early times report
Jammu, July 27: Jammu & Kashmir Centre for Creative Arts (JKCCA), Jammu will confer Life Time Achievement Award on Sh. Virender Singh Rahi (New Delhi), keeping in view his contribution & achievements in the field of Art & Art Education. Sh. Rahi would be honoured in an award ceremony to be organized at Press Club of India, New Delhi on 9th August, 2025. It may be mentioned here that JKCCA is celebrating the Silver Jubilee of its establishment.
Born on 9th August, 1929 in the family of Freedom Fighters- Smt. Raj Kunwar Bai and Thakur Gopal Singh at Kharela, Hamirpur, Uttar Pradesh, Virendra Singh Rahi had his education from Maharaja College of Art, Jaipur; studied painting under Padma Shri Ram Gopal Vijayvargiya; studied art at Kala Bhavan, Vishva Bharati University, Shantiniketan; and studied painting and murals under Kala Guru Padma Bhushan Nandalal Bose.
Rahi's artistic odyssey commenced in the 1930’s when he courageously participated in the Quit India Movement. His artistic expressions became a powerful conduit for raising awareness about India's rich philosophical doctrine, cultural heritage and aesthetic beauty. He has dedicated 38 years to teaching art in a Delhi School. Inspired from the resplendent traditions of Medieval Indian art, Rahi immersed himself in the intricate world of miniature paintings and murals, often reflecting on the ancient masterpieces within the Ajanta Caves, weaving themes from classical texts, including the Ramayana, the Mahabharata, the Bhagavad Gita, the Gita Govinda, the Puranas, and the timeless works of Kalidasa.
Rahi's myriad accolades and honours include his selection as an advisor on arts by the then Prime Minister, the late Sh. Atal Bihari Vajpayee, in 2004. He has been the Vice- President of the All India Fine Arts and Crafts Society (AIFACS), New Delhi, along with his tenure as a Senior Advisor to the Arts Curriculum Committee of the Central Board of Secondary Education. His art works have been displayed and he has attended a number of Art Camps in India and abroad. Sh. Rahi has been awarded/ honoured by a number of prestigious art organization. viz. Kalashri Award, Works AIFACS, New Delhi, 1988; AIFACS Diamond Jubilee Award, 1988; Parishad Samman by Sahitya Kala Parishad, Government of Delhi, 2001; and many others.
Sh. Virendra Singh Rahi stands as an esteemed veteran artist whose contribution to Indian art has been earning him widespread respect and admiration for the last 78 years.
Jammu & Kashmir Centre for Creative Arts (JKCCA), Jammu was established way back in 1999 and it has has so far organized hundreds of such activities within and outside the J&K. It has successfully organized sixteen International Art Exhibitions and many state and national level art exhibitions and painters camps.
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