A NATIONAL ART GALLERY IN LAHORE 2ND NOVEMBER 1958

INITIATIVE OF M.A. RAHMAN CHUGHTAI AT ALHAMRA COUNCIL

M.A. Rahman Chughtai met Begum Shahnawaz at her home in 1946 and the idea of an institution to promote Muslim Culture was found and resulted in setting up the Alhamra Arts Council in Lahore. Even the name Alhamra was given to the Council by M.A. Rahman Chughtai in the background of Muslim Spain as the harbinger of the Modern Islamic Culture. It was inaugurated with a show of M.A. Rahman Chughtai by Governor General Khawaja Nazimuddin on 10th December, 1949. Other shows followed. There was a need for a permanent display of Pakistani Art at the Lahore Arts Council. The hall of Alhamra was designated as the National Art Gallery and various paintings of various artists were bought by the Council. About ten paintings of Chughtai Sahib were also bought by the Council. Most of them disappeared with time or were subject to neglect. Perhaps only two survived. One was the work PIGEONS which we found hanging in the Chief Ministers House many times and the other the SLAVE GIRL, the first version. The Slave Girl is still at the new Alhamra Art Gallery in Gaddaffi Stadium. Recently a foreign team came here to attempt restorations of such works at the gallery.

The past was so much brighter for Art and Culture in Pakistan. Today democracy has harassed the artist as well as the people of Pakistan and beaten them out of shape. No immediate relief is in sight as everybody is concerned with own self and national developments has been abandoned with sarcasm.

MISSING DOMES IN LAHORE MAUSOLEUMS

VARIOUS THEORIES VARIOUS CONCLUSIONS

The issue of a pavilion on top of Jahangeer’s mausoleum remain unsolved to this day. Interestingly we have Inayat Khan Muhammed Tahir Ashana talking in full detail of the dome on the mausoleum of Empress Nur Jahan, and which is available to us in the Zafar nama Shah Jahan, abridged from Shahjahan nama. Interestingly the original Badshah namna also carries the detailed description which we have annexed separately. Missing dome on Jahangeers, missing dome on Nur Jahans. But another issue comes up! Was there a dome on the gateway to the Mausoleum of Jahangeer?

The earliest photograph we have is of 1862-64, and it shows us the Gate in more ways than the one which we see today. But there was a publication in 1285 AH or 1867 AD, and it gives us the same gateway but with a dome on it. We can dismiss both as erroneous but we can research on it., Not being research oriented we are least bothered about things of the past.

But what about the missing inscriptions on the Mausoleum? We are told that to pave the way for the mausoleum to be converted into AITCHISON COLLEGE, most of the inscriptions were removed by the British, or for that matter turned over to their back side. Charles Huegel in is travels note that:

“Two rows of black letters inlaid in white marble, over the entrance, contain the name and titles of the emperor, and in many places, the word Allah is inscribed in Persian and Arabic characters.”

Some people even dismiss that evidence. Fool proof evidence is never there. At one point, we have to jump the scrambled things for a conclusion.

SHAUKAT THANVI’S TRIBUTE TO M.A. RAHMAN CHUGHTAI

AN INDEPTH ANALYSIS BY A LEADING SATIRE WRITER

Shaukat Thanvi came to Lahore and became a Lahori by choice. In a book depicting the various leading writers of his time, Thanvi’s pick up M.A. Rahman Chughtai, the artist of his times. Not only did he wrote a penetrating analysis of Chughtai, he also made a caricature of him. In the long forgotten book, we found the same and are sharing it with our viewers. Enjoy!

OUR HISTORIANS USUALLY THINK OF MAQBARA OF NUR JAHAN

AS HAVING NO CLUES TO ORIGINAL STRUCTURE BUT ARE WRONG

BADSHAH NAMA OF ABDUL HAMID LAHORI GIVES US THAT VIEW

The absolute truth of various notions of ours is not there. Research about long lost monuments is like working for a needle in a haystack. We have great love and respect for historian Anjum Rahmani, and feel sad that he dissects Dr Abdullah Chaghatai in his latest book on Lahore, at times right, at times with vindictiveness. That is not fair. We can all be wrong at moments. The correct way is to keep on learning.

Anjum Rahmani says that there is no reference about the Maqbara of Nur Jahan in contemporary times. We attach here two pages (from the printed book in 1867) from the Bahshah nama of Abdul Hamid Lahori (the official history) and it give us a clear cut description of same. Foregoing the details, three things we find clear in it:

1. There is a reference to a huge DOME on the maqbara.

2. There is a reference to a single grave in the maqbara.

3. The reference is to a mosque which is not there. And it had a jawab balancing mosque structure to same.

It is up to the experts to comment on same. Our job is to present the reference from the book as well as loosely translate same for use of our readers. That is:

“This Maqbara is situated gharb of Rauza Jahangeer. Its DOME is far high above the normal level Its circumference is 15 yards, framework octagonal, with eight nashman and outside eight entrance gateways. Every gate is seven by four and with eleven yards height, in guise of archways. Inside the building there is marble and outside is Sang Abari. Sang marmar and sang zarda and different kinds of precious stones are there. On the high plinth and chabootra, there is the inside building of the grave. The grave is embellished with countless precious stones in parchan kari. Ayats Quranic as well as the names of Allah in parchan kari abound inside. The floor inside the building is embellished with precious stones in gara bandi. The chabootra outside the DOME has a measurement 60 yards and is made of sartappa sang surk. Outside the chabootra on all four sides are fountains and measure 9 by 7.5 yards. This maqbara and Rauza Jahangeer sharqi wall is the same, meaning that the wall of Maqbara Jahangeer and Serai and Maqbara Asif Khan surrounds them. Same wall surrounds Maqbara Nur Jahan which is with Rauza Jahangeer. There is a mosque in the western district and on the east is another mosque which is not a mosque but the jawab of that mosque to balance it. In the janoob of the bagh there is a gate to all this building. Maqbara, and Bagh Nur Jahan were constructed by Nur Jahan in her lifetime at expenditure of three lakh rupees and in four years.”

The Diwan Masnavi of Nur Jahan was discovered recently. It also mentions a MASJID NAHR WALI in the vicinity of her maqbara. More research is required there. Anjum Rahmani is welcome all the time! Our archives are open to him.

IN SEARCH OF THE MAUSOLEUM OF PRINCESS ZEBUN NISA

RESEARCH OF SCHOLARS WASTED ON MORONIC CHARACTERS

A long time back some writers made the mistake of naming a male mausoleum in Nawan Kot as the Mausoleum of Princess Zebun nisa. They also made the mistake of calling the Bagh of Jahan Ara as the Bagh of Zebun nisa. Of course only the gateway known as Chauburji survives to this day only. That would be a natural mistake for confusing the nomenclature Zebinda Begum as Princess Zebun nisa. But the same has been corrected by a number of scholars over the time, and I wonder why morons to this day insist in not moving forward and retaining a century old void. Even the mausoleum of Nawan Kot has been identified as the Mausoleum of Haji Abdul Kareem, but nobody reads the latest researches on the matter. And then they do not even want to listen to facts. Judge Lateef made a wonderful contribution to Lahore with his famous book, but he did commit many mistakes, and this was one of them.

During her life time Princess Jahan Ara had willed her famous TEES HAZARI BAGH in Delhi to Princess Zebun nisa. Zebun nisa died in Delhi and the news reached Aurangzeb Alamgeer, who burst out crying after hearing same. He loved Zebun nisa so much. He immediately ordered her to be interred in Tees Hazari Bagh and a mausoleum to be built on same. The three persons entrusted with the job was Syed Amjad Khan, Sheikh Atta ullah and Hafiz Muhammed (we will write separate on this fact, as no one has really touched same in depth). A beautiful mausoleum was built and it had a red stone mosque attached to it. This was just outside the Kabuli Gate In Delhi. In 1875 when the Rajputana Railway was made, the whole structure was razed to the ground. The inscription on the grave was transferred to the Red Fort Museum in Delhi. It may still be there to this day. Sir Syed Ahmad has reproduced the same and we attach it here for the view of history buffs. A number of references are known about this mausoleum. Mirza Sabukatageen in his Sehr Manazil clarifies same in clear cut way. The writer Beale says same again. Mentioned in Punjab notes and queries. But one interesting reference is Shamas ulama Muhammmed Hussain Azad who mentions spending time in the mausoleum with his tutor Maulana Zauq and his own father. But one step further they even had a portion of BALA KHANA repaired at their expense, for it was so peaceful and serene there. Amazing reference of olden times. Maulana terms it as a beautiful structure.

Most of the facts about Zebun nisa are well known as well the the distortions of the Indian lobbies. So we need not go though them. But one thing rarely known is that Zebun nisa built a Sheesh Mahal for herself in form of a travelling tent. This is the first of a kind we have heard in Mughal history and a very interesting read for us.

It goes to the credit of the Mughals, that two ladies, namely Jahan Ara and Zebun nisa were such famous icons in our history, that the whole region named their favourite daughters after these immortal ladies. The iconic status is so strong that hundreds of years after the death of both, daughters continue to be named after the great ladies, who represented the best of Eastern womenhood.

ENTRAPMENT OF PAKISTANI RULERS CONCENTRATING ON PAKISTAN

THE CHRISTINE KEELER AFFAIR AND PRESIDENT AYUB KHAN’S SCANDAL

It is no secret. With time it has become a plain fact. When Pakistan get good rulers, Western and Indian lobbies try to destroy them in many ways. One way is to embarrass him in a dirty way. The progress shown in Pakistan under those 10 years of rule of President Ayub Khan is phenomenal to this day. He took Pakistan to the height of things, devised a workable constitution and presented us with well thought of economic plans. He was a leader par excellence. His speech on 6th September, 1965, is the stuff of dreams.

The progress Pakistan was making was being resented by many. The British War Minister was terribly involved in scandals dealing with models and call girls. Even today the Profumo scandal is subject of British nightmares. It led to resignations and even suicides. In a visit to London, President Ayub Khan was invited to the estate of Cliveden in Buckinghamshire. A big estate for western concepts of fun. There was a swimming pool there and models swam in same, completely in the nude, to appease leaders of the world. Enticing them away from their duties. Leaders swam with models in compromising situations and position. Pictures were secretly shot and I remember appeared in international magazines. The Australian government has a complete record and portfolio of same. Even today they sell it to make money. Nothing free from them even in public interest. There was acute embarrassment at home. Interesting that newspapers called President Ayub Khan of Punjabi origin. Nothing wrong in a Pathan being mistaken for a Punjabi, but look a the sinister design behind same.

The charisma of President Ayub Khan overcame that but in a couple of years, the 1965 war was imposed on Pakistan, to bring him down. He rose from those ashes with strength and fervour. Then a political mess was created by those who used to call him Daddy and it led to his honourable exit. The resignation of President Ayub Khan is a singular exception in our history. Today Christine Keeler must be remembering all that she did, with some sort of guilt, or perhaps pride of being a modern Helen of Troy.

THE URS OF DATA DARBAR ALI HUJWERI IN LAHORE

CHANGING CIRCUMSTANCES THROUGH THE AGES

I was just a small child and my aunt Mehri took me for Salam to the grave of Data Darbar. She entered the Mazar and washed her hands with Rose water and started doing things, which I could not identify myself in any circumstances. Later on I read one day of the visit of Ashfaq Ahmad the writer to the grave of Data Darbar, and he writes that when he kissed the marble of the grave, he went into rapture, which not even the kiss of Hollywood heroine Marilyn Monroe could give him in actual life. Amazing then, amazing now! Mythical stories keep on floating day and night and it is surprising how naive the people of this region are in all ways. Carried away by fantasy of the Arabian Nights and 1001 stories in same.

Yes, Ali Hujweri migrated to Lahore from the Ghaznavid Empire, and settled in the city. Yes, he died in the city, and yes, he preached here. He wrote many books, of which mainly Kashf ul Majbub survives to this day, while another Risalah is also attributed to him. Like a typical person of his period, he hated women, and never liked marriage. But he himself says (in his own book) he succumbed to the charms of probably a Lahori girl, and repented as such. We are not taking into account the fantasy tales of how the Qiblah of the mosque he built was set wrongly, and he corrected it same, with his spiritual powers by uprooting the mosque and placing it in the correct position, in one night. His worshipers seriously believe all this. Good luck to them! Everyone has a right to believe things but no one should or can interfere in faith and beliefs. I believe in Allah and I believe that Prophet Muhammed (PBUH) was his last prophet. And I believe that after the Quran, the communication with Allah expired, and it can be only one way process from us. We can say anything we like to AL-MIGHTY. He speaks to us only through the Quran.

But this is not about Ali Hujweri. This is about his Urs. Rafiullah Shahab wrote one day in a newspaper that the Urs is not Ali Hujweris. It is a commemoration that Ali Hujweri himself held every year to coincide with the chelum of Hazra Imam Hussain. That is why the Urs of Data Darbar and Ali Hujweri are on the same day every year. Few people know this! But Ali Hujweri seems to have escaped historical account, for there is little mention of him in history. Prince Dara Shikoh was a big fan of Hazrat Miyan Meer as well as Baba Lall of Benaras. In his book on the life of saints, he mentions the Dargah of Ali Hujweri and places it inside the Lahore Fort itself. He proudly tells us that he had a brand new SARCOPHAGUS made for his grave, which was of pure white marble. Chandarban Brahman, the Munshi of Dara Shikoh tells us an additional thing. He says the Dargah as well as Lahore Fort was under the superintendence of the Hindu administrator Ishwar Dass. He further describes the Dargah of Ali Hujweri in a few words and says:

“Even though there are yearly and monthly impromptu performances throughout the city’s precincts, especially at the tombs and shrines of the giants along the path of esoteric Truth, the Thursday gatherings at the blessed tomb of the knower of mystical stages, Pir Ali Hujweri, creates an especially remarkable commotion. Darwishes and other free spirits, literati, poets, and all manners of people gather there to observe the spectacle of Divine Creation.” Rajeev Kirna’s translation.

We do find literature and diwans of all kind written at the Dargah, and we ourselves, have a few of them. For instance a Khadim of Pir Ali Hujweri, son of Sheikh Yar Muhammed wrote a Majumah Sultani at the Dargah in 1092 AH. In it we find the versified Risalah Qirat of Lutufullah Muhandis too. Lutufullah Ahmad was alive at that time and living in Lahore too.

Maharani of Ranjit Singh took a fancy to the Dargah of Ali Hujweri and contributed extension of the building. But at that time the environment was totally different. We are told that prostitutes used to dance every week on Thursday at the grave of Ali Hujweri. And what about today? Headlines of wrong doings. A Mutavalli tried to poison a feudal lord for his cash in a brief case and ended up poisoning his own son by mistake. The most famous serial killer of more than a 100 children roamed the area all the time, and seduced runaway children. You see pickpockets, thieves, seducer of innocent village women roaming the shrine most of the time. Seduction is a fair game here. Sexual antics in the basement. But even RAW the intelligence agency of India left its mark here, when the famous Duval, talked about Raw agents in the shrine. Bomb blasts galore here. A thousand precautions but no safety for visitors. The shrine is in disarray and the crores of rupees in cash collected by the administrators. For instead of trusting the Laws of Allah, people believe in the silliest things possible. A person told me that Ali Hujweri was very fond of almonds and if you give a plate of almonds at the shrine, you may get in return the gift of a house in DHA. Unimaginable hopes of every day people. No faith in laws of Allah, but in the charisma of a man dead long ago. We are indeed Grave Worshipers of all kind.

The Mela is dead too. To put a stall on the main road requires payment of bribes to many people. The persons who occupy the houses. The Municipal staff. The police staff. It is no longer feasible for the mela shops to put a shop for three days and profit by it. Blackmail abounds. Ruffians run in the crowd, teasing women, jostling the villagers, running away with their pags (head dresses) and what not? What is supposed to be a sacred gathering has become in reality a mirror of profanity. No one bothered with anarchy.

My friend tells me that a faqeer alim came and performed KASHF and saw hundreds of angels sitting there. I wonder what the angels were doing in an arena which no longer, or never upheld the principles of Allah. The Muslims are in deep hibernation, the angels must be feeling same.

A FORGOTTEN AMERICAN VISIT OF PAKISTANI PRIME MINISTER

PM SUHARWARDY DESPERATE TRY TO SAVE HIS SEAT OF POWER

Prime Minister Suharwardy wanted to visit the USA but there was no time available for him. He was in Cairo, when word came that the visit of French Prime Minister was cancelled and Prime Minister Suharwardy could visit the USA to meet President Eisenhower. The visit was a total failure and the US declined interest in the fate of Prime Minister Suharwardy. We see the resultant Martial Law in 1958.

The amazing photograph of the visit is not that of President Eisenhower receiving the PM but the photograph of the Prime Minister of Pakistan asking the US President to pose for his camera. Both foreign ministers, Foreign Minister Muhammed Ali Bogra and Secretary of State Dulles watch the event in mirth. It is worthy to share this memento with others.

A FORGOTTEN AND “DISCARDED VOICE’ OF A MUSLIM REFORMER,

MAJID SIDDIQI ENGLISH MASTER ISLAMIA HIGH SCHOOL LAHORE

The reformative spirit in Lahore which made a progressive Pakistan

More than a hundred years ago the Islamic renaissance hit Lahore in number of ways. Educated people realized that reformation was required and the journey of their nation towards a tomorrow. The famous people we all remember and there is none like Dr Allama Iqbal, but there were others too, forgotten in time but not their living souls spirit. One such person was Majid Siddiqi Sahowalia English Master at Islamia High School Lahore.

I came across a book published by him in 1915 and it seems that it is written for today. The situational analysis is same, the answer is same. The Master addresses the semi westernized youth of those days and says that with lack of understanding the Arabic knowledge they have gone far from the Quranic ideals. He compares Islam as a DIAMOND RELIGION with others which are merely GLASS RELIGIONS. And he says that we must recognize the greatness of our ALLAH and the Quranic revelations as original compared to other religious books. Suffice to say the message is as relevant today as it was in 1915.

CLUES OF JAINS IN LAHORE
JAIN MANDIR A DAILY WORD IN LAHORE

MAHVIRA THE LAST JAIN LEADER

Texts and Inscriptions reveal clues about Jains. In comparison to Buddhist, they wee literally more extreme in nature. Totally non aggressive, they yielded everything to others. They would roam completely naked in jungles, eat by begging only, eat in a standing position and defecate in a standing position too, without attaining the crouching condition necessary for that. One can just imagine the results. Whereas like Buddhists, Jains were wiped out of the region by the Hindus themselves. In fact we have relics of Jains in Lahore, both from under the ground as well as above the ground.The last famous downfall of a Jain Mandir in Lahore was in retaliation of breaking of the Babari Masjid in India.

Every day the word JAIN MANDIR is used in Lahore and yet no one knows anything about the JAINS. A fascinating account of a civilization which came and was wiped out of existence in a rather short period of time.