LATE PT. SHIV NATH RAINA

This photograph has been
taken some time in 1987 in
our home at Badiyar Bala.
No, this is not a painting. It looks 2 D
because it has been taken out from
another photograph wherein this
duck was on a table in the background.
This is a MODEL MADE OF PAPER
PULP AND COTTON, SUPPORTED
BY WIRE MESH INSIDE.
The model has been done in 1930's
when Bob ji, my grand father, Pt. Shiv
Nath Raina was greatly influenced by
Late Pt. Samsar Chand Koul(Ganhar)
Those days Bobji did models of almost all the birds of Kashmir.
Unfortunately, as I have mentioned
before also the whole treasure of
Bob ji and my late father, MOHAN RAINA was plundered, vandalised
and burnt during militancy. This photograph, I have found in my
sister's album and I wish to share it
with you. This model of duck was
painted by my father and kept in a
glass cabinet.Only the back of the box is hard board , all other sides are
glass.
My mother tells me ,
" When I came to Raina's after my
marriage, I always saw Bobji working
On some model or the other.
Once he made about seven feet tall
Swan.To make paper pulp for it two
people were engaged to beat the
Paper mixed with water in a large
" Kanz" (Stone mortar ) and beaten continuously for three days with a
" Muhul"(Pestle). It was carried through water way (river) in a boat
to it's destination which I do not know "
Model (1940), Cotton, paper pulp
Pt.Shiv Nath Raina(1901 to 1961)
( Sudesh Raina )