PESHAWAR: Noted artist Anwar Khan has said that calligraphy being the finest Islamic art should be promoted at all levels of educational institutions because most children by birth have natural inclination towards colours and images.

During an in an informal chat with this scribe, he said that colours and images fired the imagination of small children and enhanced their creative powers.

Anwar Khan, a resident of Swabi district and recipient of 25 national and international awards, has participated in several solo and group exhibitions.

Young artist says colours and images enhance creative powers of children

He has been using different medium including oil, acrylic, pastel pencil colour. He has skills of both traditional and modern calligraphy. A graduate of department of art and design, University of Peshawar, he also has a taste for painting.

Born with a master hand, Anwar Khan said that he used to practice written text on his school wooden takhti (traditional writing slate) along with his other classmates and it introduced to him the wonderful art of calligraphy in 2nd grade.

He said that the simple Qalam Dawaat and black ink were tools that drove him to the finest art and the subject of drawing further heightened his love for colours and images.

Mr Khan is currently a visiting lecturer at Abdul Wali Khan University, Mardan and busy in making preparations for participating in a solo exhibition to be held in Islamabad next month. He has worked on variety of subjects including women rights, child labour, and refugees’ plight where his works were appreciated by all and sundry.

“I regret that such practices are no longer encouraged at school level while I wish the education department revives and promote the tradition of wooden Takhti and drawing subject at all every level as I believe it helps children to open up their faculties,” he said.

Mr Khan said that writing Takhti was of great significance as it was used by schoolchildren for improving their handwriting.

“Using traditional slate produced wonderful results in improving handwriting skills of young students but it was a bit difficult task for schoolchildren as they had to bring the wooden slates to school and wash them after every use, yet their importance for academic development could not be overlooked. The use of Takhti not only helped students improve their writing but also developed a talent for the Islamic art of calligraphy,” said the young artist.

He said that it was his dream to work with great calligraphers of high repute and it came true during his several exhibitions in Islamabad and Lahore. “Nasir Seemab is one of them whose works have impressed me as an artist. I have participated in over 100 exhibitions and have received numerous local awards but Gulgee award for my calligraphic work Shajra-i- Rasool is my pride,” he said.

Regarding future plans, Mr Khan said that he wanted to produce calligraphic master pieces that should motivate schoolchildren to love that wonderful art.

Published in Dawn, September 6th, 2019