Padma Shri awardee painter makes the most of lockdown

Balkrishan Prashar

Chamba, June 29

Vijay Sharma, a Padma Shri awardee painter from Chamba, is creating Pahari masterpieces during the lockdown period. He has already crafted six paintings in Basohli and Kangra styles for Bhuri Singh Museum, where he is currently working.

His paintings bring together art, history and colours of the Himalayas. His works take one back to the days of Pahari painting and are reminiscent of the styles of master painters like Devidas of Basohli and Nainsukh of Guler.

Sharma is skilled in all leading styles of Pahari painting, which include those of Kangra, Guler, Chamba and Mandi. Though he does not come from a traditional Pahari painter family, Basohli style is his forte.

He is one of those who is conversant with the ‘Takri’ script. He says he owes the success he achieved to the maestros that practised the art before him. However, he says he is especially indebted to the late Dr VC Ohri, the eminent scholar.

Sharma has travelled widely in India and abroad and possesses an encyclopedic knowledge of Pahari arts. He is not only a painter but an art critic, art historian and a writer. He has imparted training to scores of junior practitioners of the art.