Bhopal :

She wields her set of ‘pen of reeds’ like an inspired chef. The mixture in jars she stirs so energetically, knowing well that like Urdu language, which was once highly respected and flourishing, the art of Arabic calligraphy too faces an uncertain future. Roohy Khan, a science post graduate in her 20s, provides a rare glimpse into the dying art of Arabic calligraphy in the country.

Organized by Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), the exhibition-cum workshop on Arabic calligraphy is being held at Rani Kamlapati Palace.

Roohy’s treatise contains a fascinating description of all letters. For example, she draws Alif, which to the uninitiated is a simple line, in an angular pattern using Koofi script. Her Alif, gets circular in Sulus script, remains steadfast in more common Naksh script (easy to read much like Urdu). For the more formal documents, she uses Khat-e-deewani for shooter strokes.

This is Roohy’s fourth exhibition. “Arabic script is the prime art of Islam and it is a little misunderstood. Here, we are inviting all to come learn calligraphy, in the language of your liking. It is so Indian now and needs to be preserved,” she said.

The art of calligraphy or Khushnawisi or kitahat is said to be more than 5,500 years old. Calligraphy is profession in which handful of artistes are flooded with work, that in many cases is mediocre at best.

Her pen of reeds, made out of canewood and similar material is cut exactly 1.5 inches from the top to give its nib the desired shape. “The angle of writing is most important. The rhythm, layout and interweaving patterns come naturally,” she said. Her work cannot be read so much so as visually sensed.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Bhopal / by Jamal Ayub, TNN / August 31st, 2014