Lalit Gupta
Name of Book : Painting and Theatre in
Kashmir-Suraj Tikku’s Journey
Author : Dr Ramesh Tamiri
Language : English
Publisher : Suraj Foundation, Jammu
Price 650 (HB), Rs. 300 (PB)
Penned down by Dr Ramesh Tamiri, a practicing ophthalmologist, the book ‘Painting and Theatre in Kashmir: Suraj Tikku’s Journey”, is no doubt first of its kind
significant account of the state of arts in 20th century in Kashmir in particular and J&K in general.
What makes the book noteworthy as well as a model for academic research is the way Dr Tamiri along with extensive research of old documents and records has
successfully used the hitherto untapped resource of oral history to trace development of modern phase of visual arts and theatre in Kashmir from early decades till the close of 20th century.
The Dogra century (1846-1947) which witnessed the waning of almost all traditional art and craft practices, influence of touring foreign artists, itinerant Raas Lila
parties from Mathura and other places, popularity of Parsi theatre in J&K and subsequent influence upon Ram Lila practice in the State, introduction of the epoch-making art pedagogy introduced by Technical Schools, forays of the Valley artists in other advanced centers of the country like Lahore, Calcutta, Bombay—all have been documented in the book with meticulous details.
Dr Tamiri’s in a brilliant sweep of scholarship while tracing the ancient legacy of Kashmir’s artistic and cultural practices has focused at the critical juncture when myriad instruments of modernity made their appearance and brought about fundamental changes in artistic techniques, modes of production and public taste. But it is the chronicling of the decades before and after the cultural renaissance in the State
wherein the political and the cultural were inextricably interwoven that emerges as the main area of focus of the book. The formation of cultural front, and other
cultural organizations that provided platform for artistic minded individuals in the fields of visual arts and theater and the give and take between the two arts in form of set designs and painting of backdrop curtains etc, has been very well brought out.
Although the main focus of the book is the life and journey of Suraj Tikku as a painter and theatre personality, but the way Dr Tamiri places Tikku’s versatile personality in the overall context of other luminaries and links his creative journey as a painter as well as theatre actor, set designer, the book emerges as an account of new ideas and techniques that became synonyms of modern art practice, especially after 1930s in J&K.
The chapter on Suraj Tikku, gives details of his fine arts training Amar Singh Technical Institute, job of a drawing teacher in Hoshiarpur, Punjab, return to Kashmir, joining as drawing master in a government school and in 1966 his joining Songs and Drama Division and his final employment in the School of Designs,
Srinagar, where his talent in landscape painter found its fullest expression.
Tikku’s dedication to theatre and his contributions as set designer, actor etc speak of his passion for both painting and theatre. The brief notes on other luminaries in the fields of painting, sculpture and different theatre groups and the plays staged, the brief sketches of leading theatre personalities of Kashmir, along with documentary evidences and photographs, bestow upon Dr Tamiri’s book the status of reference source that is going to prove invaluable for scholars, researchers, students as well as educated laymen.
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