Punjab: Immersed in creative activities at the age of 79
Punjab: Being able to create something is a blessing and at the age of 79, Mohinder Thukral is a blessed soul indeed. He has created several pieces of incredible art including sculptures, oil paintings, sculptures and sketches. Thukral has created sculptures using wires and has also written on rice grains and horse hair. His incredible work has earned him the opportunity to meet former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, President APJ Abdul Kalam and several other ministers. The city-based artist has achieved this position with years of hard work and dedication. In the 1980s, Sobha Singh came to meet Thukral at his office and created a sculpture of the famous painter. “I knew that Sobha Singh followed Rabindranath Tagore and was inspired by his style. So, when I got to know that he was coming to my office, I created a sculpture of Rabindranath Tagore in a matter of minutes,” he told The Tribune. Thukral’s artistic journey began at the age of 12. In the class, he made a very unique and funny sketch of his teacher.
When the teacher scolded him, Thukral realised his love for art. Thukral’s parents enrolled him in the medical stream as they wanted him to become a doctor, but he turned to art within a week. “Once I made a sketch of my professor. He was so happy that he took me to the principal and asked me to show him my talent. The principal asked me to make a sketch of him,” Thukral said. Soon, Thukral became the talk of the town. “I became famous. Once there was an exhibition in the college and a minister had come. The principal introduced me to him and the minister praised me,” he said. The college started giving him scholarships every year. Though Thukral received several job offers, he never stayed in one place for long. He always found solace in his workspace, where he was immersed in the world of creativity. Thukral is also a wrestler. Even at this age, he goes to akhadas and exercises. Thukral started making colourful sketches on rice grains in 1968. Not only this, he also wrote on horse hair. Thukral has kept all his works safe in a beautiful box. He also has a gallery for his artworks.
He has also made some interesting things in his house, which are rarely seen in other houses. Apart from historical paintings, this great artist has also made maps of India and Punjab, Indian flag and pictures of freedom fighters. He likes to experiment even at this age. Thukral uses wires to make some special shapes. For example, he told that he depicted the Jallianwala Bagh massacre using wires. He made about 20 British soldiers who fired bullets on innocent people on April 13, 1919. Thukral has made a special painting ‘Wand’, in which the pain of partition is inside him. He said, “I was just one year old when we came to Jalandhar from Sialkot. I don’t remember anything, but the heartbreaking stories of the suffering of my grandfather, my father and other relatives are etched in my mind. My grandfather’s back was attacked. Whenever I massaged him, he would tell me what exactly happened.” He added, “The pain was so deep that I wanted to take it out and portray it through my painting.” Thukral created a self-portrait by collecting the things related to the Partition in his mind. The painting has received a lot of praise. As he will soon turn 80, Mohinder Thukral is working on several projects – one of them is making furniture from waste bottles, which he believes will happen soon.
