‘Handicapped since birth, Bashir defied odds to scale heights’

Capturing a region’s essence, from its naturally scenic landscape to its culture and that too on canvas isn’t a task easily achieved. It requires years of practice, diligence and determination to hone such a skill and raise it to the level of art. To do it when one is both deaf and mute is worth all the praise in the world. Forty-year-old Bashir Ahmad Mir is one such individual, who has been drawing attention to himself by narrating tales of Kashmir and capturing its beauty through his artistic endeavours. A resident of Ratnipora Bala, a hamlet near the town of Tangmarg in Kashmir’s Baramulla District, Bashir is a man who can neither speak nor hear, but has been able to convey his feelings about and love for Kashmir and Kashmiris through his talent as a painter. Bashir has been challenged since birth, but this has not deterred him from pursuing his dream. His pictures record life in Kashmir as it is. On this, there is no compromise. His family and friends vouch for this, saying that he started his journey as an artist in his childhood, but it was only after his marriage that he became truly obsessed with it. Most of his artwork is focussed on ancient Kashmiri traditions, Sufism, culture, scenic landscapes, farming, routine chores of the common man, etc. People close to him were quoted by a web portal as saying that there isn’t a moment in his life when he does not have a paint brush in his hand and paper to draw and colour something about Kashmir that catches his fancy. To earn a livelihood for his family, he works as a casual labour in the Cable Corporation of India (CCI) and there was a time when he was posted to/deployed in Gulmarg just because of his artistic talent. There have been several occasions when he has wanted to give up his job, which just pays this father of two a measly monthly stipend of Rs.7, 500/-. His brilliant depiction of life in Kashmir also does not fetch him the kind of money famed artists get. Those close to him say he earns a maximum profit of Rs.1, 000 per painting, and anything other than that takes care of expenses. The art of painting is the most expressive and lively medium for human feelings and creative impulses. Paintings are essentially fragile works that rarely have longevity, especially in a region like Kashmir, which has unsuitable climatic conditions. The above disadvantage notwithstanding, hasn’t prevented Kashmir from having its share of famed painters – artists like Dina Nath Walli, Manohar Kaul, Maheshwar Nath Dhar, Kailash Nath Fotedar, Veer Munshi, Inder Salim and many others. Given his talent, Bashir Ahmad Mir is well on his way to joining this august company.

‘Handicapped since birth, Bashir defied odds to scale heights’

Capturing a region’s essence, from its naturally scenic landscape to its culture and that too on canvas isn’t a task easily achieved. It requires years of practice, diligence and determination to hone such a skill and raise it to the level of art. To do it when one is both deaf and mute is worth all the praise in the world. Forty-year-old Bashir Ahmad Mir is one such individual, who has been drawing attention to himself by narrating tales of Kashmir and capturing its beauty through his artistic endeavours. A resident of Ratnipora Bala, a hamlet near the town of Tangmarg in Kashmir’s Baramulla District, Bashir is a man who can neither speak nor hear, but has been able to convey his feelings about and love for Kashmir and Kashmiris through his talent as a painter. Bashir has been challenged since birth, but this has not deterred him from pursuing his dream. His pictures record life in Kashmir as it is. On this, there is no compromise. His family and friends vouch for this, saying that he started his journey as an artist in his childhood, but it was only after his marriage that he became truly obsessed with it. Most of his artwork is focussed on ancient Kashmiri traditions, Sufism, culture, scenic landscapes, farming, routine chores of the common man, etc. People close to him were quoted by a web portal as saying that there isn’t a moment in his life when he does not have a paint brush in his hand and paper to draw and colour something about Kashmir that catches his fancy. To earn a livelihood for his family, he works as a casual labour in the Cable Corporation of India (CCI) and there was a time when he was posted to/deployed in Gulmarg just because of his artistic talent. There have been several occasions when he has wanted to give up his job, which just pays this father of two a measly monthly stipend of Rs.7, 500/-. His brilliant depiction of life in Kashmir also does not fetch him the kind of money famed artists get. Those close to him say he earns a maximum profit of Rs.1, 000 per painting, and anything other than that takes care of expenses. The art of painting is the most expressive and lively medium for human feelings and creative impulses. Paintings are essentially fragile works that rarely have longevity, especially in a region like Kashmir, which has unsuitable climatic conditions. The above disadvantage notwithstanding, hasn’t prevented Kashmir from having its share of famed painters – artists like Dina Nath Walli, Manohar Kaul, Maheshwar Nath Dhar, Kailash Nath Fotedar, Veer Munshi, Inder Salim and many others. Given his talent, Bashir Ahmad Mir is well on his way to joining this august company.

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