Kashmir-1954

In the vicinity of Jhelum

KS Correspondent

Nature has created Kashmir as one of the most scenic Valleys on earth. From time to time, foreign travellers have captured this beauty in their cameras. Others have painted this beauty on canvas and in drawing sketches.

In the summer of 1954 Laxman alias Sudhakar Ganesh Khasgiwale, an artist from Poona, visited Kashmir to capture and sketch Kashmir in its beauty and life-style.

Ganesh Khasgiwale was trained in Art (Painting) by Late Shri M.R. Achrekar, the celebrated artist of India. The Art society of India granted him scholarship. He used the opportunity to visit Kashmir and stayed there for six months. It was the time when the coloured photography techniques were not reached to India. With a very old camera viz Ziess Ikon-Ikonta model 1936 he photographed Kashmir's beautiful nature in black and white. In his collection there are beautiful photographs of the old city of Srinagar, on social life of Kashmiri Pandit community and its shrines, on day-to-day life of Hanjis, the boat-people etc.

Khasgiwale was awarded first prize and trophy from Achrekar's Academy of Art. He won numerous awards from exhibitions held at different places. In his one-man exhibitions at Pune, Mumbai, Delhi, Srinagar and Ahmednagar he had tremendous success.

Laxman got practical experience in photography and commercial art during his apprenticeship in the RK Films of the famous actor and director Late Sh. Raj Kapoor. Subsequently he was to float his own concern "Khasgiwale Chitrayan" in Pune. He made a big name in printery and book decoration. Khasgiwale was honoured to decorate a book 'Lamps of India', a prestigious publication of Govt. of India.

In 1971 Laxman started an Advertising Agency, "Shree Padma Publicity". He designed folders, informative literature, publicity material for industrial houses, educational institutions, commercial establishments and offices.

His highly informative articles on art and allied subjects in various periodicals and books have been well-received. Laxman's radio talks were highly appreciated. He published a book on 'sketching' for the students and for those who have a desire to learn painting. At present he is working on a favourite subject viz. 'Indian Art and Design'. Khasgiwale, during his sojourn in Kashmir, studied the Arts and Crafts of Kashmir. In the process, he became one with the nature--human beings, flora and fauna. The humanistic and the Connoisseur attitude inspired him to pen and pencil some of the characters he met. These sketches, have been published in the book 'Chinarchi Pane' in Marathi language. The book is also scheduled to appear in Hindi and English.

For the exiled Pandit community in Pune, May 2002 was a big moment. Khasgiwale organised an exhibition of his photographs - In the vicinity of Jhelum. His book 'Chinarchi Pane' was also released during the exhibition. The exhibition was inaugurated by Lt. Gen. Moti Dar (Retd.), whereas the book was released by another Kashmiri, Shri Pran Kishore, a noted playwright.

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