March 21, 2025 | Anadee Pathak
Muthlal, Alinbass, Pogal Paristan, Ramban, Jammu & Kashmir, India by Anadee Pathak
Last year in December I went to Jammu and Kashmir with my college friends. A friend of mine is a local resident and was guiding us during the whole trip. We had planned to stay at her native place somewhere in the Pirpanpal mountain ranges, Ramban. We were first in Srinagar and then went to Ramban district. The place is called Pogal Paristan (The Land of Fairies). Roughly around 7000-9000 feet above the sea-level.
Muthlal, Alinbass, Pogal Paristan, Ramban, Jammu & Kashmir, India by Anadee Pathak
Before reaching her hometown, we stopped at a place. She wanted us to show a spot there on that mountain. For people like us everything there was fascinating, as all of us have been living in metropolitan cities, surrounded by more concrete than nature.
On that mountain was a natural spring, which she showed us. There I saw these carvings on the rocks. At first glance I thought it might be something done by the locals. It was only after asking her, that I got to know that it had always been there and she had heard that it might be centuries old. I could not stop myself from capturing these figures. When I closely observed them, I saw the details in them. Human figures riding horses and holding swords and shields, figures sitting as well as in different postures and use of patterns can be seen carved on those rocks. I have always been an admirer of patterns and was curious. Further I got to know that there are numerous such natural springs in those mountains and jungles and probably more of such carvings as well.
Muthlal, Alinbass, Pogal Paristan, Ramban, Jammu & Kashmir, India by Anadee Pathak
Aren’t these carvings a part of our artistic heritage? The artist who had carved these figurines, would have never thought that someday some random person from the south will come to watch his/her creation and then go back and write about all of this.
These carvings might have been lost in the wild, or might have been ignored for decades. But I believe that just like an artist tries to find his/her own style and masterpiece, an artwork also finds its audience and admirer.
Being a painter is boring, being an artist is boring, but it is all worth it. The person who created these, might have got bored as well. A place where even breathing is a difficult task in itself, this person was carving rocks. Let’s just take a moment to think about the amount of determination and motivation it would require. As an artist myself, I also feel bored sometimes. Working with the same style again and again is really monotonous. But I guess that's how it is, choosing your style every single time, getting up every day and painting every day. This trip to Jammu and Kashmir has certainly helped me to explore my core artistic motivation.
So, if you are going through a creative block or are yet to find your style or purpose as an artist, try travelling, you might find your motivation to keep on working.