It’s the mool mantra of celebrated artist Arpana Caur’s life

Seven am to one noon. “It’s the best time of the day for me, a creative period when I paint while listening to spiritual music...it’s a nasha for me,” artist Arpana Caur unleashes the visual imagery captured in the crevaces of her mind and creates a masterpiece. “I’ve been painting since I was three and I never showed my work to anyone till MF Husain sahab’s show called for new work and I mustered the courage and submitted mine,” there was no looking back.

In Chandigarh for the recent Saarc Folk Festival, the soft-spoken artist makes a tour of museums, and is quite heartened to see her works from the ‘80s there. “Chandigarh is so refreshing whereas Delhi is like a pressure cooker. I wish Punjab would nurture its artists as they have the best museums in the country, best cities in terms of greenery, aesthetics. As for my work, I wish they’d take my recent ones for display,” Arpana’s more than willing to donate, a quality which is predominant in her - the ability to give, to love, unconditionally, just like her name which she chose herself. And after almost a week of trailing her, observing her every move, gesture and mannerism, no wonder her Babaji calls her Florence Nightingale! She’ll not let you leave till you’ve cleared your plate of veggies, she follows her mother like a shadow, making sure ‘mama’s’ had her food, medicine and good night’s sleep, and she even made time for her personal pilgrimage. If mother Ajeet Cour is a restless bundle of energy who holds the fort, shoots a volley of orders and takes upon new challenges, Arpana is the pillar that holds her, a cushion to fall back upon.

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