GOBIND KOUR SCULPTOR: August 2014

Late (Smt.) Gobind Kaur – Ist Woman Sculptor of J&K State

JANG .S. VERMAN
[ August 13, 2014 ] Sculpture is a medium to play with masses to snatch out purposeful structure to look at. Though sculpture is familiar to all of us but the vastness of its field is known to a few. A person dealing with this field is known as Sculptor, generally a male person. It is a rare phenomena that women are engaged in this form of art. Smt. Gobind Kaur, a well known sculptor of J&K state, was such a woman who opted this field as her profession. Late (Smt.) Gobind Kaur, a name in the field of art, had been the student of Late (Sh.) Vidya Ratan Khajuria, a well known sculptor of Jammu, became the first woman sculptor of J&K state. Born in 1954, in a lower middle class family, she had the aptitude towards drawing & painting which later-on turned to be her career. In the early days of her life she had to face the difficulties and mundane realities of life and tried hard to cope up with them. Even, during the days of her degree classes of fine arts, she had to manage her financial support by engaging herself in tuitions. Due to her hard working nature and sincerity of purpose, she was able to get service in the Institute of Music & Fine Arts, Srinagar, immediately after completing her degree in 1979. In her work, following the footsteps of her teacher Sh. V R Khajuria, she started to make compositions in a style of her teacher i.e. non-figurative, free form compositions which were in progress those days among the sculptors. Smt. Gobind Kaur, sober and soft by heart and inclined towards humanitarian approach in her attitude, very soon melted her style of sculpture to figurative one. Soon human figures appeared in all aspects of her creativity. This made her free to express herself in her own way, which is a pre- requite for creativity and expression. The sculptures like ‘Girl with Skates’ speaks of her liberty as a woman as well as an artist. The theme of the sculpture depicts a girl on rollers as if flying in the air. The art got applauded when its entry in an art exhibition brought an award for this entry at BHU, Benaras. Subsequently more works poured out of her creative process and skillful hands. Her mind was filled with motherly affection towards small kids. She made so many portraits of young children she came across. Their innocence fascinated her and she could not resist from engaging those kids for making their portraits. The creative part of that practice proved to be fruitful. She made works in series on children like ‘The Little Monks’.In the long experience with sculpture, she became familiar with multiple mediums like clay, terracotta, plaster of Paris, cement and metal casting, wood, metal and other non traditional materials and so forth. She had an adventurous approach towards learning different techniques and using material as medium. At one time, she associated herself with the professional utensil makers in metal (Bhathiar) to make herself efficient in their technique of moulding metals. She, not only played with these mediums but tested her skill in Graphic Art and Drawing mediums also. Her drawing ‘DEVI’ had been popular among her friends and acquaintances. She even did a lot of work in Wood Prints and was able to put up a show of prints titled “Devi’ at Kala Kendra, Jammu. She also attended workshop of printmaking at Jammu in this context. Her wood print titled ‘Devi’ was awarded in the AIFACS, N. Delhi and Cultural Academy joint show at Jammu also.By her nature she was popular among her colleagues and known ones, for her peaceful and poise temperament. She generally was seen busy in her working with a view of a person tied with her dupatta on her head and a cup of tea nearby. According to Sh. Raj Kumar Behrupia, an Instructor in Music Deptt. of Institute of Music & Fine Arts, Jammu, ‘She had a religious bent of mind and devoted a few minutes to read pages from religious or pious scriptures prior to starting her routine work in the field. She, having qualities with difference and always busy doing something with sculpture, was a role model for students of the institution.’ According to Sh. Gokal Dembi, a retired teacher of Smt. Gobind Kaur at the Institute, ‘I always found Gobind Kaur as a dedicated worker and always burning herself to create something, finally turning to be a very good sculptor and created beautiful art pieces in this process.’ Dr. Lalit Gupta, an art historian & art critic writes in ‘Kashmir Insight’ - a magazine published from Srinagar (edited by Sh. Hasrat Gadda), ‘..a scenario the emergence of Gobind Kaur….as first modern woman sculptor of Jammu certainly merits a mention, her significance lies not only being the first female sculptor of Jammu Region of J&K but to remain steadfastly committed to chosen vacation till her death in a tragic road accident on 11th August, 2011.’ By virtue of her qualitative work, it was displayed at different places in the country like: New Delhi; Jaipur; Chandigarh; Raipur; Bombay; Srinagar; Bhopal; Jammu; Amritsar etc. She was invited to participate in artist camps and workshops at national level. She has attended All India Artists’ camp organized by Lalit Kala Akademi, N. Delhi at Jammu-2006; Graphics Workshop at Kala Kendra, Jammu-2006; All India Sculptors’ Camp by J&K Academy of Art, Culture & Languages, Srinagar-1978, Jammu- 1981, 2007; All India sculptors’ Camp by Jawahar Kala Kendra, Jaipur-1994; Art for Hospital Artists Camp by PGI, Chandigarh-1994; All India Artists camp by North Zone Cultural Centre, Patiala; Artists Camp by Viraj Kala Kendra, Jammu-1995 etc. Her works were acquired by different art galleries and museums including Lalit Kala Akademi, New Delhi; Bharat Bhawan, Bhopal; Jawahar Kala Kendra, Jaipur; NZCC, Patiala and J&K Academy of Art, Culture & Languages, Jammu and Srinagar etc. She was honoured by Indian Academy of Fine Arts, Amritsar; J&K Academy of Art, Culture & Languages, Jammu; All India Fine Art & Crafts Society, N.Delhi; Department of Plastic Arts, BHU, Benaras and Maha Kaushal Kala Parishad, Raipur etc. During one of the tribute paying programme of J&K Punjabi Sahit Sangam, held at K L Saigal Hall, Cultural Academy, Jammu, recently, S. Devinder Singh ‘Vishav Nagrik’ recited the following verse in her name: Her contribution has been acknowledged by various organizations by holding All India Art Exhibitions and literary programmes in the memory of Late (Smt.) Gobind Kaur. These organizations include Viraj Kala Kendra, Jammu; J&K Centre for Creative Arts (JKCCA),(Regd.), Jammu and J&K Punjabi Sahit Sangam (Regd.), Jammu.

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Speaking on Art & Culture:

Late (Smt.) Gobind Kaur – The First Woman Sculptor of J&K State

By Jang.S.Verman

Sculpture is a medium to play with masses to snatch out purposeful structure to look at. Though sculpture is familiar to all of us but the vastness of its field is known to a few. A person dealing with this field is known as Sculptor, generally a male person. It is a rare phenomena that women are engaged in this form of art. Smt. Gobind Kaur, a well known sculptor of J&K state, was such a woman who opted this field as her profession.

Late (Smt.) Gobind Kaur, a name in the field of art, had been the student of Late (Sh.) Vidya Ratan Khajuria, a well known sculptor of Jammu, became the first woman sculptor of J&K state. Born in 1954, in a lower middle class family, she had the aptitude towards drawing & painting which later-on turned to be her career. In the early days of her life she had to face the difficulties and mundane realities of life and tried hard to cope up with them. Even, during the days of her degree classes of fine arts, she had to manage her financial support by engaging herself in tuitions. Due to her hard working nature and sincerity of purpose, she was able to get service in the Institute of Music & Fine Arts, Srinagar, immediately after completing her degree in 1979.

In her work, following the footsteps of her teacher Sh. V R Khajuria, she started to make compositions in a style of her teacher i.e. non-figurative, free form compositions which were in progress those days among the sculptors. Smt. Gobind Kaur, sober and soft by heart and inclined towards humanitarian approach in her attitude, very soon melted her style of sculpture to figurative one. Soon human figures appeared in all aspects of her creativity. This made her free to express herself in her own way, which is a pre- requite for creativity and expression. The sculptures like ‘Girl with Skates’ speaks of her liberty as a woman as well as an artist. The theme of the sculpture depicts a girl on rollers as if flying in the air. The art got applauded when its entry in an art exhibition brought an award for this entry at BHU, Benaras. Subsequently more works poured out of her creative process and skillful hands. Her mind was filled with motherly affection towards small kids. She made so many portraits of young children she came across. Their innocence fascinated her and she could not resist from engaging those kids for making their portraits. The creative part of that practice proved to be fruitful. She made works in series on children like ‘The Little Monks’.

In the long experience with sculpture, she became familiar with multiple mediums like clay, terracotta, plaster of Paris, cement and metal casting, wood, metal and other non traditional materials and so forth. She had an adventurous approach towards learning different techniques and using material as medium. At one time, she associated herself with the professional utensil makers in metal (Bhathiar) to make herself efficient in their technique of moulding metals. She, not only played with these mediums but tested her skill in Graphic Art and Drawing mediums also. Her drawing ‘DEVI’ had been popular among her friends and acquaintances. She even did a lot of work in Wood Prints and was able to put up a show of prints titled “Devi’ at Kala Kendra, Jammu. She also attended workshop of printmaking at Jammu in this context. Her wood print titled ‘Devi’ was awarded in the AIFACS, N. Delhi and Cultural Academy joint show at Jammu also.

By her nature she was popular among her colleagues and known ones, for her peaceful and poise temperament. She generally was seen busy in her working with a view of a person tied with her dupatta on her head and a cup of tea nearby. According to Sh. Raj Kumar Behrupia, an Instructor in Music Deptt. of Institute of Music & Fine Arts, Jammu, ‘She had a religious bent of mind and devoted a few minutes to read pages from religious or pious scriptures prior to starting her routine work in the field. She, having qualities with difference and always busy doing something with sculpture, was a role model for students of the institution.’ According to Sh. Gokal Dembi, a retired teacher of Smt. Gobind Kaur at the Institute, ‘I always found Gobind Kaur as a dedicated worker and always burning herself to create something, finally turning to be a very good sculptor and created beautiful art pieces in this process.’ Dr. Lalit Gupta, an art historian & art critic writes in ‘Kashmir Insight’ - a magazine published from Srinagar (edited by Sh. Hasrat Gadda), ‘..a scenario the emergence of Gobind Kaur….as first modern woman sculptor of Jammu certainly merits a mention, her significance lies not only being the first female sculptor of Jammu Region of J&K but to remain steadfastly committed to chosen vacation till her death in a tragic road accident on 11th August, 2011.’

By virtue of her qualitative work, it was displayed at different places in the country like: New Delhi; Jaipur; Chandigarh; Raipur; Bombay; Srinagar; Bhopal; Jammu; Amritsar etc. She was invited to participate in artist camps and workshops at national level. She has attended All India Artists’ camp organized by Lalit Kala Akademi, N. Delhi at Jammu-2006; Graphics Workshop at Kala Kendra, Jammu-2006; All India Sculptors’ Camp by J&K Academy of Art, Culture & Languages, Srinagar-1978, Jammu- 1981, 2007; All India sculptors’ Camp by Jawahar Kala Kendra, Jaipur-1994; Art for Hospital Artists Camp by PGI, Chandigarh-1994; All India Artists camp by North Zone Cultural Centre, Patiala; Artists Camp by Viraj Kala Kendra, Jammu-1995 etc.

Her works were acquired by different art galleries and museums including Lalit Kala Akademi, New Delhi; Bharat Bhawan, Bhopal; Jawahar Kala Kendra, Jaipur; NZCC, Patiala and J&K Academy of Art, Culture & Languages, Jammu and Srinagar etc. She was honoured by Indian Academy of Fine Arts, Amritsar; J&K Academy of Art, Culture & Languages, Jammu; All India Fine Art & Crafts Society, N.Delhi; Department of Plastic Arts, BHU, Benaras and Maha Kaushal Kala Parishad, Raipur etc.

During one of the tribute paying programme of J&K Punjabi Sahit Sangam, held at K L Saigal Hall, Cultural Academy, Jammu, recently, S. Devinder Singh ‘Vishav Nagrik’ recited the following verse in her name:
Traashna Pathar Nu
Te Bhar Dena Wich Apne Andar Di Rooh,
Wah! But Ghaade, Kaadar Kudrat Nu Saaj.
Aap Rab Ban Baith
Tu But Ghaadi! Iss Shilap Kala Wich
Pahla Naam, Pahli Naari.
But Traashdi , Jeondey Haav Bhaav Banaandi,
Aap Khamosh, Jimven Sehaj Awastha ‘Ch,
Gum Sum, Kisse Rab To Ghat Nahin,
Tainu Mera Pranaam!

Her contribution has been acknowledged by various organizations by holding All India Art Exhibitions and literary programmes in the memory of Late (Smt.) Gobind Kaur. These organizations include Viraj Kala Kendra, Jammu; J&K Centre for Creative Arts (JKCCA),(Regd.), Jammu and J&K Punjabi Sahit Sangam (Regd.), Jammu.

(The writer can reach at jangs.verman@gmail.com)

(Opinions expressed in write-ups/articles/Letters are the sole responsibility of the authors and they may not represent the scoopnews.in)
Editor, Scoop News
...

* * *

Literary Tributes Programme

was organized by J&K Sahit Sangam (Regd.), Jammu

on 10th August, 2014

at Saigal Hall, Cultural Academy, Jammu

in the memory of

Late (Smt.) Gobind Kaur

* * *

S. Hardev Singh, well known Writer, was the Chief Guest,

S. Didar Singh, well known Short Story Writer and Retired Director, Door Darshan, Jalandhar, was the Guest of Honour and

S. Jang S. Verman, a well known Artist, was Special Guest

on this occasion.

S. Arvinder Singh Amn presided over the Function

The Guests were welcomed by the President, JKPSS, Jammu

A Punjabi Book titled- 'TRINJHAN' was released on this occasion

S. Baljit Singh Raina, a well known Writer, Film-Maker and Director presented the Programme

* * *
Paper Reading Session was conducted
on this occasion

Sh. Raj Kumar Behrupia, Musician, Radio & TV Artist and News Reader, presented his paper on Smt. Gobind Kaur

S. Didar Singh, presented his views on Smt. Gobind Kaur

Sh. Jang S. Verman, a well known Artist read out

Dr. Lalit Gupta, Art Historian's Article published in 'Kashmir Insight'

on the life & Work of Smt. Gobind Kaur

Songs were presented by different singers

* * *

A Kavi Darbar was conducted on this occasion

Prominent Punjabi Poets of J&K State recited their creations

on this occasion

Public gave a keen hearing in the Programme

* * *

Four Intellectuals contributing in different

fields of Art were Honoured on this occasion

S. Amrik Singh Namdhari, a well known Sculptor was honoured

for his contribution in the field of Sculpture

S. Didar Singh, a well known Short Story Writer was honoured

for his contribution in the field of Literature

Sh. Bhushan Kesar, a well known Painter was honoured

for his contribution in the field of Art

Sh. Fazal Fazi, a well known Singer was honoured

for his contribution in the field of Music

Sh. Raj Kumar Behrupia was felicitated for his contribution

in the programme

The Guests presented their views regarding the Programme

Group photo of guests with the honoured intellectuals

* * *

The following Poem in Punjabi

by S. Devender Singh Vishav Nagrik

dedicated to Smt. Gobind Kaur

was recited by him during the programme

The content of the Poem is reproduced in Roman Script as under:

But Taraash- Gobind Kaur Nu Shardhanjali

Shabad- Devinder Singh Vishavnagrik

Traashna Pathar Nu

Te Bhar Dena

Uss Wich

Apne Andar Di Rooh,

Wah! But Ghaade

Kaadar Kudrat Nu Saaj.

Aap Rab Ban Baitha

Te, Tu But Ghaadi!

Iss Shilap Kala Wich

Pahla Naam

Pahli Naari.

But Traashdi,

Jeonde Haav Bhaav Banaandi,

Aap Khamosh,

Jimven Sehaj Awastha ‘Ch,

Gum Sum,

Kisse Rab To Ghat Nahin,

Tainu, Mera Pranaam!

* * *

BRIEF INTRODUCTION

Sh. Raj Kumar 'Behrupia'

Sh Raj Kumar Sharma (Behrupia)

Born: 2^nd March, 1976

Qualification

Diploma In Music, JU-1993; Bachelor of Music, JU-1996; M.A. Mus., HPU- 2012; SET (Mus.), KU-2013; NET (Mus.), UGC- 2013; B-High Grade Drama Artist from Doordarshan Kendra, Jammu; Approved Announcer/ Comparer from AIR Jammu; Approved and Regular News Caster from Doordarshan Kendra, Jammu; Vani Certificate Course from AIR, Jammu.

Experience

Worked in different fields in various capacities like

Teaching Music since 1997; Music Arranger for Doordarshan Kendra Jammu; Classical Vocal singer for Radio Kashmir Jammu; Composer and Singer for Punjabi Adbi Sangat and J&K Academy of Art, Culture and Languages; .Vocalist for Kathak Dance, in Bhajan Sandhya; Music Composer/ Director and Compiled/ Arranged sounds and music for various plays.

Working as a professional actor, has worked with organization like J&K Academy of Art, Culture and Languages Rangyug, Natrang, Natshalla, Natyakarmi, Yavnika, Roopwani Kala Mandir, Sanatan Dharma Natak Samaj, Samooh Theatre, Rotary Club and Pancham Society.

Has attended many theatre workshops by Rangyug, 1994, 95, 96, 2001, 02, Workshop with Barry John organized by J&K Academy of Art, Culture and Languages in Collaboration with Sangeet Natak Academy, 2003, Play Product workshop 2005 organised by Rangyug in collaboration with National School of Drama etc.

Has Directed Plays like: Are Mayavi Sarowar- A Musical Play; Saraab – A Children Play; Machhar Katgharre Mein- A Children Play; Aey Natak Nai- Street Play; Ladki Pad Kar Kya Karegi- Street Play; The Refund- Short Play; Hari Ghas Par Ghante Bhar- An Experimental Play.

Has anchored many programmes including - Suresh Wadekar and Bhajan Sopori Musical Evening, Jammu Festival, 2008; Dogri Maanta Din, 2007;

An Evening with Sh. Ved Rahi, 2007; Festival of Indian Classical, Sufi & Folk Music by Sa Ma Pa Alap, 2008; Aazadi Express in 2007; many programmes by J&K Academy of Art, Culture and Languages and Institute of Music and Fine Arts etc.; Event Coordinator of Nukkad shows for 7 days, Jammu Festival, 2008.

Has done major roles in T.V. Serial telecast from Doordarshan, Jammu.

Has been honoured an awarded by J&K Academy of Art, Culture and Languages in 1995; 1999; Srinagar Doordarshan 2005; Hindi Sahitya Mandal, Jammu, 1988, 90; University of Jammu, 1991.

Presently working as:

Assistant Instructor (Harmonium)

Institute of Music & Fine Arts, Jammu-180001

Mob.: 09419112581

Email: Rajkumar Behrupia <behrupia@gmail.com>,

The followings are the Media Reports