Indian artist sees the thing itself either by sūkşma-dŗşti, the soul-sight, or by dhyāna, a spiritual union with the
object studied in which the truth it expresses dawns on the mind by the process
of revelation. This he transfers to canvas by letting his inspired and informed
Will guide the pencil and the brush instead of using his intellect or merely
technical means to find the best way of expression.
Sri Aurobindo
Krishnalal K Bhatt was born on 1 July 1905 in
He along with Jayantilal Parekh had studied painting at
Shantiniketan under the watchful eye of the famous painter of the time, Nandlal
Bose.
Once Nandlal-babu asked Krishnalal, “Do you see that
tree standing over there?” He then told him to make a painting of it.
Krishnalal within a few hours was back with the replica
of the painting. Seeing the beautiful painting, Nandlal-babu said, “I asked you
to paint the picture of the tree standing over there. Have you observed it in
the sun-light and moon-light? seen it standing there in the darkness and in
full light? Have you observed it in Vasant and Grishma? in Varsha, Shishir and Hemant?
[the sixth season in
Such was the teacher! It is natural that the product
also would be exceptional.
I myself learnt painting under the eye of
Jayantilal-bhai, in 1957. We used to sit in the School courtyard and paint
flowers, plants, trees, and different classes.
Krishnalal-ji joined Sri Aurobindo Ashram on 10 August 1933.
Among some of his great works under the watchful eye of
the Mother are:
1) The breaking waves, a painting just behind the Mother's
Chair on the 1st floor of the Ashram.
2) Paintings all along the partition on the 1st floor
of the Mother's room.
3) The seven huge paintings done for the drama of 1st
December 1956. The Mother herself had directed this drama. Parul-di, one of the
aspirants, vividly remembers the way she herself showed her the movement. Each
painting was of the size of the whole stage on the backdrop. Imagine the amount
of physical work that must have been put into it! Besides you had to mount on a
ladder.
Out of hundreds of dramas that I have seen and
performed this is the best that I recollect till date!
4) The mural on the Villianur temple (is in bad shape)
5) On the request of the French government, Mother had
asked Krishnalal to make 4 life-size paintings for the Mairie-hall. They were
put up too! But today we don't find them. May be, when the French left, they
took them along.
6) He has hundreds of paintings and drawings, small and
big, study of crows and animals. He along with his younger brother Vasudev built
up the Studio of the Ashram.
7) His last work, though health failed him, was the
Golconde mural.
A painting by Krishnalal
The above painting was done by Krishnalal in June 1948
in the Ashram premises. The man walking on the pathway is exactly the spot
where within a little more than 2 years later the Samadhi of Sri Aurobindo
would come!
Let us remember this great soul in humility and
gratitude, by breathing in his colourful greatness!
Salvation of Ahalya by Nandlal Bose, the
The author sends me the following note accompanying the painting of the Golconde Mural. “This Mural by Krishnalal is based on a vision of the Mother in which she saw herself seated in front of a great vastness where people were coming to her from all parts of the world. They were bringing their offerings to her and she was blessing them.” ~ RYD
Golconde Mural by Krishnalal
