the same audience.”

The real fact is that these missionaries were dedicated and believed in their mission, but the conversion of the local families became impossible for them, and in the end, all they could convert was the poorest rung of the ladder, and that all with promises of rewards of materialistic kind, as well as opportunities to develop.

An interesting story is there about the first Church built in Lahore in Akbar’s time. There is even a separate book on same. A report of Agra is there of a dozen people embracing Christianity. And then we hear the complaint of the Chaplain, that by the summer vacations, all had left, and there was not a single person left as a result of conversion. The same story seems to be repeated in Lahore. Muhammed Salih seems to be the exception. Chaplain Abdul Masih made history as a chaplain.

Everyone has a right to propagate their views and the missionaries were welcome to them. God bless them for their dedication! But how many Lahorites they converted, we do not know, but we can surely guess! The result is the composition of Lahore today in itself.

PATHAN GANGS IN LAHORE IN 1907
STEALING GUNS IN BROAD DAY LIGHT

Strange criminal behaviour of thieves

Sir Henry Craik , who later became Governor General of Punjab, wrote impressions of Lahore in 1908. I find some of these impressions most bizarre. Here we note Craik’s observation of gun thefts in Lahore. He says:

“One official will tell you of the strange devices of the Pathans in search of firearms, which it is his business to detect. They have to be tracked across the jungle; and in little groups of five or six, meeting at some distant point during the night, and by day wandering singly about the towns disguised as pedlars, they pass far south of Lahore after this on quest– the impounding of guns, which fetch about pounds 100 apiece in their own country. Their boldness is marvelous. They have been known to enter an English barracks in the quiet of the early afternoon, when Tommy Atkins is resting after dinner, and to carry out stand of arms without detection.”

And how they do it:

Feigning the carrying of dead relative back to their country, they loaded a coffin on a railway train. The respected officer suspected their motives and got the coffin opened at the Railway Station and found out that there was a dead dog in it, long with goodly store of rifles. Great care is being taken by the authorities to curb the crime of various criminal gangs operating in the city.

The obsession of arms and ammunition with our brethren the Pathans is recognized from ages. A Pathan is not complete without a gun. Men of war, they have to get their hands on such a source, as to enrich themselves with fighting power. The British, the Russians and even the Americans came face to face wit the dilemma of modern age. But the Pathan is not living in this age at all, it seems. Centuries have not made as difference in their love and use of guns. That is why when the British outlawed gun manufacture of Lahore, the Lahori bandook sazs migrated to the border areas and resumed their business there. Lahore served their brethren Pathans in more ways than one.

OUT OF JOBS READY TO SELL SOULS
THE NEW MISCREANTS OF PAKISTAN

Following guidelines of Masters

The very title of articles appearing in newspapers are perplexing in all ways. The titles and the issues are not ours at all. The rose tinted glasses from which the issues are generated, have the strongest suspicion attached to them of what is locally known as ‘chamaq’. This unnatural shine is obviously the financial rewards given to the writer for propagating anti-Pakistani ideas in the society. There is so much shame here, but shame is relative now. You soon overcome the shame by doing the things you longed to do, when you were out of job. Now the whole world seems to be in union with you, in the mirage of shamelessness.

I am indebted to my parents. Their dreams were not for themselves alone. They dreamt of serving the nation. Honesty prevailed in their life. Contentment and happiness they had, even when they had no meal for that day. Higher values were taught to them, not that of philistines. And the same values they taught to us. Progress was related to all not for the few. But those who lived ion the streets were the street smart people. They evaded inspiration from their parents and loved ones. They behaved invariably like rascals of the society.

Only bad gets coverage now. Watch headlines all over the world. A wrong is commit’ed. In minutes the wrong-doer is splashed all over the world as some sort of hero of the new world. The worst the action, the more hype given to the incident as well as the persons involved in the same. Is there ever any BREAKING NEWS of something good happening in the world? You can check for yourself. Make a list of all the news in the newspapers, television, anywhere. The same principle reigns. Bad is projected, good is covered up as meaningless. The glamour of rascals is everywhere. We see television seasons, films, novels, everywhere, making important meaningless people of the world. In Pakistan the heroes of the 1950’s and 1960’s are not IN at all. The heroes of the 2000’s are those with anti-Pakistan mission. People who think Islam is an out-dated mode of living. The national shame is phenomenal.

The remedy to fight rascals is not to become a rascal yourself. You have to continue believing in law and order, morals and ethics, things that govern the spirituality of life. The mode which makes the green grass looks greener, and even the dried up grass, the possibility of becoming green again. That is why holding onto to your values is the key to survival of humankind. And when you realize that is exactly what Allah expects you to do. Fight Evil with Virtue. That is the test of Allah, the hammer which makes mere gold into aesthetically pleasing jewelry (modern spelling not traditional ones).

THE MYTH OF HIRA MANDI
NOBODY KNOWS WHAT THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT

Efforts to resolve issues

In recent years the world is paying attention to the Hira Mandi of Lahore. First there were few documentaries, then few books, and then few films, all bent upon blackening the face of a Muslim culture, gone awry. The world’s oldest profession is not limited to the ‘Hira Mandi’ of Lahore. It is related to every society in the world, but the West has made it a modern institution of SEX-WORKERS. Funny, isn’t it. Romanticizing the worst of your social network. And the amazing part is that in a western society, where not only sex is allowed, but is routine in a guiltless environment, there is still the need for the sex workers to go into action. And the dirtiest act are filmed in photographs and video, and quaint practices, exported all over the world.

Some years back a ring was broken in Ceylon, where a missionary institution of a beach city, international monsters flocked to that city, to have sex parties with small boys. On television one could see photographs of the practices. But the Hira Mandi of Lahore still attracts international media attention, and neglect their own dirty linen washed in public.

What was Hira Mandi? A market set up to sell ‘ghala’ food stuffs by the handsome Sikh Sardar Hira Singh, son of Raja Dhian Singh. People fancifully think that the reference to ‘Hira’ is the reference to the ‘diamonds’ being rented out there, meaning the ‘kangris’ of Lahore. Obviously a misconception under all counts. So who made ‘Hira Mandi’ the den of prostitutes? The British, of course. And why? For that we have to study the history of Lahore.

My uncle used to tell me that ‘kangris’ of Lahore were everywhere. Every mohalla had a house of a prostitute too. If not all, at least most. That became an administrative issue. When the British took over Lahore in 1849, they had to consolidate the law and order. Laws were passed to regulate Gambling, as well as prostitution. The Hira Mandi was selected as a Red Light area, not merely for its convenience, but also due to the fact that the Badshahi mosque was just near the place. That gave them good propaganda mechanism to bring dis-credit to the Muslims here. But that is not all.

The British issued a licensing system for prostitution in Lahore. The Hindus got the license by saying that it was part of their religious duty. The Muslims declared it to be a ‘Muta’, or temporary marriage, to provide relief to travellers. For that all prostitutes had to declare their allegiance to the Shia doctrines, and that is why you see all Kangris of Hira Mandi following the Shia doctrine, and in the period of religious mourning, Hira Mandi is the one place, which is totally closed. This is not any calumny, but a fact of history, which cannot be challenged by anyone. Everybody knows it, and it was initially told to me by a reputed lawyer, of yester- years. That is the license system.

History goes further back to that. And that is when Aurangzeb Alamgeer had eliminated prostitution from Lahore, who brought it back? And that is another story!

A BROKEN WALL AND EQUILIBRIUM
VELOCITY OF CIRCULATION AND BALANCE

Natural way and life’s balancing acts

A portion of my boundary wall fell down. A loud thud in the morning and twenty feet wall was no more. Yes, I had seen a couple of cracks and knew I had to repair it. But in the issues of life, some things get neglected and then we hear their proclamation for attention with such a big thud. But my sufferings alleviated some houses.

The velocity of circulation we all know is an economic concept. When we spend ten rupees, the multiplier effect of that spending brings relief to multiple households. That ten rupees become something else all together. That is why Allah teaches us not to horde wealth. To let people drink from the flowing water of Allah’s bounties for humankind.

Switzerland is going nowhere now as a safe haven for corruption. The buzz word is Caymann Islands. A small land in an ocean of nonentity, made famous by having surplus wealth of the world. Our Pakistanis (less than 100) with possible 120 billion dollars in Switzerland must be thinking of moving to Cayman Islands too, and surely some would already be there by now. A couple of hundred people in the world owning possibly 90% of world’s wealth. Where is the rationale for that? When that kind of money is out of circuit of the world, famines, starvation and issues are naturally there. Who will guarantee equilibrium. When individuals wake up from their slumber, so does nations. And when they do not wake up, then they too hear a thud. But that thud is not a small thud like mine by accident, that is the catastrophe of human existence.

Dr Allama Iqbal immortal poem says ‘Mera kam ghareebon ke himayat karna’, that “My work is to favour the poor”, and that equilibrium is the ‘farz’ duty of every thinking person to help the under privileaged achieve balance in society. Otherwise hurricanes come with destruction only. The shame of betraying fellow human beings, Allah will never forgive!

DR RABINDARNATH TAGORE AND ABDUR RAHMAN CHUGHTAI
ART AND ARTISTS UNITING TWO NATIONS

The power of aesthetics for peace

Dr Rabindarnath Tagore as well as his nephew Abindaranath Tagore and his school of art dominated the cultural scene of India. There was no room for any other region to intervene in their domain. The story of Tagores and Chughtai is a long one. Suffice to say that interaction was inevitable between Bengal and Punjab.

In 1931 to commemorate 70 years of Rabindarbnath Tagore an exclusive limited edition book, namely the GOLDEN BOOK OF TAGORE was issued, and the world sent their compliments to the poet. Abdur Rahman Chughtai also presented his tribute to the great Tagore by donating an image of the first version of the ‘Story-teller’ for the publication. It was strangely printed, when all chances were that it would be rejected. It is a historical document this book and in 1931, highlights the position of Abdur Rahman Chughtai in the scheme of things.

Dr Rabindarnath Tagore was also appreciative of the art of Chughtai and we see this letter in our archives and it gets exposed here. The summary of all this is, that however diverse the cultures, Art and Aesthetics have the power to unite nations, not in losing their own Identity, but in forging feelings of love.

THE MURDER OF AMRITA SHER-GIL IN LAHORE
A JEALOUS HUSBAND POISONS A NYMPHOMANIAC

A bizarre case of Lahore

M.A. Rahman Chughtai was introduced to Amrita by her father Umrao Singh Sher-gil. Umrao Singh was a valued and respected friend of the artist. In the meeting Dr Allama Iqbal was also there and he too, was introduced to Amrita. The father, Umro Singh expressed high hopes for her. The father was a specialist on Omar Khayyam as well as Sufi poetry and Chughtai had many discussions with him. When Amrita Sher-gil came to settle in Lahore, and wanted to hold an exhibition here, people co-operated with her. The story is best told in the Foreword to her catalogue. I think hardly anybody would have it, and many chatter box Totas speak of Amrita, without knowing anything about her.

That very day Amrita was coming to see M.A. Rahman Chughtai, when she died and the artist wrote a condolence on her, which we can print later. The first version is attached with this writing. Suffice to say that her death was an enigma and could not be officially resolved to this day. But people knew the personality of Amrita. She had excessive sexual appetite and she quenched it with affairs with many people. Her Hungarian husband Dr Victor Egan did not like that, although he loved her very much. A jealous husband with access to sophisticated poisons, poisoned her to death. That was the story everybody knew in Lahore and is known in art circles. Excess always produce an excessive reaction. The gallery fell through, as well as the proposed clinic of the husband. No body won, every body lost. Lahore which was ready to host the Sikh artist lost her in the same moment. The discussion on art which was supposed to happen with M.. Rahman Chughtai and Amrita Sher-gil never happened. This is how fate operates, by spinning endless tales of mystery.

I WILL SURVIVE
TILL THE LAST BREATH, STRUGGLE ON

The philosophy of never giving up

Of course the world is disheartening most of the time. The situation in Pakistan is worst. Every day we blow our cool. Every moment we curse all those in power, and compassion-less set-up interested in enhancing their personal wealth at the risk of not merely collapse of Pakistan, but Islam itself for centuries. Yes, we know these people are without brains, without hearts, but they brim with greed, which is in every pore of their body.

Dr Allama Iqbal tells us that every catastrophe brings in the ability for us to be falcons and fly higher than before. Obviously, but then there is the need to control the suicidal urge in us to give up. How do we invigorate the situation where we DO NOT GIVE UP UNDER ANY CONDITION. Well we did learn this lesson from our elders, who never gave up. And they took their lessons from the great men in history. And who was greater than the Prophet (PBUH). The image of the Prophet, bleeding, standing under a tree, with none to help him. And still he never gave up under any circumstances. This is what is called the ultimate FAITH in Allah.

When all hope is lost, and doom seems inevitable, other law come into operation. Some call it LADY LUCK, some call it X FACTOR, some call it the RAHMAT OF ALLAH. Whatever you call it, the unexpected happens too in life. The digger of other graves come to the startling fact that he may be digging his own grave. The animosity of Islam is building Islam together and giving it a new impetus of life. Mot agree to that. Another age is dawning!

BLOW TO THE ADVANCMENT OF ISLAM
ASSASSINATION OF HAZRAT UMAR

A thousand years lost

The plot was hatched by a Persian General Hormuzan, and executed by others like Kaab al-Ahabr, Jafinah and of course the stabber Pirouz Nahvandi. On pilgrimage itself, Hazrat Umar was isolated and stabbed to death. It was not just one man who died that day, it was Islam perhaps which was put on hold for a thousand years. There was a utopia created by him. That utopia was resented by all whose own future was put at stake by the following of the Islamic system. The dictation of Caliph Umar was from the Quran itself.

A thousand years later, another man rose to the challenge of Islam. His name was Aurangzeb Alamgeer. The Muslim point of view is best represented by the saying of Maulana Rashid Akhter Nadvi, who said:

“There are two persons in the Muslim world to have been able to revive the true spirit of Islam—one is Omar bin Abdul Aziz and the other is Aurangzeb Alamgeer.”

For political truth, the writing of Shibli Nomani is best. Even that has been corrupted in various editions by vested interests. As Sheikh Atta ullah tells us in the third centenary volume of Aurangzeb’s rule:

“Speaking at the occasion Maulana Ilmuddin Salik said that Aurangzeb was vilified by Hindu historians for no other reason except that he was a true Muslim. British’s portrayed him as a whimsical tyrant ruling ruthlessly over a vanquished host of Hindu population to add fuel to the fire of Hindu-Muslim differences. This was, in perfect harmony with the policy of divide and rule.

With an array of convincing arguments and historical facts the Maulana disproved that Alamgeer’s adherence to one sect ever led him to deal out a bigoted treatment to the members of other sects or religions. He quoted instances when he alloted lands to Hindu temples and Sikh shrines. He added that only those temples were demolished which were built without the permission of the government.”

What was Hazrat Umar’s Utopia like?

A judgement can be made from the fact that in the period between 634 and 644, there was no need for a justice department , nor a police force. The Qazi had asked to be relinquished of his duty. Crime had totally stopped in that society. Nobody was doing harm to anybody else. A real utopia was being seen by the world.

The history of mankind has been a history of ups and downs. Sometimes civilization reached a height, at other times it fell into degradation. Did man ever achieve any utopia? Was there a time when perfect equilibrium was achieved? Yes, the time between 634-644. Without any definite resources and with a heart filled with compassion for the deprived people, he made human history by doing the impossible, creating the prefect social equilibrium. A system in which man concentrates only on his own self is self defeating but in a system where he takes care of the others as the policy of his own self is to reach the height of idealization. The Prophet had himself said that wish for others, what you wish for yourself. That Caliph Umar had achieved in his life time by setting examples of sacrifice and fore-sight.

MAUSOLEUMS FOR KINGS AND QUEENS
THE MAUSOLEUM OF EMPEROR JAHANGEER

A woman’s touch, Nur Jahan alive in Lahore

The Taj Mahal complex was put into motion by a King with immense love for his departed queen. The Mausoleum of Jahangeer complex is in reverse. It was put in place by a retired Queen with enormous love for departed King. Both results exceptional but both mausoleums are same and yet very different, due to the feminine touch in one of them.

Jahangeer died before Nur Jahan and the relation she had with the Emperor Shah Jahan was not sufficient to give her better place in society than she was getting at that time. Mumtaz Mahal died before Shah Jahan and all his plans for a separate mausoleum were dashed with his own circumstances. He had annoyed his son by trying to poison Aurangzeb himself. Few know about this at all. Aurangzeb buried Shah Jahan with Mumtaz Mahal herself. Nur Jahan could not get buried with Jahangeer because of her political circumstances. Now what did she do?

There is a concept of ASHIQ MASHOOQ in the mausoleum of Nur Jahan. Dr Abdullah Chaghatai tells us that contrary to common thought, the person so called buried with Nur Jahan is not at all her daughter Ladli Begum. Simply for Ladli Begum is elsewhere and her grave is well known, and that is a separate story. To fulfill her desire to be buried with her husband, she had an empty coffin, or false grave with her own grave. The grave is an empty one. There are only one set of rings at the bottom basement. The grave is a romantic empty grave of Jahangeer himself. The Sikhs removed the sarcophagus, otherwise this would have been very clear with time.

An amazing statement is made by Thornton and Kipling in their research on Lahore. Mirza Azeem Baig an artist of Wazeer Khan Mosque is termed as a direct descendant of Nur Jahan from her daughter and Prince Khusrow. This family exists in Lahore to this day, having lived in Mochi Darwaza (Murchi Gate) all their life. I have seen girls of the family and they resemble the Nur Jahan of the miniatures to ditto. We will present their photograph when available. So Nur Jahan is still represented in Lahore. We have a farman of Nur Jahan with us and will publish it one day.

The mystery of the Mughal monuments is always there but their aesthetics are an aroma with us even in their decayed condition in present days.