Daily Times

So you all must be familiar with the majestic Wazir Khan Masjid, the gorgeous Wazir Khan Hammam or Shahi Hammam and many other similar places which were constructed during the reign of Mughal emperor Shah Jahan. Most of the architectural jewels that were added to Lahore during Shah Jahan’s era were built and designed by the famous Wazir Khan and most of them were named after him as well. Do you know who he was, what was his real name and occupation, where he came from and what he did for Lahore? Let me tell you the fascinating story of this wazir, who gained value and position in the Mughal court due to his herbal medicine treatments and skillful wisdom.

The story of Hakim Ilm Ud Din Ansari (famously known as Wazir Khan) begins with Mughal Emperor Jahangir’s mounting concern for the life of his beloved wife Noor Jahan, who had contracted an incurable disease. Therefore, it was Jahangir’s routine to meet several physicians everyday in search of a cure.

Jahangir had announced handsome gifts for the one who would be able cure his wife. Failing to find any such physician, one of the courtiers suggested the emperor to call Hakim Sheikh Ilm-ud-din Ansari (a very famous hakeem of that time) to his court, as he was known to cure incurable diseases.

Asif Khan, the brother of Noor Jahan and father-in-law of Shah Jahan, persuaded Ansari to rescue the prince from prison and move him to Dakkan. The first part of the plan was successful, but on route to Dakkan, news of Jahangir’s death arrived

So Jahangir ordered Ansari, who was living in Chiniot at that time, to come to Lahore. Ansari figured out that the cause of the disease was a cyst under the empress’s foot. He requested the emperor to not interfere in the treatment process (however unconventional and painful it might be for Noor Jehan). Jahangir agreed and Ansari began by asking servants to spread burning sand in the fort. He then requested the empress to walk on the burning sand in order to get an impression of her footprints. Later, he embedded some sharp “knife like” objects in the sand and asked Noor Jahan to walk over them. The cyst in the empress’s foot got ruptured and the wound was healed by the hot sand. As a reward, Jahangir made Ansari part of the royal court. After the empress’s full recovery Ansari was raised to the position of an officer of the hospitals. The empress’s recovery was celebrated in Lahore, and Ansari was showered with praise, while Noor Jahan presented the hakeem with her own jewelry. Ansari remained the royal physician even after Mughal emperor Shah Jahan ascended the throne.

So this is how an ordinary hakeem got involved with the high echelon of the Mughal empire, having no idea that the world would remember him even after his death. Being a part of the royal court, Ansari developed cordial relations with Shah Jahan and thus another story begins.

Shah Jahan made him familiar with the temperaments of his father, the emperor Jahangir and other members of the royal family. He was an altruist, never demanded anything from Shah Jahan, and on the contrary spent his own money (if required by the prince). It is said that he spent up to 10 or 12 lakh rupees of his own money as “official expenses” of the prince when he was in dispute with his father.

Historic references tell us that Ansari gained much importance in the royal court during the last days of Jahangir’s rule. When conspiracies of Noor Jahan led to Shah Jahan’s imprisonment by his father, Wazir Khan was appointed the prince’s physician.

Asif Khan, the brother of Noor Jahan and father-in-law of Shah Jahan persuaded Ansari to rescue the prince from prison and move him to Dakkan. The first part of the plan was successful, but on route to Dakkan, news of Jahangir’s death arrived.

Shah Jahan would now be the emperor and this would also mark a new beginning for the hakeem. At the coronation of Shah Jahan, Ansari was bestowed with the title of Nawab Wazir Khan. This was the great unseen and unimaginable destiny of the hakeem, and I am sure he would have never dreamt of acquiring such an important position in his life.

Historic references and books tell us that the early part of Wazir Khan’s life was ordinary. He was a Pakhtoon by race, a resident of Chiniot in the Jhang district in Punjab. He was a student of Arabic and Philosophy, and learnt tib from Hakim D‘avi, getting proficient in medicine. Hakim D‘avi was one of the twenty nine physicians of Mughal Emperor Akbar’s court and was also the teacher of Shah Jahan.

Wazir Khan speedily attained positions while being in Shah Jahan’s service, from the superintendent of his camp court, to superintendent of the royal kitchen (mir-i saman) to the rank of commander and finally to his appointment as the governor of Lahore.

In a book written by Mamoona Khan she states that like many other personalities in history there are some controversial accounts related to the date Khan acquired the governorship of Lahore and the construction of the Wazir Khan Mosque. Historian Muhammad Latif states that Khan was appointed subedar of Agra, when the emperor returned to Lahore after his second visit to Kashmir, which was in 1632. He further added that in 1634 Khan died in Agra, because of colic disease. These events do not match with the date of construction of the mosque. Also the date written on the main gate is 1045 AH that is 1634 AD; it is also the year of Wazir Khan’s death ascribed by Muhammad Latif. Moreover, the viceroy of that region at that time, according to this source was Ali Mardan Khan instead of Wazir Khan, which is another controversial issue. If we think it is not possible that during the rule of one governor the mosque is constructed and attributed to someone else, so there must be some misconception.

Mamoona in her book also writes that another historian, M Baqir gives somewhat different details about the dates. According to him, by 1634 which was the 7th year of Shah Jahan’s imperial position, he decided to come to Lahore. On his way to Lahore the eldest daughter of Dara Shikoh died and Dara himself became went down to fever. When the imperial physicians failed to cure his ailment, Khan the then viceroy of Lahore was called in to the court camp on the 4th of Shawwal, 1043 A.H (April 3rd 1634 A.D). It is said that he successfully treated the prince. It is also ascribed that Shah Jahan then reached Lahore, being interested in the building work; he took notice of the repair and reconstruction of the royal palaces, entrusting all repair work to the Viceroy Wazir Khan. It seems believable because this account gives strength to Khan’s governorship of Lahore in 1634, the date inscribed on the mosque.

Wazir Khan became a generous builder and numerous buildings are to his credit, including mosques, gardens, hammams (baths), caravansarais, bazaars and hawailian (stately homes) or palaces. A town was also established by him near Gujranwala called Wazirabad after his name. in his home town of Chiniot, he built ponds, wells, caravansarais, hospitals and bazaars. He also provided his native city with a fortified wall. Although, his buildings are not huge in their sizes, their ornamentation and the use of kashjkari, has turned them into monuments of great esteem. He built a residential hawaili, inside the Shah ‘Almi Gate, Lahore, remembered by historians as parimahal (fairy palace). It is stated that he bedecked his palace with such splendor that no other amir (reverential personage) in the sub-continent had ever done before.

He chose the site for the construction of the Wazir Khan Mosque, which was a central place of Lahore at that time and the foundations were laid in 1634. Khan’s veneration for the mosque as well as his altruistic nature led him to dedicate most of his property for the expenses of the construction of the mosque.

It is said that a few months before his death when one day he was entering Agra, while crossing the Hathipol his horse stumbled and fell down, Khan was seriously injured. The historians state that in his will Khan bequeathed all his property to the emperor.

I must say that Wazir Khan is not dead; he is still alive in form of mosques, buildings and gems that he presented to Lahore and other cities of Punjab. Most of the places he built are the biggest tourist attractions and we must respect this man for giving us these unique pieces of heritage.

Published in Daily Times, July 27^th 2018.