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Copyrights of Sobha Singh's Paintings on Sale

by AMRITA CHAUDHRY

 

 

The family of legendary painter Sardar Sobha Singh has decided to sell the copyrights of all his paintings. These include some of the rare paintings which were in possession of the family members till now.

Hridaypal Singh, grandson of the painter said "There is a huge demand for the prints of his paintings. We cannot cope up with it, sitting here in Andretta."

Hridaypal Singh and his mother Gurcharan Kaur look after the legacy of the renowned artist.

His works are now showcased at his residence in Andretta, which was converted into a gallery after his death in 1986.

Hirdaypal, who is also the secretary general of Sobha Singh Memorial Art Society, said apart from the intention to spread the art, the unauthorised and fake prints in the market was also the reason behind the decision to sell the copyrights. A large number of fake prints of the famous paintings by the artist have flooded the market in India and abroad, he said.

Sobha Singh, who spent most of his life in Andretta, Himachal Pradesh, has been one of the most popular artists of the twentieth century on the sub-continent. His works include paintings of Sikh Gurus, Bhagat Farid, Bhagat Ravidas, Maharaja Ranjit Singh, Sohni-Mahiwal, Jesus Christ carrying the cross, Sardar Bhagat Singh, the Hindu gods Ram and Krishna, Omar Khayyam, Nehru  and Gaddan.

A big panel by him depicting evolution of Sikh history, of Guru Nanak with Bala and Mardana on one side and Guru Gobind Singh on the other, dorns the walls of the Indian Parliament.

Around two dozen prints of his paintings are available at present.  

Some of the most popular works of Sobha Singh are of the Sikh Gurus, as well as those based on Sikh/ Punjabi lore and culture. When asked if the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee would come forward to buy the rights of these painting, the SGPC chief Avtar Singh said," We will consider the matter if it is brought to us. The family members of  Sobha Singh can get in touch with us and we can consider the proposal. His contribution to Sikh art and paintings is unparalleled."

 

[Courtesy: Indian Express]

May 27, 2010 

Conversation about this article

1: Surinder (Massachusetts, U.S.A.), May 27, 2010, 4:11 PM.

The comments by the SGPC head is most revealing, "... Family members of Sobha Singh family can get in touch with us", but we,the SGPC big-shot officers will not do anything to reach them. Who needs enemies, with leaders like these?

2: Pritam Singh Grewal (Canada), May 27, 2010, 9:59 PM.

Surinder ji: it's exactly how I felt on reading the S.G.P.C. head's comments!

3: Kartar Singh Bhalla (New Delhi, India), May 28, 2010, 12:47 AM.

The comments "... Family members of Sobha Singh family can get in touch with us" show how stand-offish, self-centred, indifferent and arrogant the SGPC is today. Sardar Sobha Singh's paintings are so priceless, so historic, so rare, that SGPC should grab the opportunity to acquire them and, if in this process, they have to go to the other end of the world to do so, they should not think twice.

4: Surinder (Massachusetts, U.S.A.), May 28, 2010, 11:37 AM.

Sobha Singh ji is the Michaelangelo of Sikhism. Let me correct that: Michaelangelo was the Sobha Singh of Christianity. I don't have anything more to say. If the S.G.P.C. does not know that, there is a serious problem.

5: Harpreet Makkar (Brampton, Ontario, Canada), July 18, 2010, 4:46 PM.

S.G.P.C. knows/ does everything other than the job it was created for. It's so unfortunate for the Sikhs around the world that the S.G.P.C. members are nothing but pawns in the hands of their political masters fulfilling their political aspirations and damaging the values of Sikhism on their way.

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