[Reader-list] Shahar Ke Nissan: Filling Colours in the City

[sadan]

Below is a posting of the field work done by Prabhas Ranjan.
“Filling Colours in the City”
Impressions:
“People do not seem to understand that without artists how colourless the 
world would be!”
---Naresh Kumar Sagar
Calender/Poster artist and part time Painter, Shahdara, Delhi.
“They are not here to be an artist... actually there is too much of 
unemployment in our country. And, this work gets on easily...”
---Badal Chitrakar alias Banwari Lal
Painter turned 'modern artist', Ghantaghar, Sabji mundi, Delhi.
“ Earlier when i entered into this trade I assumed that I would get an 
artistic platform... But I found  none! There is not much difference between 
us and a laborer.”
Dharam Pal/ Keshav Painter, Bhajanpura, Delhi.
(all these statements are translated)

We are working on the project titled 'Shahar Ke Nissan'. We are currently 
looking at the bazaar of wall writings, sign boards and other forms of 
advertisements that a city produces and which in turn generate images of the 
city. Currently, we are interviewing painters / wall writers and other people 
who are involved in this sector. Please keep in mind that we are not looking 
at 'organised sector' of advertising business. We are working on local and 
highly unorganised sector of image making. Without going into much details on 
the contours of our subject area let me share with you the work done in the 
last month.
During my field work, I have covered three areas: Shahdara, Bhajanpura and Old 
Subji mundi. The people contacted are, writers/artists of signboards, 
advertisers, painting shop owners, banner fitters, calender /poster artists 
and few others who started their carriers as painters but who have become 
advertisers and 'modern artists'. However, these are broad categories and 
their movement within this work domain is highly fluid as evrybody 
(irrespective of his status) is open to all types of jobs and opportunities.  
Thus the distinction on the basis of their work appears to be blurred and 
suggests that the logic of internal hierarchy should be located at somewhere 
else.
The general picture that has come out of this field work has been of a decline 
of this local market. It also fits well with the coming up of big players, 
advancements of technology, globalisation etc. However, its too simple an 
equation to accept and it is too early to pass any concluding remark.  I will 
discuss about the complexities at some other time. For the time being let me 
share some of the facets of  the evolution of  this  bazaar in Delhi from one 
particular vantage point and as indicated by Badal Chitrakar of Ghanta ghar. 
Badal Chitrakar originally belongs to Rewari. He was born in 1944.In Rewari 
his father had  a business of caps('topis'). After 1947, he had to think anew 
as muslims of his area migrated to Pakistan and his stature of a seth (big 
businessman, the term used is 'sethpana') came to an end. His father came to 
Delhi. Banwari Lal currently lives in Ghanta ghar, Sabjimundi.  Banwari Lal 
is into the painting since his childhood.  At the age of sixteen years, he 
joined the advertising shop of Mahendra Kumar in Daryagunj as a trainee 
painter. Here he got an opportunity to visit Amritsar with his 'guru' where 
he did his first assignment. It was an advertisement of Atlas Cycle.He has 
done 'all sorts of works in this painting line'. From 1961 to 1965 he worked 
as a 'painter'. In the period of 1965 to 1967 he made 400 covers for the 
popularnovels('jasusi upanyas'). He has also worked as a calender artist. In 
1977, he made a portrait of Mahatma Gandhi with his blood. The 'punishment' 
that he received came in terms of his 'worldwide fame'. Gandhi Museum 
organised an exhibition of his works. A lady became so impressed ('fida 
hokar') that she took him to United States where he painted a gallery.These 
days he also takes classes in Indian Fine Arts and Crafts Society(IFACS) and 
is the art director there.
He recollects, “Earlier (in 1960s) there were five to seven artists in Delhi. 
The art of painting film posters and calender painting was proliferating. The 
artists were few so there were only a few chelas(trainee painters).” He 
further recounts how the number has increased, “ actually, this work does not 
need big investments. All you need is paint and brush. Get down somewhere 
with them, paint  few nameplates or number plates and you would earn hundred 
or two hundred rupees at the end of the day.”
Consequently, it attracted a large number of unemployed people in the trade. 
The system of new recruitment and training is also open to one and all. 
Dharampal, a young painter of Bhajanpura says, “ In our system, a new 
probationary joins a painter's shop and learn writing and chitrakari(drawing) 
for a year or two. After initial few months of work, he also gets a minimum 
amount to take care of his basic needs.” 
After a few months of training, the trainee learns writing sign boards and 
banners. And now he may choose his independent course of work. Government 
institutions are also there to teach this art. ITI shahadra is one such 
institute. Dinesh, a painter /artist of Shahdara acquired the training at ITI 
Shahdara. He says, They( painters ) learn writing in three -four months and 
open their own shops. Actually it depends on the learning capacity of an 
individual and also on the painter 'ustad'. A crual ustad teaches less and 
keeps his chela engaged for a longer period of time.
A painter has often two to six chelas working with him. The number of chelas 
also depends upon the volume of the work/assignments. Chelas play quite a 
significant role in the income of his ustad/painter.  After acquiring the 
skill and gaining the experience chelas may also join the same paint shop as 
salaried painter. These chelas, promoted to the rank of salaried painters, 
quite often run the shop and take care of business. The actual owner, now, 
visits the shop only occasionally. However, in long run, these chelas may 
turn up as competitors. This is how the sphere of this bazaar spends its 
fulcrum. However, in current situation, we do not see the expansion of this 
bazaar. Dharampal laments, “ Our rate is getting down. We do not understand 
whether its due to our growing number or something else.”Think of technology 
here.
The role of urban administration comes quite forcefully into the scene here. 
The West Bengal Prevention of Defacement of Property Act, 1976( Bengal Act  
21 of 1976) has been 'extended to the Union Territory of Delhi ( now the 
National Territory of Delhi). The point number three of this rule states, 
“(1) Whoever defaces any property in public view by writing or marking with 
ink, chalk, paint or any other material, except for the purpose of indicating 
the memo and address of the owner or occupier of such property, shall be 
punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to six months or 
with fine which may extend to one thousand rupees or with both”. 
Delhi Government has come up with various publicity strategies to implement 
and widen the scope of this hitherto minor rule. Newspaper advertisements of 
Delhi Governmentwith a logo of Bhagidari scheme in the extreme corner of it 
to 'educate' the citizens to 'keep the city clean' with a typical threatening 
language of governance---'No  posters, stickers and writings on Walls'. This 
writing on the wall is followed by the above mentioned paragraph of the rule. 
The advertisement  further informs, “this is one more step towards making 
Delhi a cleaner and better place to live in. We seek your cooperation.” A 
small innocent looking icon is also there--–'my delhi, i care'. I am not 
going to discuss the moral and the politics of this advertisement here. For 
me, the concern of a painter is at the stake.
Dr. Ashok Kumar Walia, Urban Development Minister announces, “ During the last 
fifteen months MCD(the Municipal Corporation of Delhi) has removed 45,300 
posters and 25, 156 banners. 2802 person have been arrested and 1725 are 
punished for wall writing, sticking posters, hanging banners etc.( The 
Hindustan Times, Delhi, 9th March 2003)”. Kindly also think about thousands 
of rupees went into bribe and exchanged hands between banner fitters and 
policemen.  
I will take a break here. The posting has already exceeded its normal length. 
To be continued... 
Comments and suggestions are invited.
Thanking you,
Prabhas Ranjan ( with Sadan Jha).