Ludhiana: Gurprit Singh Mankoo’s decade-long quest to rescue the vanishing, intricate world of Sikh miniature art has been honoured at Rashtrapati Bhawan following a prestigious 10-day residency.How the former commercial portrait painter shrunk his focus to preserve Punjab’s dying spiritual art won over President Droupadi Murmu. Mankoo, 50, was one of just 11 traditional artists selected nationwide for the country’s latest Artists-in-Residence programme.Mankoo specialises in Mohra Kashi, an intricate, centuries-old decorative art form native to Punjab. During the Delhi residency, he exhibited his highly detailed pieces to President Murmu, who presented him with a ceremonial shawl and memento.“It was a profound honor to present my work to the President and collaborate with fellow traditional masters,” Mankoo said, noting that his official invitation followed a recommendation from Padma Shri laureate Jai Prakash Sharma.Mankoo’s journey into the meticulous world of miniature art began in his childhood under the mentorship of noted Ludhiana realist painter Dilbagh Singh. He spent the early part of his career painting conventional landscapes and portraits for local collectors.However, his career shifted permanently during a 2014 restoration project at Sri Harmandar Sahib (the Golden Temple) in Amritsar, where he discovered the beauty of traditional fresco and miniature detailing. Inspired to rescue the fading art form from obscurity, Mankoo pivoted to studying ancient lime-plaster techniques, organic mineral pigments, and holy geometric motifs.Working from a family-run home studio with guidance from Bengaluru-based mentor, M V Kambar, Mankoo now dedicates his practice to preserving the spiritual essence of Punjabi heritage.“In an era obsessed with speed and convenience, this art demands slow, deliberate craftsmanship,” Mankoo said. “My goal is to inspire younger generations to learn these roots so the legacy survives.”Presidential RecognitionA statement from the President of India’s official X account praised the residency as a vital cultural safeguard :“President Droupadi Murmu met a group of artists of traditional miniature art forms of India and witnessed their work at Rashtrapati Bhavan. The Artists-in-Residence programme is a celebration of the spirit of India’s artistic traditions, reaffirming the important role of living art traditions in preserving cultural identity and inspiring future generations.”What is Mohra Kashi?Mohra Kashi is an ancient fresco technique indigenous to the Punjab region, which reached its zenith in the 19th century under the royal patronage of Maharaja Ranjit Singh.Often referred to as the bedrock of the historic Sikh School of Art, it is a highly specialized “buon fresco” (true fresco) method where natural, hand-ground mineral and stone pigments are meticulously painted onto layers of wet, slaked lime plaster.Because the artwork must be completed while the plaster remains damp, the pigments chemically fuse with the curing lime rather than sitting on top of it. As the wall dries, the paint becomes an structurally permanent part of the building itself, rendering the vibrant floral and geometric motifs incredibly durable and capable of surviving for centuries.Historically, this meticulous craft was used to adorn the walls of havelis (mansions), temples, and gurudwaras—most notably the interior walls of Sri Harmandir Sahib (the Golden Temple) in Amritsar.
