All posts by 4207924

MEMORIES OF JAMES LANGLEY US AMBASSADOR – COMING ACROSS THINGS ALL THE TIME

MEMORIES OF JAMES LANGLEY US AMBASSADOR

COMING ACROSS THINGS ALL THE TIME

US Ambassador James Langley
US Ambassador James Langley

WILLIAM HOLLAND REQUESTED SAME

Memories James Langlay
Memories James Langlay

Om 11th March, 2014, William Holland requested if we had more information on James Langley US Ambassador to Pakistan. Of course his interesting history is on the net itself as the man who wrote his own epitaph. More on that later.

James Langley Pakistan
James Langley Pakistan

James Langley was the Ambassador who invited M.A. Rahman Chughtai to lecture in the USA. Recently. I came across another letter of his, in which he invited another School teacher to the USA too. That later. An old magazine volume reveald three images of him in Pakistan, so decided to share that with the world as with us too. Enjoy!

AN ISLAMIC CLASSIFICATION OF CRAFTSMANSHIP – THE PHILOSOPHY OF HONOURING LABOUR FORCE

AN ISLAMIC CLASSIFICATION OF CRAFTSMANSHIP
THE PHILOSOPHY OF HONOURING LABOUR FORCE

Islamic Craftsmen
Islamic Craftsmen

The manual of Rasaill Ikhwan as-Safa

I wonder if any society ha given so much dignity to labour by classifying all kinds of work in simple and lucid terms.

The materials used by craftsmen fall into two categories, simple and complex.

1. SIMPLE MATERIAL.

a. WATER:
Sailor
Water-carrier
Maker or sellers of syrup
Swimmers

b. EARTH:
Digger of wells
Digger of rivers
Diggers of canals
Miners
Grave diggers

c. FIRE:
Naphtha-extractor
Torch bearer
Stoker

d. AIR:
Piper
Trumpeter

e. WATER AND EARTH:
Potter
Porcelain maker
Earthenware-pot seller
Milk-beater

2. COMPLEX MATERIALS
a. MINERAL:
Smith
Coppersmith
Lead-worker
Glazier
Goldsmith

b. VEGETABLE:

x. Basic vegetable material.
Carpenter
Palm-leaf seller
Rush-mat seller
Reed-mat seller
Basket-maker

y. Bark:
Flax-spinner
Hemp-worker
Paper-worker

z. Secondary vegetable material leaves, flowers, fruit, seed etc)
Flour dealer
Pressers
Rice dealer
Seed dealer
Sesame dealer

c. ANIMAL
1. Animals
Hunter
Shepherds
Cowherds
Grooms
Farrier
Bird-keepers
2. Animal bodies
Butcher
Roaster
Cook
Tanner
Shoe-maker
Cobbler
Leather-worker
Leather bottle maker
Sandal maker
3. Quantities of Bodies
Weigher
Measurer
Cubit-measurer
Money-changer
Market crier
Evaluator
4. Human bodies
Physician
Barber

Labour Class
Labour Class

SECOND CLASSIFICATION ACCORDING TO TOOLS

1. Those who use their own limbs and no implements.
a. The Tongue:
Preacher
Poet
Judge
Reader
b. The Eyes:
Sentinel
Watchman
c. Hand and Tongue:
Weaver
Wailing woman
d. Whole body:
Dancer
Swimmer

2. Those who use tools.
a. One tool
Trumpeter
Piper
Drummer
b. Two tools
Tailor
Scribe

CLASSIFICATION ACCORDING TO MOVEMENT
a. Permanent movement:
Messenger
Surveyor
b. Permanently seated:
Garment mender
Carder
c. Permanently standing:
Carder
Rice grinder

Well Digging
Well Digging

BESIDES OTHER CLASSIFICATIONS FOR WEAVING, AGRICULTURE, AND BUILDING. AS WELL AS LUXURY TRADES AND CRAFTS INHERITED FROM NOBILITIES.

The classification s simply amazing. It includes all human labour in a classification so bizarre that it makes you laugh as well as amazement at its fullness of the human venture.

THE FIRST CHURCH IN LAHORE – MUGHALS COOPERATED WITH MISSIONARIES

THE FIRST CHURCH IN LAHORE
MUGHALS COOPERATED WITH MISSIONARIES

No sign of it today

Christians at Mughal Court
Christians at Mughal Court

The zeal of the missionaries was tremendous. They desired to convert his barren land into Christiandom. Emperor Akbar was responsive to all and allowed the opening of a Chapel in Lahore in 1595. Akbar also sent most expensive adornments for the chapel. He also sent Christian paintings done by the Mughal Masters. It was in the house of the Father but more the shape of the Agra chapel. But the missionaries wanted a Church at all costs. It was Prince Saleem (Jahangeer) who helped them start the same and actually near the Palace itself. The superintendent of the new Church was FATHER PINHEIRO and it was formally inaugurated on 7th September, 1597. The Governor of Lahore was the Chief Guest. It was well established and musicians from Goa were invited to play music in Lahore, on their pianos and their well known Carols. A COURTIER Mirza Sikander Masih took interest in same. The building was considered as a beauty and a marvel of the time.

Chapel in Agra
Chapel in Agra

The Portuguese gave trouble to the Mughals and as a punishment the Church was closed for ten years. An old aged Venetian was in charge of the empty Church. But then Shah Jahan fell apart with the Portuguese even more and the Church was leveled to the ground. But the Christians still carried on their work in the house of the Father itself. The house was very near the Palace and the Fathers were forbidden to sleep on the roof for the Mughal Harem was near by and ladies could be spotted from the roof itself. Church activities continued within the city wall in Mohalla Talawara, a famous place of the times,.

Memories of Anarkali Church
Memories of Anarkali Church

The interesting part is that with the Church, there was also Christian cemeteries in Lahore. Definitely there was a cemetery in Lahore in 1606 and used for fireworks in the city. A cemetery existed in MOZANG Lahore, and even in 1671, there is a letter of Aurangzeb confirming the presence and allowance of this Christian cemetery in Lahore.

Jesus Christ Mughal Style
Jesus Christ Mughal Style

In 1832 there was no Church in Lahore, and a Church was opened in the Lahore Fort during Duleep Singh’s reign. And then we have the conversion of the Mausoleum of Nadira Begum (Anarkalli) into a regular Church. At the same time the Sheesh Mahal of Asif Khan was razed to the ground and a regular European Cemetery made there which exists to this day. A cross from the Mughal times in Red Stone still exist in the compound of the Cathedral Lahore, on the Mall road, Lahore. Christians and Muslims have co-existed without any issues. Foreign lobbies try their best to divide the two but without any success. Islam tolerates other ways of life.

European Cemetery
European Cemetery

BLOOD THAT EXCITES US – AND MAKES US CRY

BLOOD THAT EXCITES US

President Ayub receives Quran
President Ayub receives Quran

Assassination and blood

Quran Hazrat Usman
Quran Hazrat Usman

The war between Pakistan and India in 1965 brought a visit of their Heads to USSR at that time. At Tashkent President Ayub Khan (possibly in the 1968 visit) was presented a copy of the Quran in the museum there, and the reputation of that Quran was simple. It was the Quran being read by Hazrat Usman (bless his soul), when he was assassinated by misguided and over zealous people. Another hero of Islam went down for no reason at all but prejudice at his achievements in life. A sad end for us for another shahadat without any solid reason.

Blood of Hazrat Usman
Blood of Hazrat Usman

There is blood on that Quran and when we imagine blood oozing out of the body of one of our grandest Caliph of Islam, it makes us cry even today. If only it had not happened, Islam would have progressed towards its destiny even faster than our imagination. Hazrat Usman consolidated Islam to the extent that Islam could move from being completely plain and simple, to the world of aesthetics. Hazrat Usman built a palace (Al-Zawar) in Medina for himself, with doors of a precious wood. He paid for the same with his own money, and did not use public funds for same. Even then all he did was resented by certain groups of people. The story of his death is heart breaking. An official version is like this:

Quran Usmani
Quran Usmani

“Finding the gate of Uthman’s house strongly guarded by his supporters, the rebels climbed the back wall and sneaked inside, leaving the guards on the gate unaware of what was going on inside. The rebels entered his room and struck blows at his head.[44] Naila, the wife of Uthman, threw herself on his body to protect him, raising her hand to protect him she had her fingers chopped off and was pushed aside, and further blows were struck until he was dead. The rioters wanted to mutilate his body and were keen that he be denied burial. When some of the rioters came forward to mutilate the body of Uthman, his two widows, Nailah and Ramlah bint Sheibah, covered him, and raised loud cries which deterred the rioters.”

How far true, one does not know? The tragedy is there in any case. Has our people ever bothered to bring such treasures on loan to Pakistan to enrich our knowledge of our surviving heritage? Alas, not!

THE QURANS OF EMPEROR AURANGZEB – MAXIMUM CALLIGRAPHED DURING HIS REIGN

THE QURANS OF EMPEROR AURANGZEB
MAXIMUM CALLIGRAPHED DURING HIS REIGN

Cover of Aurangzebs Quran
Cover of Aurangzebs Quran

Thousands exist to this day all over the world

The world is full of Qurans, and the most beautiful ones belong to various reigns. Quran writing in earnest started with the sons of Emperor Shah Jahan. Both Prince Dara Shikoh and Emperor Aurangzeb were fond of writing Qurans. Work of both exist to this day, but whereas Dara Shikoh left his record on the Quran, Aurangzeb in his humility would not write his name on the Qurans he wrote. He gifted some of them, at least two for the Khana Kaaba, and the same should be there to this day in the Tosh Khana there, but the holders of that place, are not involved in any earnest way in the history of this kind.

Note of Aurangzebs Quran
Note of Aurangzebs Quran

Obviously before Aurangzeb stared writing, he also collected Qurans. A beautiful copy written by Haroon bin Bayazid in 1613 was purchased by Aurangzeb for Rs 9000, which was a phenomenal sum for that time. It was later purchased by Tipu Sultan.

27-Emperor-Aurangzeb reading Quran
27-Emperor-Aurangzeb reading Quran

Many Qurans are attributed to Emperor Aurangzeb but remain unverified to this day. In any case his children, grandchildren and so on and so forth, were all fond of reading, reciting and writing the Holy Quran. Many copies exist which were written by Mughal Kings themselves. Our archives have some too. Including a Multiple Suras one written by Shah Alam II, who was later blinded by opponents. With Sultans so near the Quran, who could defeat them? They were finished by their own intrigues at their own hands.

THE POET BALDOON DHINGRA AND HIS ILLUSTRATIVE CHOICES – SHEIKH AHMAD, RAZIA SIRAJUDDIN AND AMRITA SHER-GIL

THE POET BALDOON DHINGRA AND HIS ILLUSTRATIVE CHOICES
SHEIKH AHMAD, RAZIA SIRAJUDDIN AND AMRITA SHER-GIL

Sheikh Ahmad Choice
Sheikh Ahmad Choice

Forgotten Episodes of Lahore’s literary and artistic circles

Indians wrote in the English language all the time. Indian poets attempted poetry in English. Very few succeeded and very few recognized by the English themselves. Baldoon Dhingra was a poet of some eminence. He also translated things, wrote books and even wrote a biography of Amrita Sher Gil. He also held positions of importance. He was also involved in Theatre and considered it as a true Art form. Not much is known about him these days.

Razia Sirajuddin Choice
Razia Sirajuddin Choice

Our interest is different. He published three booklets on subjects in his poetic expressions. One was published from Cambridge, the other two from Lahore itself. And the front piece for all three were made by his selection of three different artists. One Sheikh Ahmad (husband of Anna Molka Ahmad), the other Amrita Sher Gil and the third, none other than Razia Sirajuddin, wife of Professor Sirajuddin. All there are in front of us and we share these three designs with our viewers, as a historical record. I wonder if anyone has these these three booklets. One has his autograph on it.

Amrita Sher Gil Choice
Amrita Sher Gil Choice

Baldoon Dhingra seems to have known Amrita Sher Gil well to have written a biography on her. If not one of her many lovers, at least an avid admirer. The illustration used in this book Symphony of Peace is possibly rare and perhaps not seen by many people. Published in 1938 at Cambridge, it too is a small booklet of poetry. The remarkable part of Baldoon Dhingra’s books are that often they are of few pages only. Not a writer writing long things.

The poem MOUNTAINS illustrated by Razia Sirajuddin is worth noticing in this lot of three. I think the design is exquisite and say more than what is normally said in such an event. This is my first recorded find of Razia’s work and I am very happy with it. We will continue our voyage of discovery on her. Till then enjoy all three!

STALKING THE MUGHAL HAREM AS PEEPING TOM – THE SHAMELESSNESS OF THE BASTARD FRANOIS BERNIER

STALKING THE MUGHAL HAREM AS PEEPING TOM
THE SHAMELESSNESS OF THE BASTARD FRANOIS BERNIER

02-The-Mughal-Princesses
02-The-Mughal-Princesses

MANUFACTURING STORIES THE FORTE OF THESE TRAVELLERS

Mughal Princess
Mughal Princess

Francois Bernier at great speed made himself a Medical doctor. As this education was completed in a couple of months, he was not allowed to practice medicine in France. The lure of Hindustan with its fabulous riches, dazzled these travelers all the time. Master of Divide and Rule policy, he watched the fight between Dara Shikoh and Aurangzeb with great delight and manufactured stories about it in his travelogue. He was so fascinated with female beauty that in his book on RACIAL CHARACTERISTICS of the world, he devoted half of it in describing feminine beauty. He got himself enlisted as a medical adviser to even the Mughal Harem under Emperor Aurangzeb, who perhaps could not sense the designs of the rascal.

Ladies of the Harem
Ladies of the Harem

The evil designs of Francois Bernier can be sensed that he wrote on the, “Manufactures of silk, fine brocade, and other fine muslins, of which are made turbans, girdles of gold flowers, and drawers worn by Mughal females, so delicately fine as to wear out in one night”. When the Mughal Harem of Emperor Aurangzeb was moving to Kashmeer, he quickly followed to get a better view of the Mughal ladies. He himself writes:

Bernier's visit
Bernier’s visit

“I cannot avoid dwelling on this pompous procession of the seraglio. It strongly arrested my attention durig the laste march, and I feel delight in recalling it to my memory. Stretch imagination to its utmost limits, and you can conveive no exhibition more grand and imposing than when Raushenara-Begum, mounted on a stupendous Pegu elephant, and seated in a makadsambar, blazing with gold and azure, is followed………… . Besides these attendants are several eunuchs on horseback, accompanied by a multuitude of pajis or lackeys on foot, with large canes………. .”

Like minded to Francois Bernier copy
Like minded to Francois Bernier copy

It was with difficulty, he writes, that these ladies could be approached; they were almost inaccessible to the sight of man. Woe to any unlucky cavalier, however exalted in rank, who, meeting the procession, was found too near, nothing could exceed the insolence of the tribes of eunuchs and footmen which he would have to encounter, and who eagerly avail themselves of such an opportunity to beat a man in the most unmerciful manner.”

Bernier was himself was once nearly caught in a similar situation, and narrowly escaped the cruel treatment that other riders in the imperial train had experienced. Determined, however, not to suffer himself to be beaten, and perhaps maimed, he drew his sword, and having fortunately a strong and spirited horse, was enabled to open a passage, sword in hand, through a host of assailants and to dash across a rapid stream in front of him,.

What was he doing so near ther Mughal Harem? In modern terms he was stalking the ladies, and was lucky to escape the wrath of the eunuchs. But his motives are very clear. With a sick mind, he could narrate that there were five thousand brothel houses in Lahore alone. Only a sick mind could manufacture such a tall tale. The West makes heros of these greedy bastards. We know what they were actually worth. Older versions of present day intelligence agencies.

FIGURAL MOULDS FOR FRIEZES IN HAVELLIS – A FORGOTTEN MIMAR TRADITION OF LAHORE

FIGURAL MOULDS FOR FRIEZES IN HAVELLIS
A FORGOTTEN MIMAR TRADITION OF LAHORE

Romantic Couple
Romantic Couple

A WALL FORGOTTEN WITH TIME IN LAHORE

Seated woman on peeri
Seated woman on peeri

The history of Lahore is not stoppable. With each day we discover new things about Lahore. Things forgotten with time. Upraised CHOONA work seems to have been a speciality of Lahore. The Choona Naqashi upraised work in the Mausoleum of Nawab Asif Khan tells us a lot about this tradition. Friezes in Mandirs were there, but friezes in havellis even rarer. I remember a KUTOAN KEE HAVELLI in Rang Mahal Lahore which used to have such friezes in wood placed at regular intervals in walls. The subject varied but included Prophet Yunus (Jonah) and the miraculous survival in the mouth of the fish whale. We have some in our museum. Upturned choona naqashis are there in the Golden Temple and there are miniatures of Mian Raheem Baksh Mimar who made them there. Other mosques both in Lahore as well as in Bhawalpur show the tendency. Ziauddin Chughtai Drawing Master Aitchison College Lahore as well a Mian Kareem Baksh Mimar specialized in such Choona work. But figures are comparative rarer. So when we came across a trove of moulds depicting soft animals, ladies in Ghararas, shalwars and dhotis, we knew we had touched upon a Punjab tradition, unrecorded in Lahore so far.

The Harvest Reaper
The Harvest Reaper

But the figurative drawing is very very modern. It had echoes of Chughtai Art in it. We do not know how old they are, hanging in a wall on a room , 10 feet across, small bricked house outside Delhi Darwaza, that is Bazaar Naulakha, near the Mosque of Mian Sultan Takhaydar, but we would place them from about 80 to 150 years, if we can. No religious subjects here, just aesthetics at stake. There are beautiful moulds of small children in them too. Deers and horses are there. Romantic couples Punjab type. Men support PHAGS on their heads. Peeris (seats) in many of them. Amazing all of them! Worth seeing, worth publishing in book form. But who cares for culture? Our so called cultural freaks spend most of their time in demolishing our own culture. Their interest related to royal commands from foreign lobbies. Soul-less people, indeed!

A typical Lahori dress
A typical Lahori dress

THE HYPOCRISY OF ABUSING PAKISTAN BY PAKISTANIS – FINDING IDEALISM IN MERE OBEYANCE OF LAW IN OTHER COUNTRIES

THE HYPOCRISY OF ABUSING PAKISTAN BY PAKISTANIS
FINDING IDEALISM IN MERE OBEYANCE OF LAW IN OTHER COUNTRIES

FORGETTING THE IMPORTANCE OF IDEOLOGY ITSELF

Clear cut statement over ride all others
Clear cut statement over ride all others

I was sitting in the office of a governmental official and he was continuous railing against Pakistan. He had travelled abroad and found perfection there. His nirvana was the obeying of traffic laws, and such every day services. His favourite punch was that of the many holes in hell and the one with Pakistanis in it, having no guards. No guards were required for every Pakistani would pull the other trying to escape Pakistani down. No guards. For instance one could ask, who visited hell and came back? Some RAW agent who manufactured this blasphemy. We are so fond of speaking against our own country. I wonder who will defend same. Then you find the pseudo intellectuals who rail against Dr Allama Iqbal and then there are those who start cursing Quaid e Azam. WHY?

Abusing backfires
Abusing backfires

Do you know what FREEDOM is? Ask the Rohingyas in Burma what it is and they will tell you. Marooned in ships without water and food, no one is tying to save them. Not the fat paunches Arab Sheikhs who think of seducing some new virgin every day. Ask the village in Haryana whose houses were burnt to the ground for they dared to build a mosque in Modi’s India. Ask the lady in the aeroplane who could not get a can of usual drinks for being thought of as a terrorist. Why should I quote every rotten thing in the world? The world is full of roses as well as thorns. We have to live with both. We have to seek best for ourselves as well, as best for others.

Standing Tall
Standing Tall

The system has collapsed for it has brought the WORST in Pakistan at the best posts in Pakistan. Morons riddled with greed who are bringing the country down. I have seen with my own eyes traffic on the Mall road which cannot be believed today. Even mere cyclists would stand in a straight line. All cycles had lights on them. There was dos and dons of cycling. Plenty of ladies even on the Mall driving cycles. Tongas had set rules. The occasional cars also worked with rules. WHY? For there were honest Government officials in implementing things. Not chain of corruption in which everybody shares the spoils. Encroachments everywhere on the streets. WHY? For each Rehri wala pays a sum every day to the Police for standing there. Correct that and Pakistan stands corrected.

INSAF. Give insaf to people. Then you will see what the people of Pakistan are made off. When they feel victimized, they rebel against authority. Give them their due and they will give the Nation their due. UNITY FAITH AND DISCIPLINE! Try them. If not by will, force that on the people. Pakistan will correct itself in no time.

The Idea of Pakistan is above reproach. The State of Pakistan ever desirable., The Government is responsible for the mess in our life. CHANGE IT! Change the system! Start defending your country. If it collapses, then you will know what abuses are? The world ready to abuse you out of your existence. No need to abuse them. STAND TALL! That is enough for them.

THE ILLUSION OF WESTERN SCHOLARSHIP – NO ABILITIES TO JUDGE CHUGHTAI ART

THE ILLUSION OF WESTERN SCHOLARSHIP
NO ABILITIES TO JUDGE CHUGHTAI ART

We are the world authority on M.A. Rahman Chughtai

A piece of stone
A piece of stone
A piece of Stone (copy)
A piece of Stone (copy)

A long time back our Rata Totas (repetitive parrots) started talking about Chughtai Art. Not knowing even an iota about the subject, and possibly most not having seen one Original Chughtai, everybody started talking like he had a PHD course on Chughtai Art. That ended in my writing of the book FOMENTING DOUBTS Game Plan of Cultural Terrorism. The talk stopped for some time. Works stopped coming to Auction houses. I had proven in the book of mine that at that time eighty percent of what was being sold at Auction houses were FAKES and I had the testimony of the man in Karachi who used to make them for various VIPS of Pakistan. He was paid just Ten thousand Rupees and the persons involved made millions. That was so unfair but nobody was paying attention to same. My presence was resented by many for spoiling their easy business.

The Saqi
The Saqi
The Saqi (copy)
The Saqi (copy)

Ms Christa Paula of Bonhams was the first person to involve me in the Authentication of paintings of Chughtai Art. I did it for her free of cost for some years. Then even Maureen Rizvi and Nour Aslam got my help. I have written letters from them to prove my contention. Then again they stopped doing so. It was not easing business for them, proving fakes all the time.

The Music Lesson
The Music Lesson
The Music Lesson (copy)
The Music Lesson (copy)

Recently a picture came up at Bombay which I proved to be fake and it was withdrawn by the company. I love Ms Sonali Dean for listening to me. Three pictures have appeared in London. All three are fakes with manufactured provences and everybody knows they are manufactured but business remains business. We publish all three with all three Chughtai originals. These three are not with us and we are using printed Versions from Chughtai Paintings, the book printed first in 1939, then in 1941. To the best of my knowledge most of these would be with the Nizam of Hyderabad or in the State Museum Hyderabad or the Salar Jang Museum. Privately very few people could afford to buy them even at that time.. The Nawab of Bhawalpur did buy 10 paintings in 1920 and we have a list of them but the Nawab did not buy same in the 1930s. These paintings were of the type that there was no need for Chughtai to repeat them. Yes, Marcella Nesom says so, but who told Marcella Nesom all this. I did when she came here to our premises in 1978 without even knowing the name of Chughtai as she was working on a PHD on Textilles. We have her form etc all duly signed by her. Documented evidence is my forte.

Summer Rose
Summer Rose
A Summer Rose (Copy)
A Summer Rose (Copy)

I am the son of the artist. Eighty percent of whatever he produced is with us. I run his museum,. I promote and preserve him and do research on his works. People know nothing about Chughtai Art nor do they even bother to ask. I am working nowadays with a few leading experts on Winsor and Newton colours and Whattman papers and will shortly be able to present Scientific evidence of all that we say that there is. The mouth of those who bark will be filled with their own crap soon. Till then buyers beware! Notice, check, research. Do not take Western Scholarship at its evidence.

POST SCRIPT
The work “Summer Rose” made only once and original with us, auctioned in London some years back for 66000 UK Pounds.