PRESENT CHANTING OF BULLEH SHAH ENDORSED BY FOREIGN LOBBIES
SINISTER DESIGNS TO PUT FOG AROUND REVIVAL OF ISLAM IN ACTUALITY
NO OBJECTION TO ANYONE’S FEELINGS BUT DO NOT HURT MINE

This is a land of Babas. Babas dared to say anything, as they were considered above board and censure. Everyone has a right to their belief and I have no objections. Welcome to the world of Babas! But negating basic Islamic tenets is not my idea of our way of life. Though ijjtehad we can do anything collectively except permanent values, but then foreign lobbies pay our locals to endorse things, there must be something wrong somewhere.

Punjab and the whole region is full of Babas. Are the Babas endorsing Islamic way of life? Or the Babas are taking us away from basic Islamic principles. It is up to you to decide. Bu do not look away. Jumping up and down or in a swirl will not bring us closer to Allah. Allah asks us to THINK AND PONDER all the time. Anything which taking us away from thinking and pondering is not my way life. Nor it is the Islamic way of life. People in foreign lands fear the resurgence of Islam and in all ways, Babas are being used maliciously to curb this going back to the pristine values of rising Islamic awareness all over the world. Islam is against terrorism in all ways. But it is also against anything which prevents us from seeking knowledge. Education is to bring us civilization. Rewriting our history and curbing our Ideology is not fun for us. It gives us pain and when you inflict pain, you touch Allah’s Law of Mukufat. Doing wrong will bring wrong results. Love is important and having compassion is a divine thing. But closing our minds is a sin.

P.S. Enjoy a first look at a handwritten autograph of unknown book by Inayat Qadri Lahori, teacher of Bulley Shah, in our archives.

ON RAVI ROAD A CREMATION PLACE IN LAHORE FOR HINDU LADIES
WAS MS AMRITA SHER GIL CREMATED HERE? RESEARCH REQUIRED!

The ladies of the area recall the acute burning smell of human flesh in the area. It was a place made in 1901, for the cremation of Hindu ladies of Lahore. Opposite is the European Cemetery of Lahore, made after 1849, and having graves even today dating to 1852. On the other side in Minto Park, was the Towers of Silence of the Parsees in Lahore. The Zoroastrians graveyard. Then it was shifted to Gulberg, Lahore. Once upon a time the river Ravi ran right there and then it became stagnant, and was named as Buddha Darya. In the vicinity many years back a boat was discovered. On this bank was the area (takia) of the Patrangahs the dyers of clothes in Lahore. This was their work place on the banks of river Ravi. Their Mohalla was inside Bhatti Gate, Lahore. Once upon a time Emperor Akbar’s ships traversed the river Ravi. It was intact some years back, although inhabited by immigrants from India. A chabara of red stone in the front. There was an inscription on the main gateway. It specified its history as Radha Kund. The inscription is interesting reading.

It says that this cremation site was erected by Mohan Lal and Lal Chand, sons of late Rai Munshi Gulab Singh, in memory of their beloved mother Shri Mati Radha Devi, in the year 1901.  Rai Munshi Gulab Singh was a famous publisher of Lahore, who published many books in different languages. In fact, there is even a medal named after him in the University of the Punjab, given even today. In a city with a recorded history of more than 1000 years, this is plainly a modern era. But can one imagine the thousands of Hindu ladies who were cremated here. For us there is a clear possibility that Amrita Sher Gil was also cremated here. After all this is Ravi road, and these are the banks of old river Ravi, and it was the main cremation place of Hindu ladies of Lahore. In fact, outside the city walls, one still comes across pots, filed with the ashes of the Hindus of Lahore. Amrita died on Saturday, 6th December, 1941, at 1.30 am. That means 12 pm had passed, and the new day had begun.

That very day there was an appointment Amrita had made with M.A. Rahman Chughtai, to see him in his studios. Chughtai Sahib waiting for her to appear, heard the news of her death. His condolences were published many places, basically in short it was:

         “I did not believe that she had died. And I still do not believe it. She is living and will ever live.”

M.A. Rahman Chughtai was introduced to Amrita by her father Umrao Singh Sher-Gil. Umrao Singh was a valued and respected friend of the artist. In the meeting Dr Allama Iqbal was also there and he too, was introduced to Amrita. The father, Umrao Singh expressed high hopes for her. The father was a specialist on Omar Khayyam as well as on Sufi poetry and Chughtai had many discussions with him. When Amrita Sher-Gil came to settle in Lahore, and wanted to hold an exhibition here, people co-operated with her. And the show was held after her death. The death was on 6th December, the exhibition was held on 21st December, 1941. A rare exhibition show in Lahore. It is a strange anomaly that her dead body must have passed right in front of the house of the artist. In fact, a journey she could not make while alive, but her dead body traversed the same route. Indeed, a spiritual journey.

REWRITING HISTORY OF LAHORE IN A FULLY ORCHESTRATED WAY’
ERASING PAKISTANI IDEOLOGY, AND ALSO MUSLIM CONTRIBUTIONS.

The first question is simple, “Can it be done?” It is my firmest belief that try can all combined, it cannot be done. But the enemy knows more than anyone else. Hit Culture first, rest will follow. Thousands of books in the region, and thousands of archaeological sites, all under control of those opposing our Ideology. Lahore is ready to be sold to the highest bidder. There is a reason for so many Plazas being built in a bankrupt society, namely the next set of owners. When I look at the so-called experts lecturing us, I actually feel their knowledge and analysis of a baby who does not know how to clean his diapers. The result trying to spread their filth on others.

Many years back there was a news in the paper of a plan to demolish the walled city completely. I was amazed at this news. Can any knowledgeable person even conceive of erasing at least 1000 years of history? Then came the British times effort to talk of meaningless creation of Loh, to the making of the city. To authenticate this baseless statement, a Mandir of Loh was created in the Lahore Fort. Mind you the two sons of Ram had nothing to do with this area, and when dug, around 1923, some jaw fragments and bones were discovered, and those disappeared with the connivance of Hindu Society, namely Sanatan Dharm Yudah Salba.

Ahmad Hasan Dani Views

In 1973 the legendary scholar of Pakistan Ahmad Hasan Dani delivered a lecture on Al-Beruni” in the city of Kabul. Amazing that Kabul is seen as hosting a Pakistani scholar. But Kabul was a city of intellect and arts for a long time. Not surprising that it happened then. Dani Sahib in his erudite way explains everything. He dismisses the so-called connection of Loh son of Ram with Lahore and we attach the paragraph on same. Worthy of being read. But most interesting he isolates different Lahores and capitals and names. And he says that the city was founded near the river IRAWATI (present Ravi), and that is why it was called IRAWATIAWAR. It was later modified with use as RAVAWAR. He says Panini’s grammar tells us that RA and LA are interchangeable grammarian words, and that is why we have the word LAHAWAR, or presently LAHORE itself. Lahore is simply by tradition CITY ON RAVI.

An uncertain Munshi Sujan Rai

It is very romantic to speak of the twin cities of Lahore and Kasur and link them to perhaps two brothers Loh (actually Lava) and Kasu (actually Kusa), son of the legendary god Ram Chandar of Hindu religion. Certainly, Loh is remembered as the son of Ram Chandar, but little is known of a brother Kasu. This Lahore idea was first floated by a Hindu writer Munshi Sujan Rai  perhaps in 1691 AD (the amazing fact is that no old manuscript is known, and when it covers 40 years of Aurangzeb’s reign, all manuscripts have date of death of Aurangzeb too (years later), and the earliest manuscript is dated 1168 AH or 1754 AD and even that has some missing and replaced pages, and even more amazing of the five manuscripts known, not one has his name in it) in Khulasatul Tawareekh, as compared to simple statement of Lahori writer Ahmad Zanjani in Tuhfa Sawaleen in 1043 AD (648 years previous) which ridicules this conjecture. But nowhere was mentioned that his Mandir exist in the Lahore Fort. No mention of same even with Kanhaiya Lal in 1884, and up to the best of my knowledge it was Judge Muhammed Latif in 1892 AD, who narrated the existence of Mandir, and speaks of it being in a deep hollow which is descended by wooden stairs. Or rather ladder if you call it. Not very clear really. Made to mention but no image in his book.

Mian Muhammed Fauq historian

Mian Muhammed Fauq is a well-known historian of our region and has written on Lahore too. Rare to find his books, we come across the in different conditions. But very strangely there is a strange mention in his book on Lahore, related to the Lahore Fort. Let us translate what he has to say in understandable terms:

“Besides the mosques in Lahore Fort, there is a Mandir in the fort, that even today proves the bigheartedness of the Mughals Emperors, This Mandir is in a space with a huge pit in it. It is said that this pit is that of Raja Loh, son of Raja Ram Chandar, who is responsible for making New Lahore. The level is same as the Fort, there is a reason for it that it is very old and Mughals left it intact. In reference to this Mandir, the society Sanatan Dharm Yudah Salba were having letters communication with the Government. So on 11th December, 1923, members of Yud Sahba, and Superintendent of Archaeology went to see the same, and this area was covered with debris, the same area was cleaned from all sides. Cleaning the Mandir or Samadh, and one can see a dilapidated dome (gum band) and under two feet one could see leaves and earth all around. This two feet deep one could see a flower. Its level is same as that of Hazuri Bagh. After cleaning and digging, on 13th December, 1923, there were discovered bones of hands which at present generation comparison, were very large, and the face had very sharp teeth which were also discovered there. After studying them it seems that at that time, humans were much taller and stronger at old days. These bones were taken into possession by Sanatan Dharm as being the bones of Loh, son of Ram Chandar. However, the Department of Archaeology thought that these bones were of pre-Buddhist times of some extra ordinary large person. “

Where did the bones go? Perhaps preserved by the Archaeology department. Perhaps taken by Sanatan Dharm people. No one knows. A look at the newspaper of those times may reveal a lot of things. The Mazar of Nau-guzza has changed over the times too. Only a small portion is left by now. It blocked the road leading to Pani da talab. And there was a trough of water for the horses built by the municipal corporation. We have written a complete book on the Nau-guzzas for the first time ever. The details are fantastic. An iconic image recovered from the depths of Lahore all the time point out the giants, and with a familiar head dress on its head, it surely has Arabic and Egyptian background. Jewish and Islamic history recalled here. Genesis points out the expulsion of giants from the holy land, from where they fled to other areas in the East.  But this is a blog only. More research will come eventually!

We are not done, more will follow.

YES THOUSAND THOUGHTS RUN THROUGH AN ARTIST MIND;
FEW REACHES CLIMAX. MURRAQQA PAINTING WASTED VIGIL.

No work by M.A. Rahman Chughtai is ever made without a thought and with it comes symbolism, an entire story much before the creation of a master piece. The work “The Wasted Vigil” is very much there in the various editions of the Murraqqa and much appreciated. An author even named his book on the same subject. There is so much poignancy in the subject of a beloved waiting for the appearance of her lover,  person who never came and left the ache of waiting in the entire body. The romantic aspect of Ghalib’s poetry catches us immediately, and we can imagine the various feelings he went through in his life at personal level.

But the same verse is qualified as an image by the artist. There are alternatives. Enjoy an alternative which never got made but was conceived by the artist and after all he selected  version which he thought was best. Bu this version is no less. The empty bed, the blook of verse as she holds either a flask or a diva in her hands. Her clenched hands show her anxiety of missing her lover. We saw it, we shared it. Enjoy!

Remember the original paintings were on same paper, same size, same year of 1926 or so. Relish the mystery.

MURRAQQA E CHUGHTAI: THE BEGINNING, THE PROCESS;
COMPLETION IN ADVERSE CIRCUMSTANCES AND SUCCESS.

In 1926 Sir Akbar Hydari, Prime Minister of Hyderabad Deccan was in Lahore, and Dr Allama Iqbal wanted to meet him. He requested the Chughtai brothers to accompany him to the House of Justice Sir Muhammed Shafi, and later to house of a Parsee couple. on Fane road, behind Lahore High Court. Dr Iqbal took the brothers in his own car at that time and a long discussion was held there. In that same meeting Sir Akbar Hydari was told of the proposal to publish an illustrated Murraqqa related to Mirza Ghalib. For details see blog

http://blog.chughtaimuseum.com/?p=2948

THE PRESENCE OF SIR AKBAR HYDARI IN LAHORE – A CAR LIFT BY DR ALLAMA IQBAL TO CHUGHTAI BROTHERS – Chughtai’s Art BlogTHE PRESENCE OF SIR AKBAR HYDARI IN LAHORE A CAR LIFT BY DR ALLAMA IQBAL TO CHUGHTAI BROTHERS An event in Lahore of historical nature The University of Punjab in 1926 invited Sir Akbar Hydari Prime Minister of Hyderabad Deccan to Lahore to preside over its annual convocation and distribute degrees to students. Dr Allamablog.chughtaimuseum.com

The same was also discussed with the art critic G. Venkatachalam, of Madras, who knew the Maharani of Cooch Bihar well as a patron. The result Rs 5000 came from the Maharani in 1926, and the project started, but as a commercial partnership. It was a business arrangement. But the cost of publication was staggering and the artist ran out of money. This is one of the reasons that the First Edition has different binds to it.  In 1927, Dr Allama Iqbal requested the Nizam of Hyderabad to fund the project more, by supplying further Rs 5000 for the same. This help probably never came. The letter is preserved and published in Hyderabad Archives.

The obvious reason resulted in variations in the First Edition as well as variations in the editions that followed. Many paintings were also changed in the process and had different versions.  Complete guideline are required obviously. The editions were depending on availability of paper, Rexine, book binders, printing presses as well as the old London based letter press plates. Even the same pigment inks were no longer available.  The Press imported never worked,  was sold and replaced with another press “Art Falcon” from another publisher, on Mohan road, Lahore. For lack of money, the printing was even done by the two brothers, as well as his maternal cousin. It was an uphill task but the resolute will of the artist carried him through to his first international success as a publisher. The rest is history.

Finally the artist had offered the complete set of paintings to various organizations. One place was Aligarh University and Vice Chancellor Sir Ross Masood (letter there). Others too. But Princess Durre Shahwar came to rescue and bought the whole set for the Nizams Palace in Delhi. The works hung there for very long time. Where they are now, NO ONE KNOWS. Perhaps even in Australia, perhaps in some Governmental coffers in India. Subject to research.

ARCHIVES OF ETCHINGS AND ETCHING PLATES;
AND INTENDED SKETCHES: A MISSING TREASURE.

We know that reputation is that M.A. Rahman Chughtai made 300 etchings. We have a record of at least 239 etching and aquatint prints. But we also have a record of more than a hundred plates, with many plates showing works, which never got to the printing stage. And we have hundreds of sketches made for etchings which never got etched on plates. A phenomenal artist of all times, and this society has become so philistine with time, that it has forgotten its aesthetic background.

In any case we present a few impressions of scanned plates with powder in the lines and photoshoped to clear them. Enjoy a missing treasure! The full realization that indeed he was Modern Master of Islamic civilization.

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!

LANGUAGE OF TRUTH SPEAKS AND ASSERTS FOR ITSELF;
DO NOT GET TWO BIT INTELLECTUALS DEMORALIZE YOU.

Yes, we were born in a family, which respected traditions, but not at cost of intellectual advancement. Guided by the teachings of the Quran, our saviour was Dr Allama Iqbal and his reconstruction of religious thought in Islam. The revered Quaid e Azam put us on the track of execution of moral standards. Pakistan had an edge over all countries in the world.

Two-bit pseudo intellectuals bombarding us with falsehoods on the Empire of falsehood that is the internet. And rating themselves as Aristotle’s of all times.  Even a cursory look at them, you find stomachs lined with haram and faces bloated with intakes of alcohol. And they want to teach us by distorting every truth of our past. For petty games, yes, but finding strength in following satanic admonitions. No doubt it is a fight between Truth and Evil.

Allah tells us of the Law of Mukafat. Good deeds bring rewards, bad deeds bring punishment. But these people believe in the present. They have no conception or fear of the next world, for they do not believe in the next world at all.  Keep on playing with distortions, and their characters become distorted too.

We are proud in our saying, that here at CHUGHTAI MUSEUM, whatever we say is HUNDRED PERCENT TRUTH. No haram in our bellies, no alcohols to sway us from truth. We advise you to see with caution the distortions in our society in these times.

THE LEGEND OF MURRAQQA E CHUGHTAI IS EVER THERE;
BUT HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE SEEN THE FIRST EDITION?

The legend is that there were 210 copies of the First Edition of the Murraqqa e Chughtai, drawn, printed and published by the artist M.A. Rahman Chughtai. It says so on the book itself. You read about it but no one has ever explored it, even in cursory manner. I was told by my uncle that there was an important separate file of the Murraqqa and he used to complain that his son had displaced it, or even sold it to the kabaria, not only by mistake but by deliberate action. Who knows the truth? I think I once saw a list of the people the book was given, either by presentation or by sale. That was a long time back, and that list may still be found.

However, my knowledge isolates these persons as possible owners of the First Edition:

1. Dr Allama Iqbal. Presented to him, but he refused to accept it as a very expensive thing. Persuaded to keep it, he later presented it to a girl student, who we are told finally became Principal of a famous Girls School.
2. Nizam of Hyderabad. It was dedicated to the Nizam himself, but by a terrible blunder created by Abdullah Chaghatai, its benefits could not be realized. The brother gave it to the Nizam after Friday prayers in an Un ceremonial way. Sir Akbar Hydari, Prime Minister got irritated with the brother, that the proper forum for presentation was the Court of the Nizam, whereas suitable rewards and presentations would have been given. Sibling rivalry manifestation.
3. Maharani of Cooch Bihar Indira Devi. A business deal of the Maharani with the artist, through the goodwill of art critic of Madras, G. Venkatachalam, in which the Maharani had given Rs 5000 Rupees for the publication, in exchange for Fifteen of the original paintings. Not a bad deal for the Maharani.
4. Mirza Ghalib. The first copy was presented to the late poet, by putting a copy on his grave, early in the morning. It is recorded who found it and later took it. A separate story by itself. In fact, the artist’s note in the book itself spotlights Mirza Ghalib clearly as a patron. 
5. Lahore Museum. A copy or even two were bought by the Curator of Lahore Museum for the library. Later various editions were also bought by the museum.
6. Maharaja of Patiala. A patron of art and culture in the Punjab.
7. Nawab of Bhawalpur. A destroyed copy, missing pages and illustrations, and crumpled bind is with a member of the family, descendent of the Nawab himself.
8. Nawab Ahmad Yar Khan Daultana. A famous feudal political figure of Punjab and father of Mumtaz Daultana, was very much a fan of the artist Chughtai. There is an invitation from him to the artist at Shalimar Gardens on an important reception.
9. Har Kishan Lal Gauba. The famous industrialist of Lahore (Owner of Shahdara Power House), provided the electrical connection to the house of the artist in Chabuk Sawaran, to enable him to run the press, to print the Murraqqa itself. His son Kanaya Lal Gauba, later Khalid Latif Gauba, was also a fan of Chughtai artist. Migrated from Lahore to Bombay.
10. Kallianjee Hormuez. A famous collector of art in Bombay, requested purchase of the First Edition by letter on 17th, May, 1928. Must have been supplied.

Even today some leftover residues are with us, disjointed, without illustrations, but ready to be used for repair, or replacement. At least three First Editions, only one has a number to it. On box number is 30, on book it is 25. But I have seen the signatures on the First Edition, and it seems the signature has changed and matured if not at many, at least a few times. But the big news comes from the writing of the artist himself that forty copies were given to Abdullah Chaghatai for possible sale in Hyderabad Deccan, and were actually sold. Interesting part is that the Royal Palace of the Nizam, now an exclusive hotel, has the Royal library still there. Many volumes destroyed but a lot still intact and not removed. The First Edition is probably still there and perhaps with pencil notes of the Nizam.

Dr Abdullah Chaghatai has written minute details in production of the book, not everything is correct but still reliable as the only source of important background of production. Chughtai artist himself informs us in an article that the entire 210 copies edition were sold, but malignant and selfish traders had deprived him of important revenue for same. The only redeeming happening was that the entire paintings of the Murraqqa were bought, and that money led him to build his new house, and finally move from his at least 250 years old residence in Chabuk Sawaran Mohalla, Lahore. That next time!

P.S.

The next popular edition evaluated at times at 5000 US dollars, can safely be said that the First Edition is in excess of 10,000 US dollars, with signatures.

ACTIONS OF GOVT OF PAKISTAN ROLE IN PROMOTING CHUGHTAI ART;
GIFT OF A CHUGHTAI PAINTING INTERNATIONAL POSTAL UNION BERNE.

The initial governments in Pakistan recognized the importance of spreading the capabilities of the new country Pakistan in various fields. One such field was the Aesthetics of the country as represented in its art. The artist selected for same was M. A. Rahman Chughtai. All things on record but Chughtai paintings were also presented to various international centers. This included United Nations Headquarters New York. International Court of Justice Hague as well as International Postal Union Berne.

The painting selected for Berne was the RED FLAME by M.A. Rahman Chughtai. News of this presentation came in international media, magazines and newspapers. It was also later printed as an Eid card in Pakistan. Enjoy!