S.H RAZA

S H Raza was already a well known name in the field of Art in India when he visited Kashmir  in late  forties of the last century . In fact he is the person who brought Modern Art to Kashmir and proved  a guide and philosopher to artist like  Triloke kaul, P N kachroo and S N Butt. My father  Mohan Raina was  young  at that time  and had just embarked into the world of Art. His  own Father Pandit Shiv Nath Raina was a great Inspiration for him. He had closely seen so many people from the field of art and literature coming to his father and sitting in the Dewankhaana  for learning and or for mutual discussions. A Big Samovar was always full of   Boiling Kahwa tea that my Grand mother would serve to everyone  in Khaasoos (Traditional kashmiri  Bronze Cup) . A bag full of Kulchas was always handy in the Dewankhaana.
My Uncle  Moti  Lal  Raina , who currently stays in Muscat  adds:

“  In our Dewankhaana  Many times Amar Chand Wali ( Poet ) would be playing on the harmonium . He would go in trance and weep like a child when he sang Bhajans of Sri Rama and Sri Krishna . Painter G R Santosh would be sipping Tea and discussing something with our father  . Artist S N Butt would come with his sketches and discuss them with  our father Shiv Nath Raina . Pandit A N Vaishnavi (  A selfless Leader of  KP community ) would also be there to learn Drawing . Amar chand wali  would also Play on Sitar along with our Father   . Sometime Artist D N wali would also drop in. Wali sahib was a busy man who not only painted but had to market his Art for a living . He would move in a shikara to Dal lake and tourist spots to sell his work to Foreigners . I believe he lived from sale of his paintings only . He had  a  permanent shikara that he would board at Badiyar Ghaat .
And then one day Our Father Pandit shiv Nath  told us that there was a very important person  in the town . We never knew the person. I along with my Brother artist Mohan Raina went in a Tonga to Dal gate and headed for a Houseboat. In the meantime instructions were given to our mother to prepare a grand kashmiri Non-veg meal for the guest. We brought a Non kashmiri   person with us in the same Tonga . This man kept talking to father and my brother all along the return journey .And then he was made comfortable in the Dewankhana that had been given a facelift by mother who placed some additional cushions . My Father showed his drawings , portraits to this guest who also saw what my brother Mohan Raina had  paintied .I vividly remember that after looking  at the paintings of Mohan Raina , he commented ,

“  This young man  is a Great Artist in Making “
He did not take even a morsel of food. Did not taste a  piece from Rogan josh or Mutch ( minced Mutton Balls ) or Yakhni that our Mother had specially cooked . He kept drinking khasoo after khasoo of kehwa tea and had two kulchas ( Local bakery stuff ) with it . This guest then came to our house of his own twice before he left kashmir finally; once to inform our father that he had been selected for a French scholarship. Every time he came ,he demanded kulcha and Kehwa.  This Guest was none other than  the Great S H Raza . In fact Raza sahib drew my portrait in the same Dewankhaana for which he  told me to put my hand on my chin for a special Pose . Raza sahib also drew a Portrait of Mohini Ji daughter of Artist D N  Wali who lived in our neighbourhood.
In Later years , Bansi Parimu , Gayoor Hassan , Shamoo Nath Sopori , Makhan lal Shangloo  Vidya Rattan Khajuria , Krishen Langoo ,Suraj Tikkoo , Rajinder Patwari were regular visitors to our House . They came to meet Mohan Raina .
So many stories are linked with our Dewankhaana a cherished place and a hub of Art , Music and allied  Cultural activities in Badiyar Bala.”

More next time.....

( Sudesh Raina )