THROUGH MY JOURNEY TO REDISCOVER THE ARTIST, MY FATHER LATE MOHAN RAINA.
I was talking about my meeting with
Sh.Triloke Koul. He told me that at
times he goes off tangent during
discussions and looses coherence
and continuity because of his age
factor. So, I will put it the way and
order in which he spoke out of his
memory and in response to my very
brief questions.
" The other day I was invited by Sh.
Agni Shekhar to be The Chief guest
in one of their functions . After I was
done with my speech, I realised that
I took quite a long time and there
were other scholars and literary
persons who too had to speak. I felt
guilty."
After coming back from Baroda, I was jobless for quite some time. I
taught Maths and other subjects to
young students to keep my body and
soul together. Your father, Mohan ji
was doing Art Work for private
parties to augment his earnings."
" Mohan ji had a rare quality. Unlike
many of his contemporaries he did
a variety.He was not confined to a
particular genre or style. Look at his
versatility ! He did almost all logos,
emblems, portraits, landscapes in
oil, water and other mediums and
modern abstract with a great elan.
Being " ARTIST" with the Govt. he
lent credence to the stature of artist
in The Establishment. He would be
an integral part of all decisions and
execution of all art related issues.
He has done so huge work in terms
of Titles and Illustrations of almost
all Government Publications, Text
Books and what not. He gave our
State it's identity by designing it' s
Emblem !
Perhaps one of the reasons of his
such a significant contribution was
the fact that the Establishment at
that time thought that we have an
accomplished artist with us ,why
should we spend money by engaging
outsiders.
Mohan ji's work as an artist with the
Govt. required precision in drawing.
If I may put it this way , commercial
art requires mastery in drawing.
Unlike Your father or G.R.Santosh, I
did not do that. Sometimes I made
just pencil drawings"
" It is not that I don't aspire for a
Padma award but I am not hopeful
and I don't expect one because our
system is like that. I have been
nominated before for "PadamShree".
Tell me honestly is this honour
always given to desrving ones .What
have they (Establishment) given to
Late Dina Nath Nadim. Look at the
revolution and his pioneering work.
To me he stands tallest amonst his
contemporaries. The identity of our
Jammu &Kashmir, The State emblem
forget about other work, what have
they given to your father ?
So, Sudesh ji that is the way state of
affairs are ".
" The militancy and terrorism in
Kashmir reminds me of immediately
before and post partition holocaust
which I have witnessed during my
stay in Bengal/ Calcutta in 1946.
Some people say that migration and
mass exodus of K.P's is a blessing in
disguise in the sense that our young
generation got exposure and seats
in the various Engineering Colleges.
These people don't know about our
invaluable treasures we have lost.We
have lost art works, paintings, rare
manuscripts , books and literature to
this terrorism ".
" I am glad that you have taken up
this project.In fact so many people
have written about history of art in
Kashmir, but not all are worth.It has
been distorted to suit the author's
own interests. I do not wish to name
any one "
" I knew that you'll meet me today, so
I took out this brochure to show you
Mohan ji's painting. I have seen this
one in an Exhibition in New Delhi.
Probably this was done by your Dad
in an "Artists Camp", held at Mansbal
I am not sure "
During my two and half hours inter
action and conversation with the
artist, Sh.Triloke Koul Sahab, I found
him very hospitable, warm and very
affectionate. While departing his
daughter and son in law insisted that
I take lunch with them. I said that my
mother must be waiting .
Very hospitable , charming and very
friendly !
Koul Sahab comes to the gate of his
house to see me off. I wish him hand
folded Pranam ."Be in touch", he says
" Distance With Nature "
Oil On Canvas ( 5×4 feet )
Mohan Raina ( Artist )---1978.
( Sudesh Raina )
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