Paintings of Himalaya

Pahadi Chitrkala
Himalayan PArt
Paintings of Himalaya
Art of Garhwal and Kumaun
Garhwali Paintings
Garhwali Paintings
Dr Yashvant Singh Katoch
Translator: Bhishma Kukreti
Review:
The art critics call the art of Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Garhwal and Kumaun as ‘Pahadi Chitrkala or Paintings of Himalaya . Phadi Kala is part of of Rajputa Chitrkala but with difference. Before the introduction of Rajput style in mountains of Himalaya, the style was referred as Kangada style. Due to ignoring characteristics of Aurangzeb the Mogul King and thereafter weakening of Mogul kingdom, the artists started migrating towards Himalayan kingdoms. Fortunately, the artists got the art lover king Sansarchand of Kanga (Himachal Pradesh). By the appreciation of King of Kangada Sansarchand for art and artists, Pahadi painting developed with speed. The critics call the time of 1786-1805 as the Golden Period for Pahadi Paintings. Expert of Rajput Painting Dr Kumarswamy says, “ The Pahadi or Kangada style provided an exclusive style of presenting very beautiful, desirable, extra ordinarily attractive women in the paintings, this is its own creation and recognition too and there is no limit of attraction.” In other article, Kumarswamy writes,” if Chinese paintings could present splendid geographical images (Nature) the Pahadi style paintings could present the memorable love scenes”
History:
Pahadi style of Paintings developed in three specific zones or branches-
1- Basohali
2-Kangada
3-Garhwal
Though, Barrister Mukandi Lal is credited to bring Garhwali paintings into lime light I beginning of twentieth century , Kumarswamy will be called the first art critic who told about Garhwali painting in his famous book Rajput Paitning (1916) .
The development of Garhwali style painting is the result of historical happenings in Garhwal then a sovereign nation. Suleman the eldest son of Dara Sikoh (son of Shahjahan ) took asylum in Shrinagar Garhwal at the time of king Prithwipati Shah in 1658AD. Along with Suleman, two prominent court artists of Shahjahan Tomar Shamdas and his son Haridas -also came to Shrinagar Garhwal. After nineteenth months, thearmy of Aurangzeb took away Suleman Shikoh but the artists settled in Shrinagar. Both artists got the position of court artists (Tasveerdar) in the court of Prithwipatishah
When the art of Shamdas and Haridas was on its zenith, prince Pradyumanshah son of Prithweepatishah got married to the princess of Guler (Kangada) . It was obvious that the artists of both the kingdoms interact with each others. That is the reason that critic believe in Garhwali style effected Kangada style and kangada style effected Garhwali style paintings .
In 1829 the king of Kangada Anirudh Chand had to leave his kingdom and came to Haridwar (part of Garhwal kingdom) There in Haridwar, his two sisters were married to the King of Garhwal Sudarshan Shah and there is possibilities that the exiled king of Kangada offered kangada paintings and artists to the king of Garhwal. Though , Kishori Lal Vaidya an art critic connect this historical points for effect of Kangada paintings on Garhwali paintings but the time factor does not permit to accept so.
Maularam a Prominent Painter of Garhwali painting:
Apart from artist duo Shamdas Tomar and Haridas Tomar, there have been fine painters as Heera lal, Heeranand and Mangatram. They might have painted the paintings which are not having there names on the available Garhwali paintings.
Maularam (1743-1833) was the fourth generation of Haridas .. Maularam was the son of fine artist Mangatram.
Maularam was the devotee of Kali Jagdamba. In one painting which he portrayed he is worshipping Kali godess. There was effects of saints and sages on Maularam. He was also follower of Gorakhnath sect and in his last span of life he became follower of Manmanth sect (believer of shapeless god) . That is the reason, he developed high imagination power. Initial his paintings are effected by Mogul style but slowly he inclined towards Garhwali and Kangada styles. He was also rewarded by Sansarchand king of Kangada nad nepalis praised his painting. The governor of Nepal kaji Hastidal Chauteria praised the art of Maularam in Nepali verses.
The king Jaikrit Shah appreciated his wok but it is believed that there was disagreement between Maularam and price Parakram Shah. After debacle by earthquake and Gorkha attack, Shrinagar lost its glory and it was no more capital of Garhwal Kingdom. Even then Maularam did not leave Shrinagar.
Maularam was of multifarious talents. He was great poet, historian and philosopher. Maularam used to write poems on many his paintings.
His paintings are as :
1-Morpriya- is the painting of his young age
2-Maynkmukhi painting is painted in his old age
3-Utkanthita Nayika and Jaidev Bazir are one of the best paintings of Maularam
4-‘Dampati’ painting portrayed the king Pradyumn Shah and his queen and is high standard painting
5-Due to very high standard of painting ‘ Radha - Krishn Milan’ , the apinting was exhibited in many art galleries and exhibitions.
6-The love paintings of Maularam are ’Vipralambha Nayika’,’Sitar Priya’, ’Hindola’, ’Mastani’, Vasakshayya’.
7-chandrmukhi
Maularam used to paint his name and date of finishing the painting. Invariabily Maularam used to write poems on the painting and he was the expert of blending poetry and visible art.
Art critics j c French, A Ghos and many appreciated the works of Maularam
Successors of Maularam as Garhwali Painters
The following paiters were family succesors of Maularam who created Garhwali paintings too
1- Jwala Ram son of Maularam: there are sixty three paintings of Jwalaram in the collection of Barrister Mukandi Lal . Three paintings are in the collections of Nurpur king
2-Shiv Ram son of Maularam: According to art critics Shiv Ram was finner painter tha Jwalaram
3-Atma ram grand son of Maularam: two paintings ‘Shiv Parvati’ and ‘Radhakrishn’ are in the collection of g K Joshi
4-Tejram grand son of Maularam
5-Hariram great grand son of Maularam
6-Tulsi Ram great grand son of Maularam
Chaitu and Manku
Chaitu and Manku brothers are famous artists of Garhwal, Himalaya . Though, there is no agreement among the historian for the village of Chaituand Manku and their life span, most of the historians and artists claim that Chaitu and Manku were contemporary artists of famous poet and artist Maularam (1743-1833)
Chaitu and manku were born in village Rampur of Chalansyun Patti, Pauri Garhwal. Dr Katoch says that Chitram or Chaitu and Manak Ram or Manku were the last of Phadi Kala (Garhwali art) generation.
Both lived in Shrinagar then the capital of Garhwal .
N C Mehta, Chakravatrti, Carl Khandlwala and Randhava did researches on Chaitu amnd Mankram .
The paintings named ‘ Yadviyon ka haran or Rapes on Yadav Women’ and ‘krishn Dwara Kar Vasuli or Tax by Krishna’ are famous paintings of Chaitu and there are signatures of Chaitram on both the paintings.
There is signature of ‘Chetaye te gher de‘ (From the house of Chaitu) ‘ on a painting ‘Rukmani Haran’ painting (is in Bharat Kala Sangrah)
According to N C Mehta, Manku is famous for ‘ Geet Govind’ paintings
There is distinct effects of Kangada style on all the paintings of Chaitu and Manku.. Krishna is in the dress of Mughul style.
Museums and Collection Centers where Garhwali Paintings are available
1- Maharaj Narendra Shah collection , Tihri Garhwal
2-Collection of prince Vichitr Shah, purana Darbar Tihri
3-Collection of rao Virendra Shah (Dehradun)
4-Bhartiy Kala Bhawan Varanasi (kunvar Vichitr Shah collection)
5-The collection of heir of Balak Ram , Shrinagar
6-Collection of Mukandi lal Kotdwar
7-Collection of Maharaj Nurpur
8-Collection of diwan Chakrdhar Juyal
9-Collection of barrister Manak , Patna
10-Collection of girja Kishor Joshi, Almoda
11-Collection of Ajit Ghos , Kolkatta
12-Collection of R K Kajriwal, Kolkatta
13-Collection of Onkar Chand Sud, Shimla
14-Collection of Kastur Bhai Lal Ji Bhai , Ahmedabad
15- Collection of J C French
16-British Museum , London,
17-Victoria Museum, London
18- Boston museum, USA
19-Rashtriy sangrahalay, Delhi
20-Rajya sangrahalay Lucknow

Copyright @ Dr Yashvant Singh Katoch, garhwal, Uk, india