Trilok Singh Chitarkar

Trilok Singh Chitarkar (1914–1990) was an Indian painter. He style of presented himself through variety of themes - Sikh religion, history, culture, folk lore, love legends, portraits, social evils, nature, illustration of Gurbani, Shabads, visuals in Punjabi Encyclopedia and books. He was well versed with deep knowledge of Gurbani, history and religion. He knew many languages i.e. Gurmukhi, Punjabi, Hindi, English, Urdu, Persian, Assamese and Bengali. Language department, Punjab published a book in Punjabi-Chitralok's Contribution to Art and released on the 70th birthday of the artist, 10 December 1984 at a special function organised in Central Library at Patiala for his contribution to Art. was awarded by Punjabi University, Patiala. A Gold medal has been established in the name of the artist and it is awarded to the topper of M.A. Fine Arts. He was appointed as a State Artist in erstwhile PEPSU state of Punjab in 1948 and later worked as Artist in Department of Languages, Punjab. He lived and worked all over India and spent last years of his life in Patiala town in Punjab state in India.

Biography

Early life Trilok Singh was born in village Jartauli, District Ludhiana to father Gurdit Singh and mother Daya Kaur. He was married to Harbans Kaur and has one daughter and three sons.

His father was a civil engineer, who worked in the Uganda Railway, Cape Government Railways, South African Republic and then in East Bengal Railways at Assam. His mother died during his childhood and he spent his childhood in Jartauli under the supervision of his grandfather Baba Daya Singh.His grandfather's knowledge of Gurbani was a boon and blessing for him beyond limits. The artist always felt that his success in life and art is only due to good training, blessing, motivation of his grandfather. He was studying in 10th class in a school at Kila Raipur, District Ludhiana when his grandfather died.

Education and training In 1930, his father took him to Assam and gave him the responsibility to prepare land for agriculture purpose. He lived in Punjabi Basti in Lanka, District Nawgong, Assam. The natural beauty of Assam attracted him. In his free time he enjoyed drawing the nature. His creative genius arose from within and he start drawing and painting. His father thought of famous Artist S.G. Thakur Singh who was in Calcutta at that time. His father sent drawings to the artist to know whether his son would be successful in the field of art. On getting positive response. His father sent him to Calcutta in 1931 to take further professional guidance in art. He started working hard to learn. Once when Artist S.G. Thakur Singh came to know that his father has sent him money, he scolded him and advised him saying he has no right to ask for money from his father, rather he should earn money and send to his father.

Painting career In 1932, the artist set up Trilok Studio Arts (TSA) and named it Trilok Shilp Asthan and on other side a car paint workshop situated at 7, Ashutosh Mukherjee Road in Calcutta. Shortly, it became very popular. He often spent time with Punjabi poets, writers and Bengali artists. The first biographical detail of Trilok Singh was published in 1932 in a monthly Punjabi magazine of Calcutta Pulwari by the editor Heera Singh Dard. He got silver medal for his painting in All India Ramgharia Federation, Kharagpur, Bengal in 1932. Next year, he participated in an exhibition of All India Fine Arts Association held in Calcutta.

After the death of his father, the responsibility of agricultural land and his profession fell on his shoulders. Suddenly, his son Surjit Singh fell sick and he took his son to Shillong for a change of climate. It was a very hard time for Trilok Singh. The health of his son was deteriorating day by day. He got his son admitted in The Hills Welsh Mission Hospital (Dr. H. Gordon Roberts Hospital, Shillong). To meet medical expenses, he started going to military base, prepared pencil sketches, portraits of soldiers, took photographs & developed in box camera fitted on his bicycle. He prepared a painting of Jesus Christ blessing the hospital and gifted it to the hospital on Christmas when his son recovered. Dr. Hughes Gordon Robert, Welsh Presbyterian Mission and founder of the hospital thanked the artist for the beautiful gift vide his letter Ref.no 239 dated 29 December 1941. He worked there for two years. India got independence in 1947.

Later career Trilok Singh was adjudged the best in painting competition held for the post of State Artist in Patiala & East Punjab States Union (PEPSU) and offered him the job. He joined on 8-06-1948. During this tenure, he was associated with art work of Rikanjat Secretariat, Punjabi and Archives department, Museum, Darbar Hall (Qilla Mubark). Rai Sahib Ganga Singh, State Artist (PEPSU), Specialist in Drawing and Painting ( University College London) wrote about Trilok Singh on 29-03-1951 :- I have had the opportunity to examine his work several times, I always found that he is up to the mark. He is very strong in perspective drawing and making original designs, which in fact is the key of success in Fine Arts. His work that he has done in Darbar Hall (Qilla Mubark) during this period would speak the efficiency itself. ( original letter is with Jotinder Singh, Chitralok, Patiala). He worked on this post up to 31-03-1951.

In 1951, Trilok Singh joined Punjabi Mehkma (PEPSU) as artist (Chitarkar). Dr. Ganda Singh was holding the charge as Director of the department at that time. The artist was member of decoration committee of Assembly Hall, PEPSU. He designed illustrations of publications, portraits and preparation of four volumes of Mahankosh (Punjabi Encyclopedia) into one book. Till 1956, Punjabi Mehkma status was temporary one, the artist and Inder Singh Chakarvarti were instrumental in getting Punjabi Mehkma status as permanent from Raja Surendra Singh of Nalagarh State, finance minister, PEPSU. After the merger of PEPSU in Punjab on 1 November 1956 it became Language department, Punjab. He was a member of Arts Study Center, Punjabi University, Patiala 1962–64. He was the life member of Indian Academy of Fine Arts, Amritsar and Chandigarh Lalit Kala Akademi. His retirement was due in 1972 but Punjab Govt. gave him extension of two years. and named a street Chitra-Lok Marg after him.

Punjabi University instituted the Sardar Trilok Singh Chitarkar Gold Medal in his memory, conferred annually on the top M.A. student. The book Chitralok's contribution to Art was published in Punjabi by the Department of Languages, Punjab in 1984.

There have been many exhibitions of his work in Punjab, India.

Paintings Being a very religious person, his knowledge about sikh religion is reflected in all his paintings. He also prepared illustrations of many books including Guru Gobind Singh Marg, while working with Punjab Language deptt. These original paintings by Trilok Singh Chitarkar are on display in Chitralok Art Gallery, Patiala.

Pre Independence works (1933 to 1947)

Post Independence works (1948 to 1990) He worked on variety of themes. Some of his works are presented in following categories:-

Love legends-

Womenhood

Landscape

Punjabi Encyclopedia - Trilok Singh is the only Artist who made illustrations for Punjabi encyclopedia and published by Languages department, Punjab

Punjabi Culture-

Development of Gurmukhi (Punjabi) script from 375 AD

Poetry

Paintings based on Gurbani-

Portraits

Historical-

Punjabi alphabets - comparative Hindi and Bengali alphabets

Contribution to Hindi