This portrait artwork depicts Akali Phula Singh, one of the most famed of all Akali Nihung leaders, who rose to fame under the service of Maharaja Ranjit Singh.
The painting is part of Kanwar Singh's Sikh history series. It exhibits vibrant colors and brings bring fresh energy into surrounding space.
Initiated into the Khalsa on the historic first Vaisakhi Day, Bachittar Singh fought alongside Guru Gobind Singh in a number of key battles in defence of Anandpur.
This scene shows him in his famous single-handed combat with the drunken elephant sent charging at the Sikh fort of Lohgarh by the joint enemy forces of the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb and the Hindu Hill Rajas.
This painting by Kanwar Singh marks Banda Singh Bahadur's final stand against a massive Mughal army at Gurdas Nangal.
His will against the oppressor never faltered and even after torture and the slaying of his young son, he refused to convert to Islam. Banda Singh Bahadur was executed along with more than a thousand loyal Sikhs in Delhi.
Guru Arjan Dev Ji, the fifth Guru, presided over a time of many great new horizons for the young Sikh faith. Amritsar was becoming a great social, political and religious centre. Large throngs of devotees were drawn to this place by a longing to be with their Guru, their love of Gurbani and to witness the completion of the Harmandir Sahib.
Guru Gobind Singh started the baptism of Amrit and thousands of Sikhs drank the nectar from the five Beloved Ones. He gave a new hope and strength to the oppressed. He swept away timidity and cowardice from the hearts of ordinary people. The Guru said, "When I make the sparrows hunt hawks and a single Sikh fight a legion, only then shall I be called Guru Gobind Singh."
In a brilliant move of strategy and leadership, Guru Gobind Singh initiated the ceremony of Amrit and transformed the Sikhs into the fearless and united body of the Khalsa. The Khalsa became a brave and moral fighting force against the tyrannical moghal ruler that occupied the Punjab. They achieved an exalted state of deadlessness, which empowered even a handful of Khalsa to fight effectively against overwheleming numbers.
This painting commemorates the 25th anniversary of the Indian government's assault on the Golden Temple - the Durbar Sahib - of Amritsar in June 1984, during the Gurpurab of Guru Arjan's Martyrdom.
Kanwar Singh's painting portrays the Sixth Guru, Hargobind - who erected the Akal Takht in the 17th century as the seat of Sikh Temporal Authority - as well as scenes from 1984
Guru Nanak Dev Ji founded the Sikh faith in rural Punjab during the mid 15th century. Discontent with the elusive values and hollow rituals of the Brahamanic Hindu tradition, he set forth on many journeys throughout his life to achieve a true union with God.
Mai Bhago (Mata Bhag Kaur), born in Jhabal near Amritsar was the sole survivor of the battle of Khidrana (Battle of Muktsar, 1705) and is well known for her courage and devotion to Guru Gobind Singh ji.
In 1708, Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth Guru of the Sikhs, having consciously witnessed the sacrifice of the lives of all his four sons, handed over the legacy to the Guruship of the Shabad Guru, embodied in the Siri Guru Granth Sahib.
On the day of Vaisakhi in 1699, Guru Gobind stepped onto the stage with Mata Sahib, unsheathed his sword and demanded that a Sikh amongst them should prove his devotion by offering their head to the Guru. After a long silence, a hand rose to the sky. His name was Daya Ram, a devoted katri Sikh from Lahore.
