ASLAM KIRATPURI, MUMBAI
Member Since July 2012
Artist Statement Aslam Kiratpuri, a well known Urdu Journalist Artist and the only professional Lahori Nastalique calligrapher in India. He has inspired many youngsters to value the art of calligraphy.
Aslam Kiratpuri patiently creates his beautiful calligraphic Toghras, intricate works of calligraphy in different styles using verses form the Quran along with various geometric and floral designs. He is the only Lahori Nastalique style calligrapher in India Born in Kiratpur a small town in Utter Pradesh, in 1951,
Interested in calligraphy since childhood, he learnt the basics and finesse of the art from a famus Artist and Calligrapher Faiz Mujjadid Lahori a renowned Calligrapher and Artist. Specialising in different styles of Quranic calligraphy, Aslam Kiratpuri took to it first as a hobby and in 1975 made it a regular profession.
Urdu Calligraphy or Nastaleeq is one of the most important eastern calligraphy styles. Nastaleeq is not only a font style; it’s indeed an Art of Eastern
Calligraphers. Nastaleeq is the only one Calligraphy Style which is free of cubical measurements neither it is a linear style of Calligraphic Art. It’s like Air Brush painting. Although Nastaleeq has its own principles and rules but therefore no one can say it’s a pure calligraphic writing style, because it demands Artistic sense more than accurate values. For example if you draw a straight line, it’s generally called simple line but with Nastaleeq Line has been changed with “Qat” and it is not only a line but also a Qat tells at a time the depth and the width of that line.
Nastaleeq includes rounded shapes in it. And an Urdu, Farsi or Arabic Calligrapher uses Nastaleeq as the great and prestigious Style of Calligraphic Art in East.
Urdu Calligraphy is specific with Nastaleeq, although other styles of eastern right hand writings or also used for Urdu Calligraphic works but Nastaleeq is the main Art in India and Pakistan known as Urdu Calligraphy.
"There are two major arts in Islam. Reciting the Quran well and writing the script of the Quran gracefully. It is sad that Muslims have not encouraged calligraphy, or what in Urdu is called khattati. Muslim-owned organizations, especially educational institutions, should patronize calligraphy," says Aslam. He laments the fact that the creativity involved in calligraphy is not valued by Muslims today.
It was through sheer hard work and self-study from books that Aslam Kiratpuri learn the art. To promote the dying art of calligraphy,
"I want to set up an art gallery exclusively dedicated to calligraphy in India. At least in this way calligraphers and Toghra makers will get an opportunity to display their works of art. Apart from this, awards and scholarships should be instituted to encourage budding young calligraphers," says Aslam Kiratpuri.
Every Tughra created by Aslam Kiratpuri is unique and has a separate identity. Taking a short break, sometimes he composes poetry that has a social message.
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