A TECHNICAL WIZARD OF LAHORE NAMELY ‘MASTER KEY’ HASSAN DIN,COUSIN OF M.A. RAHMAN CHUGHTAI AND OF FAMOUS RAILWAY FAMILY

Hassan Din was a technical wizard of Lahore. He was reputed to tackle any technical problem and come up with a solution. He was associated with Mayo School of Arts Lahore as an instructor, but also had ideas of forming a Technical School all his own. A rare pamphlet describes his ideas in 1939. He came from a renowned technical family. His maternal uncle Master Elahi Baksh was associated with the 1911 celebrations of Emperor George V in Delhi. His grandfather was Ustad Chiragh ud din, master designer of wooden works. An old tazia in Karbala Gamey Shah (there even today) was designed by him and his name is mentioned  by Chughtai artist in the preface to the book Amal e Chughtai.

Obviously Hassan Din’s technical solutions depended on his indoctrination and training under exceptional hands. Another cousin Meraj ud din (Paa Maja) was also cousin and best friend of M.A. Rahman Chughtai. The artist spent many hours with these two cousins all the time in exceptional bonding of its time. The relation was basically an emotional one, in which getting together, going to picnics and other places, fishing, flying kites, eating at odd places, viewing dramas and film shows, and mehfils full of jokes and laughter. It was all fun relations at that time. The same are pleasant memories today. Remembering him with love and affection from us! His son worked at Mayo School of Arts for a very long time. Would love to hear from him.