Garhwali Art and Artists (painters)

Pahadi Chitrakala
Art of Himalaya
Garhwali Art and Artists (painters)
Artists of Garhwal and Kumaun
Ajab Ram :Who Painted Kumvar Sudarshan Shah and Devi Singh ; and Fulvadi
Bhishma Kukreti
World famous historian and expert of history of Garhwal Dr Shiv Prasad Dabral states that Ajab Ram was the contemporary of famous poet and fine painter Maula Ram (1743-1833) and must be disciple of Maula Ram . By reading his painting script , we may say that ajab Ram used to live in the capital of Garhwal that is sShrinagar
There are two paintings of Ajab Ram available now (Dr S P Dabral: Uttarakhand Ka itihas part-4 pp663) . Both the paintings are available in the Museum of Captain Shurbeer Singh Panwar Tihri Garhwal.
In one painting the price Sudarshan Shah and Price Devi Singh are hunting on horses with and bot the are having sword etc. .We may see the lions and other wild animals in the picture. The prices are in Mogul dresses
In other painting of Ajab Ram, which is called Fulvadi; the queen is waiting for her love.
There are names of the artists on bot the paintings that is name of ajabram.
In Fulwadi, the script is as “ sn. 1858 ka jeth gate 20 dastkar ajabram vasinde Shrinagar’
No dobt he paintings of Ajab Ram is not of that standard as his contemporaries were famous but his paintings tell that ajab Rm had class, talent and knew the fineness of colour, lining and shadow.

Copyright@ Bhishma Kukreti, Mumbai, India, 2010