Chugtai, Abdur Rehman (illus); Mirza Asadullah Baig Khan [Mirza Ghalib] (poet)
Murraqqa-e-Chughtai. Lahore: Jahangir Book Club, [1928]. 4to, decorative cloth gilt; illustrated by Chughtai (lacking last two illustrations (poss. on one plate)).
Chughtai was an artist from Lahore. He had a distinctive style (combining calligraphic design with Mughal styles) and drew inspiration from Abanindranath Tagore's wash technique. His striking visual style here illustrates the poetry of Mirza Ghalib. Born in 1796 in Agra, Ghalib began writing poetry in Persian, Urdu and Turkish whilst only 11 years old. He became one of the greatest poets of these languages, though his fame only reached its height after his death. This production may have been partially funded by the Maharani of Cooch as a dedication to the Nizam of Hyderabad and features forewords by Dr James Cousins and Dr Sir Mohammed Iqbal. A beautiful combination of words and imagery and one of the great productions of this period of pre-Partition India.