Saturday, October 4, 2003
M A I N   F E A T U R E



Master of lacquer art
D.S. Kapoor

Jit Singh being felicitated by late President Giani Zail Singh
Jit Singh being felicitated by late President Giani Zail Singh

JIT Singh, born in Lahore in 1923, was initiated into the world of art at an early age by his father Sardar Bela Singh, who was a craft teacher at the Mayo School of Art, Lahore. Evincing interest in art, Jit Singh used to accompany his father to the art school during his childhood. Later, he joined the school and obtained a five-year diploma in lacquer art from the Mayo school under the guidance of Ustad Mubark Ali in 1940.

The artist, while still in his teens, migrated to the far-flung Mysore state (now in Karnataka), popular for lacquer art and bamboo work. Jit Singh learnt many new techniques of Mysore lacquer work at the Government Industrial Training School, Chana Pataal. He also conducted special lacquer workshops for young trainees. In those days, the crafts section of the Mayo school was frequently visited by the elite of the town.

 
The government is doing little to promote lacquer art
The government is doing little to promote lacquer art

In 1942, Jit got married to Prabhjit Kaur. On insistence of his parents he come to his native land Lahore to join his family. In 1943, he went to Sind province in search of wider avenues of work and employment. By the time this artist had advanced into his twenties, he started creating his own designs and motifs on lacquer work. After Partition, he worked in a lathe workshop at Phagwara for some time.

In 1952, he was invited to be a teacher in the newly opened art school in Shimla. In 1955, the All-India Handicraft Board selected him for advance training in lacquer art in Japan for six months. He also learnt the bamboo art of Japan.

In 1960, he was appointed as craft designer and sent to Hoshiarpur, Punjab, to train young craftsman in lacquer art for one year. The following year he was selected as Assistant Director, Design, Institute of Design, Punjab. He served this institution for 18 years and then settled at Patiala after his retirement in 1981.

He participated in many exhibitions in India and abroad, which were organised by the All-India Handicraft Board, Indian Academy of Fine Arts, Amritsar, and All-India Art and Crafts Society, Delhi.

He was given Merit Certificate at the National Master Craftsman Competition in 1968 and two state awards for excelling in lacquer art by the Punjab Government in 1972 and 1980. In 1983, he was presented National Award by then President Giani Zail Singh for recognition of his services in this art. In 1999, the Punjab Government honoured him with Vishwakarma Award. Jit Singh visited Pakistan in 1990 and met his guru Ustad Mubark at National College of Art (then known as Mayo School of Art), Lahore.

Now at 82 this artist, who is still healthy and fit, describes that he enjoyed this art very much during his lifetime and is fully satisfied with his work. Fearing that this art may die because few persons are left in India who know this technique, he entreats, "The government should take responsibility to promote this art, which can solve unemployment. Moreover, revenue can be earned by exporting this craft to other countries."