SANSAR CHAND BARU : THE FIRST MODERN PAINTER FROM JAMMU
( With wife and Daughter Anuradha Rishi )
PANDIT SANSAR
CHAND BARU ( 1902-1995 )
Pandit Sansar
Chand Baru ( 1902-1995 ), the first Modern painter from Jammu ( fondly
known as Master Ji ) shall always be remembered for his unique style; A Grand
fusion of Pahari and Modern Art .
( A Painting by Sansar Chand Baru )
It is believed that BARU community of
Brahmins migrated from Assam and settled in Jammu and Himachal hills. They were
Kul Purohits of various hilly Rajput rulers. Pandt Dhanpat Baru ( Father of
Sansar Chand Baru ) was Raj Purohit to Maharaja Partap singh and the family
lived at Pucca Danga Jammu in Fattu Chougan locality. When Pandit Dhanpat saw
that his son was least interested in Academics , he requested Jagat Ram "
*Chhuniyaa " , a noted artist during those days, to impart some basic lessons
in painting to Sansar Chand .Young Sansar Chand was sharp in learning drawing .
As time passed , this young boy matured to a fine water colour Artist and got a
permanent job as Drawing master in Government Technical Institute Kachhi Chhawni
( Presently Government Girls Higher Secondary school Kachhi Chhawani) Jammu
.
As first Curator of Dogra Art Gallery Jammu
( now Known as Dogra Art Museum ) , Master Ji is responsible for retrieving a
large number of original Basholi Miniature Paintings from some influential
individuals and preserving this invaluable Heritage for posterity. For this,
he repeatedly contacted Padha ( Upadhaya ) family from Basholi for
procuring some valuable Basholi Miniature paintings. The ancestors of Padha
family were Physicians to the rulers of Basholi. Sri Kunj Lal Padha of
Basholi finally agreed to present about 70 paintings ( Rasamanjari theme)
to Bakshi Ghulam Mohd who donated all this Treasure to Dogra Art Gallery
Jammu. Some paintings were also gifted to Dr Karan Singh by Kunj Lal Padha .
The Persian handwritten SHAAHNAAMA was
brought to Gogra Art Gallery through singular efforts of master ji . Credit goes
to him for collecting numberless artifacts for Dogra Art Gallery that
include Dogra costumes, Coins, Manuscripts, Handicrafts, Ornaments,
Terracotta Heads, sculptures, Metal Objects, intricately carved Marble
Jharokhas, Arms and Stone Inscriptions in Takri.
In 1944, Alongwith Bhagwat Prasad Sathe,
Deenu Bhai Pant, D C Prashant, Narayan Mishra and Prof Ram Nath Shastri,
Master ji established DOGRI SANSTHA. And Master ji was unanimously elected to
head the SANSTHA as its first president .
In 1948, this sanstha performed “ Bawa
Jitto Da Balidhaan “ the first Dogri Play at Tikri. Due to his initiative,
a grand exhibition of Paintings done by Artists from Duggar land was organized
inside Technical Institute Kachhi Chhawani Jammu. In 1952, Dogri Sanstha
organized another exhibition of paintings (done by artists from Jammu ) at New
Delhi.
Master ji took personal interest for
compilation of “ JAAGO DUGGAR ” the first collection of Dogri poems
published by Dogri Sanstha . JAAGO DUGGAR was followed by NAMEE CHETNA. NAMEE CHETNA was initially published from Delhi but finally DOGRI SANSTHA
started its full time publication from Jammu.
Joined by Kehri singh Madhukar , Prof M R
Puri, Prof Goverdhan singh ,D C Prashant , Ram Nath shastri, Dinu Bhai Pant and
many more writers and intellectuals, Master ji would be seen going from door
to door or selling copies of NAMEE CHETNA in Pucca danga or Raghu Nath Bazar
so as to popularize it.
He also served as Court Painter during the
rule of Maharaja Hari Singh .
He was a disciplined person and never
compromised with his principles. A thorough gentleman and honest to the core ,
he remained a lover of nature which is evident in his water colour landscapes.
When his trusted friend, noted artist and sculptor Vidya Rattan Khajuria was
posted at Institute of Fine Arts in Srinagar, Master ji paid some visits to
kashmir and did some memorable Kashmir landscapes.
As artist, he was comfortable in many
formats and styles like Pahari Miniature , Bengal School , Portraits ,
Landscapes and abstract .
( Buddha by Sansar Chand Baru )
(Sarswati by Sansar Chand Baru )
( A Painting by Sansar Chand Baru )
( A Painting by Sansar Chand Baru )
( A Painting by Sansar Chand Baru )
His house at Pucca Danga jammu was a meeting
Hub for Artists , Poets , writers and intellectuals . Even well known Hindi
writer Ageya called on him during his visit to Jammu . Prof. Neelamber Dev
Sharma , Prof.Ram Nath Shastri , Kishen Smailpuri , Parmanand Almast Narsingh
Dev Jamwal , Deenu Bhai Pant , Bhagwat Sathe and D C Prashant were also
amongst regular visitors . Master ji had close association with Comrade
Dhanwantri as well.
Bakshi Ghulam Mohd and Dr karan singh were
Great admirers of his work. Even Dr Rajendra Prasad appreciated his work when he
visited jammu in 1954 for Inauguration of Dogra Art Gallery( now known as Dogra
Art Museum ) .
His published essays on Pahari Art and Folk
literature attracted the attention of some eminent International Art Critics .
Together With Prof Lakshmi Narayan , Master ji wrote a scholarly book “ AN
INTRODUCTION TO FOLK LITERATURE AND PAHARI ART “ . This work has become a
reference book for Art critics and writers on Pahari Miniature Art and the
Folklore associated with it.
His daughter Anuradha Rishi is also an
accomplished Artist . Adds Anuradha Rishi
“. To me , he was a Friend , Guru and father
.A simple man who loved his Dhoti , Kurta , churee- daar Pyjama and Sherwani. He
ate simple food . He would make me to sit while he painted . That was how I
learnt my best lessons in Art from him. Many people say that the feminine face
in my father's work resembles mine . ”
On his Birth anniversary In 2012 , Lovers of
his Art organized an on the spot children’s Painting competition at kala
Kendra jammu. The event was attended by His daughter , Sri Narsingh Dev jamwal
and some prominent Artists from Jammu. This year ( 2014 ) Anuradha Rishi (
Baru ) , in her capacity as Chairperson of” Sansar Chand Baru Memorial Trust ”
organized two major events in Jammu to commemorate her father. Both were well
attended .
I sincerely believe that More needs to be
done by Government and Lovers of Art for the man who influenced two
generation of Artists in this part of the country .
I conclude this post with a couplet of Urdu
poet Firaq Gorakhpuri ….
Iss
Qaaynaat e Gham Ki Fusurda Fizaaon mein
Bikhraa
Gaye hain Aa ke woh kuchh Muskaraahatein
( Paying a visit to the gloomy ambience or
this world ,
Peace be to his soul.
PS
(1 )
Jagat Ram nicknamed “chhuniyaa ” was a well known
painter during the rule of Maharaja Partap Singh of J&K. He enjoyed royal
patronage and was sanctioned a monthly stipend of Rs 25 /= . Chhuniya hailed
from Baddu Kishenpur . Chhuniya used oil and water colours in his work . He was
also an expert in Delhi style of Ivory carving. .Chhuniya was a disciple of well
known painter Harichand of jammu.
(2)
My thanks to J&;K Academy of Art Culture and
languages , Sri Narsingh Dev Jamwal ( Author MONOGRAPH : Pandit Sansar Chand )
and the family of the Artist for Inputs and photographs .
( BLOG BY ADITYA RISHI)
