A FORGOTTEN ARCHITECT OF AITCHISON COLLEGE COMPLEX
MASTER ZIAUD DIN CHUGHTAI HEAD DRAWING DEPARTMENT

Master Ziaud din Chughtai belonged to Lahore and had extensive properties on Hall road, Lahore, dating to 19th century. He was married to the cousin of Abdur Rahman Chughtai. He had a number of sons and daughters, all of them developed into full professionals. More of them later. Reputed to be associated with Mayo School of Arts, he taught at various places, till he landed in Aitchison College and ultimately became In-charge of its Art department. He was also associated with the Nawab of Bhawalpur and designed many things for him, including a mosque in Bhawalpur. But this is about the Aitchison College Complex in Lahore.

It was realized that the college lacked many buildings, including a mosque, Gurdawara and a Mandir. Also space was required for extension of various buildings. The administration issued orders for designs. Three people applied for same. One was Bhai Ram Singh, one unknown person and Ziaud din Chughtai himself. The contract for the complex was given to Ziaud din Chughtai for a huge amount of Rs 800 at that time. This was well known to all but is very specifically mentioned in the biography of Mian Ferozeud din. All the children of Master Ziaud din were very proud of this fact. The Muslim Architect had beaten the design of Bhai Ram Singh. Today without research everybody says what is told to them in instructions from foreign lobbies. Belittle the achievements of all Muslims anywhere.