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Last two months, we have seen an amazing change in the world. The unfolding events in Iraq should have been my focus for this editorial. However, we have had an overdose of this war. So, I have chosen to write on something, which has really touched my heart and soul – my darshan of the famous comtemporary artist of India, S H. Raza (SHR). I have always been attracted to the paintings by this eminent Indian artist. His paintings are very spiritual, and I have been like a magnet to his work. SHR has been living in Paris for over 40 years. During my recent business trip to Paris, I requested the concierge to track down the address and phone number of SHR. He did. One day while returning from work, I just called him. And guess what, he answered the phone. He had just returned from India that morning! I introduced myself humbly, and request an audience with him at his convenient time. Despite being so famous and his work being sold years in advance (even before he starts the paintings), he invited me to his home the same evening. Within an hour, I track down his apartment/studio.
He lives in Cite du Couvent on Rue de Charonne, which is an old and classified monument in Paris. Built in the 17th century, it was a convent for nuns, and after the French revolution became residential quarters. Lord Hanuman is guiding me throughout, and I rang his door-bell. SHR opens the door himself. He is 81 years old, and his face had the humility, softness and peace seen in only holy men or women. I touch his feet respectfully, and told him why I was attracted to his work. He starts reciting mantras and shlokas, and explains the influence of the Upanishads in his life and work. I share some of the teachings of GuruMaa. I mention to him how She explains that Her religion is that of humanity. He takes me to his studio. In one corner of the studio, he shows me his altar. He has the holy Quran, the holy Cross and Lord Ganesha all co-existing peacefully next to each other. He is a Moslem by birth, married to a Catholic and strongly influenced by the Vedic philosophy! He lamented the conflicts around the world in the name of religion. If only everyone understood the true essence of the philosophies behind the religions.
As a young boy, he mentioned that right opposite his house in Mandala, Madhya Pradesh was a Lord Hanuman temple, and he would visit the temple everyday and chant prayers to Hanuman. As I start looking around, I see a couple of antique bronzes of Lord Hanuman placed right next to his writing desk. His apartment/studio was like visiting a temple or museum. He had Shiv-Langams, stretched Gujarati/Rajasthani fabrics, original Kalighat paintings, stones of different shapes and colors, many bronzes of various Gods and Goddesses. And he had shelves and shelves of books. Books on religions, art and scores of poetry books –Tukaram, Ghalib, Mahadevi, Surdas etc.
I requested to buy books, prints or any canvasses he would have for me. He touched my hands, and thanked me for finding spirituality in his paintings and offered me some artist copies of his work! He accepted my check – from a total stranger, and I walked away a bigger fan then I was before I entered his studio. I really believe that he is spreading a sublime spiritual message through his work, just like GuruMaa does through Her teachings and pravachans, Pandit Jasraj does through his music, and Sonal Mansingh does through her dance. Our ancient traditions rooted in their work for this generation, and for generations to come.
As Sri Ashok Vaypayi wrote in his book on SHR, “Raza, in his ultimate phase, has taken to a poetics of simplicity, intensity and passion. He is forever celebrating in colour. There is an unmistakable humility rooted in confidence and competence. Painterly aesthetics and spiritual concerns meet in consonance. The gap between life and art has narrowed. Raza lives to paint and paints to live. The life of the physical body and the life of the canvas converge beautifully… He is in Paris and yet in India… He would heartily endorse the view of Gertrude Stein: But what good are the roots if you cannot taken them with you. Raza has carried his roots with him and they continue to nourish him both aesthetically and spiritually…” He explained to me, just like Guru Maa does all the time, the importance of the five elements (Panch Tatva). “We are aware of the five elements that constitute the human body, our world and the other worlds: earth, water, fire, air and sky. We also discern the sixth element, which is the soul, atma, perceptible to human senses and yet beyond reasoning. In painting the five elements we use the five colors: black, white, yellow, red and blue, giving birth to a vision of nature. But the most perfect orchestration of colour and form is insufficient if the painting is not invested by profound feeling. This is possible only in an elevated state of direct perception. How this miracle happens, how this state is achieved, how one feels – not even the artist knows. However, the best of poetry, the finest music, the most significant art takes place in this ‘etat de grace’. The artist seems to be only the medium, an executor; the dictates come from higher forces which give energy, clear perception and infuse the soul, which is indispensable to art’
SHR has aptly said, “Divya Shaktiyon Ke Sahayoga Ke Bina Kala Nahin”
How true! Hope the readers also get to see some of his work, and are equally inspired.
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