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An Enigmatic
Artisan - Irshad
Hussain Farooqi
A self taught, self
disciplined and self
dependent
practitioner of the
rarest crafts in
India, artist Irshad
Farooqi is arguably
the one and only
calligrapher in
India who produces
Islamic Calligraphy
on Wood. Pertaining
to a family
background of
Hakeems (Unani
Medicine
Practitioners) and
renowned Sufi
Saints, unlikely
Irshad Farooqi was
never destined to
become a
Calligrapher. Born
in Sikar, Rajasthan
Irshad Farooqi
belongs to the
dynasty of
‘Sultanut-tarikeen
Sufi Hameeduddeen
Nagauri Farooqi(R.A.)’
(second khalifa of
khwaja Moinuddin
Chisti Ajmeri(R.A.)).
During his childhood
days Irshad Farooqi
always saw one of
his relatives –
‘Mastan Baba’
writing calligraphy.
He was so brilliant
with his work that
made not only Irshad
Farooqi awe inspired
but also the
on-lookers who stood
by to witness an
expeditious
calligraphic writing
displayed by ‘Mastan
Baba’. This was his
first input which he
received and
immediately made him
fall in love with
the art form. The
growing age and
academic pressure
somewhere somehow
diluted and diverted
his wish to practice
calligraphy. He
completed his B.A.
in 1981, M.A. in
1983 from the
University of
Rajasthan. He then
pursued P.G. Diploma
in Journalism and
completed it in
1984. Always
medically fit Irshad
Farooqi then got
enrolled in The
Rajasthan State
Flying School
Jaipur. After
completing the first
two levels of his
flying training and
obtaining a student
and a Private Pilot
License Irshad
farooqi was unable
to continue with his
further flying
lessons due to
financial
constraints that
left his dream of
becoming a pilot
unrealized. But,
always filled with
feelings of
Positivity and Hope,
Irshad Farooqi
decided to move to
Delhi and look for
alternatives.
Continuously coping
with financial
problems and
challenges Irshad
Farooqi joined a
newspaper
publication house
‘Nayi Duniya’ and
Daily Awam’ as a
sub-editor on a
meager salary of Rs.
2500.
Experiencing
sleepless nights and
days, when he
doesn’t use to have
a penny to his
pocket, Irshad
Farooqi never lost
hope and his faith
in Allah. During an
exhibition in Iran
Culture House in
Delhi which Irshad
Farooqi happened to
visit, graphically
displayed he saw
some samples on
calligraphy which
influenced him and
moreover rekindled
the desire in him to
practice this art
from years ago when
he used to see
Mastan Baba as a
child. Seeing the
samples, he proposed
a unique style of
calligraphy to
himself, the art of
doing calligraphy on
wood. But, to
practice that form
of craft a prior
knowledge in writing
calligraphy was
necessarily needed.
He decided to enroll
into a two year
programme at Ghalib
Academy (Hazrat
Nizammudin), New
Delhi to learn the
nuances of Urdu
Calligraphy. Slowly
and gradually moving
to realize his
innovative concept
on calligraphy.
Irshad Farooqi
learnt Islamic
Calligraphy Writing
under the guidance
of ‘Ustaad Anees
Siddiqui’ at the
Ghalib Academy.
Without looking back
Irshad Farooqi
started to excel in
his long lost love
of calligraphy and
touch the heigts of
stars. In
independent India,
the best
contribution towards
Urdu Calligraphy has
been made by Ustaad
Khaleek Tonki and
his disciple
tradition which
includes Ustaad
Anees Siddiqui,
Ustaad Khurshid Alam
and Irshad Farooqi
himself. The
enthusiasm of Irshad
Farooqi to transfer
the art to an entire
new medium kept his
spirits up even in
difficult times. He
never forgets to
mention that Allah
has been very kind
to him and has
always sent somebody
as an angel in
disguise to purchase
his pieces. His
dedication and
devotion to this art
form can be seen in
the modeled pieces
which he had made
with constant hard
work and patience.
The very first
design which was
modeled out of his
hands was the name
of Allah in the
shape of a ‘Surahi’
(A water Urn).
Conceptualization
from basic and
simple designs he
further expanded
into more
complicated and
complex designs. In
general Calligraphy
is two dimensional,
however, efforts to
produce it on wood
have been made it
three dimensional,
of which the only
and the most unique
work has been shown
by Irshad Farooqi.
Recently being
chosen for the
National Award he
says, “This National
Award is the sign of
recognition of my
talent. Insha Allah
I will make history
one day. Although
these are sinful
hands yet god has
granted me talent
for making wood
calligraphy.” After
a long wait the sun
has finally started
shining on his
career. Irshad
Farooqi says “I want
to make India proud
as Ustaz Khaleeq
Tonki, Pandit Ravi
Shankar, Shri Ram
Vanji Sutar,
M.F.Hussain and
A.R.Rehman. Irshad
Farooqi honored with
the prestigious
“Kala Nidhi Award”
by the Government of
Haryana at Suraj
Kund Handicrafts
Mela in 2009 and he
was also awarded
with the “Moulana
Qazi Sajjad Hussain
Award” at Ghalib
Academy. He is
recently nominated
for the prestigious
Maharana Mewar
Foundation 30th
Annual Award 2010.
Irshad Farooqi
believes that wood
presentation of a
three dimensional
Calligraphy is in
itself the creation
of a new mode; in
which chemical
processes in the
furnace is used to
prepare the high
quality of dried
solid rubber wood.
Traditional design (Thugra)
on paper cannot be
replicated on wood,
therefore, according
to the nature of the
wood the
calligraphy, without
violations of the
original rules, they
are modified and
then carved on wood.
All these geometric
creations are based
on the principles of
balance which makes
it possible to
present a balanced
tone in all
directions of the
wooden calligraphy
piece. The process
through which he
carves Islamic
inscriptions on
wooden pieces is
entirely customized.
In the beginning of
the work process
concrete panels of
wood of various
sizes are cut
according to need.
With the help of a
wooden saw medium
the wood is made
smooth and even from
both the sides and
the smoother part is
glued to the set
design. The
respective design is
cut off with a
simple scroll saw
which is completely
controlled by his
fingers thus the
design makes by the
hand, and the
background wood is
removed. The
remaining part of
the design on the
wood is eliminated
and the wood is made
smooth, flat and
even from all sides
to ensure that no
trace of roughness
remains on the
surface. To give the
wooden piece a
shining effect, a
white waxy polish is
applied to the
surface. It is then
pasted to a wooden
base and is covered
with a transparent
acrylic case. His
artwork has been
priced from Rs. 400
to Rs. 1.25 lacs,
the same design been
chosen for the
National Award. A
patriot, his love
for his country is
reflected in his
deepest desire to
make a design of
Surah Al-Faateha the
opening chapter of
the Holy Qu’ran
(which is now
completed and
acceptance is
granted from the
Royal Court of Dewan
office of the Oman
to present this
design to His
Majesty Sultan
Qaboos Bin Said
Al-Said. The Sultan
of Oman) that is the
only of its sort in
the world. Now
Farooqi is preparing
a design of biggest
verse (Aayatul Kursi)
of the Holy Qur’an
that will also only
one of its sort in
the world, the cost
will be
approximately Rupees
50 Lacs. With a wish
to make India proud
his artwork will be
embedded with
precious jewels and
gemstones.
Aware of the grave
situation and an
endangered future of
this art form he
even suggests
preventive measures
that should be
implemented to save
this dying art of
Calligraphy. His
advices to the
Government of India
to establish
Calligraphic art
galleries in the
capital’s prime and
posh locations which
shall enable
increased awareness
and recognition of
the art are crucial
for its revival.
Irshad Farooqi
believes that this
art is a result of
full concentration,
dedication and
patience. Whoever
wishes to learn this
art form is required
to have a
fundamental
knowledge in
Calligraphy Writing.
The goal of this
type of art in
society is to spread
peace, harmony,
brotherhood and
unity.
By: Kanika
Gupta, New Delhi
Mob:
09810812695,
Email:
87.kanika@gmail.com
Irshad Hussain
Farooqi,
09968070070,
011-26982387
Email:
farooqi.calligraphycrafts@gmail.com,
f_calligraphycrafts@yahoo.com
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