FASCINATION OF MUSLI M ARTISTS WITH HINDU MYTHOLOGY – DID THE MOST TO RENDER PEACE AMONGST TWO NATIONS

FASCINATION OF MUSLIM ARTISTS WITH HINDU MYTHOLOGY
DID THE MOST TO RENDER PEACE AMONGST TWO NATIONS

Arjun by Abu Fazl 1616 AD
Arjun by Abu Fazl 1616 AD

PEACE IS POSSIBLE WHILE RETAINING OWN VALUES

03-Arjun-The-Victor
03-Arjun-The-Victor

Emperor Zainul Abedeen was one of the first to realize that only in the translation of Hindu epics, that Muslims can try to understand the Hindu point of view. This was followed by other Emperors in Hindustan. A number of illustrated Hindu epics were rendered in Persian. Artists devoted their energies to illustrate the same according to their vision. This was much resented by Hindu priests as under the caste system, they were not willing to share knowledge with the common folks of India. In any case this illustration gained momentum with time.

13-Arjuna
13-Arjuna

Muslim artists of Lahore were always busy in attempting Hindu themes. Ustad Allah Baksh rendered them all the time and most Hindu houses in Lahore were full of works done by him. M.A. Rahman Chughtai also did indulge in such themes, right from the start of his career to the last days of his life. A work on Krishna was exhibited in Mussorie in 1920. Even in his last years, he did a number of Hindu themes.

Arjun Inagawa version
Arjun Inagawa version

In 1951-52 his phenomenal work CHUGHTAI INDIAN PAINTINGS was published in Delhi, with a foreword by Dr Tara Chand and Preface by Sardar Kashmeera Singh. Some works were selected by Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru for the National Museum of Modern Arts Jaipur House and a separate room was made for them there. In 1960s M.A. Rahman Chughtai made the famous Arjun work, which was bought by the Japanese Ambassador to Pakistan. Later he made another version of the same work, which is in our archives. Rest assured that we Pakistanis do not carry any malice towards India. It is the Indian media who carries malice against Pakistan all the time. We do not mistreat our Hindu and Sikh visitors any time and the Hindu community of Pakistan enjoys all their rights in accordance wit the Laws of Allah as well as our State. Minorities are protected by the constitution of Pakistan. Accepting other ways of life is our priniple in life.

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