LIMITED EDITION MURRAQQA CHUGHTAI DEDICATED TO NIZAM HYDERABAD;
BUT WORKS PURCHASED BY PRINCESS DURRE SHAHWAR DAUGHTER-IN-LAW.

The legendary work Murraqqa e Chughtai had evoked hopes for the artist M.A. Rahman Chughtai, that the dedication to the Nizam of Hyderabad, would bring financial recompense for the artist. He sent his younger brother Abdullah Chaghatai to Hyderabad to present the same to the Nizam. The holidays were running out, and Abdullah obsessed with his naukri, accosted the Nizam in the Jamia Masjid and handed over same. Sir Akbar Hyderi, Prime Minister complained to the artist that if the presentation had been made in Court, the Nizam would have granted a great financial reward for same. The  bubble of possible hope bursted there and then.

Although in the end the limited edition of 210 copies all got sold, but much of the payment did not reach the artist. Frustration was at its height. So much work and energy not getting the rewards it deserved. The fifteen paintings which were to be given to the Maharani of Cooch Bihar perhaps held in limbo. The file lost due to negligence of a family member. Research on but gaps are there. Somehow in the end the famous Princess of Hyderabad, daughter in law of the Nizam, decided to buy them all. This is confirmed from the own writing of the artist. The result all the works were hung in the Nizams Palace in New Delhi. After conversion into the President’s House, it is unknown where the paintings went after that. In India, Australia, or elsewhere. No one would destroy them. Perhaps in the treasury house of the Government of India. Stray pieces have appeared here and there. Even in Karachi someone brought two of them. Waiting discovery sooner or later. But even the 210 copies of the book extremely rare. We do have a few copies but none traceable in what is now Pakistan. Probably more in Indian region or abroad in famous collections. Even Dr Allama Iqbal presented his copy to a young girl student. Tracing takes long time!

In the last year of Independent Hyderabad, a show got planned and inaugurated by the Vice Premier of Hyderabad State. All that on record. A write up by Hassan Yar Jang exists when he migrated to Karachi. An Arts exhibition held in Hyderabad Deccan in  1948, husband of Princess Durre Shawar did attend the show, and perhaps even bought some paintings. Prince Azam Jah of Berar is seen in photographs admiring the Chughtai paintings in Hyderabad. Art moves and knits past, present and future in different ways. Chughtai Art indeed forever!