Guru Nanak’s rare painting on display at Andretta
Lalit Mohan
Tribune News Service
Dharamsala, April 10
A rare painting of Guru Nanak Dev in which he is wearing a Sindhi cap is now at display in Sobha Singh Art Gallery at Andretta village in Kangra district. The painting was done by the legendary artist Sobha Singh to depict the visit of Guru Nanak Dev to Sindh province, now located in Pakistan.
The painting had initially created a controversy as some hardline Sikhs had objected to Guru Nanak Dev being depicted in a cap.
Hirday Paul Singh, general secretary of the Sobha Singh Memorial Art Society, said the painting was rare. The original print was not traceable as it was sold by the saint artist during his lifetime.
“As far as we know Sobha Singh had created many paintings of Guru Nanak Dev in different attires. He was shown in different attires during his visit to Leh and Ladakh and Mecca. However, the paintings are now difficult to locate. We somehow managed to get a re-print of the photo and have now displayed it the art gallery in the residence Sobha Singh at Andretta”, Hirday Paul Singh said.
“Since the photo of the painting was put on my Facebook account many people from Sindh and even from the western countries have contacted me to get a reprint of the painting. The people who contacted us informed that many people who believed in teachings of Guru Nanak Dev in Sindh would like to have this painting in their possession”, he said.
A new area with around 24 canvas prints has been added to the Sobha Singh gallery. Additional room, which used to be a verandah of eminent artist late Sobha Singh’s cottage has been merged in the art gallery and around 24 canvas prints have been displayed in this area covered with toughened glass.
