Sikh Portraits by European Artists.

A study of the work of August Schoefft and other European artists who visited the Punjab during the nineteenth century, using the Princess Bamba Collection at the Lahore Fort as a framework. Foreword by Dr. M. S. Randhawa, President, All Indian Fine Arts and Crafts Society. Published by Sotheby Parke Bernet (London & New York) and Oxford University Press (Karachi & New Delhi), (1979).

Reviews

• ‘ The book is written with an appealing ironic wit.' David Piper, Times Literary Supplement , 1 February 1980.

• ‘All Punjabis, particularly the Sikhs, owe a debt of gratitude to Aijazuddin. He has told us what we did not know before and on matters on which we felt we had to be apologetic. He has given us reason to be proud.' Khushwant Singh, New Delhi , Vol. 2, Issue 22 (March 1980).

• ‘Fakir Aijazuddin has scored his book like a symphony, using the works of many others with that of August Schoefft, to build up a crescendo which is “The Court of Lahore” Schoefft painted from many studies he had done while he lived at the Sikh court of Lahore.' Dr Akbar Naqvi. The Herald , October 1980.

• ‘The wit and sparkle and the strain of liveliness with which the author imbues this otherwise sanguine sage makes this monograph eminently readable.' Brij Bhushan Sharma, Khaleej Times , 22 September 1981.

• ‘This is a fascinating book about the period of Ranjit Singh ‘the Lion of the Punjab' and the debacle that followed. History through the medium of paintings and drawings, written in prefect English, with an occasional dry sense of humour […] But the text is not all just history. It affords an understanding of the spirit underlying the Sikh school with its love for portraits of chieftains dressed in their finery and partiality towards martial airs.' Karl Khandalavala, Lalit Kala , No 21, 1985.

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