Shopian, Jul 04 (KNO): A Shopian boy has scripted an exotic art form, combining portrait illustration, poetry and calligraphy to preserve the cultural identity of the Gujjar community.
Hailing from Check Chotipora in south Kashmir's Shopian district, Mohammad Aslam Khatana, a 24-year-old from the Gujjar community, has pledged to preserve his community's cultural identity through his artwork.
Speaking with the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), Aslam said that from childhood, he observed their culture vanishing day by day. “We are responsible for preserving our culture and language ourselves, or they will disappear from this world. There is no superior or inferior culture; every culture is equally important,” he said. “I chose art, especially drawing portraits, because we know an 'image speaks louder than words,' and art has more magnetising power in delivering social issues or messages. Everyone respects art.”
Aslam, who is pursuing a bachelor's in law at the Central University of Kashmir, is a self-made artist. Creating portraits, delineating calligraphy and penning poetry in Gujjari and Urdu languages has become the norm of his life. “Art was in me from childhood, but the lack of platforms for art in Kashmir thwarted my interest, and I was not optimistic about it,” he said.
Aslam said that during school, he used to participate in art competitions, but they were not promising enough to hold his attention. “I was looking at my community and searching for its identity. I failed to find it, then decided to disseminate and preserve it through my artwork,” he said.
He said that belonging to a community where education is not prominent and the intuition of art is not encouraged, sharing thoughts about art was not backed by his family either. “I once participated in a district-level art competition and eventually received first prize. I was very excited that my parents would celebrate my accomplishment, but to my surprise, they behaved normally and directed me to pay attention to my studies,” he said.
“My family thinks that education is the best way to serve your community and, unlike art, it should be taken seriously. That opinion prompted me to continue my studies. I am the first person in my family to join a university. My family always appreciates it and they are benevolent about my studies," he added.
In 2019, Aslam uploaded a portrait of Ghulam Nabi Azad (former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir) on Facebook, which went viral, garnering huge praise for his artwork. “After receiving huge admiration, I commenced outlining portraits on a daily basis with an aim to foster our art and culture. Besides, I was regularly writing poetry in Urdu and Gujjari languages,” he said.
In 2020, Aslam was invited by Radio Kashmir to partake in a Gojri programme where he was honoured with an award and trophy for his contribution to promoting Gujjar culture and language. “One day, High Court Chief Justice Ali Mohammed Magray paid a visit to our department at the University. I gifted him his portrait. Upon receiving it, he complimented me and my art, and that was the time my teachers and classmates started realising my art side,” he said.
He also presented a portrait to the former Central University of Kashmir Vice-Chancellor Mehraj ud-Din on the day of his farewell, and in return, the vice-chancellor honoured him with a shawl and certificate. “Now teachers and colleagues adore me on every occasion and I am feeling blessed. Often, friends call me to illustrate their respective portraits and they are ready to pay a huge sum,” he said.
Aslam has always been fond of Allama Dr Iqbal (RA. and his literary work since childhood. He considers Allama Iqbal his mentor in Urdu language poetry and Taj-ud-Din Taj, a famous poet from Uri, his mentor in Gujjari language. “In the future, I will publish my poetry in both Urdu and Gujjari languages to preserve my language. I have emphasized education, lifestyle, and culture of our community in my poetry,” he said.
“I have mostly done Islamic calligraphy with the motive to add to my religious endorsement, and I believe religion is the most important part of our culture,” he said, adding, “Our community follows religion with great pride and satisfaction. So the tone of faith makes my art reliable and plausible.”
Art has always taken a front seat when it comes to disseminating any social issue or message, he said, adding, “I believe anyone can serve people through education, but only a few can serve through art and culture.”
Aslam operates Facebook and Instagram pages under the name "Aslam Anwar." “I am getting a huge response whenever I upload any portrait, poetry, or calligraphy. That boosts my morale and keeps me active,” he said.
He said that as technology advances, it has become easy to craft digital art, but he prefers handwritten art over it. “People are more drawn to handwritten art than digital art, which is why I prefer it,” he said.
Aslam believes we should shun reluctance about choosing artwork as a career option. “With time, art is magnetizing people with a minute glimpse, so we should remain optimistic about its bright future. Art has become a sacred tool to captivate people, and I request every parent to support their children when it comes to art and craft. Believe me, artists receive the most respect in society,” he said.
So far, he has received many awards for his artwork and poetry. On Republic Day 2020, he was honored with a certificate and medal for his contribution to the Gojri language. He is constantly taking part in "Mushairahs" and art competitions to pursue his dream of preserving the community's art and culture.
At the DIET level, he has accomplished three awards and won three inter-school competitions. He believes that the youth of the Gujjar community are very talented, and if they are nurtured well and provided opportunities, they can excel in any field—(KNO)