THE PASSING OF PROFESSOR TARIQ MAHMUD AHMAD,
FRIENDSHIP OF 67 YEARS CUT SHORT ALL OF SUDDEN.

It was the night of first December, 2024, rather late and I was tossing in my sleep. Suddenly I felt a presence in my blanket, and knew it was not natural. Son of a mother who was a psyche in many ways, I inherited some of her traits. It was not in my body, it was like somebody had slipped in with me. The weight was there and it did frighten me. I called my wife and told her I was feeling something. She held my hand and the moment passed. But I knew something was wrong., From the last many days I was seeing many dead persons in my dreams. Surely something was happening around me.

A few days later Ali Tariq, son of Tariq Mahmud Ahmad rang me at an early time. I knew something was wrong. He told me the death of my oldest friend Tariq Mahmud Ahmad on the first of December, 2024. Strange a day earlier than his death, I had rung him and inquired about his in-laws neighbour Pervaiz Ashraf, and asked him if he was alive. Tariq said very much so, I will let you know more. He rang me on my way to office, and I postponed the call. Later he rang me twice. No contact was made. It was my last contact with my friend, a relation which had lasted 67 years.

I was a student of Sacred Heart School, Thornton road, Lahore and on completing three years of initial studies, was promoted to First Standard at St Anthony’s High School Lahore in year 1957-58. Our teacher was Madame Christopher, who had a brother John in school too. Whereas somehow Madame Christopher nurtured a grudge against me, by flogging me with a cane, for hardly any reason, she was literally in love with another small boy, who she did not let go even in recess, treated him and even took photographs with him at famous Rollo Photographers, on Mall road, Lahore. Boys felt uneasy at this very unnatural relation. Others teased this boy too. The boy was young Tariq attending the school. Innocent like a baby. 

Boys were forming groups of friendships. I got attached to Kazi Musrur Mahmud, a Bengali classfellow, son of Kazi Ainuddin Ahmad, President of Australasia Bank, Lahore. Slowly by and by, my friendship was Tariq was evolving, and by Ninth class, we were sitting together.

It led to his visit to my house obviously on a cycle, the best people could do in those days. My visit to his house could only be possible rarely in a hired rickshaw. His family grew on me. Ghulam Muhjasmmed, his father was in Irrigation Department, and he lived on Mian Mir Road, Lahore. His mother, a gentle old lady, belonged to Bhatti Gate, Lahore. Two brothers and three sisters. The youngest died as a young girl, one was in Canada and the other  running a school, Ayesha Academy, on Davis road Lahore. Elder brother Khalid Ahmad obtained fifth position in the entire Pakistan in CSS examinations. The younger Hamid, joined the Army and was a Major working in ISI also. I was in contact with most of them. When the father in his gabardine pants used to come to school, we all used to welcome him.

Tariq Mahmud Ahmad wanted to be a doctor and joined the Pre-Medical group at FCC Lahore. Then he gave up the idea and was inclined towards CSS examination too. He did his Law from Law College Lahore, and then did his Masters in English from FCC too. Then he became a teacher, and finally ended up teaching at Government College, Lahore. So many career changes but he himself intact in his thoughts.

As time passed, we became more and more close, although there were differences. But he had emotions in him, and would stick with a friend come what may. Loyalty was the key of his life. Once I was obsessed with obtaining a large Mercedes star emblem, and he raided a LMC depot to snatch one on a garbage truck. However it broke into pieces because the truck was so old, it would not come out. It all ended in a big laugh as to the fiasco of same. Gradually our younger days came to an end. We all got married with newer responsibilities.

My wife was telling me, that it was rare for me to laugh. But I would always laugh talking with my friend Tariq. Our talk would relax us.

Then Tariq Mahmud Ahmad went on a Hajj. He was already obsessed with Saint Hazrat Mian Mir, and even bought a piece of land around the vicinity of the Saint for his burial. He faced many family crises in his lifetime, but came out strong. Religion became part of his life. Reading the Quran and saying his prayers, and also distributing eatable particularly at the Urs of Hazrat Mian Mir. I volunteered to show him a portrait of the Saint of Mughal origin, and he was hesitant to even look at the saint. Once walking through the mazars of various saints, he would caution me not to speak loudly, in the presence of those saints. Near his house too.

Love struck him a few times, but the outcome was not favourable. He served his femme fatale with farvour and servitude. But we all know that femme fatale can be terribly cruel in their dealings with love obsessed suitors. 

Jati hoi mayit dekh kar tum Lillah be kanay nai ayhe, worked for him. Meaning that the beloved would not say Lillah on his funeral. 

Yes I have lost a loyal and loving friend. I felt I must put him on record. As we shared so much, I cannot divulge all things of his life. Some things remain secret till the end. 

May Allah grant you your wish of Heaven! You did a lot of good things in life.

SNEAK PREVIEW OF INTRODUCTION OF PROPOSED BOOK,
ON ETCHINGS AND AQUATINTS M.A. RAHMAN  CHUGHTAI

All dedicated works are meaningless without the input of financial considerations. In a country where the State is least concerned with Ideology or Aesthetics to define itself, and the only moving force is GREED, forgetting the valour of those who create the country. It seems today acquisitions are the driving force of our nation, where Truth has become alien to society.  We were planning a book on the valid contribution of Chughtai artist to the Graphic Arts, and realize under the present condition it is an impossible dream. Even those who are eager for it to be written are very miserly towards its actual possibilities. An introduction was written, so we present the same as part of our blog to get the message across the world. Some English faces associated with the artist in the field and some etchings. Enjoy!

Background

The career of Abdur Rahman Chughtai started with his experiment in various fields. The one which stuck with him was photography. With one of those old Wooden box cameras, with Zeis lens, he stumbled into photography. From there the progress to Photo-lithography was a natural conclusion. After taking his certificate from the Railway Technical School in 1911, he enrolled in the Mayo School of Arts in search of a printing career. The diploma from Mayo was around 1915. After that he joined the Mayo School of Arts in the Photo-lithography section. In no time he was heading the department, and teaching other students. A group photograph at Mayo School of Arts in  1918, verifies the same position. With the title of a Munshi, he was sent to the Archaeological Survey of India head office for advanced learning. A certificate of 1919 clarifies his position of same. The date is from 21st July, to 4th September, 1919, and he is certified as well up in the mark of half-tone etching. These 43 days of training set the pace of his career in etchings. Obviously this enquiry is about his career in etchings only, and we have not touched other things at this time.

Moving forward in Etchings as an Engraver

The design impulse was rampant in him, and through designs, he created the urge to do dust covers, both for friends, as well as clients. In fact it was a continuation of work on new technology on the guidelines of his original naqashi mentor, Baba Miran Baksh. The printing training was being used for line printing. Obviously not satisfied with outcomes, he moved towards the city of London for advanced training. It was in 1931-32, that he made his first etching, under the guidance of private mentor, Etcher Smart. The artist complained that his mentor was very parochial in spirit, and when working on any specialized  process of etching, would turn his pupil out of the room. Although the basis for engraving was laid in that visit, nothing special could be done. His first etching was “Under the Arch”, and it is a small scale plate work. But professionals have even praised that output of his as an exceptional first one. It is pure luck that a print of the same has survived the times. The quest for engraving was ever more.

In the Indian region no importance was paid to the Art of Etching. Abindaranath Tagore was persuaded to try the same, but could only end up with the joke of the print being “His first hatching”. This is in itself documented by Indian Art historians. A lot of various print techniques were going on in India from the 16th century, but mostly Biblical subjects by priests in India. No relation to Fine Arts. It is said that various Indians tried their luck, but it was firstly Mukul Chandra Dey, who was sent abroad for learning etching skills. He was part of the Kala Bhavan Club set by Rabindarnath Tagore at Santiniketan in 1919.

“The new era in Indian art began with the establishment of Kala Bhavan at Santiniketan in 1919 by Rabindranath Tagore. The creative atmosphere of the newly established art college received a new energy in the graphic art movement in India when in 1921 Nandalal Bose took charge of Kala Bhavan. Mukul Chandra Dey was also part of the club.”

What they produced is not known, and no headway could be made in the etching field. It was probably in the 1950s that serious undertaking started in the field of etching in India. This was when progress in the etchings field in the grand traditions of European Masters was already underway in Pakistan. And only the artist Abdur Rahman Chughtai was heading that movement in Pakistan. Yes, no doubt, the artist Chughtai was the pioneer of such work in Pakistan, and amongst the very first founders in the Indian region. Of course the Indian Art historian is blind on the subject.

AS PROMISED THE STORY OF FIFTY YEARS OF CHUGHTAI MUSEUM;
WRITTEN AND READY, BUT PRINTING MAY BE DELAYED AT PRESENT.

It was not an easy task.Going through the box files of last fifty years, and browsing the daily diary and the documents, and there is so much material that I can write volumes of those years. But what was important development is necessary to remember, perhaps even to forgo many other things. In no equal terms can it be forgotten that going through the years was an emotional  venture, along with the archives of same. The ups and downs of those years take the breath away at times. Many people may not understand, but I lived those  times. Many times bitterly alone to face the music and anger of people in power.  

It is amazing the kind of people I met,  including Presidents, Prime Ministers, Secretary Generals, agents of foreign agencies, diplomats from all around the world (including seven American Ambassadors), and the admixture of all kinds of Pakistanis. Retired as well as active Generals of Pakistan Army. Even at times US Marines from Afghanistan. From the richest people in the world, to basic faqeers of the street. Obviously never kept a count, but would exceed hundred thousand people, reflecting a lifetime of contacts.

Researchers came from all over the world, as well as all parts of Pakistan. From PHD degrees, to term papers of school children. And our own research went on all the time, including archiving of our assets. And we printed each year our research to distribute it to lovers of Lahore, absolutely free of cost. People wrote from all over the world too, and we sent them things. Chughtai Sahib carved a name for himself, and we carved a name for ourselves, oblivious of the morons surrounding us most of the time.

A complete generation is gone, and our regular faces of visitors are gone. Some dead, some transferred, and some too old to come. In fact the mailing list is becoming obsolete with age. Updating is not enough. We made it first in 1975, and in 2025 interest in the Arts has waned, not increased with time. But we have kept on our struggle for aesthetics in Pakistan.

Tomorrow is an illusion. My father used to say is kiyamat comes, what is a gardener supposed to do with a plant in his hand ready to be planted. My father said he should plant same. His job is to plant, not seek recluse that things are  not going go be anymore. For after all our faith tells us the after life we will all reach. Perhaps Chughtai Sahib will be commissioned by Allah to paint pictures for those who reach heaven. WHY NOT? The future is indeed bright for the good.

YES, LEGEND OF CONCUBINE ANARKALI CRASHES DOWN;
THE BIZARRE REVELATION FACE OF QUEEN SAHIB JAMAL,
NO WALLS, NO BONES, FROM CHURCH FINAL MAUSOLEUM.

Our historians have written about the legend of Anarkali. The incest stories started by bastard English man William Finch, trader and gossip maker sitting in the bazaar. The concubine wife of Emperor Akbar, buried in Attock in a befitting mausoleum. Her name given by Prince Jahangeer himself in his memoirs as Maryiam Bibi, and his beloved Queen discovered by historians as Sahib Jamal. Yes, C. Grey reveals that the bones of the Queen were taken out and buried under a turret of the mausoleum. Perhaps still there, for in the renovation process of the Tomb of Anarkali, nothing was discovered in the deep dug hole. No walls, no bones, nothing but the treachery of the British in belittling our stalwarts all the time with misleading statements.

Let us see what William Finch says about Islam, and attributes it to Emperor Jahangeer:

“All this is nonetheless show as such with the King about Christianity he affirming before his nobles that it was the soundest faith and that of Mahomet lies and fables”.

Is that even remotely possible for Jahangeer to say something like that. Habitual liar!

Now comes the question as to the body (bones) of Sahib Jamal. C. Grey was the first to write the story of Anarkali, in the Punjab University Historical journal, and points out:

‘When the tomb was converted to a Christian church in 1852, the body was removed and reburied in the left-hand tower facing the mausoleum where it still remains, not far from the tombstone which once covered the grave within the building”.

It was my long held wish that some fresh digging should take place to clear all the hullabaloo. It finally came true. The Anarkali tomb is finally being renovated. Excellent! The place of burial dug and nothing found there. No walls, no choked concubine. But remarkable a unique thing happened. The walls cleared of the white cement revealed beautiful frescoes. Nothing new. But there were many Mughal Angels on the walls. Not Christian cherubs. BUT THE MOST REMARKABLE THING VARIOUS FIGURATIVE PAINTINGS OF A QUEEN. Finally Sahib Jamal comes out in the open. I have asked a friend to take photographs of all the figures  and we will do a study on it. But rest assured now, that the Legend of Anarkali is just a romantic thought created by writers and films and uninformed people. DO WE KNOW OF ANY MAUSOLEUM IN THE WORLD TO HAVE FIGURATIVE PAINTINGS OF THE LADY  BURIED IN IT? Remarkable finding. Enjoy we will do more on it.

THE PATHOS OF SHAH ALAM AND HIS TIMES
A PUNJ SURA WRITTEN BY HIM BEFORE BLINDNESS
SURROUNDED BY MIR JAFFERS AND MI6 007 SABOTEURS

If you read even a few pages of the history of Shah Alam, you shudder with the complexities and pathos of that time. The backbone of all nations are the Armies and the enemy knows that to gain inroads to the nation, the Army as to be dismantled. Warriors of the Timurids like Zaheer ud din Babar were not puppets under any hands. Each King in succession had the Army in control. Prince Dara Shikoh lost his battles for he was not battle hardened in any way and sought the recluse of so called Black Magic to try to end the war in Kandahar. Obviously it was lost. Emperor Aurangzeb rose to prominence for he was battle hardened till the very end. At the age of 92 years, he was ready for war with all enemies, When Kings were left to indulge in the charm of the palaces, relish the foods, wear the fancy dresses, entertained by ladies, or sexual gimmicks, the end result is always the same. The rise and fall of civilizations always take place.

Even a brief look at the times of Shah Alam is beyond comprehension. Lack of rain, lack of food, earthquakes, meteor rain, revolt of Army for pay and salaries. Connivance of various Ministers to get to being the Regent of affairs. The end result in 1784 is that Shah Alam is thrown on the floor and his eyeballs removed to be blinded forever. Even a Court painter was called to record the historical scene . And then came the scourge of the Syed brothers, the Ghulam Qadir tyrant of all times. Ghulam Qadir was so cruel, that not only he got Shah Alam blinded, he starved to death member of the Royalty, placed the ladies on walls of the Fort to be observed by all, and to have even Royal Princesses stripped naked and fondled by his soldiers. He asked his soldiers to make them beget illegitimate warriors instead of the wimps they were producing as Mughal Royalty.

When Shah Alam’s eyeball;s were throw out, he was asked what he could see. And he said between him and the asking Minister he could only see the Quran. Strange words for an Emperor, and yet four years before in 1194 AH 1780 AD, the Emperor had finished writing an illuminated Punj Sura (Five surats of the Quran). Shah Alam is no more and yet the Punj Sura is still there. The result of his last years, a treasure of the future.

Ghulam Qadir was to die his consequential end. An historian writes of it like this:

“So Sindia ordered that Ghulam and the former superintendent of the imperial harem were to be tortured to death. Ghulam ears were cut off and hung around his neck. With his face blackened, he was paraded round the city in a bullock-cart. Next day, his nose and lips were cut off and again he was shown to the city. The following day his eyeballs were torn out and yet again he was placed in a cart and trundled slowly though the streets. He eyes were followed b his hands, and then by his feet. Finally his head was cut off and the corpse was hung upside down from a tree.”

“Screams of the tortured filled the harem. Servants were held over fires to make them disclose the whereabouts of hidden jewels. Others had boiling oil poured into the palms of their hands.. Eunuchs were beaten to death. Shah Alam was himself brought out of his prison and subjected to less extreme torture. He was made to sit in the burning sun without food or drink. He was continually threatened, and Ghulam would — without warning— fling his arm round the ex emperors neck and blow a cloud of acrid smoke into his face.
Finally the edge of madness when Shah Alam was thrown to the floor and his eyeballs taken out.”

What had been done to the Mughal ladies had never been done before. Many were starved to death in the eyesight of the people on the Fort walls. Also stripped naked and fondled by common soldiers in front of all. Humiliations were complete and Ghulam Qadir paid the price.

Who gained? First the French General De Boigne and then the British visitor Thomas Twining. Then Lord Wellesley stepped in for the advantages. General Perron took control of northern India. With a pension Shah Alam could stay in the palace, the rest was for the British alone. In fact substantial treasure fell into the hands of the French mercenary Lestenean, who left for British territory and later for Europe with his windfall. DIVIDE AND RULE AND 007 ASSASSINS all were there in full force. It was the Mughal Army which was fist brought down with discord. The House of Timur had finally fallen and Hindustan was left bare for centuries to come.

Did we learn any lessons! Today the situation is still the same. Foreign lobbies are working to throw our army in disarray and take our assets. Hatred destroys people. There is every reason to believe that there is unnatural hatred for Muslims primarily Pakistanis for our CODE OF LIFE. Anarchy is being generated for us but by the Grace of Allah, we will come out of this malaise and be Pakistan again. So be it!

REMEMBERING THE FORGOTTEN FACES AT CHUGHTAI MUSEUM;
HARVARD UNIVERSITY ANTHROPOLOGIST LOUIS DUPREE IN 1978.

Literally thousands of people visited Chughtai Museum in last fifty years, but also hundreds of foreigners visiting us too. Record in our archives but memories in our hearts too. Louis Dupree Professor was a world famous anthropologist, and his wife Nancy, also an expert on Afghan affairs.Both husband and wife have written many books, and their expertise is obviously Afghanistan.Scratching our archives reveal many things, and surprise us too. 

It was those days that Professor Marjorie Jacobs of University of Sydney was visiting us, and extended an invitation to us to visit Sydney, Australia with a show of Chughtai Art. We also later received His Excellency the Australian ambassador in Pakistan.  

Louis Dupree was a serious worker but as a person he was jovial most of the time. His wife Nancy was totally well versed in history of Afghanistan, and we have her books in our library. Louis Dupree was at that time staying in 12-C Gulberg 2, Lahore, and left his phone with us too, that is 880751. These people were cultural experts and knew the importance of Chughtai Art in Pakistan as well as the Muslim world. They also knew his popularity in the Western world. We enriched their knowledge, they enriched ours. As our usual practice, we gifted them things on Chughtai art.  And as usual people leave our museum happier than when they came in.  

AN UNUSUAL CAMP OF BENGAL ARMY IN LAHORE IN 1809;
CPT BENJAMIN BLAKE WRITES ABOUT LAHORE GARDENS.

The history of Lahore is traversed by strange sources. One most unusual article is by Captain Benjamin Blake, who was stationed in Lahore suburbs in 1809. It was only a three week camp, but left strong impressions. He printed his experiences in the Journal of Science and the Arts. It was entitled:

           DESCRIPTION OF THE ROYAL GARDENS OF LAHORE.

Benjamin Blake was born in 1788 and died in 1838. The article is printed and dated1820.It is rather a very early account and may spotlight some things which are relevant for researchers.

Captain Blake is with C.T. Metcalfe, Ambassador of East India Company, and got permission from Ranjeet Singh. He talks of the ruined wall of Lahore City as well as the falling Delhi Gate. He talks of Shalimar Bagh in great detail and mentions three tiers of the  garden. Including details of the buildings and the addition by Ranjeet Singh. Also talks of the novel arrangement of use of water from a well through a bucket system to cool the accommodation of the Sikh ruler.

Captain Blake visits the Mausoleum of Emperor Jahangeer and mentions scanty details. However one interesting thing he adds is the presence of trees of oranges and pomegranates in the courtyard of the mausoleum. He also talks of various fallen buildings of Emirs of Mughal Court. He mentions the white marble jaalis of Lahore Fort.

It is an interesting very early account of the gardens of Lahore but not much is added to our knowledge of same. Any case worthy of being read.

NOBODY KNOWS THE FIRST VISION OF ANY CHUGHTAI WORK;
LIKE PROPHECY A COLOURED IMAGE BUT STARTS WITH SCROLL.

It should be kept in mind that Chughtai Art was not created in a vacuum. Days and nights spent in experimenting with  lines as well as colors. That preparation is well understood. But all that is craftsmanship, here we are talking of vision like a prophecy. The vision is like a ready made painting, but translating that vision required working on the composition. The colors would come naturally after that.

The vision starts with an observation. The artist himself confided in me many times the start of such a vision. He once showed me a small drop of paint left behind by a domestic wall painter. The drop had trickled down in a shape.  The artist saw a shepherd in it, and the result a painting of a shepherd. Other events for him was throwing a stone in a pool of water and notice the ripples emanating from it. He even told me that when urinating, when the urine is falling on the floor, he notices its flowing. The natural flowing makes him handle the flowing line perfectly. As far as faces are concerned, he had the habit of sitting in a window and observing passerbys. Or walk in a crowded street and look at people. An observer once noticed that he saw the Zutshki sisters walk in the Arab Hotel outside Islamia College Lahore and was transfixed for a long time. As Paul Drury would say that the artist had a memory bank of faces from where he could issue cheques at will for inclusion in his works. Millions of people have seen the Mona Lisa of Leonardo da Vinci, but how many saw the hidden messages in it. Picasso made a statement that an artist is blind and does not see with his eyes. He paints what he feels. Chughtai Sahib paints what he imagines as a literal prophecy. That is why often people say one important thing about him, he was a gifted artist by Divine role. Not an ordinary make believe artist, he was the exceptional Master of Modern Muslim Civilization.

Tackling composition and symbolism in his works needed desperately.

For the next step read our published blog:
http://blog.chughtaimuseum.com/?p=2977

GROPING IN THE DARK FOR LOSS OF AESTHETIC SENSE;
INVASION OF PSEUDO ARTISTS TO PERVERT OUR SENSES.

I often wonder why museum visitors in the West carry very young children with them. At times even babies in their arms. Or moving in prams. And those young eyes are trained to look at art. I remember many years back a Spanish couple from Islamabad called, working in the UNO, came here with their very young daughter, few years old. She was looking at me wonderstruck, but actually afraid of me. I started showing them paintings and the parents would ask their daughter Anita, her impression of each work. She could hardly speak but she had a mind of her own, and would give judgment of each work. By the time they left, the young girl, a few years old, seemingly fell in love with me. She rewarded me with her affection by pasting stickers of Smiley on my trousers as well as on my face. I allowed her to do that, for she taught me a lesson. Aesthetic training starts very early.

M.A, Rahman Chughtai had an idea to inculcate such aesthetics in the people of Pakistan, by building a museum to house his works as well as works of other artists and build the finest art library in Pakistan. Western lobbies were allergic to the development of Pakistan which would lead them to national consolidation. So perverts in the form of artists, with jeans and pipes in their mouth, came here to dissuade us from developing the same, by jumping in the bandwagon of the Western world, in the most ludicrous way possible. Their inspiration was Picasso, and their style mimicry. It was the start of not Pakistani Art, but so called searching for an ideal landscape, where there was not even a landscape. Absolute Gimmickry! They started worshipping canvasses  of fake Picassos, in the same way the Buddhists worship Siddharta Buddha or the Hindus worship the Lingam of Shiva. Their faith in the pseudo western world was so strong, and they started to ridicule all that was the essence of Pakistan. Indeed it was a clash of our civilization with the make believe world of another civilization.

http://blog.chughtaimuseum.com/?p=10389

It is time to assert ourselves to assert our identity. And by doing it, we need to understand Chughtai Art. We are starting a series of blogs on the Art of M.A.  Rahman Chughtai, to understand same. So that young generations of Pakistanis do not ape the gimmickry of the so called western world, and come face to face the function of Art itself. Art for Art sake indeed, but not without the striking power of Moses staff.

Lesson number one

Each work of Chughtai Sahib starts first from a story. He conceives a story and on that story he bases his concept of art.  Yes story telling through line and colour. More later!

SAID GRASS IS GREENER IN ANOTHER MEADOW;
ONLY WHEN YOU STOP NURTURING YOUR OWN.

People lose faith in their country. And believe that transporting themselves in another world will solve if not all, at least some of their problems. We get a chance to meet people from all over the world. And share their happiness as well as their anguish. I felt sharing the thoughts of Ahmed Humayoun, a Pakistani designer artist who migrated to Canada has to be shared with others. In Canada from 1965, he narrates all the vows there. Read and start taking your country seriously. Plenty of issues, but can be corrected by looking at them as a challenge. Not creating unimaginable issues for oneself. Sharing!

Dear ARC,
If you find paradise on earth, please let me know, I would also like to move  there. I visit Pakistan every two years. I see people eating better and living better there. All my colleagues without exception are part of Pakistani art history. Their names are mentioned and their work is published in books etc. and their names are going to be mentioned after they are dead and gone. They are well respected in the Pakistani society. They are financially comfortable and have no financial debits. All my colleagues including myself, without exception who decided to leave Pakistan, have no place in the art history and will never have one. I am quite sure, had I stayed in Pakistan, I would have been in the same company as my colleagues who decided to stay back. About 8 years ago I met an artist (originally from a very well respected family in Lahore) and later on found out that he passed away suddenly and was cremated by strangers and his ashes scattered somewhere.

My assessment is that only 10% of the migrants make it in the West, the rest 90%  don’t. The immigrants go through loss in 3 areas. One – loss of culture (that includes history, language, cuisine, appreciation of music, family ties etc.). Second – loss of family ties, lack of respect of elders, marriage into other faiths, loss of identity etc. Third – Religion (which to most people is extremely painful).
Police with all the riot gear burst into an Ottawa “desi” house at 3 a.m. three years ago and arrested a young man, born in Canada, who was suspected of terrorism. The case has not come to trial yet. When? No one knows. The cost to fight the legal battle is close to 2 million dollars. The family obviously does not have that kind of money. There is always fund-raising being done for it.

We have had at least two suspicious deaths in police custody of young “desi” boys as well as one case of suspected suicide. Some of the girls as well as boys marrying into “other faiths” is very common. The parents can not do anything about it. The children normally are “independent” after the age of 18 years.
I see two groups amongst the “desis” being formed – one group is extremely religious and the other is not. The not-so-religious people say that all the religions are good because no religion teaches bad things. Therefore, religion is not important and their entire attitude towards life is guided by it.
Today, I read an article in the local newspaper, that a family in Winnipeg (White mother and Somali father) was raided with riot gear when they were celebrating their son’s 5th birthday. The man sued the police for damages. The judge’s threw the case out and commented that he got better treatment here and he should feel himself lucky to be in Canada.

We have three children, two boys and a girl, all married off fortunately to “desis”. The children were born here and studied here. The children have different interests and capacity for education. Our older boy did not go beyond high school and he drives the city bus. The daughter excelled in studies and she is a dentist. The youngest boy did his masters in communications last year and is still looking for a full time job. I am sure, had they been in Pakistan, their attitude towards education would have been the same.
I do not have a brother. My sister in Pakistan has three daughters – the oldest one is an administrator of a famous school system in Lahore. The second one is a school teacher and doing her masters in languages at the same time. The third one is a doctor. The girls were born, educated, and working in Pakistan as well as managing their families and children.
My wife and I worked in Canada since 1965 and paid 60% of our income in direct or in direct taxation for 40 years and are still paying taxes. There is tax on the funeral also. I noticed that a vast majority in Pakistan do not pay taxes and still would like the same privileges as the West. A totally unreasonable expectation I would say.

Pakistan is no bed of roses, neither is the West. Bottom line is that one
ends up trading one type of problems with the other. I remember reading about a Bangladeshi fellow who won the lottery in US green card draw. His village collected money for his fare and sent him off with lot of fanfare. The poor fellow died in a construction accident a month after his arrival there.
I have made 16 visits since 1965. I have never been looted, pick pocketed, threatened there or harassed by the customs officers upon arrival. I have always traveled by bus, train and by car within Pakistan. If I happen to be a target on my next visit, I certainly am not going to blame the country for it. Same way I am not going to blame US if I end up with an unpleasant experience in a crime ridden city like New York.
I think selling all the assets and moving to a new land, where one has
nothing in common with the people – the customs, language, cuisine, lifestyle etc. and starting a new life from scratch – is an extremely personal decision. A decision which is going to affect the lives of the present and the future generations.
Please let me know if I have answered your questions.
All the best. With fond regards.
Ahmad Humayun