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Samrup Rachna

Samrup Rachna Calligraphy . Murti Written in Nastaliq and Devanagari

Samrup Rachna is a 60 work calligraphic art collection of apni boli, a fusion of Hindi and Urdu, created by Pakistani Syed Mohammed Anwer.[1][2]

The name comes from the Sanskrit words Samrup (समरूप) (سامروپ), meaning "congruence" or similar, and Rachna (रचना) (رچنا) meaning "creative work or design."[3] In linguistics, languages such as Hindustani that are written in two different scripts are called Synchronic digraphia.[4]

The calligraphy uses two different scripts of Devanagari (northern brahmic) and Nastaliq (perso-arabic) or Hindi-Urdu, which Anwer calls apni boli. Anwer had learned Devanagari script under his mother's tutelage, who had explained to him that though the scripts of Hindi and Urdu were different, the languages were the same.[5] This eventually led him to promote his idea that the two scripts should be fused or integrated together. The inspiration for his idea came as he was doodling in his office - as patterns emerged, he started painting them.[5]

The calligraphy forms a picture of the word when written.[1] For example, the Hindustani word surahi (meaning "ewer" or "pitcher" in English) is written in apni boli calligraphy in a way that a picture of an ewer is also formed.[6][7]

The artwork aims to demonstrate the shared linguistic heritage of Hindi and Urdu, emphasizing their cultural and linguistic similarities.[8]

The 60 work collection was launched as a book in 2016 called Samrup Rachna – Calligraphic Expression of Apni Boli [Hindi-Urdu] - at the Pakistan Mother Languages Literature Festival at the National Institute of Folk and Traditional Heritage.[9]

Diwali (Samrup Rachna Calligraphy)
Dr. Syed Mohammed Anwer, creator of the Samrup Rachna art

Samrup Rachna exhibitions

1. The Launch of Samrup Rachna Calligraphic Expressions 2012

The first Inaugural Exhibition of Samrup Rachna – Art for Peace was held in Islamabad from 2–4 April, 2012. The artist Syed Mohammed Anwer, while talking with international media Voice of America - VOA.[10]

Visitors at Samrup Rachna Inaugural Exhibition, Islamabad Pakistan

2. Kuch Khaas The Centre for Arts, Culture & Dialogue, Islamabad 2012

A session was organized with the Artist of Samrup Rachna Calligraphy, Syed Mohammed Anwer, at Kuch Khaas Center of Arts & Culture, Islamabad on 27 April, 2012.[11]

Dr Syed Mohammed Anwer giving presentation on Samrup Rachna at Kuch Khas Art Gallery, Islamabad

3. Samrup Rachna – Apni Boli Book Launch at Cultural Festival on World Local Languages day, 2016

The Book on Samrup Rachna calligraphic work was launched[12] on World Local Languages Day, 2016 at a Cultural Festival held at Lok Virsa Islamabad. Speaking at the occasion, Anwer shared his journey of creating this unique Art work.[13]

6. South Asian Scripts, Chicago University USA, 2018

The art work of Syed Mohammed Anwer was displayed in an exhibition the world of South Asian Scripts titled “Cosmopolitanism and National Identities” held in University of Chicago from 5 September 2018 to 14 December 2018.[14]

Samrup Rachna Exhibition , RedHouse New Delhi, India

References

  1. ^ a b "Cosmopolitanism and National Identities - The World of South Asian Scripts - The University of Chicago Library". www.lib.uchicago.edu. Retrieved 2023-04-22.
  2. ^ "Pak lawyer fuses Urdu, Hindi in calligraphy". Hindustan Times. 2016-02-01. Retrieved 2023-04-22.
  3. ^ "زبان قربتوں کا ذریعہ نا کہ دوریوں کا".
  4. ^ Cheung, Yat-Shing (1992). "The form and meaning of digraphia: the case of Chinese". In K. Bolton and H. Kwok. Sociolinguistics Today: International Perspectives. London: Routledge.
  5. ^ a b "'Language has no religion': Pakistani lawyer fuses Urdu, Hindi in calligraphy". The Express Tribune. 2016-02-03. Retrieved 2023-04-22.
  6. ^ Urdu VOA (13 April 2012). "Syed Mohammad Anwar – Calligraphy Artist" – via YouTube.
  7. ^ "A book of unique calligraphy | Pakistan Observer". Archived from the original on 2016-03-21. Retrieved 2016-03-18.
  8. ^ "Unique linguistic art book launched". www.thenews.com.pk. Retrieved 2023-04-22.
  9. ^ "Mother languages literature fair begins amid festivity". Archived from the original on 2016-03-02. Retrieved 2016-02-23.
  10. ^ "Syed Mohammad Anwar - Calligraphy Artist". YouTube.
  11. ^ "Kuch Khaas: Calligraphic Expression of Apni-Boli by Dr. Syed Mohammed Anwer". YouTube.
  12. ^ "Dr.Syed Mohammed Anwer speaking on diversity of Languages at World Local Languages Day". YouTube.
  13. ^ "SAMRUP RACHNA VOA , Art for Peace by Dr.Syed Muhammad Anwer". YouTube.
  14. ^ "Cosmopolitanism and National Identities - the World of South Asian Scripts - the University of Chicago Library".