DEATH OF FORMER MAYOR PARIS, PRIME MINISTER AND PRESIDENT OF FRANCE,

JACQUES CHIRAC GENTLEMAN EXTRAORDINARY FRIEND OF CHUGHTAI MUSEUM

A HEART FELT TRIBUTE TO HIM ON HIS DEATH AT THE AGE OF 86 YEARS.

Chughtai Museum was in touch with Jacques Chirac when he was the Mayor of Paris. Later as Prime Minister he became closer to the idea of an art show of M.A. Rahman Chughtai at Musee Guimet. This exhibition was accepted by Jeanine Auboyer, the Director of the museum and an expert on Islamic arts. J. Tolleti CEO of IBM Europe volunteered to finance it. Although both the French Ambassador as well as Pakistani Ambassador in France, Nawab Qazilbasch were involved in the venture. But the Ministry of Culture did not bow an inch, and a golden chance was lost. In words of M. Jacaues Chirac, “M.A. Rahman Chughtai was the greatest artist of Modern Muslim Civilization”.

We present some correspondence as memory of his relation with Chughtai Museum. These are specimens of other correspondence too. He was a fine gentleman, a man of arts and aesthetics. We found him so responsive at all times. Rare breed of people who are no more. We appreciate his love for Chughtai art and we presented him with a number of things. He tried his best to see the Chughtai show happen in Paris. We pray for him. May his soul rest in Peace!

P.S. Originals are presented in French, not the translations in English. French are proud of their language.