Tragedy struck Amritsar-based doctor turns to art therapy

Neha Saini

Tribune news service

Amritsar, August 25

While she struggled to get her life back on track after the tragic accident in December 2019, Dr Anupama Gupta discovered the artist in her. The doctor, who was lauded for her bravery and selfless action as she saved five lives in a highway pile up in 2019, while losing her legs in the aftermath, is now being celebrated as an artist.

Read more about Dr Anupama Gupta's tragic accident 

Unveiling a series of paintings that she made during her one and half year journey of healing her inner and outer wounds, at the art gallery, Dr Anupama seemed overwhelmed, “I still cannot believe that my paintings have been displayed and found appreciation from the people present here,” she said.

The exhibition was inaugurated by MLA Sunil Dutti and Vikramjeet Singh Duggal, the Commissioner of Police. The event also saw the launch of a coffee table book Jugalbandi, which is opened down by Dr Anupama’s husband, Dr Raman Gupta, which gives an elaborative and poetic description of Anupama’s paintings. “I was never into painting or took up any creative classes. But after my accident, as I struggled to deal with excruciating physical pain and mental trauma, my daughter Arushi, who is also a doctor, handed me a sketch book and asked me to just draw whatever came to my mind,” she shared.

Her work of art begins with miniatures made up of water colours, using metaphors that reflect her own journey of rising from her adversity. Some of the earliest paintings done by her include butterfly motifs, symbolising a power within oneself to rise above any situation and transformation. Another painting, titled ‘Free Soul’, is about longing to be free, to break out of limitations. Some of her paintings of Radha Krishna, Lord Shiva are about the spiritual strength she derived from the divine. “Art has been like a creative meditation for me throughout my recovery. I did face some challenges but eventually started loving it.