Calligraphy is an ancient type of visual art while it is our religious as well as cultural heritage. In the sub-continent history there were many known calligraphers who worked with heart and soul in this art and helped in spreading it in the region, Ustad Khurshid Alam Gohar Qalam is one of such calligraphers.
He is one of the world's most skilled, respected and celebrated calligraphers. His calligraphic works are so awe-inspiringly beautiful as to seem almost supremely beautiful. His works has a deeply impressive dignified quality. He resides in Lahore and associated as a professor with the National College of Arts, Lahore (NCA). He belonged to Khushab district, Sargodha where he acquired his early education under the tutelage Ustad Ismail Dehlavi. Later he got an opportunity to study under the late Hafiz Yousuf Sadidi, a recognised master of calligraphy in the Indian sub-continent.
Famously known as Gohar Qalam, a title bestowed on him by the late master calligrapher Nafees Qalam and by Professor Ghulam Nizamuddin of the University of Punjab he is highly praised and recognized as master calligrapher. The artistic ambiance in spiritualistic shade is evident as one enters the gallery. The recent exhibition of Ustad Khurshid Alam Gohar Qalam's calligraphic works titled "Transcendence" at the Sanat Gallery, Karachi offers a unique opportunity to art connoisseurs to appreciate the treasure trove of calligraphic art.
Proverbs and passages from the Holy Qur'an are the major sources of Islamic calligraphy. There are many types of scripts practiced the world over for calligraphy. In the modern world Khat-e-Kufi, Khat-e-Tuluth, Khat-e-Nastaliq, Khat-e-Naskh, Khat-e-Diwani, Khat-e-Diwani Jali, Khat-e-Riqa and Khat-e-Reham are used by the calligraphers. But Khat-e-Suls, Khat-e-Naskh and Khat-e-Nastaliq are more famous among calligraphers.
Whereas Ustad Gohar Qalam used a combination of Shikasti and the Nastaliq scripts in his current calligraphic works. The works consists of Quranic verses in Arabic as well as the poetry of Khwaja Hafiz Shirazi and Allama Iqbal in Persian and Urdu. Calligraphy continues to flourish in the forms of Classical calligraphy and Modern calligraphy. While Ustad Gohar Qalam practices Classical calligraphy. He writes characters that are disciplined yet fluid and spontaneous. And the history of calligraphy shows that beautiful and clear writings were always praised.
Ustad Gohar Qalam's inscription in ink on paper is one of a kind. The free flowing strokes in black ink give a sense of soft liquid taking shape of words. These words start their journey from first stroke and end at the last one without being interrupted continue their voyage exploring the soul trapped inside the body trying to be free like the divine words. The verses of the Holy Quran were skilfully rendered on paper in different styles. So simple yet very powerful the black ink plays majesty on paper. An eminent calligrapher Ustad Gohar Qalam's each calligraphic work is a work of art with a divine blessing, be it in any shape or style.
The exhibition represents a spiritual reflection of the creative power of the great calligrapher. Its focus is on the captivating spiritual theme of Sufi soul. Ustad Gohar Qalam is also an author of 16 books on calligraphy, five of which has been incorporated into the Fine Arts syllabi of both undergraduate and graduate levels by the Higher Education Commission.
"Gohar Qalam's best known and prolific work consists of a handwritten copy of the Holy Quran rendered in 406 distinct styles of calligraphy, preserved in 30 show cases and weighing a hefty 1600 kilograms at the Faisal Mosque, Islamabad." Gohar Qalam is the recipient of:
Prime Minister of Pakistan's special award in 1989. Pride of Performance Award in1992. Special award by the Japanese foreign minister at the International Calligraphy exhibition at Tokyo's Metropolitan University in 2005.
Other than these awards recognition Ustad Gohar Qalam's calligraphic works adorn some of the most important public buildings of our country, such as "the extension of the mosque and tomb complex of the revered Saint Data GanjBaksh in Lahore, where Surah-e-Rehman is written over a total length of three hundred and eight feet and Darood-e-Taj is written over one hundred and eight feet. Allama Iqbal International Airport, Lahore features GoharQalam's work in its main departure lounge."[email protected]
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