KOLKATA: The Indo-Pak relationship is set for a new boost. Three Pakistani artists will decorate the Hatibagan Nabinpalli pandal with their unique 'truck art' this Puja. The trio - Haidar Ali, Mumtaz Ahmed and Md Iqbal - will reach Kolkata by the end of this week.
Though Haidar - the lead artist in the team - has come to India a couple of times before, he has never been to Kolkata. Speaking to TOI over phone, this internationally-acclaimed artist said, "I have never been to Kolkata, but I know about Durga Puja. I have seen it on the television. It's a huge festival and I am happy that I will be a part of it this year. I hope that the people of Kolkata will love this work of art".
Truck art is a Peshwari art form of Pakistan where beautiful landscapes, colourful floral patterns, portraits of national heroes, famous actors of Pakistan and India, calligraphic poetry and religious verses are painted on trucks, which take goods from one city to another. These highly-adorned vehicles are like moving art and known for their beauty around the world. Truck art is considered rightly as a part of Pakistani transport custom and expression of traditional culture of Pakistan.
Originally from Jalandhar in Punjab, the family of Haidar Ali moved to Karachi and then toLahore before partition. "My father, who was also a truck artist, wanted me to be a doctor but painting always attracted me. During my school days I used to watch beautiful paintings for hours. But due to family pressure, I had to join medical college. But, when I saw blood during one practical class, I fainted. I never went to the college again," said the 33-year-old artist.
Truck art is a part of Peshwari Culture.
When asked about Indo-Pak relationship, Ali said, "I have never considered India and Pakistan to be different. The difference exists only because there is a boundary between the two countries. The people in Pakistan are very much like the people of India and we are the branches of the same tree." Sometimes I feel why there is a boundary- there should not be anything as such".
The other artists - Mumtaz Ahmed and Md Iqbal - were elated at the reception they received after reaching in India.
"There was only one problem that we had to wait nearly four hours to cross just 50 metres- two hours on the Pakistan side of the border and two hours on the Indian side but they were doing their and we cannot help it. One thing I must admit that coming to India I didn't find any difference with Pakistan. I feel as if I am in my own country only," said one of the artists.
"We have also organized a workshop and exhibition on the truck art of Pakistan at ICCR - 'Art on Wheels' - from September 7 to 9," It is an exhibition which will help the people to understand the beauty of this art even before the pujas," Ray said.
http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-09-03/kolkata/41725962_1_art-durga-puja-pakistani
Though Haidar - the lead artist in the team - has come to India a couple of times before, he has never been to Kolkata. Speaking to TOI over phone, this internationally-acclaimed artist said, "I have never been to Kolkata, but I know about Durga Puja. I have seen it on the television. It's a huge festival and I am happy that I will be a part of it this year. I hope that the people of Kolkata will love this work of art".
Truck art is a Peshwari art form of Pakistan where beautiful landscapes, colourful floral patterns, portraits of national heroes, famous actors of Pakistan and India, calligraphic poetry and religious verses are painted on trucks, which take goods from one city to another. These highly-adorned vehicles are like moving art and known for their beauty around the world. Truck art is considered rightly as a part of Pakistani transport custom and expression of traditional culture of Pakistan.
Originally from Jalandhar in Punjab, the family of Haidar Ali moved to Karachi and then toLahore before partition. "My father, who was also a truck artist, wanted me to be a doctor but painting always attracted me. During my school days I used to watch beautiful paintings for hours. But due to family pressure, I had to join medical college. But, when I saw blood during one practical class, I fainted. I never went to the college again," said the 33-year-old artist.
Truck art is a part of Peshwari Culture.
When asked about Indo-Pak relationship, Ali said, "I have never considered India and Pakistan to be different. The difference exists only because there is a boundary between the two countries. The people in Pakistan are very much like the people of India and we are the branches of the same tree." Sometimes I feel why there is a boundary- there should not be anything as such".
The other artists - Mumtaz Ahmed and Md Iqbal - were elated at the reception they received after reaching in India.
"There was only one problem that we had to wait nearly four hours to cross just 50 metres- two hours on the Pakistan side of the border and two hours on the Indian side but they were doing their and we cannot help it. One thing I must admit that coming to India I didn't find any difference with Pakistan. I feel as if I am in my own country only," said one of the artists.
"We have also organized a workshop and exhibition on the truck art of Pakistan at ICCR - 'Art on Wheels' - from September 7 to 9," It is an exhibition which will help the people to understand the beauty of this art even before the pujas," Ray said.
http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-09-03/kolkata/41725962_1_art-durga-puja-pakistani
- Featured Thumbs
- http://www.newsonair.nic.in/Durga-picx/Durga-Puja-in-Kolkata.jpg
Last edited by a moderator: