KIRPAL SINGH ARTIST

Sirdar Kirpal Singh Artist (10.12.1923 – 26.4.1990), son of Sirdar Bhagat Singh, was born at village Warha Chain Singh Wala (district Firozpur). His father was a carpenter; hence he learnt the art of engraving from his early childhood. He received his early education from his village school but due to poor financial situation his father could not send him to college. In 1942, he joined a minor job. In 1947, the family moved to Jullundur. Here he started his career as a painter. In 1952, he moved to Delhi and then to Indri (district Karnal). On June 26, 1955, the first exhibition of his paintings was held at Karnal. In 1956, the S.G.P.C. employed him to make paintings of the Sikh heroes and the historical events for the newly established Sikh Museum at Amritsar. For the next six years he worked hard and produced his masterpieces. There are 36 paintings of Sirdar Kirpal Singh at the Central Sikh Museum. In 1962, he moved to Chandigarh. Here, he painted several paintings for different museums. Sirdar Kirpal Singh painted a very large number of paintings of personalities, historical events, landscapes and portraits. His paintings have been preserved by the Central Sikh Museum, Punjabi University Patiala, P.A.U. Ludhiana, Takht Kesgarh Sahib Anandpur Sahib, Takht Patna Sahib, Chandigarh Art Gallery, Gurdwara Mehdiana Sahib Jagraon (district Ludhiana) and some other centres as well. Sirdar Kirpal Singh was a school in himself. His son Jarnail Singh too is a good painter.

(Dr Harjinder Singh Dilgeer)