Sadequain in Boston: Art Lovers Enthralled by Exhibition of Rare Collectibles
By Tahir Ali
Marlboro : Syed Sadequain Ahmed Naqvi was born in Amroha, Uttar Pradesh(UP) in India, on June 30th, 1926. He moved to Pakistan after 1947, and was laid to rest in Karachi, Pakistan on 10th February, 1987.
Sadequain, was a household name in Pakistan. He was known for his paintings, poetry, murals and calligraphy. Since his childhood he took a great fancy for drawing. He would often draw murals on the side walls of buildings with coal. Neighbors would complain to his parents, saying that "appke bete nai hamara ghar kala kardiya". However, that passionate flame did not lose its spark and as time passed the boy rose to become an accomplished artist, calligrapher, painter and thinker winning acclaim worldwide. Renaissance of Islamic calligraphy in Pakistan without any doubt can be attributed to Sadequain. I vividly remember the day when his calligraphy of Surah Rehman made big news and was an instant hit. His work was recognized nationally and internationally. His paintings, murals and calligraphy landed him with several coveted awards and recognition: In 1960 he was awarded Tamgha-e-Imtiaz, in 1961 the Biennale de Paris Award from the Government of France, and in 1980 the Sitara-e-Imtiaz, to name a few.
The Sadequain Gallery of Chicago showcased a rare collection of his paintings, calligraphies and sketches in the Boston area. The exhibition that drew well over hundred community and art lovers of greater Boston area, was a great success. This event was made possible by Lalarukh and Riaz Niazi from Chicago and arranged in collaboration with Drs Zafar Nafis Naqvi and Fozia Qamar Naqvi of Boston area. Riaz Niazi who brought over 200 frames including 30 originals from the Chicago Gallery is himself a renowned poet in the Chicago and Boston area.
The fruit doesn't fall farther from the tree: Riaz is the son of Alama Niaz Fatehpuri, a famous Pakistani poet, who was born in Barabanki, India and passed away in Karachi in 1966. Riaz Niazi was greatly pleased to see so much interest in the local community and art lovers who came from far and near. The exhibition was a rare feast for the eyes and visitors to the exhibition had the real privilege to see rare collections of Sadequain’s artwork on Ghalib, Iqbal and Faiz. "I am so much encouraged that an encore presentation is foreseeable in the not-too-distant future," Riaz Niazi remarked.
Zafar Naqvi, as may be ascertained from his last name, is related to Sadequain from his maternal side. Coming from a lineage of poets and thinkers, Zafar is also paternally related to famous Pakistani poet Jaun Ellia. He is a faculty (Psychiatry) member at Harvard Medical School.
In his welcome speech Zafar indicated that "Richard Gilbert taught Keynes' ideas at Harvard in the mid-1930s. He was known for his advisory work for President Franklin D. Roosevelt's administration and for his advisory work in Pakistan. Gilbert who met Sadequain was very impressed by his work and his thought process and said of him, 'I met Sadequain in 1961. He was already on an immense visionary path' and further remarked, 'Sadequain shows clear influence of renaissance masters, like El Greco and Botticelli and his own favorite Picasso.' "
Riaz Niazi added that Sadequain is Pakistan's Michael Angelo, "Michael Angelo murals spread is 52,000 sq. ft., Sadequain murals spread is 51,650 sq. ft. We should take pride in our artistic heroes in their lifetime as well. They are ionic - unmol ratan."
Souvenirs were presented to Tahir Ali and the chief guest Shahid Ahmed, the honorable Consul General of Pakistan by Zafar Naqvi and Riaz Niazi.
(Tahir Ali is author of the book 'Muslim Vote Counts' published by Wyndham Hall)
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