KL News Network
Srinagar
An initiative called ‘ATHWAAS – Handshake for Peace’ organized by Omar Hafiz, a development practitioner, saw coming together of artists from India. Their work, comprising of artworks and paintings, speak about present day Kashmir. The common theme in their work, which has been translated into a documentary by Hafiz and his friends, runs around peace.
According to artists, these paintings are a way of showing solidarity with the people of Kashmir. “I hope that the work will be seen in that context only,” said Hafiz. “These artists, who hail from different states of India, represent a mix of cultures and religion. The purpose of putting them in a documentary is to show what they feel about Kashmir as an artist and human beings.”
Here is the artwork and the expression of artists…
Muskaan (Delhi)
I have been to Kashmir. It is beautiful. I came to know that people call it Mouj Kasheer (Motherland Kashmir).
When I imagine Kashmir, I see a very beautiful lady with a very bright face, whose head is covered by a traditional scarf, outlined with jewellery, along with huge shining ear bells.
This imagination has always brought a beautiful thought in my mind followed by admiration and positivity towards life.
Now, when I think about Kashmir, I see the same face, but with her eyes destroyed (blinded), and blood instead of tears rolling down her cheeks, as she is losing her beloved ones every day to bullets and pellets.
Anurag Topno (Jharkhand)
When people with power, abandon their power and talk about peace and Ahimsa, it signifies hope in its simplest form. I have tried to depict the same through my work: people with power spreading love and happiness.
Nicole Eva Yigie (Goa)
At a time when circumstances tie our hands to come forward and express solidarity with people in pain; the need is to express our thoughts in a different way. So, here, people from all across India have come together to express themselves in one such way.
Shipra Goel (Maharashtra)
My work depicts the hard times people of Kashmir are going through. Everything I have painted is symbolic of pain and helplessness. This painting shows joined hands and a bird, which signifies hope.
Tanisha Dutta (Assam)
Regardless of the bloodstains and tears this painting too signifies hope. Though her face is riddled with pellets; her eyes still long for a peaceful tomorrow.
Pekhna Kaur Sayhney (Chandigarh)
The question of boundaries and borders has always troubled me. I ask myself, how long you will separate a human being from another human being. How long will you fight for these imaginary lines? I strongly feel it is time to stop these people who are against humanity. My work depicts all these feelings because no one else seems to acknowledge them.
Snigdha Tiwari (Bangalore)
I have heard of Kashmir as a mirror of heaven. As an artist, I have incredible love for nature and its creations. It is deeply disturbing for me to learn about the situation in Kashmir.
The images of beautiful landscapes that come up in my mind whenever I think of Kashmir are still there.
So, I have painted peace in my paintings to involve people, believing peace is easy to attain, only if you are will to do so.
I strongly believe that violence can never be a solution. I long for my people to be in peace and return to their nature. I pray that our beautiful valley embraces peace again.
Yashasvi Sabharwal (UP)
Whenever I face a problem, my reflex is to find a solution. My entire concept revolves around a single line, “ilm kitabi magro laao” – loosely explained, it will be to block the view.
To remove what has been taught, instead, realize who you really are.
A lot of things in this painting are self record of things.
The entire idea is to block the eye movement from things that we see every day, and take some time to introspect.
That we are all made of the same materials at the end of the day; same blood and bones. Rest everything, I guess explains itself.
Jithin Prasannan (Kerala)
We all know that Kashmir is known as heaven on earth. But the same heaven has turned hell for its inhabitants since last many decades. Though, they are geographically part of India, they don’t feel the sense of belongingness.
As a photo artist, I wanted to show how India will look without Kashmir. I want to tell my fellow Indians that lets not just love Kashmir, but Kashmiris too.
Saahil Sagar (Chennai)
My work showcases a burnt but open book depicting the fact that despite incidents of school burning, kids still want to read and seek education.
We must keep educational institutions away from conflict as they spread knowledge and light.
In my second depiction, I have shown match boxes with red colour on them, which highlights how chaotic normal citizens are about their future. Lets Athwaas – Shake Hands for peace. I stand with Kashmir because I am a human.
Kishan (Rajasthan)
I have painted Kashmir of present and the past. The first frame shows colourful shikaras, with people busy in selling vegetables and flowers. The beautiful Dal Lake can be seen in the background.
The second frame shows same shikaras engulfed in flames, with no people around, which highlights the fact that Kashmir is under curfew. It also shows destruction of livelihood.
Deepshika Bose (Delhi)
This canvas is pretty self explanatory as it shows a woman, whose red hands cover her body, sitting in front of a lily.
(Bengal)
This canvas will take you back to the beauty of Kashmir; its beautiful mountains, covered with snow, while clouds flirt around. I have kept white as the prime colour in my painting, which is a sign of peace.
Ridhima Mukkim and Tanaya Raj Rao (Gujrat)
If you look at the canvas we have painted, you can easily get stuck and confused in the network of networks.
These are networks of pain, agony, suffering, dilemma and mistrust, brought out by decades of ongoing conflict in Kashmir.
We have shown small green network developing, which signifies the positivity and strengthening of social fabric in Kashmir.
Rahul Rana (Haryana)
I have always admired Kashmir and its people for their hospitability and innocence, which you can see nowhere in India. If you look at the canvas, I have tried to showcase that the innocence is taken away, and what is left is not even worth pleasing. Let’s make efforts to bring back what was taken away from Kashmir and its people.
You can watch the documentary here: https://youtu.be/431V2w1LstE
