JAIPUR: Rajasthan is known for its magnificent forts and palaces, which draw thousands of tourists from all over the world. But amidst these attractions are the havelis of the Shekhawati region, which have formed a niche due to the intricate and beautiful artwork inside them. Sadly, the current state of these havelis leaves much to be desired. This has prompted Gopal Khetanchi, an artist from Jaipur, to paint the havelis on canvas. He feels that this will draw the much-needed attention of the administration and the general public and lead to action for restoring and maintaining these sites.
Through a unique painting exhibition, titled ‘Padharo mhare des’, Khetanchi has tried to give the message that it’s not just the palaces that warrant a visit to the desert state. He has made 16 paintings covering the cities of Jhunjhunu, Sikar, Churu, Mandawa, Fatehpur, Nawalgarh and Ramgarh, all of them in the Shekhawati region. The paintings have a 3D effect and employ the hyper-realism technique, which gives them a high-resolution effect.
“These havelis have been neglected and are in poor condition. I want to draw the attention of the people towards their beauty. This will make the owners see the true value of their property and will make them preserve the havelis”, Khetanchi said.The havelis date back to the 17th century, when Marwari merchants constructed them. The interiors are richly decorated, containing murals depicting scenes from Hindu mythology.
Khetanchi has tried to bring the havelis to life through his paintings. “I wanted my work to be as refined as the work done in the havelis. I studied them and then recreated them. If they were in the right shape today, they would look the way they look in my paintings,” he added.Each painting has been given a name, and looking at them one feels as if one has travelled back in time, experiencing the true grandeur of the havelis.
The architecture depicted in the paintings resembles the Shekhawati style and every detail, including the door latches and the grills, is shown exactly the way it is in the havelis. Some of India’s most prosperous business families have their roots in Shekhawati. The Oswals, Mittals, Ruias, Lohias, Birlas, Goenkas, Singhanias and Agarwals, to name a few, belong to this region. The region came up as an old caravan trade route passes through it.
The havelis were gradually abandoned as the families moved to new areas to spread their business. Eventually, almost every single haveli in the Shekhawati region was abandoned. Today the havelis are mostly occupied by their caretakers.Khetanchi’s next exhibition will be in Mumbai in late November. “I want people to see how rich our culture is. I have foreigners taking interest in them. Some of them are even buying the havelis to preserve them. If they can take so much interest in our culture, why can’t we show some importance to it,” he asks.
Rich in history
Some of India’s most prosperous business families have their roots in the Shekhawati region. The Oswals, Mittals, Ruias, Lohias, Birlas, Goenkas, Singhanias and Agarwals, to name a few, belong to this region which came up because of an old trade route