A FORGOTTEN VIEWSPAPER STAR BOMBAY FOUNDED BY QUAID E AZAM
INITIAL ISSUES INCLUDED AN ARTICLE ON ABDUR RAHMAN CHUGHTAI

Supportive evidence reveals knowledge of Quaid e Azam with the artist Abdur Rahman Chughtai. It was no coincidence when Quaid e Azam requested designs for Government of Pakistan from the artist even in 1946. We will talk about it in a more detailed blog later on. Till then enjoy an article on Chughtai artist from the Star Bombay in 1946.

THE GRAND ISLAMIC RECONSTRUCTION IDEAS OF PAKISTAN
QUAID-E-AZAM, G.A. PERVEZ AND ALLAMA ASAD 1946-1948

The Department of Islamic Reconstruction was burnt to the ground with its archives, soon after the death of Quaid-e-Azam. Information was suppressed as it is done today. But truth prevails. It remains imprisoned in a sea shell, till the sea throws it out and a pearl is there for everyone to see. A muted discovery comes out here and there and a gang of shit-heads ready to disown everything necessary for Pakistan. If the world has a lot of things, so do we have things in our archives too. The reconstruction idea of Quaid e Azam was put as a responsibility on the shoulders of Allama Muhammed Asad. It started with links to intellectuals concerned with fervour for Islam and Pakistan.

The first manifestation is a magazine which came out from Dalhousie Punjab and we have seen eight issues of same. It started in September 1946. Allama Asad sent copies of the magazine to intellectuals everywhere. Our reformer Sheikh Ashraf was responsible for same. Printed at the well known Ripon Press in Lahore, the same press which printed books of M.A. Rahman Chughtai. This was much before the Department of Islamic Reconstruction made by the Quaid e Azam in 1948. Copy number one carries a note of it being sent with “Compliments of Mr Asad”. It also carries a note on a VIEWSPAPER called the STAR from Bombay. Endorsed by the Quaid e Azam himself. What more proof can anyone else want?

These are important magazines and carry important articles and Allama Asad is the editor. There are other writers too in the same collection. And then there are the twin issues in English and Urdu of the inaugural Department of Islamic Reconstruction. We have both. All these should be printed again and distributed free to intellectuals everywhere. But if there are only morons in such departments, would they even understand the importance of same! TRUTH PREVAILS.

A NEUROSURGEON’S JOURNEY IN THE AFTERLIFE
DR EBEN ALEXANDER’S EXPERIENCE AFTER DEATH
IN SHORT A REAL SCIENTIFIC PROOF OF HEAVEN

Obviously we know of the dimension we live in. That is called life. We are also told that there are many dimensions. The Al-Mighty Quran tells us that after death, we will be resurrected and will face the Law of Makufat, that is good deeds will be rewarded and bad deeds will mean end of life. That is simple! But there are those who do not believe in an after life at all. Cannot blame them for their total lack of perception. Our faith hinges on such believes. And we are committed to an after life. But does everyone knows about the happenings in such a life. Of course once you are dead, you do not come back to tell your experiences. The Mullahs drive us crazy by instilling in us fear of death, when death is an inter state to another life in another dimension. Qabr ka azaab is a keystone of instilling fright in us. But Allah tells us that gradually Quran will continue to reveal its intricacies in time. Such are death experiences all over the world.

International reports abound with such experiences, when people died for short spells and came back to narrate to us their experiences, of light and tunnels and loved ones. But there was no scientific backing to such events. Considered mind playing tricks, the same were never taken seriously. And then came Dr Eben Alexander, a neuro-surgeon who specialized in dead brains and their off shoot images. In an accident Dr Alexander died and was put on an ventilator, where his BRAIN REMAINED DEAD for one week. Considered impossible to be alive again, his family decided to pull the plug on his ventilator and let him end his existence in peace. And then a miracle happened in one week, and Dr Alexander’s life was restored to him, and the experiences of one week in coma with a dead brain resulted in an experience never recorded before. And this experience was of a doctor who specialized in dead brains.

The best thing that one can do is to acquire a copy of his book, and we can only summarize what he said of his seven days with a dead brain. He talks of beautiful lights with golden imagery and a vortex, which he enters as a flying object. And there is a landscape of trees and people and animals, in fact a portal peace and ecstasy. No Azaab of any kind. Only a spinning melody of existence. A living sound, most beautiful piece of music ever heard. Entering the vortex, it was like being born for the first time. An incredible dream world which was not a dream at all, And the message was: You are loved. You have nothing to fear. You can do no wrong. And there he met a small girl (he later finds out on his recovery that it was a dead sister which he had never seen). He sees soaring winged creatures, who were big, puffy, pink-white, and leaving steamer like lines when they flew here and there in ecstasy. He saw them as advanced creatures, higher than anything else.In fact the sound the creatures were making felt like a rain but it was not. In the center the home of the Divine Reality. We just summarized his experiences, but after a stage, he was told that he must go back. Once he crossed that line and there was no turning back. IN SHORT DR ALEXANDER GIVES US THE HEAVENLY EXPERIENCE OF EXISTENCE. IN HIS OWN WORDS, A SCIENTIFIC PROOF OF HEAVEN. Dr Eben Alexander is now fully working on these perceptions in enriching life on earth. Check his website, blog and books. We wish him the best in life! This is just reporting his fabulous work and we thank him for enriching the world with his unique knowledge.

This is a reflection of an after life for humanity in total. The judgment yet to come! It is easy to reconcile with the Muslim perspective.

A KENNEDY QUOTE THAT REVERBERATED IN PAKISTAN
IN ALL WAYS, SURELY A LESSON FOR US EVEN TODAY

The people who made Pakistan were guided by principles and their intellectual minds and feelings. Disregarding all personal advantage, they went ahead to carve the first Ideological state of the Islamic world, 1000 years after the advent of ISLAM itself. Their guiding light was Hazrat Umar (Blessings) himself. Quaid e Azam sacrificed lucrativeness for advent of Pakistan. Dr Allama Iqbal was worried about the financing of education of his children and in sheer desperation wrote to the Nawab of Bhopal for help. We all know the bounties that Liaquat Ali Khan left behind as a Nawab and the amount of money he had in the bank after his death. After being shot, a torn socks and a vest was discovered on his body. The much hyped fabulous wealth of Field Marshal Ayub Khan never did materialize and it was all phoney to bring him down. And that is true for most of the leaders of those times. The same applied to M.A. Rahman Chughtai. After embarking upon a career spree in England in 1938, he did not even hesitate for a second and came back to his country, even when a mere Idea of Pakistan was floating in the air. Certainly they were following the dictates of Allah, and the quote of John Kennedy suited their nature well.

Ask the man on the street about the present day leaders. And they will blurt out the same thing. Penniless persons who became billionaires in a short period of time. They took from Pakistan everything and stole all dignity from the nation. And as inspiration they trickled down their corrupt practices to the very core of the people. The country was divided not between rich and poor, but two set of people. One who believed in honesty and the others who lost all values in their bursts of dishonesty. This resulted in loss of compassion for those who were doing right. Petty writers write in newspapers for money against national institutions with impunity. The only force left in Pakistan following the principles of Unity, faith and Discipline is the Army of Pakistan, and not only are they custodians of Geography, they have become custodians of Ideology too. The ultimate unification of the world depends on not giving up your views but relaxing your hostility for other ways of life. Pakistan Forever!

DR ALLAMA IQBAL, QUAID-E-AZAM AND GHULAM AHMED PERVAIZ
ALL THREE LAYING THE FOUNDATIONS OF RECONSTRUCTION IN ISLAM

Allah’s blessing was giving a philosopher like Dr Allama Iqbal to the region. With his epoch book, “The Reconstruction of religious thought in Islam” (not even fully understood to this day and requires some philosopher to unravel it contents), Dr Iqbal set the pace for bringing modern life in equation with the Quran itself. The meaning of Ijtehad came fully alive under him. Before his death Dr Iqbal did two things phenomenal in nature. One was to convince a legendary honest person like Muhammed Ali Jinnah to the cause for Pakistan, and the other to literally command a young man like Ghulam Ahmad Pervaiz to continue the process of enlightenment in Islam. The funny and bizarre part is that all three were stigmatized by the priesthood in Islam, now normally referred in light language as the Mullahs. Although the word Maulana and its derivative was a subject of reverence, but the priests had stolen these titles to acclaim not an Islamic way of life but going back to the anarchy of pre-Islamic civilization in new forms and words.

The letters to Muhammed Ali Jinnah of Dr Allama Iqbal convinced the future saviour of Pakistan and he left everything for this challenge of life itself. The rest is history. Quaid-e-Azam literally sacrificed his life for the new country and was stopped with many ruses from giving a new constitution to the country. The draft that he was working on disappeared from his bed stand. There are various clues that his death was planned by lobbies, and when Penicillin as an antibiotic was available, why this was not given to him. An injection about half an hour before his death is a literal suspect with many people, and there was no independent medical cover to all the happenings. Quaid-e-Azam knew that Dr Iqbal had asked G.A. Pervaiz to continue the struggle for revamping thought processes in Islam. That is why a very close relation developed between the two and Pervaiz Sahib was the only person alive, who could walk into the office and life of Quaid-e-Azam without even an appointment. A much publicized letter of Quaid-e-Azam reveals that he was asking Pervaiz Sahib advice for inclusion of various persons in the cabinet. G.A. Pervaiz was given the role of Assistant Secretary in the cabinet of Quaid-e-Azam. An idea was formed to invite the German convert to Islam, Allama Asad to head a Department of Islamic Reconstruction. A brilliant idea!

All the so called Mullahs had opposed the very idea of Pakistan. But when the country was made, they all came here to sabotage the initiative of the three legendary icons of Pakistan. In course of time all three would be given fatwas of being Kafirs for going back to the Quran, meant depletion of resources of the paid Mullah, who thrived on finances gained through confusing people and straying them away from Islamic concepts. The Mullahs are not in a position to oppose Quaid-e-Azam and Dr Allama Iqbal, so they soft pedal them now. But the opposition towards Pervaiz Sahib was so phenomenal that one thousand Mullahs in a sitting declared him to be a Kafir. These are the similar set of people, who even termed Quaid-e-Azam as Kafir-e-Azam. The people of Pakistan are deprived of the truth for they fear the wrath of violence associated with such people. A Rising Pakistan must conquer their fears and assert the IDEOLOGY OF PAKISTAN. It is now or never!

THE LONG LOST NEGLECT OF LAHORE BY WESTERN CIRCLES.
BEING OVERCOME BY NEW EMPHASIS ON LAHORE ARTISTS

There was a resentment in the Chughtai family as to the neglect of Lahore in international writing as a cultural city of vast importance. A new wave started with our renewed efforts to put Lahore on the map of international scholarship. Our first few years were devoted to inviting international scholars to Chughtai Museum in Lahore. It was preceded by gigantic works of the artist M.A. Rahman Chughtai, reminding the contribution of Lahore to culture itself. The hit mark was that Chughtai wrote Lahore with his name all the time, in the tradition of his ancestors, like Ustad Ahmad Lahori.

I met Milo C. Beach at the Arthur Sackler Gallery in Washington DC and he told me that I was right and this neglect can no longer go on, for fresh manuscripts were being studied, many with the provenance of Lahore itself. Later he called here at the museum too. Of course we liked his enthusiasm.
A French scholar started raving about Imam Baksh Lahori. We had already put Imam Baksh Lahore on the art map by publishing the book LAHORE KE DABISTAN MUSSAWARI. The Indian scholar from Patiala picked up the cue and wrote a book on PUNJAB PAINTING and used some of the works in our collection, including the one by IMAM BAKSH LAHORI. The rest is history. Our book generated a couple of books on the neglected topic of paintings from the Punjab. Many PHDs too. Our own book is not yet published in English language.

We now add the name of Imam Baksh Lahore as a calligrapher of the Holy Quran. Written in 1264 AH (1847 AD), a simple Quran, nothing gold in it but plain colour at places. But very much historical. British formally took over Lahore in 1849 AD, while Ranjit Singh embraced his end in 1839 AD. Most of the works of Imam Baksh belong to the Sikh period. People are welcome to pursue its research with our blessings. For us Lahore is the Art haven of the world.

THE SHADOW OF EVIL OVER PAKISTAN AND NIGHTMARES,
THE WILL TO ERADICATE WITH MANY BUT STRENGTH NONE

I was born in Pakistan and I have lived in Pakistan. I have never seen such anarchy prevailing in all my life. The acceptance and flourishing of Evil has become routine. The physical terror at one place, the economic terror is itself frightening in its dimensions. With compassion and empathy I look at oppressed people, and I wonder how people in power can live with that shame. A phrase coined long ago still exists that LATAON KAY BHOOT BATAON SAY NAHI MANTAY. Who will kick these evil mongrels? We wait and wait and we feel ashamed of ourselves for not being in a position to do that good for society. We are hurting the trust of Allah in humans destiny to ultimately do good. The priests frighten the citizen with Quranic uncertified concepts of QABAR KA AZAB. The living under these malignancy itself is an azab. Leaving the Quranic concepts is an unimaginable evil.

To eradicate evil, the Quran commands listening to its verdict. Freedom cannot be taken away from an individual for even a moment. That is why there is no concept of prisons in Islamic values. No one has the right to curtail freedom of another. Islamic punishments are not barbaric but deals with misfits in manner which the misfits can understand. The prevalence of those punishments rid society of evil. Those who terrorize society, should be terrorized in reverse. Yes, President Zia ul Haque did a wonderful thing of PUBLIC HANGINGS. It reduced evil. The Army with hanging of the terrorists itself is beneficial for society. But hang not just those who do it at behest of others. Hang those too who mastermind these things. Obvious shame to those lobbies who continue to rave for mercy for these evil mongers. Cleansing the society of evil is required all the time. An unending struggle. It is time to bring Umarian (Hazrat Umar Blessings) principles back into play, to erase the Machiavellians of society.

How cheap those people addicted to their sins not finding time to have compassion for fellow human beings? Pakistan is rising! Do not just hang the terrorist, hang those who support terrorism. Make our country a peace haven again.

THE RANSACKING OF OLD FORT WILLIAMS BY SIRAJ UD DAULA
THE BLACK HOLE OF CALCUTTA AND DEATH OF 133 BRITISHERS

The armies of Nawab Siraj ud Daula and the British were engaged in war and supremacy in India. In the conflict the army of Nawab annihilated Old Fort Williams in 1753. 146 British army officials and citizens sought refuge in an underground shelter and the old fort had fallen on it. The room was a small on and served by only two small windows. Most of the besieged persons died in the night. When the fort was demolished completely, the site of the prison basement was lost.

Many people wanted to recover that site and lay out its plan.Lord Curzon thought it necessary to isolate the location and built a memorial on it, fenced by an iron railing. On it an inscription was written in black marble. It said:

The marble pavement below this spot,

Was placed here

by

Lord Curzon, Viceroy and Governor General of India

In 1904

To mark the site of the prison in Old Fort Williams

Known as the Black Hole

In which 146 British inhabitants of Calcutta

Were confined on the night of the 30th June, 1756

And from which only 13 came out alive.

When Bengal was lost first, and last was Punjab. The British failed in Afghanistan even then. The rest is history. The concept of MIR JAFFERS started at that time. Today we can even have other names for them, and eventually we will start using fresh names for people who are traitors to their country and nation.

REMEMBERING A NERVE SHATTERING DAY IN OUR LIFE
17TH JANUARY 1975, THE DEATH OF CHUGHTAI ARTIST

There were four persons in the house on 17th January, 1975. One the wife, Begum Kishwar Iqbal Bano, the brother Abdur Raheem, Chughtai; a servant Arshad Sadoqi Bangla and myself. Abdur Raheem Chughtai died in 1992, Begum Kishwar Bano died in 2006, Arshad Sadoqi Bangla died in 2017 and only I am left to recount that terrible day in our life. So some feelings should always be recorded for posterity.

Those days were tension ridden. Chughtai was sick and rather there being some known sickness, it was a double edged weapon of hope and hopelessness. The artist had literally lost hope. He could not sleep in the night. Much to our annoyance, he would ask his brother for a sleeping pill to sleep at night. The pill had lost effectiveness. He was awake in the night, sleep in the day. I used to be terribly frightened that he would get up in the night, not seek any help from his wife and could fall down and injure himself. And that is what actually happened one day. He lost consciousness for some time and we were in a state of panic. But with him awake, I too was literally awake all night. A noise from his side and I would call my mother to beware that he is awake and trying to get up. My father tried this best to get up noiselessly so that both of us should not be disturbed and always got amazed that with little noise of the slippers, I would be awaken to sound a warning. Those were that kind of days.

On 17th January, in the morning he sent for me. He wanted to shake hands with me and he would not let go of my hand. It took me a while and I understood. He was sure that he was dying and was saying good bye to me in his own terms. This is a term used by Dr Allama Iqbal on 20th April, 1938, midnight with him, and Dr Allama Iqbal would not let go of the hands of Chughtai artist. I literally reprimanded him, not to lose hope. I asked him to get some coffee and he would feel better. But he was not feeling well.

In the evening my uncle and I went in my car to Multan road, to fetch the doctor son in law of artist Sardar Muhammed, a dear friend of the artist. The doctor was busy and taking his time. We hurried back and when we were near the house, I saw a light on in the verandah, which is never on. Arshad the servant was standing there and rushed down. MIAN SAHIB HAS DIED. My uncle rushed up and I calmly locked the car, and went to my room, and sat down, with my back to the wall. Thinking about what has happened and what we are going to do now? No money with my mother, no money with me and all the property and things in utter mess. A kingdom had fallen down, and carving a new kingdom was not a joke. All night I was awake and quivered with fright. The artist had left a responsibility and I could only wonder about the future. But that is another story for another time.

A HINDU FRIEND OF M.A. RAHMAN CHUGHTAI
RAVISHANKAR RAVAL THE ARTIST FROM GUJARAT

The name of M.A. Rahman Chughtai swept over Hindustan and where there was opposition, there was also abundant love from other persons. Ravishankar Rawal, the famous artist from Bhavnagar Gujarat was eager to meet Chughtai the artist. A visit happened to Chughtais home in Lahore, and it was in June, 1939. Rawal Sahib made a sketch of Chughtai asrtist there and then, and it was Chughtai who signed it both in English and Urdu. This happened on 28th June, 1939, at the new residence of the artist.

“Ravishankar Raval was born on 1 August 1892 in Bhavnagar (now in Gujarat, India). His father Mahashanakar Raval was an officer in the British Communication Service. He spent his childhood in several towns as his father was transferred from one place to another. He wrote that he inherited his artistic instincts from his mother. He graduated from high school in 1909. During his first university year, at the local Arts College, his principal asked him to paint the stage sets for the college drama festival. He advised him to join arts by his Parsi professor Sanjana who was pleased with his artistic skills. Against his fathers non-approval, he joined Sir J. J. School of Art, Bombay. He was trained under Cecil Burns, the principal of J. J. School.”

Bombay had no issue with Chughtai Sahib and the art of Chughtai was exhibited in Bombay many times and many collectors there collected Chughtai Art. One can only wonder if the sketch exists at anyplace. Obviously Chughtai presented his works to Rawal Sahib. Two civilizations sharing Art generate peace for each other. But one thing new happened. Rawal Sahib left the old realistic School and joined the Indian Art movement and it was perhaps Chughtai Art which brought him there.