5 min readAmritsarUpdated: Jan 12, 2026 06:17 AM IST
Balbinder Kumar (Left); The fresco he is restoring, which is a replica of the first and the only "realist" painting of Guru Gobind Singh (Right) (Express photo)
Two hundred years after Maharaja Ranjit Singh commissioned the Guru Gobind Singh painting that hangs inside the Golden Temple, hiring an artist from Kangra, the shrine has turned to the same Himachal Pradesh district for its restoration and a second copy.
A PhD in Pahari miniature painting, Balbinder Kumar has been working on the Guru Gobind Singh fresco since August last year. Kumar, who is employed as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Interdisciplinary Studies at the Indian Institute of Himalayan Studies, Himachal Pradesh University, and belongs to Kangri village in Kangra, was first contacted for the restoration of old paintings of the 9th Sikhu Guru, Tegh Bahadur, at the historical Baba Bakala gurdwara near Amritsar in 2021.
Then came the Golden Temple assignment. Says Kumar: “I usually come on the weekends from Shimla to do this work. I am not doing it for money. I feel lucky that the Guru chose me.”
For the duration of the work, Kumar has decided to keep unshorn hair as per the Sikh code. “I decided not to cut my hair after I was assigned the seva. Nobody asked me, there was no condition. It was my own decision, as the Guru guided me.”
The UK-based Guru Nanak Nishkam Sewak Jatha, which takes care of the goldplating of Golden Temple, contacted Kumar for the restoration work. Its representative Inderjit Singh said, “We hired Balbinder Kumar as he comes from the same region, Kangra, from where the first artist who made the painting of Guru Gobind Singh came. We thought he would be the best person to restore the old one and remake the new one.”
The work is painstaking, Kumar says. “The fresco secco masterpiece created during Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s era has weathered centuries, its natural pigments flaking due to natural reactions. I am using the same painting techniques and natural pigments for restoration.”
The stress is on using the same techniques “without any changes”. “There are two types of fresco (mural painting on plaster) – fresco secco (on dry plaster) and fresco buono (on wet plaster). In this case, the work was done in secco, which means that colours are prepared and then their layers applied. With passage of time, layers tend to come off the wall due to dampness or climate issues,” says Kumar.
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In her book on the Golden Temple, Madanjit Kaur wrote about the fresco: “In this painting, Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth Master of the faith, is shown on horseback in the company of five beloved ones (Panj Piyaras), with an attendant holding a chauri (flywhisk) behind the horse. One of the leading persons holds a falcon in his right hand, whereas the second one is carrying the Sikh standard. We find some typical motifs of weapons depicted on this flag. A running dog has also been painted near the horse.”
Kumar, who calls his mother Rooma Devi who used to make paintings of Sikh Gurus as his first teacher, says he was inspired to take up higher studies in Kangra style of painting by Samuel Gill, the late student of artist Phulan Rani. He attributes his unique interest to belonging to the same region as Kangra King Maharaja Sansar Chandra, who is credited with patronising the painting style. Kumar’s village Kangri lies about 15 km from what is considered the birthplace of Sansar Chandra.
After he won Kangra, Maharaja Ranjit Singh had found what is considered the first and only “realist” painting depicting Guru Gobind Singh in the collection of Sansar Chandra. The latter declined to give the painting to Ranjit Singh, and so the Maharaja hired an artist from the family of the painter of the original one for a replica at Darbar Sahib.
While the original painting is estimated to have been built in the period between the end of the 17th century and the beginning of the 18th, Maharaja Ranjit Singh got the replica made in the first half of the 19th century.
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Kumar says he is cognizant of the legacy he is carrying forward. “The other two artists were from Kangra. It is the blessing of the Guru that I have got this opportunity… I cannot exactly say when my work will be completed, perhaps it will take a couple more visits and I will be done by March… Time doesn’t matter here.”
Kamaldeep Singh Brar is a Principal Correspondent at The Indian Express, primarily covering Amritsar and the Majha region of Punjab. He is one of the publication's key reporters for stories involving the Akal Takht, the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), and the sensitive socio-political issues of the border districts.
Core Beats & Specializations
Religious & Panthic Affairs: He has deep expertise in the internal workings of the Akal Takht and SGPC, frequently reporting on religious sentences (Tankhah), Panthic politics, and the influence of Sikh institutions.
National Security & Crime: His reporting covers cross-border drug smuggling, drone activities from Pakistan, and the activities of radical groups.
Regional Politics: He is the primary correspondent for the Majha belt, covering elections and political shifts in Amritsar, Tarn Taran, and Gurdaspur.
Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025)
His work in late 2025 has been centered on judicial developments, local body elections, and religious controversies:
1. Religious Politics & Akal Takht
"Akal Takht pronounces religious sentences against former Jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh" (Dec 8, 2025): Covering the historic decision to hold the former Jathedar guilty for granting a pardon to Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim in 2015.
"YouTube suspends SGPC’s channel for a week over video on 1984 Army action" (Nov 20, 2025): Reporting on the digital friction between global tech platforms and Sikh religious bodies.
"As AAP govt grants Amritsar holy tag, a look at its fraught demand" (Nov 28, 2025): An analytical piece on the long-standing demand for declaring Amritsar a "holy city" and its political implications.
2. Crime & National Security
"Mostly Khalistanis on Amritpal’s hit list: Punjab govt to High Court" (Dec 16, 2025): Reporting on the state government's claims regarding jailed MP Amritpal Singh orchestrating activity from prison.
"Punjab man with links to Pakistan’s ISI handlers killed in encounter" (Nov 20, 2025): Detailing a police operation in Amritsar involving "newly refurbished" firearms likely sent from across the border.
"15 schools in Amritsar get bomb threat emails; police launch probe" (Dec 12, 2025): Covering the panic and police response to mass threats against educational institutions.
3. Political Analysis & Elections
"AAP wins 12 of 15 zones in SAD stronghold Majitha" (Dec 19, 2025): Highlighting a significant shift in the 2025 rural elections where the Akali Dal lost its grip on a traditional fortress.
"Tarn Taran bypoll: woman faces threats after complaining to CM Mann about drug menace" (Nov 9, 2025): A ground report on the personal risks faced by citizens speaking out against the illegal drug trade in border villages.
"AAP wins Tarn Taran bypoll, but SAD finds silver lining" (Nov 14, 2025): Analyzing the 2025 assembly by-election results and the surprising performance of Independents backed by radical factions.
4. Human Interest
"Two couples and a baby: Punjab drug addiction tragedy has new victims" (Nov 20, 2025): A tragic investigative piece about parents selling an infant to fund their addiction.
"Kashmiri women artisans debut at Amritsar’s PITEX" (Dec 8, 2025): A feature on financial independence initiatives for rural women at the Punjab International Trade Expo.
Signature Beat
Kamaldeep is known for his nuanced understanding of border dynamics. His reporting often highlights the "drug crisis in the underprivileged localities" (like Muradpur in Tarn Taran, Nov 9, 2025), providing a voice to marginalized communities affected by addiction and administrative neglect.
X (Twitter): @kamalsbrar ... Read More
