Vaibhu: stub

2026-03-28T01:10:45Z

stub

New page

{{Short description|Punjabi painter}}

''[[Sheikh]]'' '''Basharat Ullah''' (1801–1892<ref>{{Cite book |last=Batham |first=Roop Narayan |title=Indian Painters of Colonial Era (1750 - 1950 AD) |year=2023 |pages=31}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |title=The Artists of the World: Bio-Bibliographical Index by Profession |publisher=K.G. Saur |year=2002 |isbn=9783598247101 |volume=6: Master Draughtsman (Sweden) - Painter (Barbados) |pages=411}}</ref>), also known as '''Basahathullah''' or '''Basahatullah''', was a [[Punjabis|Punjabi]] miniature painter who was employed as a [[Court painter|court-painter]] for various states, such as [[Patiala State]].{{Efn|His name is alternatively spelt as 'Bisharat Ullah'. An inscription on one of his paintings gives his full name with titles as ''Qalem Basharat 'Allah Masur''.<ref>{{cite web |title=A SIKH BATTLE SCENE, PUNJAB, EARLY 19TH CENTURY |url=https://www.christies.com/en/lot/lot-5249215 |website=Christie's |access-date=7 December 2025 |date=2009}}</ref>|group=note}}<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last=Srivastava |first=R. P. |title=Punjab Painting |publisher=Abhinav Publications |year=1983 |isbn=9788170171744 |pages=55–56}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Kaur |first=Harpreet |date=24–30 June 2021 |title=Guru Tegh Bahadur: Protector of Human Rights |url=https://www.bvsss.org/KhalsaSamachar/Khalsa%20Samachar%2024-30%20June%202021%20Issue%2025.pdf |journal=Khalsa Samachar |volume=31 |issue=25 |pages=7–8}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |title=Sikhs: A Story of a People, Their Faith and Culture |publisher=Penguin |others=DK |date=25 April 2023 |isbn=9780593849422 |pages=156–157}}</ref>

== Biography ==
Basharat's family were originally from [[Lahore]] but were also based in Delhi and later Patiala, where they remained for over a hundred and fifty years.<ref name=":1">{{Cite book |last=Hasan |first=Musarrat |title=Painting in the Punjab Plains: 1849-1949 |publisher=Ferozsons |year=1998 |isbn=9789690014269 |pages=131, 148, 136, 167}}</ref><ref name=":4">{{Cite book |url=https://cdn.aaa.org.hk/_source/ustad-haji-muhammed-sharif.pdf |title=Exhibition of Miniature Paintings: Ustad Haji Muhammad Sharif |date=24 October 1960 |publisher=Alhamra Pakistan Art Council Lahore}}</ref><ref name=":9">{{Cite book |last=Ikeda |first=Atsushi |title=Portraying the Guru: Art, Devotion and Identity in Sikhism |date=Sep 24, 2024 |publisher=Boydell & Brewer |isbn=9781837652389 |pages=44}}</ref> Basharat Ullah was the son of Allah Ditta, another artist.{{Efn|His father's name is alternatively spelt as 'Alla Ditta'.|group=note}}<ref>{{Cite book |last=Goswamy |first=B. N. |title=Piety and Splendour: Sikh Heritage in Art |publisher=National Museum |year=2000 |pages=9, 245}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Gupta |first=Shiv Kumar |title=Creation of the Khalsa: Fulfilment of Guru Nanak's Mission : Khalsa Tercentenary Commemorative Volume |publisher=Publication Bureau, Punjabi University |year=1999 |isbn=9788173805738 |pages=157}}</ref> His father Allah Ditta moved to Patiala to work as a court-painter after studying the art of miniature painting under Mirza Shah Rukh Beg in Delhi.<ref name=":4" />

In 1825, Basharat was based out of Lahore of the [[Sikh Empire]].<ref name=":2">{{Cite book |last=Chaitanya |first=Krishna |title=A History of Indian Painting |publisher=Abhinav Publications |year=1976 |isbn=9788170173106 |volume=2 |pages=6–7}}</ref><ref name=":1" /> Due to his family background, he was knowledgeable in [[Mughal painting|Mughal miniature styles]].<ref name=":1" /> He painted [[Sikh art|Sikh themes]] and was heavily influenced by the [[Pahari painting|Pahari school of art]], such as the [[Kangra painting|Kangra style]].<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite book |last=Aryan |first=Krishan Chander |title=100 Years Survey of Punjab painting (1841-1941) |publisher=Punjabi University |year=1977 |pages=33, 97}}</ref> He was the disciple of Shiva Ram of Patiala and also [[Purkhu|Purkhu of Kangra]].<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":2" /><ref name=":1" />

Basharat Ullah's son was ''[[Hajji|Haji]]'' Muhammad Sharif, who also became an artist.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":3">{{Cite book |last=Strong |first=Susan |title=The Arts of the Sikh Kingdoms |publisher=Weatherhill |year=1999 |isbn=9780834804715 |edition=illustrated |pages=171, 245}}</ref> Basharat initially wanted his son to become a watchmaker instead of an artist.<ref>{{Cite book |title=Focus on Pakistan |publisher=Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation |volume=4 |pages=32–33}}</ref> Basharat had his son trained by Muhammad Hasan Khan of Delhi.<ref name=":4" /> Muhammad Sharif would also be employed by the Patiala ''[[Durbar (court)|Durbar]]'' until 1944.<ref name=":4" />

== Legacy ==
Some of his inscribed works have survived till the present.<ref name=":3" /><ref>{{Cite book |last=Grewal |first=Reeta |title=Five Centuries of Sikh Tradition: Ideology, Society, Politics, and Culture : Essays for Indu Banga |publisher=Manohar |year=2005 |isbn=9788173046537 |pages=110, 119}}</ref> Some of Basharat's works are preserved in the Toor Collection.<ref name=":30">{{Cite web |last=Toor |first=Davinder S. |date=2018 |title=Artists |url=https://toorcollection.com/artists |access-date=15 October 2024 |website=Toor Collection}}</ref>

== Gallery ==
<gallery>
File:Painting of the head of Guru Tegh Bahadar being brought to Anandpur, where Guru Gobind Singh pays obeisance, circa 19th century.jpg|Painting of the head of Guru Tegh Bahadar being brought to Anandpur, where Guru Gobind Singh pays obeisance, circa 19th century
File:Painting of Kashmiri Pandits petitioning Guru Tegh Bahadur for help against persecution of Hindus in Kashmir by the Mughal Empire, circa 19th century.jpg|Painting of Kashmiri Pandits petitioning Guru Tegh Bahadur for help against persecution of Hindus in Kashmir by the Mughal Empire, circa 19th century
File:Aurangzeb sitting on his throne, receiving the news of the martyrdom of Guru Tegh Bahadur and the Guru’s companions, Bhai Mati Das and Bhai Dayala Das at Delhi’s Chandi Chowk.jpg|Aurangzeb sitting on his throne, receiving the news of the martyrdom of Guru Tegh Bahadur and the Guru's companions, Bhai Mati Das and Bhai Dayala Das at Delhi's Chandi Chowk
File:Painting of Sikh horsemen clashing with a Mughal contingent, by Sheikh Basharat Ullah, either Patiala or Nabha, Punjab, circa mid-19th century.jpg|Painting of Sikhs in battle
File:Maharajah Narinder Singh of Patiala on an elephant proceeding up the rampart of a palace.jpg|Maharajah Narinder Singh of Patiala on an elephant proceeding up the rampart of a palace
File:Guru Tegh Bahadar and a young Gobind Rai at the Anandpur Darbar.jpg|Guru Tegh Bahadar and a young Gobind Rai at the Anandpur Darbar
File:Guru Tegh Bahadar receives news of the birth of Gobind Rai.jpg|Guru Tegh Bahadar receives news of the birth of Gobind Rai
File:Painting of Maharaja Narinder Singh of Patiala State in procession, ca.1850.jpg|Painting of Maharaja Narinder Singh of Patiala State in procession, ca.1850
File:Painting of Mughal emperor Akbar meeting Guru Amar Das in 1567 at Goindwal.jpg|Painting of Mughal emperor Akbar meeting Guru Amar Das in 1567 at Goindwal
File:Bhai Sukha and Bhai Mehtab Singh confront Massa Ranghar.jpg|Bhai Sukha and Bhai Mehtab Singh confront Massa Ranghar
</gallery>

== Notes ==
{{Reflist|group=note}}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:1801 births]]
[[Category:1892 deaths]]
[[Category:Miniature painting]]

Basharat Ullah - Revision history

Vaibhu: stub