THROUGH MY JOURNEY TO REDISCOVER THE ARTIST,MY LATE FATHER, MOHAN RAINA(1926_1983)

Today, I met Sh.O.P.Sharma who has
retired as "Special Officer, Art and
Culture" from The J&K Academy Of
Art, Culture and Languages.
I wish to express my profound
gratitude to Mr. Sharma for having
spared his valuable time for me. He
showed his concern in my pursuit of
rediscovering my late father, Artist
MohanRaina and assuredall possible
help.He told me ; 
" I came in contact with Raina Sahab
in late seventies.Late though but I
have seen his works in different styles.He was a versatile and an 
accomplished Artist who had a great
dexterity and mastery in drawing,
which is not found in all surrealists.
Unfortunately most of Raina Sahab's
works are lying scattered.Some work
which was with The J&K Academy at
Lal Mandi office, Srinagar has got
washed away during flash floods.
However, I have obtained some 
information which may be of some
help to you. You may note these
1.Painting Exhibition organised by
J&K Academy Of Art, Culture and
Languages(JKAACL)._Mohan Raina's
OIL, Captioned," CONSTRUCTION "
In 1975.
2. 1978 JKAACL 19th State Art Exb.
Mohan Raina's OIL, Captioned, 
" RHYTHM OF MUSIC "
3. 1978 ARTISTS CAMP AT MANSBAL, Mohan Raina's OIL on
canvas, captioned, " DISTANCE WITH
NATURE ".
4. Portrait of Shaire_ Kashmir,
MAHJOOR (OIL)
5. Portrait of IQBAL (OIL)
6. AUTMN (OIL)
These are as per Academy's records
and must be lying with them in the
Srinagar Lalmandi Office.
In addition, you may succeed in finding some more because Raina
Sahab participated in various ARTIST
CAMPS at Ganderbal and other
venues. As and when I will get any
information or cue which may be
useful to you, I shall let you know. "
Here, I would like to mention
that Mr. O.P. Sharma is an Artist and
he is The Director of " Jammu and
Kashmir Centre For Creative Arts "
(JKCCA) which is perhaps the only
NGO in the State that is engaged in
promoting Visual Arts, Literature and
Performing Arts. Established in 1999
it has organised various Camps , competitions, Workshops and Art
Exhibitions at State and National 
level.
Through this post, once again I wish
to express my gratitude to
Mr. O. P. Sharma.
( Sudesh Raina )