Gulzar’s former mates recall his artistic genius

The year was 1951. School of Art,Shimla,had just opened in GTTQ building when its first student Gulzar Singh Gill walked in for admission in Art & Craft course. He appeared before then Principal S L Prasher for interview. “Gill’s keen interest in art saw him enrolled in the course in a matter of minutes. One that he not only mastered but did justice to. He brought laurels to the college,which later shifted to Chandigarh under the name Government College of Art,Chandigarh,” present principal of the Government College of Art Dr D S Kapoor sits down in the campus with his contemporaries to hold a condolence meet for the master artist who expired this month and mull over Gills work that included a series ‘War Melodies of Colours and Lines’ comprising landscapes which presented Chandigarh in various stages,moods and developmental aspects.

Amongst the first to capture Chandigarh complete with its trees,plants,hills,roads in the back drop of architectural marvels in water colour and in oil colours,“Gill was no stranger to the city. Being from a rural background he painted stray cattle,dogs,goats compared with markets,huts,trees and labourers,” Dr Kapoor also pulls out pictures of sculptures designed by Gill in wood and rope that depict the rich heritage of the region.

Gill celebrated golden jubilee of his life in the field of art in 1997 by exhibiting his work and dabbled in photography and Punjabi poetry. “As a person he was distinguished by his humanity camaraderie,commitment and organisational ability,” says Prof Jodh Singh (retd),who was a year junior to Gill. He informs that Gill gifted a portrait of Guru Govind Singh to the Khalsa High School and was fond of sketching nature.

Gill also took classes from Prof Baldev Raj Rattan and is said to have learnt the secrets of tone and perspective of depth in field while doing out door painting from him. “Following which he shifted from Government Model School,Sector 22,Government Basic Training College,to Government Girls Higher Secondary School,Sector 18,teaching art to students,” recalls Anjali,a teacher of the college,who was once his student.

“Gulzar Singh travelled his artistic journey by giving expression to his ideas and thoughts with feeling and emotions. Gulzar Singh was an artist of all seasons. He was tough and ever ready and not having him around is a serious loss for us and the artist community at large,” Dr Kapoor stands up to pay tribute to Gill,the first student of the college.