Rare Sikh artworks donated to Canada's Montreal museum
Darpan News Desk IANS, 22 Jun, 2022 10:15 AM
Toronto, June 22 (IANS) Canada's Montreal Museum of Fine Arts has opened a permanent exhibit of a rare collection of historic Sikh artworks.
The artworks have been donated by Indo-Canadian businessman Baljit Chadha and the late Indian-American scientist Dr Narinder Singh Kapany, who was honoured by India last year with the Padma Vibhushan for his pioneering work on fibre optics.
The collection includes depictions of the ten Sikh gurus, the famous Maharajas of the Sikh Empire (1799-1849), ritual objects, rare minted Nanakshahi coins and poignant publications on the Sikhs during the British Raj. Phulkari shawls highlighting the importance of Punjabi textile tradition are also part of the collection.
Describing it as one of the largest collections of artworks in North America, the museum said it "mirrors the core values and contributions of the Sikh people numbering approximately 27 million worldwide".
"We are privileged to have the opportunity, for the first time in the museum's long history, to acquire and showcase a collection of Sikh art of such magnitude. The generosity and foresight of Narinder Singh Kapany, Baljit Singh Chadha and Roshi Chadha have made it possible for the museum to expand its audience, nurture new perspectives and welcome new voices, so that we may represent the plurality of today's society," said museum director Stephane Aquin.
"We are proud to bring this collection of Sikh art to the museum and, by extension, the community in Montreal and beyond. It will be the first permanent exhibit of Sikh art in a major Canadian museum," added donor Baljit Chadha.
The museum plans to organise various activities on Sikh culture and the Sikh diasporic experience throughout the year.
During COVID19 many turned to pursue their creative interests (including writing, drawing, and painting) far more seriously than they had ever done before, leveraging pens, paper, and stationery. Similarly, journaling was one of the main elements that supported people through those testing times.
Recently, the team behind Punjabi Market has been hard at work to revitalize its presence in the community. For the first time in its 51-year history, a series of murals have been painted between 49th and 51st Avenues on Main Street.
The most common eye problems reported by children and working people during the pandemic include eye fatigue, dry and irritated eyes, fuzzy vision, and nearsightedness. This is further exacerbated by low physical activity, irregular eating habits, frequent snacking, and poor food quality during the pandemic.
In celebration of World Senior Citizen's Day (August 21), Columbia Pacific Communities, India's largest senior living community operator, launched India's first ever report on the golden agers, The Positive Ageing Report.
Keyur Zaveri, Sr Director of Design, Furlenco share some ways to help you create your own peaceful meditation area, where you can set aside some time for yourself every day.
