A LOST COUSIN OF M.A. RAHMAN CHUGHTAI, MUHAMMED RAFI ENGINEER – ADVISER, AND MINISTER OF SHAH SAUD AND CUSTODIAN OF HIS NINE SONS

A LOST COUSIN OF M.A. RAHMAN CHUGHTAI, MUHAMMED RAFI ENGINEER
ADVISER, AND MINISTER OF SHAH SAUD AND CUSTODIAN OF HIS NINE SONS
Cousin Rafi

The brothers of Chiragh Bibi were all talented people and worked in the Indian Railways. They were involved in various engineering feats, and their talent was used in the coronation darbar of King George in Delhi in 1911. Elahi Baksh was the most talented brother of them all. The children of these brothers were talented too, but none rose to the prominence of Muhammed Rafi. His talent was brought to the notice of the Saudi King, and on Royal command, Muhammed Rafi electrified Mecca and Madina, and even was responsible for an initial rail track on same. Shah Saud trusted him deeply and at time, Muhammed Rafi had the custody of his many sons. Relatives remember how once Muhammed Rafi  brought the Saudi Princes to Lahore and they lived in the house of Gulzar Chughtai, another person related to M.A, Rahman Chughtai.

Muhammed Rafi and Sir Abdul Qadir
An invitation card

Muhammed Rafi had a house in Crown Bus Stand Lahore, and it was maintained  for many years. The paintings presented by M.A. Rahman Chughtai were either stolen or distributed to family, who had no rapport with same. He was also involved with the Pakistani movement and was friendly to Sir Abdul Qadir, editor of Makhzan magazine. Sir Abdul Qadir was father of foreign minister Manzoor Qadir.

Shah Saud with son

The services of Muhammed Rafi were recognized by the Saudi Government and he was blessed with favours many times. Once a Rolls Royce was presented to Muhammed Rafi as a gift, but as he had no money to pay the Customs duty, it went back. He was married a few times and some of his wives and children were on a Royal pension all the time. He  also married a Turkish girl and had children from the same wife. Many of their close relatives read this blog and can update details of the family which we may not know. All obsessed with westernization have lost their roots to Pakistan.

3 thoughts on “A LOST COUSIN OF M.A. RAHMAN CHUGHTAI, MUHAMMED RAFI ENGINEER – ADVISER, AND MINISTER OF SHAH SAUD AND CUSTODIAN OF HIS NINE SONS”

  1. Shah Saud Turkish wife and Mohammed Rafiques Turkish wife were close and related to each other.

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