lt Col JC Asthana showcases his collection of paintings that he sketched both on and off the job. Neeti Nigam finds out that landscape and human emotions are what he enjoys depicting the most
They say guns and roses doesn’t go together, especially if it concerns an Army officer. But 87 year old lt Col JC Asthana has managed to make a fine balance between these two extremes. He has not only served nation but has also sketched India’s natural wonders and emotions. He has recently showcased some of his best works that he made in 60 years at the recently-concluded show at lalit Kala Academy.
Born in a humble family, Asthana had a lot of responsibilities. He joined the Indian Army in 1949 and had travelled across the world. His sons have collected his artworks as a tribute to their father. Brigadier Amul Asthana says, “My father believes that everybody is an artist but only some get time to evolve their art. Since he was an avid traveller, as a token of love, he presented his paintings and sketches to friends and family. We have borrowed around 60 artworks to exhibit it.”
Asthana’s works capture the beautiful landscape of Kashmir, the grandeur of the Ranakpur temples and Varanasi ghats, the mood of Venice and Bhutan. One of his paintings show the Varanasi ghat with fleets of boats parked at the bank. Amul explains, “He was an engineer from BHU and is deeply influenced by the Ganga which he crossed daily to reach college. You’ll find Ganga in most of his works.”
Such was his love for art that he painted on sacks too. “At that time, paints and canvases were unaffordable. So he sketched wherever he found space,” says Amul. During the internship, Asthana travelled to Kashmir and he barely had money to survive there. But the natural beauty kept him hooked. “During 1946, he lived in the refugee camps or at friends’ place. He also sold his paintings for just Rs10 to manage his living. He got a chance to exhibit his work at the prestigious Nedou hotel, where he got a complimentary stay for three days. He still cherishes those memories,” adds Amul.
One of the sketches that grabbed attention was a woman holding an infant and braving a storm. There are few that focus on mother daughter relations.