M.A. Rahman Chughtai made National presence felt in 1920, but in 1924 it was the world in the Wembley Show in London, where millions saw the exhibition. International Art magazines were reviewing his work after the publication of Murraqqa i Chughtai in 1928. The trip to Europe in 1932 introduced him to Western Art circles all the more. He was now an internationally recognized artist and accepted artist by Western critics. The British Authorities understood that well and ready to recognize talent at the earliest.

In 1933 an idea of knighthood was being floated, but opposition from Sir Shadi Lal prevented its completion, although records in the Civil Secretariat show that development. B.A. Qureshi Sahib had explored those files. In any case the title of KHAN BAHADUR was approved by the Committee and Sir Herbert William Emerson, Governor Punjab put his stamp on it. The award ofcourse was sanctioned by Viscount Willingdon himself. All that record is there and we share some of it for the very first time. Enjoy!