Sobha Singh Artist: Life & Legacy

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The magic of Sardar Sobha Singh, an eminent artist of the twentieth century, continues to live even after his death in the year 1986. During his life, articles on his life and works were regularly penned and published in magazines and newspapers but no book was compiled. It was in November 1986 that a book consisting of articles on him was produced, and later, during his birth centenary year 2001-2002, some literature was produced. There is no comprehensive authentic biography on the saint-artist, as he was called due to the divine brush with which he painted religious paintings and other works, which left an indelible mark on the realm of the art world.

Sobha Singh had an uneasy childhood but from a neglected child, he rose to a widely loved and respected artist with innumerable admirers in India and several other countries. A man of vision, Sobha Singh was a versatile genius. Though a renowned artist, several other facets of his persona have mostly remained unknown. He was a skilled sculptor, writer, and poet in his own right. He took a keen interest in gardening. To sum up the versatility of this towering figure, among all the arts he practiced, it was his art of living that made him distinctive. His philosophy can be summed up in the 'Grow More Good' slogan affixed prominently on the façade of his residence-cum-art gallery complex situated in the quaint Andretta village in the lap of shimmering Dhauladhar ranges of the mighty Himalayas.

In my 23 years growing up under his aura during his lifetime, and around 35 years after him, looking after his legacy, I have realized that it was his vision for art and beauty, especially Sikh art, which has continuously reverberated in the hearts of onlookers. He firmly believed that to paint the divine, one has to harmonize himself with divinity by a very high character, dedication, devotion, and sincerity. Sobha Singh believed that it was essential for an artist to have a very high character; without it, nobody can place his heart into the painting and manifest the soul in it. This needs sincere and continued efforts to achieve the blessings of God for attaining success. It calls for deep faith in Waheguru (Almighty) and total self-surrender to Him. Without self-surrender, the benevolence of the Waheguru cannot prevail. Sobha Singh was simplicity and humility personified and he called himself a mere tool of Waheguru and attributed his art to be the blessings of Waheguru.

'Know thyself and be thyself had been his advice to all seekers and it was only after his departure that I realized that it was primarily my duty to assist my mother Bibi Gurcharan Kaur in taking care of the invaluable works. Later, I made it my mission to conserve, preserve, and propagate his art, life, and philosophy. This book is an extension of the mission, a humble effort to present his life to the readers with little glimpses of his art and philosophy, which need separate treatises. Most of the matter in Punjabi, including poems by the artist, has been translated with an effort to retain the essence.

Sardar Sobha Singh: An Immortal Sewak of the Guru

During my visit to Andretta along with members of the National Commission for Minorities (NCM), I could sense the magic of S. Sobha Singh, an eminent artist of the twentieth century, even after his departure for his heavenly abode in 1986.

Andretta, a remote village near Palampur, a little known hamlet in the Kangra valley on the foothills of the Himalayas, secured its place on the international art map with the classic art works of S Sobha Singh. His legacy is kept shining by his loving daughter Bibi Gurcharan Kaur and ably assisted by her son Dr Hirday Paul Singh. They have converted Andretta into an everpopular tourist destination not only for art lovers and enthusiasts but for all those who may derive aesthetic pleasure from his creations and, in turn, could appreciate the same.

S. Sobha Singh was born on 29 November 1901 at the historical town of Sri Hargobindpur, established by the sixth Guru of Sikhs. We see that since his childhood and early years he had a profound love for art. During his military service, he got an opportunity to visit Baghdad, where he came in touch with the painters and would love to spend time and discuss art with them. He also worked as a freelance artist for many years after his return to India. During the time of partition, he was in Lahore but later he shifted to Andretta and settled at this peaceful and serene place for the rest of his life.

During his long stay of almost four decades at Andretta, S. Sobha Singh lived a life of saint and was revered as an elder person by all the villagers around his Ashram. We were told that people felt some spiritual power in him and used to bring their children for blessings.

For centuries, various artists have painted portraits and miniature sketches of Guru Nanak and there are more than 60 such coloured paintings in the first Janam Sakhi which is kept in the British Library, London. S. Sobha Singh has done a series of paintings on Sikh Gurus. The portrait he made in honour of Guru Nanak on his 500th birth anniversary in 1969 is the one which most people believe to be the visage of Guru Nanak. This particular painting adorns almost all the houses of Sikhs, world over.

S. Sobha Singh is known for the portraits of Sikh Gurus but he has also acclaimed international fame by his paintings of Sohni Mahiwal, Heer Ranjha, etc. He also painted impressive portraits of national heroes and leaders like Shaheed Bhagat Singh, Kartar Singh Sarabha, Mahatma Gandhi, Lal Bahadur Shastri, etc. His murals are displayed in the gallery of the Indian Parliament House, New Delhi depicting the evolution of Sikh history. One can see and admire Guru Nanak with Bala and Mardana on one side and Guru Gobind Singh in meditation on the other.

I was present when Rashtrapati Giani Zail Singh conferred him with Padma Shree in 1983 and witnessed the thunderous applause from the dignitaries present on that occasion.