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Then Smt. Phulan
Rani ji entered in the room. I was surprised to know that at the
age of 87 she was very energetic and cheerful. She showed me other
rooms with her paintings, providing calmness and
peace to mind. I have not seen such large collection of paintings of
an individual in India or abroad. Even there was approx 500 miniature
paintings were displayed. There was a separate section
entitled " a tribute to the Sikh gurus " comprising more than 150
paintings on the lives of Sikh gurus.
Smt. Phulan Rani Bhamra (Panesar) is a Punjab’s well known woman
artist. She started to draw pencil sketch in her childhood. She
expressed the subtle and curious grace of the human form in linear
patterns. Her prolific work has earned her an exalted position
in art. The depth and mystical touch of Phulan Rani’s brush has
captured on canvas the very essence of various legends, parables and
episodes that portray the lives of great Sikh Gurus.
Smt. Phulan
Rani was born to Smt. Sarswati on
12th December 1923 in a well-to-do
middle class family of Amritsar. Her father Dr. Ram Singh Panesar
was a renowned medical practitioner in the city. He had served the
Kenya government as a medical officer for few years. He made Amritsar his home town. He did everything possible to motivate and
inspire his children. He adjudged in Phulan a strong propensity for
fine arts, particularly in painting.
Smt.
Phulan Rani did his matriculation then graduation from Amritsar. She
did her Masters in English literature and authored more than 200
books, especially for children, with the support of her late husband
S. Shamsher Singh Bhamra, a poet himself. She established Modern
School with few rooms near S. Mangal Singh Bhamra Street. Now it is
a reputed school of Amritsar spread over two acres in posh colony, Ranjit Avenue. The land was
allotted by then Chief Minister Punjab S. Beant Singh Ji in
recognition to her contribution in the field of art.
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