Why not Raosaheb?

Why not Raosaheb?

There was a Land…..

Land where art was in DNA….

Land where maestros like Abalal Rehman, Baburao Painter, Madhavrao Bagal, Raobahdur Dhurandhar and many put their heart and soul in producing master pieces in almost every field of art…

Land where artists were not just artists but were considered as Raosahebs (respected person in society)…

And had support of Rajas…..

The land was called as Kalapur….

Bharat looked at Kalapur as a great source of art and artists. But much water is flown under the (Panchaganga)bridge. India replaced Bharat and Kalapur went into shell. “Modern” overshadowed “Classical” and commerce side of art started  widely discussed in fraternity.  Indian art Market(?) grew to 1600 crore this year and is growing and going international. MF Husain, Tyeb Mehata, and many more are being sold in Crores. A single painting named “saurashtra” fetched 16.49 crores in June 2010. 


 Just Rs. 16,49,00,000 /- only(?).

Money is flown like water to buy these water, oil, and Acrylic on canvasses.


Amid  this rush, Raosaheb is still like a still. Working within himself in closed loop, still producing masterpieces, one after another. But, without recognizing self. 

I saw one such Raosaheb last week. Like his forefathers he was engrossed in his creation, a truly world class as usual. Like a yogi he was pursuing his puja. Undisturbed by this chaos in art mundi where collectors are shouting their boli in auctions, Raosaheb was busy in instilling pran in his  work. 
Calmly … quietly… 

I preferred not to disturb him and left uttering a single word. I left Raosaheb  but, thoughts about him did not leave me. 

There are many such Raosahebs in this historical city.  I wondered how not a single Raosaheb is being figured in list of contemporary Indian artists. Is it their inertness or way of living life by valuing art more than money and fame?

But when the Jag says it is not wrong to get either one or both, why Kalapur is not opening up and aggressively showcasing its treasure to world? Rajas have gone but praja is here. Why can’t we ask one question to ourselves ….

Why others? Why not Raosaheb?

 Why not Raosaheb????