CONVERSIONS OF MUHAMMEDANS
SIX FAMOUS EXAMPLES ALL OVER INDIA

Reverend Imaduddin converted in Lahore

There are not many examples of Muslim conversions in Punjab, not even in India. The best examples that we have are of Abdul Masih (Agra), Jan Ali (Hyderabad), Dilawur Khan (Kharrack), Munshi Abdul Rahman (Kathiawar), and of course Imaduddin (Panipat). Imaduddin is not only a converted Christian, he even obtained a Doctrate degree from Calcutta University. He was writer of multiple books (at least 24) which were available from the Punjab Religious Book Society, Anarkali, Lahore.

The strange part is that Imaduddin was a descendant of Saint Qutub Jamal, of Hansi, and he knew his previous 30 generations. Actually he was born in Panipat, north of Delhi. Then he came to Agra too. There he was actually teaching the Quran and the tafsir of same. Dr Wuzeer Khan had put him on the job, but he felt disappointed and betrayed by his bigotry (as understood by him). There he met Dr Pfander who impressed him very much. Afraid of the repercussions in Agra, he came to Lahore. Here he was employed by Mr Mackintosh, head master of Lahore Normal School, Lahore. He was also indoctrinated by W.C. Forman and Rev. Isura Dass. He said that he was no longer afraid of death or humiliation, and in April, 1866, went to Amritsar, where Rev Robert Clark baptized him. Later on on 3rd December, 1868, he also got his brother Munshi Khair-uddin and father Maulvie Sirajuddin baptized from the same place.

Everybody left him and were not willing to even be seen with him. Only his brother and father were left, and as said, they too were converted in due time. As far as Inam Shah is concerned of Lahore, he too was of a very religious family. We will research on him.

THINGS YOU NEVER KNEW ABOUT,
MUHAMMED BIN QASIM AND ‘CHACH-NAMA’ IS SILENT

Facts about the Conqueror of Sind

Let us first see his family tree. MUHAMMED BIN QASIM BIN MUHAMMED BIN HUKAM BIN ABU-AQEEL BIN MASOOD BIN AAMER BIN MUQAB BIN MALIK BIN KAAB BIN UMARO BIN SAAD BIN AUFF BIN TUSI URF SALKEEFI. Interesting tree, when we are told that Muqab bin Malik was the first to accept Islam.

Muhammed bin Qasim’s father was the Amir of Iraq and Basra, and it was there that Muhammed Bin Qasim spent his early days in growing up. The most interesting information is that Muhammed Bin Qasim was very fond of Architecture and Caliph Hajaj had made him Nazim of Buildings of Sheraz. He was truly involved in giving Sheraz a new look of Islamic Architecture. Muhammed Bin Qasim was governing Sheraz and responsible for beautifying it with Islamic Architecture.

Another interesting fact revealed from letters of the Caliph at that time is that the father of Muhammed Bin Qasim was with him in his conquest of Sind. Father accompanied his son in this mission. But the story told in Chach-nama which is the Sindhi version (the popular version of being ordered to put a wet leather skin as reprisal for rape of Raja Dair’s daughters) from ages is totally wrong as it was differently stated by the historian Baladhuri long before the Chach-nama was even written. He says:

“After death of Caliph Waleed , Salman became Caliph. He appointed Salih bin Abdur Rahman as Amir of Iraq and Yazeed bin Abu Qasba as Amir of Sind. Abu Qasba had Muhammed bin Qasim arrested and sent to the custody of Amir Salih in Iraq. There he was imprisoned in jail with other family members, and tortured beyond recognition. Eventually he could not sustain the torture and died in prison”.

A sad end for a worthy man. Interesting there are poems written by Muhammed bin Qasim during his imprisonment and that too provides another insight in his character. The most interesting part is that he left a son Umrao bin Qasim in Sind, who went into hiding, because the people of Sind loved Muhammed bin Qasim and had made a statue of him in the main square of the city. When the reign of these Caliphs was over, people sought Umrao bin Qasim and put him on the throne of Sind. Umrao bin Qasim as sub-ruler served Sind from 105 AH to 120 AH, and as Acting Amir from 120 AH to 122 AH, and ruled Sind as Amir from the year 122 AH to 125 AH, and was most able in doing same. He was also responsible for the laying and beautification of the city of Mansoorah. He even defeated Raja Rai in battle, and won many other battles. But then Caliphs changed again, and Umrao bin Qasim was caught and put in prison and tortured like his father. An fearing an undue death, Umrao bin Qasim committed suicide in prison. It took him two days to die and the Amir questioned why he had done this sorry part as he would not have killed him. But Umrao bin Qasim suspected an unfair treatment and the story of Sind and Qasim came to a tragic end.

The in-fighting in Islam was responsible for death of many of its heroes.

CHILDREN OF DARA SHIKOH
SIPHIR SHIKOH

Blackening actual history

Siphir Shikoh was born on 13th October, 1644 to his proud father Prince Dara Shikoh. He died on 13th October, 1708. Little is known about him, but it is there that he was part of the War of Succession between Aurangzeb Alamgeer and Dara Shikoh.

Western and Hindu writers paint a horrific imagery of the fate of the children of Dara Shikoh. The actual matter is that indeed Siphir Shikoh was captured and sent to prison. He embraced his uncle Aurangzeb Alamgeer who promised him that he would not be killed in the end result. He was sent to prison and even Mildred Archer narrates his horrible death. The fact of the matter is totally different.

As a man of great heart and compassion, not only did Aurangzeb Alamgeer forgive Siphir Shikoh for being part of the actual rebellion against him, he reinstated him in the Mughal nobility. The hand of Ms Zubadat un nisa, beloved daughter of Aurangzeb Alamgeer was offered to him, and Siphir married his cousin with great pomp. The two loved each other very much, and lived a happy long life together. The fact that Siphir Shikoh accepted the hands of the daughter of his uncle proves that he held no grudge against his uncle. Otherwise he would not have accepted this offer.

A rarest image of Siphir Shikoh is presented with this information. Made at the request of Sir Thomas Phillip in Lucknow in the 18th century, this perhaps is the only image of the lost to history Prince of Mughals. But things continue to be discovered. More will come too.

Dying a natural death in 1708, it means that he lived a life of 64 years, a healthy life by the standard of those days too.

URDU AND M.A. RAHMAN CHUGHTAI
TRANSLATING ART STUDIES INTO URDU LANGUAGE

National efforts for integration of art knowledge

All our national icons in their search for the identity of Pakistan were finding equation of integration of knowledge in simple terms for cognition by all in a society. It was well understood that we were lagging behind in analysis and study of aesthetics. Efforts had to be made to make art knowledge accessible to the masses. While obsessed with creating art, M.A. Rahman Chughtai was also obsessed in passing art knowledge to the people.

Part of the ‘Niazmandan’ Lahore group promoting Urdu language, M.A. Rahman Chughtai was accompanied in his struggle by friends like Dr Muhammed Din Taseer, Dr Nazir Ahmad, Hafeez Jullundri, Pitras Bokhari, Sufi Ghulam Mustafa Tabassum, Imtiaz Ali Taj, Colonel Majeed Malik, and many others. They were doing their best to promote Urdu, and Chughtai was doing his best to promote Urdu as a language of the Arts. Many concrete steps were taken. Out of his own meager resources, he was promoting Art in Urdu language. The magazine ‘Karawan’ was one of them. Published and printed by him, it carried articles on Art and literature by his friends. Even Dr Allama Iqbal was asked to contribute to it and he did. Chughtai wrote about Art in Urdu language, and asked his friends to write the same too. The first prestigious annual was taken out in 1933 and the second one in 1934. The first one was edited by Dr Muhammmed Din Taseer, the second one by Colonel Majeed Malik (Dr Taseer declined to do the second for financial reasons). Then bankruptcy occurred, as the magazine made literary waves but could not generate enough funds for continuation of same.

A strange case is recited by a bigoted Hindu writer Som Anand, as he narrates his visit to the artist in his studios. One of the most bizarre accusations made by him about the artist was the artist’s insistence in talking about Art in terms of Urdu and Punjabi. This horrified the zero intellectual Hindu of his times. He writes:

“After a few minutes, Chughtai Sahib also came into the room and after a normal introduction, we started talking about his work. As we proceeded with our conversation, I glanced again at the celebrated painter. His disheveled hair and unkempt clothes made him look like a domestic servant of a middle class family.

To me the most striking thing in this conversation was that he spoke in very simple Punjabi and his unsophisticated accent sounded almost like the speech of an unlettered villager. In a talk lasting about an hour and a half, he did not once use the kind of jargon which modern painters and their critics employ so often to intimidate and overawe the listeners. It left me amazed to hear that so many intricate points about painting could be explained in the simple Punjabi he used.”

Som Anand is offering proof of the venom in his heart, proof of the strength of the two nation theory, and proof of his lack of knowledge. He is giving a racial slur and he needed to be taken to court. But all this is not out of the blues, it is all planned as a conspiracy.

Credit goes to M.A. Rahman Chughtai for enhancing study of Art in Urdu and Punjabi language. Well done, Sir!

PROMOTION OF URDU
M.A. RAHMAN CHUGHTAI STYLE

Dustcovers for books of Urdu Elite of region

Just enjoy a small range of dust cover designs by M.A. Rahman Chughtai. Elite Urdu writers requested Chughtai for such designs, but Chughtai always did them after reading the manuscript of the book, or at least the idea of same. A chapter in the history of this region. The neglect of Urdu now is phenomenal in a planned conspiracy against Pakistan.

IMTIAZ ALI TAJ AND M.A. RAHMAN CHUGHTAI
TWO FRIENDS TILL THE VERY END

Pioneers of Urdu in Lahore

The Daily Imroze had brought the worst news possible for M.A. Rahman Chughtai. Somebody had murdered Imtiaz Ali Taj in his home by stabbing him to death. The artist could not believe it. Both brothers rushed to the house of their friend on Empress road. A painting of Chughtai already hung in the drawing room stairs and a film done by a famous director had the photo shoot in the house itself.

I remember a ride in the car of Imtiaz Ali Taj. He had volunteered to drop M.A. Rahman Chughtai in his car. As a kid it fascinated me to see the INDICATOR SIGNS in his car. A spring used to be pulled and an arm like indicator would come out of the central sill of the car. A fascination of mine which knew no bounds as we saw the moon roll by our window in its serenity. All this while Imtiaz Ali Taj in his sophisticated soft voice would continue talking with the artist. I remember being offered tea by the Mrs, that is Hijab Imtiaz Ali Taj, another fine lady of Hyderabad, and the romance of the two writers, was phenomenal in its own sense. Their creative work brought them together.

Of course the father of Imtiaz Ali Taj was the real creative force in the life of Lahore as well as the language of Urdu. ‘Darul-Ishat’ was the name of that group. It is interesting that the very first feature on M.A. Rahman Chughtai appeared in this magazine and the dust-cover of that magazine was naturally done by Chughtai himself. So the contact between Imtiaz Ali Taj and the artist was decades old. Both supported each other. When Imtiaz Ali Taj wrote his magnum opus the drama on ‘Anarkalli’, it was natural that it would be illustrated with works of M.A. Rahman Chughtai. There are many other things in which they mutually cooperated with each other.

When Naeem Taher got married to the daughter of Imtiaz Ali Taj, I remember Imtiaz Ali Taj asking Chughtai to support his son-in-law as the new Secretary of Al-hamra Arts Council Lahore. The story of Al-hamra is of course a story in itself and we have a blog on same, which is worthy to be read. The shame of our bureaucracy is without limit as they openly listen to the dictats of foreign lobbies in trying to twist and turn the patriotic history of Lahore and Pakistan.

THE MAGIC OF HARIDAS LAHORI
ABILITY TO BE BURIED ALIVE FOR MONTHS
FEASIBILITY ENDORSED BY DR MARTIN HONIGBERGER

Lahore is famous for its crazy things. Things no sane mind can believe. This is the story of such an incident in 1837. Mahrajah Ranjit Singh was also not in a mood to believe any crazy stories. That is why when he heard the claim that the Hindu Haridas who had come to Lahore from the mountains had the ability to be buried alive for months, he confronted it as a personal issue to test the claims. Haridas adopted a sitting position and was sewn in Khaddar cloth. Then he was placed in a wooden box, riveted with personal seals of the Mahrajah. Then he was buried and an Army was placed on guard over the burial place. Forty days later, the same was dug up, an the lifeless body brought out. Desi ghee was placed on his tongue and his tongue was pulled out, and a exploding sound was heard and he was massaged with hot water and ghee. Within half an hour he was awake and a short time after that talking again with the British present there. The Mahrajah participated in the test himself, by putting the seals on the casket with his own hands.

The Daily Telegraph, London, reported this incident in 1880 with details:

“When all the necessary preparations have been accomplished, the Fakir closes all the openings of his body with stoppers made of aromatic wax, lays his tongue far back in his throat, crosses his hands on his breast, and suspends animation by means of holding his breath.
On his being brought back to life one of the first operations is, by means of the fingers, to draw the tongue away from the back of the throat; a warm and aromatic paste made of meal is then placed on his head, and air is blown into his lungs and into the ear-holes, from which the wax stoppers have been removed, the stoppers in the nostrils being presently forced out with an explosive noise.
This is said to be the first sign of a return to life. He then gradually commences to breathe, opens the eyes, and recovers consciousness, continuous friction of the body being carried on all the time.”

Everybody reckoned it as impossible, but when when it was witnessed by all, then it was left to experts to explain how the same feat was done. Dr Martin Honigberger, the personal physician of the Mahrajah was brought in, to test the claim on scientific lines. And much to the surprise of all, Dr Martin Honigberger, not only believed Haridas Lahori, but also brought out a scientific theory, as to how it was actually done. By even referring to stories in the Bible itself, he came to the conclusion that it was all possible, and their eyes were not deceiving them in any way.

The Journalist recalled a tale from the Bible itself:

” We are not told whether the Seven Sleepers who retired to a cave in Ephesus during the reign of the Christian-killing Emperor Decius, and only woke up 155 years afterward, when Theodosins II was on the throne, made any special preparation, but probably they did not. Perhaps it was not necessary. Those were stirring times for members of the new faith, and they had little opportunity to grow obese.”

Our region still remains a region of Unexplainable tales, which perhaps modern science could have explained, if anybody could have bothered. But this is a famous recorded case, and worthy of being remembered in time. A similar incident is recorded in the Humayoun nama, when they dug up a place, and found a man sitting there. He did not knew that present time and had been interred there from ages. But more on that later as it is is also related to Lahore itself.

THE LAST MUSLIM; YES THE FIRST MUSLIM
ISLAM CAN NEVER DIE

THE QURANIC LAW OF MUKAFAT (As a mere story)

It was the grandest feast in the history of mankind. The whole Caymann Islands were lit. Delegations had arrived from all over the globe. It was a celebration par excellence. The most sumptuous food was being cooked. Naked girls walked around in the hall letting delegates do their liking. Pole dancers entertained the crowd. Acrobats worked wonders. Bacchus would have envied the get together of the BROTHERHOOD OF SATAN, the modern Freemasons of t.he world. The cabal of all cabals had invited all the other cabals to the fun fair party. The event the physical execution of the LAST MUSLIM in the world.

Million of millions of Muslims all over the world were by now exterminated. The leader of the Brotherhood would behead the last Muslim with the most ancient diabolic sword available. A tray had been placed under the neck of the last Muslim. The choicest cabal members would as vampires drink his blood. Glasses of champagne with the choicest crystals from Czechoslovakia were there for the vampire show. The leader and all others relished the moment for extermination of Islam. It was befitting that the last Muslim should be allowed to say his final words and he was allowed to say them.

“YOU CAN NOT FINISH ISLAM”. The last Muslim shouted through his blood filled eyes. Our Quran is still everywhere in your museum collections. You have not been able to finish it. Your greed prevents you from destroying expensive antiques of great value. Our civilization is preserved in your museums and antique places. There is not an iota of doubt in my mind. Allah will prevail! Allah o Akbar!

Shemihaza the leader of the Brotherhood of Satan smiled and said “Repent that you can live. Embrace our cabal!” The last Muslim kept on shouting Islam cannot be finished, Allah will prevail! The house shouted like the ring of the gladiators, “Cut the head of the bastard!” Thumbs down.

The Ancient sword flashed. The head was cut. Blood started dripping in the tray. People were shouting with glee. All ready to sip the blood of the last Muslim. But something had happened. Shemihaza saw the poignant luster in the eyes of the dying man. Utter relaxation. Utter strength of faith.The spirituality of his eternal belief that Islam cannot die. A miracle happened. The same twinkle burst into the eyes of Shemihaza.The Last Muslim was dead, but another Muslim had been born at the same moment. Shemihaza knew he was Abu-Jehad now and it was his job to dismantle the Brother hood of Satan forever or die trying. Islam outlived that moment! Truly it could never die.

Finishing the Muslim Nations will never work. Your own people will be converted to the Way of Allah, for that is the way of the Truth!

DRAMA AND THEATER
FIRST CREATIVE IMPULSE OF M.A. RAHMAN CHUGHTAI

Theatre in Lahore 1910-1918

The drama ability of Agha Hashar had rocked the creative scene in India. Agha Hashar was staging his plays in great cities of India and making large amounts of money. His dramas were proverbial on the lips of Hindustan. The Agha Hashar Company was dominating Calcutta. Master Hussain Baksh son of an architect mimar of Lahore joined the Agha Hashar Company as Stage artist of the background scenes. His paintings were Master strokes and it was reputed that he used to earn Rs 5000 per month, a phenomenal amount for those times. The theater craze was with the boys of Lahore.

M.A. Rahman Chughtai was fascinated with dramas. One day the Head Master of the Railway Technical School, Mr Chatterjee, bigoted Hindu of that time, thrashed him, and the young Chughtai rebelled against the injustice. With few friends from the Mohalla Chabuk Sawaran, they ran away to Karachi, to enlist in a drama company for writing dramas. A relative was sent by Mian Kareem Baksh Mimar the father to bring him back. When Chughtai came back, his father died in 1913. The three younger brothers were isolated by the eldest one the step brother Muhammed Hussain, and opened a fire wood shop (TAL in local terms) inside Yakki Gate Lahore. The two brothers Abdullah and Abdur Raheem used to sell the firewood while Chughtai on a charpai at the back of the shop, used to write dramas. The news of the dramas reached Punjab Bible Society in Lahore, and Chughtai volunteered an URDU version of the play THE BEHEADING OF ST JOHN THE BAPTIST known as QATAL YOUHANA. It was staged at a theater in Bhatti Gate, Lahore. It is reputed that soon after the play stated, the audience rebelled and started breaking the chairs in total disgust. In any case the Bible Society published the drama in book form.

We visited the house of famous dramatist Mrs Najmuddin on Sanda road and requested a copy. She told us that she had given her copy to Hijab Imtiaz Ali Taj. The esteemed lady had put it in her garage and was not able to locate it. A drama lost for the present time. This episode in the life of M.A. Rahman Chughtai is hardly known and is worthy of being recorded. Later Chughtai started photography and finally painting and there the legend grew into a phenomena all its own.

One thing is certain here. The drama book calligraphed by Din Muhammed Katib has a child like illustration on it related to SILVER KING of Agha Hashar. It has a sign in the corner saying ‘M R’. The illustration is related to a series of dramas published in Lahore around 1908-1915, and this is the SCHOOL period of M.A. Rahman Chughtai. There is every reason to believe that this illustration is also by M.A. Rahman Chughtai as a school child, and that matter is a matter of record too. THE FIRST DUST-COVER ON RECORD OF M.A. RAHMAN CHUGHTAI.

INAM SHAH THE POSSIBLE FIRST CONVERT OF LAHORE
THOMAS VELPY FRENCH DEDICATION TO CHRISTIANITY

Most of T.V. French’s students died in his tenure

When Thomas Velpy French arrived at Lahore, there was no one to receive him. He carried his own baggage to an Inn in Lahore. He brought grandoise plans for a Divinity College in Lahore. His other plans was that the locals hated the English language, and one must tell them not to confuse the English language with Christianity. He made the difficult decision to translate the Sacred texts in Urdu and Urdu would be the language of teaching in Lahore. People resented his ideas but he stuck with them to the last. Not only that he even forbade the Western dress for them. He suggested that after conversion, people wearing western dress and speaking in English are immediately isolated from their loved ones, relatives and friends, as well as the society. The idea indeed was good. So good that the American mission took it up too. Reverend Forman got involved in translating biblical texts and it is on record that he made many Urdu translations., In fact a Professor of F.C. College has recently done research on this same subject and offered number of Urdu books on Bible done by Reverend Forman, of course founder of F.C. College Lahore.

The Divinity College started with four students and later on there was an addition of seven of them. But the unfortunate part was that Sickness prevailed and a lot of them died within the short span of T.V. French being Bishop in Lahore. Yes, four of them died very early; one of consumption, one drowned in Jhelum river, another of consumption too, and the other of fever, with which he went into coma. A sad end for the newly converts to happen like this.

Inam Shah, probably of Lahore, became possibly the First Convert in Lahore. Termed and dubbed as a most bigoted Muhammedan (the word bigoted is used by French himself to denote Inam Shah’s family background, for he belonged to a very religious family here), he was ordained by Bishop Milman of Calcutta, and probably sent to Peshawar. Not necessary to know how it happened, but it is said that he was taken back by the biblical words of ‘OUR FATHER’. Inam Shah had rebelled against his own religious father. It impressed him so much that he converted to Christianity. We do not know much more than that.

We do know that T.V. French himself fell sick and went home. He was replaced by Dr W. Hooper, who was a scholar of Sanskirit and interested only in converting Hindus from then on. It seems that there was a superstition evolved in Lahore that converting Muslims led to deaths. This is not our saying. This is a strange confession from the annals of biblical history of Lahore. They were good people, tying o reach out to others to promote their cause. This they never realized that you cannot let a student appear for Matriculation, when he has already taken his PHD on the subject. The evolution of religion in the Judeo-Christian-Muslim traditions had culminated in the last prophet of Allah.