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.
Each one of us is impatiently waiting to bid adieu to 2020 and is looking forward to 2021 with a ray of hope that the COVID-19 pandemic finally sees its end.
While the pandemic and resulting recession have created many new problems affecting life, society, and the world as we know it, it has also created a tremendous opportunity for entrepreneurs to innovate.
Ann Nightingale, director of the Rocky Point Bird Observatory, says the duck, known as a common pochard, was likely pushed by bad weather and ended up at the Summit Park reservoir in Victoria last week.
This year Diwali will be a little different. Social gatherings are a big no and it is advised to celebrate only with the household. Here are a few tips on how to celebrate Diwali this year from home.
WATCH: Some very cool DIY make up looks for Halloween by some local make up artists. Check em out if you still don't know what your Halloween Spooktacular look is going to be.
