THE MANY SIKH FRIENDS OF M.A. RAHMAN CHUGHTAI – LOVING PUNJABI BROTHERS IN ART AND LITERATURE

THE MANY SIKH FRIENDS OF M.A. RAHMAN CHUGHTAI
LOVING PUNJABI BROTHERS IN ART AND LITERATURE

Khushwant Singh and wife Kanwal with Manzoor Qadir and wife

Around 1920 M.A. Rahman Chughtai got typhoid fever and a stage came when all hope was being lost. It was suggested that he should go to Kashmeer for recovery. In Simla a Sikh Doctor used to come on horseback to treat him. Later on it was found that the Sikh Doctor was instructed by Bhai Vir Singh to treat Abdur Rahman Chughtai. In Simla a meeting of Sikh friends took place, which included Joginder Singh, Dr Thakur Singh, and Sunder Singh Majeetha in praise of the Art of M.A. Rahman Chughtai.

Ishwar Singh
Sardar Puran Singh

In 1951 Jawahar Lal Nehru instigted the publication of CHUGHTAI INDIAN PAINTINGS. Sardar Kashmira Singh of Khalsa College Amritsar wrote an introduction to it. A beautiful analysis of his works.

Sobha Singh painter

Without going into details right now, suffice that in the advent of M.A. Rahman Chughtai struggle for Art his Sikh Punjabi friends were hand in hand with him. We praise their love for the artist. More later!

Bhai Vir Singh

A MUGHAL DOOR STILL STANDING IN THE CITY, THE GRAND TRADITION OF THE CITY OF LAHORE

A MUGHAL DOOR STILL STANDING IN THE CITY,
THE GRAND TRADITION OF THE CITY OF LAHORE

Mughal door

Lahore is full of surprises. But in the wrong hands and the commercialization process, things are really going wrong. A number of Afghans have actually bought most of the inner city and bureaucracy is helpless in front of their hoarded wealth and plans. But the face of Old Lahore still comes out here and there.

Two portions Mughal Door
Details Mughal door

There are many houses with old door in them still standing. Many are of British period and some of the Sikh period. Hardly any of the Mughal period or the Ghaznavid Seljuk period. Although some of them still survive to this day in collections. Here is one not only with Mughal engraving but also a Shikar gah on them. Exquisite. The owners refuse to entertain people for it. The most beautiful carved doors were of Jahangeer’s mausoleum but somebody stole them. Maybe we see them one day somewhere in Afghanistan.

Delhi Door

The interesting part is that wooden doors of Delhi are quite different from wooden doors of Lahore. Else where city culture reflects aesthetics. Compare Aurangabad, Delhi and Lahore. Different doors but vision same. A blog on Ghaznavid doors is due!

Brass carving Aurangabad

LAST YEARS OF DEPOSED EMPEROR SHAH JAHAN 1067 AH – A HOROSCOPE FOLIO OF A PALMIST GHULAM SHAH JAHAN

LAST YEARS OF DEPOSED EMPEROR SHAH JAHAN 1067 AH
A HOROSCOPE FOLIO OF A PALMIST GHULAM SHAH JAHAN

11 Mourning of Shah Jehan

In 1067 AH, 1657 AD Shah Jahan was deposed by his son Emperor Aurangzeb Alamgeer and put under house arrest of Agra Fort, free to do many things (including watching the mausoleum of his wife), but no indulgence in the affairs of the country. We have seen manuscripts, documents related to his reign and with beautiful engraved seals. The same are royal in character, huge in size, with attributes of the Emperor on them. I have never seen a seal of a period when Shah Jahan was no longer a king, and came across one for the first time in my life. It is a small seal and it says among other things GHULAM SHAH JAHAN, literally SLAVE SHAH JAHAN. Not a King but a normal person. The Seal is very small, the name of the GHULAM is not given but love and respect is still there, when the Ghulam says DIL O JAN, literally heart and life. It is in a folio of an astrologer palmist and his numerical numbers. He is probably working out a horoscope of the deposed Emperor.

Folio Shah Jahani

The seal is HISAB AZ DIL OH JAN GHULAM SHAH JAHAN SHUD 1067 AH, that is 1657-1658 AD. The last digit is not clearly visible and can be 1068 AH or even 1069 AH. Open to research!

Seal of Ghulam Shah Jahan 1060 AH

THE LEGEND OF LAVA AND KUSHA IN HINDU MYTHOLOGY – NOT EVEN THE REMOTEST LINK WITH OUR CITY LAHORE

THE LEGEND OF LAVA AND KUSHA IN HINDU MYTHOLOGY
NOT EVEN THE REMOTEST LINK WITH OUR CITY LAHORE

Sita Lava and Kusha at Valmiki dera

Someone creates a fairy tale and then that fairy tale is repeated so often that general perception is that it is the truth. Anjum Rahmani has recently written a book on Lahore, published by Oxford University Press, and the first scholar to outright dismiss the concept. Others have avoided reference to same all the time. What has Loh to do with our city. In fact in ancient text the name is not even Loh, it is known as LAVA. The trial of Sita had started as to the parentage of her sons, the two brothers, and it was at the dera of a hermit, that she was proven innocent of fidelity charges brought on by the people in those times. It seems bad people were around all the time.

Modern Lava and Kusha

The Hindu scholar M.S. Randhawa writes, and we literally quote him:

“After many fiercely contested battles, the city of Lanka was taken. Ravana killed and Sita rescued. Rama had doubts about the purity of Sita; he received her coldly and refused to take her back. Sita proved her innocence by the ordeal of fire; she entered the flames boldly and the god Agni led her forth placing her in Rama’s arms unscathed.

Some of the subjects of Rama continued to doubt the purity of Sita and hearing reports of scandalous conversation of a washerman and his wife, Rama sent Sita to the hermitage of Valmiki. There her twin sons , LAVA and KUSHA were born. “

The tale continues, but our subjects are there for analysis. We require no more.

The names are not LOH and KASU, but LAVA and KUSHA. Where did the legend of same came to the city of Lahore and Kasur. For the first time, it was ascribed to the work KHULASAT AL-TAWARIKH by MUNSHI SUJAN RAY BHANDARI of Patiala. If we study STOREY work on Persian Literature, we find very few copies written in 18th century, and many of them are not complete. The work was written in 1695-96, but no one has researched on same. In the 19th century various translations were made and many manuscripts were found. It would be valid to see the reference of Loh and Kasu starts from where and ends where? Suffice it is a premise not mentioned before in history but later British writers and writers in British period were quick to adopt same. Information is tested not taken point blank without research. If it was said, Sujan Ray has quoted no authority for his statement.

Birth place of Lava and Kusha

The Mandir of Loh in the Lahore Fort seems a continuation of the British Divide and Rule policy. If it really was 3000 years old, it would be way beneath the surface of the Lahore Fort, not standing par with it. And before the repairs, one can see it is made of British bricks, and not even Sikh Architecture. Research is required who manufactured the Mandir of Loh for public consumption. Our job is to point out possibilities for research. The Mandir of Loh is an artificial creation of the times. The origin and foundation of Lahore is discussed b y many writers. For us the present city is the city of MAHMUDPUR founded by Sultan Mahmud Ghaznavi and populated by Malik Ayaz. And we have actual coins of that period to prove that statement. Well done researchers!

Loh Mandir made of British period bricks_

FABLES OF BIDPAI TRANSLATED BY ABDUL MALI NASER ULLAH SHIRAZI – DEDICATED TO SULTAN BAHRAM SHAH, ILLUSTRATED FOR KHUSRAU MALIK

FABLES OF BIDPAI TRANSLATED BY ABDUL MALI NASER ULLAH SHIRAZI
DEDICATED TO SULTAN BAHRAM SHAH, ILLUSTRATED FOR KHUSRAU MALIK

Frescos Lashkari Bazaar Afghanistan

The Ghauris were attacking Ghazni and burnt it to the ground. Sultan Bahram Shah to save himself rushed to their waning kingdom of Lahore. It was there in in 1147 AD that his minister Abul Mali Naser ullah translated the Fables of Bidpai for him. Bahram Shah is reputed to have died in 1152 AD. We do not know when there was felt a need to get a proper Royal Manuscript done, but a manuscript available was probably done in the time of his son Sultan Khusrau Malik. Compared to other Sultans, Khusrau Malik lived his life in Lahore, reigned eight years here and died here in Lahore. The last Sultan of the Ghaznavids body went into the dust of Lahore around 1160 AD. Interesting is also the fact that the translator Abul Mali Naser ullah displeased the Sultan and was also executed in Lahore. Both Sultan and patron are in the dust of Lahore.

Ghaznavid Horse Poloplayer
Bidpai and Hindu King Debseliem

We do know that Ghazni was a cultural capital of the world and it boasted of a library which was renowned for its contents everywhere. A foreign monk found a lost Greek classic in translation at Ghazni itself. With the conquest of Lahore, hundreds of professionals related to 200 arts and crafts were invited to make Lahore a cultural city. To this day, various bazaars boast of such craftsmen, who made their living here. Take Kinari Bazaar for instance. It is still there after centuries and its existence came into being in Ghaznavid times. The full credit goes to Malik Ayaz for this great work, and often he is even considered as the Founder of Lahore. His grave still exists in the Rang Mahal area, and it is a mausoleum again, thanks to his lovers to this day.

Bidpai in Hindu dress

 

Indian Cobra

A detailed analysis of the oldest copy of Fables of Bidpai is being made, and we feel that E. Blochet was wrong and it was not made in Ghazni but in Lahore itself. There are many surviving old copies of Fables of Bidpai, but region is all are wrong. Only a person living in Lahore could know about the local animals as well as the dresses of Hindu Kings and proposed dress of Bidpai. These costumes, animals occur nowhere else. And they finally led to the Mughal version of Bidpai, and then the LAHORI version of Imam Baksh Lahori. That is another blog. In Pakistan knowledge about history of painting is vague and there is lack of interest in these aesthetics. M.A. Rahman Chughtai filled that gap and we are doing that now. Be happy!

Indo-Pakistani region bull
Indo-Pakistani lions

THE ICONOGRAPHY OF LORD KRISHNA IN CHANGING TIMES, WHEN DID FAMILIAR BLUE BODY AND YELLOW CLOTHES START?

THE ICONOGRAPHY OF LORD KRISHNA IN CHANGING TIMES,
WHEN DID FAMILIAR BLUE BODY AND YELLOW CLOTHES START?

Krishna 14th century

It is interesting to know that iconography of gods and goddesses change over a period of time. We used to watch Abdur Rahman Chughtai paint Hindu themes. The blue body and yellow clothes vexed us. Our questions were usual, why blue? The usual answer was that he was bitten by a snake and that is why it is blue? But all ancients texts, including the word KRSHNA in Sanskirit means BLACK. The ancient imagery changed over the times. Usually we find a young naked boy, with a fantastic cap on his head, known as the butter-thief. But as time went on, plenty of jewelry adorned Lord Krishna, and a yellow dhoti surrounded his body. Obviously a Peacock feather came in his head dress. That today is routine.

Krishna in Mughal view
Krishna in Mughal dress

It was Emperor Zainul Abideen who started the translation of Hindu Holy texts into Persian language, and that was in Kashmeer itself. The Mughals were very much interested in knowing more about Hindu religion and Emperor Akbar started avidly the process of translating the Holy Texts. There was much resentment in the Brahmins, who did not want the texts to fall in hands and knowledge of common people. But there it was clash of an egalitarian society with a rigid class system here. The Mughals (even their ladies commissioned Royal albums of Hindu texts) were reluctant to use a masculine naked imagery and the clothing of Krishna came into being. The evolution of the new Krishna iconography.

Radha and Krishna

This continued and spread all over the Indian region. Contrary to familiar argument that painters fled the Mughal Court within the reign of Emperor Aurangzeb, it was actually the sack of Delhi by Nadir Shah, which triggered this movement. In fact Emperor Aurangzeb even had a wife of Hindu origin. But more on that later!

New Schools

CLASH OF ARMIES, CLASH OF CIVILIZATIONS – MUGHAL INFLUENCES ON RAJAS OF UDAIPUR

CLASH OF ARMIES, CLASH OF CIVILIZATIONS
MUGHAL INFLUENCES ON RAJAS OF UDAIPUR

City Palace Udaipur Mughal Arches
Udaipur frescos Mughal influences

The history of Mewar is an armed struggle between the Muslim and the Hindu armies. Various stories are there of ancient times. The conquest of Chitor by Sultan Allauddin Khilji in 1296 AD, was the first step of Muslim rule there. Rana Sanga’s defeat at the hands of Emperor Babur is phenomenal in history of the region. Maharana Udai Singh ruled from 1537 AD to 1572 AD. He founded the city of Udaipur in a strategic location. Maharana Pratap refused to succumb to offers of joining hands with the Mughals, not by any alliance or matrimonial relation. It was at the battle of Haldi Ghat in 1576 AD, that finally Maharana Pratap was defeated by Emperor Akbar, and there ended the Hindu dream of containing the Muslim armies.

City Palace Udaipur Mughal Influences
Painting of Krishna on interior wall City Palace, Udaipur

But this is not about the clash of armies. It is about clash of civilizations in which culture criss-crossed frontiers and both sides started acquiring habits of the other side. In a painting in Govardhan vilas palace, even Rana Sanga is shown n the dress of a Mughal courtier. Mughal Architecture and costumes invaded Udaipur. But with an equation of their own. The ratios different from geometrical equations of Euclid. A detailed analysis can be made of this cultural interaction.

Siege of Chittor by Emperor Akbar

The iconography of Lord Krishna also took place here. In all traditional icons, Krishna is always depicted as black in colour. The change to JAMAN (purple) colour took place and finally to blue colour. This is a most interesting development and we will look into it as a particular research in itself. We here present Mewar miniature portion in which Lord Krishna is dressed as a Mughal Prince, in same Mughal pose as other miniatures, smelling a flower. Surprised. Wait for our next blog for more complete review of same.

Rana Sanga in Mughal dress
Krishna dressed as Mughal Mewar School

AN UNKNOWN CHIEF ARCHITECT OF AURANGZEB’S TIME – MIR IMARAT AMANULLAH AND THE QAZI OF DELHI

AN UNKNOWN CHIEF ARCHITECT OF AURANGZEB’S TIME
MIR IMARAT AMANULLAH AND THE QAZI OF DELHI

QAZI REPLACED BY QAZI HAIDER THE NEW PERSON

Amanullah Mimar 1
Amanullah Mimar 2

It is not easy in any times. For an architect to report on the corruption of a Qazi of the times. But Amanullah did and succeeded in proving to the Emperor of the corruption charges against the Qazi. The case is on record as the Qazi was replaced by another, that is Qazi Haider. A similar incident of the removed Qazi is there. The name is known as Qazi Abdul Wahab Gujarati. The Qazi instigated the Emperor to have Lutufullah Ahmad killed, and it was the love of people of Lahore, that Lutufullah escaped to Assam in those times. What an ordeal it must have been? We have the direct report of same in a poem by Khairullah Muhandis son of Lutufullah Muhandis, who had also fled to Gul Bahar colony in Afghanistan in those times.

Qazis are meant to give justice. But Qazis on rampage do otherwise. Allah saves us all the time!

Qazi Abdul Wahab Gujarati

It was when Emperor Aurangzeb Alamgeer declared a general pardon, that Lutufullah Ahmad came back to Lahore. A manuscript of SEHR HILAL, a bay nuqta poem on ethics, exists, which is dedicated to Emperor Aurangzeb Alamgeer. That is history in action! Reflect on the past. It was like our time too.

Colophon Quran Amanullah Akbarabad 1024

THE DIGNITY OF DEATH IS NOT GIVEN TO ALL BY ALLAH – A FULFILLMENT OF LIFE SPENT FOR NATION IS DREAM OF EVERY SOLDIER

THE DIGNITY OF DEATH IS NOT GIVEN TO ALL BY ALLAH” – (BRIG SALEEM ZIA)

A FULFILLMENT OF LIFE SPENT FOR NATION IS DREAM OF EVERY SOLDIER

Last resting place of Commando

We come across Commandos all the time. The film version and the real ones. Arnold Schwarznegger and Sylvester Stallone look rather unreal in actual life. But to hear the ordeals that go in making a Commando and then the trials of leading a life like one, is stuff of dreams. Somehow we do get a chance to meet and know real ones.

Lahori boys

Amongst the pioneer ones was Brigadier Saleem Zia. A prisoner of war in India in the 1971 war, and subject to daily torture is a story all its own. The crushing of the Balochistan rebellion and he was part of it. Mountains with brain washing techniques going on, just like a movie story. The many Lahore boys caught in the rebellion there. All for Pakistan. May Allah grant him peace in heaven!

Brigadier Saleem Zia Commander SSG

THE DAYS OF IKE AND AYUB, GOOD WILL AND LAUGHTER, THE ZENITH OF RELATIONS BETWEEN USA AND PAKISTAN

THE DAYS OF IKE AND AYUB, GOOD WILL AND LAUGHTER,
THE ZENITH OF RELATIONS BETWEEN USA AND PAKISTAN

Laughing two Presidents

Today we see Heads of State meet and seriousness surround their faces. Like sulking childs, every one trying to get the maximum advantage. International relations were never ever like that. It included smiles and laughter, and sharing odd jokes. We took out two photographs of the American and Pakistan Generals, and were amused to see them so happy with each other. The laughing Generals are viewing a Khattak dance display at Presidents House Karachi on the visit of General Eishenhower to Pakistan.
We look forward to those days when our Presidents will laugh again.

Laughing Days USA Pakistan