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Sai Mahabhakta Late Shri.Ambaram Lal Bhai Kahar is known all over the World for His wonderful Colour Painting of "Shri Sai Baba with Aum in the background".
Saibaba's Original Painting by Ambaram in Parayan Hall, Shirdi
Saibaba's Original Painting by Ambaram in Parayan Hall, Shirdi
Ambaram's Signature on Saibaba's Painting Shri.Ambaram Lal Bhai Kahar was born on 9th September 1922 in a small religious family in Kahar Wada, Sundaram Building in Navsari district of Gujarat. His parents were Late Shri.Lalbhai Madhu Bhai Kahar and Late Smt.Ratan Behen Lalbhai Kahar. Shri.Ambaram also had two younger brothers namely Shri.Chatur Bhai Lal Kahar, the youngest brother being Shri.Vithal Bhai Lal Kahar and one Sister namely Bikhi Behan.
Late Shri.Ambaram Lalbhai Kahar
Ambaram's Birth Place
Ambaram's Birth Place Initially, Shri.Ambaram studied for 7 years in Tata Technical Education, as well as he learnt Diploma in mechanical engineering and Cabinet in Navsari. However, it is not known when he fell in love with different colors during the time of his student days. This young man was fascinated by the great art of Nature and finally he emerged as a famous Painter in front of people. Shri.Ambaram came in contact with a young Commercial Artist Moses who was a Jew and originated from Israel. Young Ambaram accepted him as his Guru. Ambaram used to address him as Moses Kaka. Ambaram stayed with Moses Kaka for 10 years. During these 10 years period, Moses Kaka imparted complete knowledge of Art and painting in Ambaram. Shri.Ambaram's flair for natural painting was brought to light when he met his second Guru Shri.Hira Singh, a famous painter from Uttar Pradesh who had come for painting at famous Ram Temple at Navsari in the year 1938. Shri.Ambaram took advantage of his second Guru, relentlessly worked hard for 4 months near the Dudhiya Pond of Navsari and finally made wonderful paintings pertaining to Mahabharata and Ramayana period. In this way, after receiving education from his Guru Hira Singh, Ambaram painted wonderful pictures of Gods and goddesses, famous political personalities, Indra, Dancers, Animals, Birds and nature. A very large Parsi Community lives in the cultured city of Navsari, because of which Shri Sai Baba's contemporary Saint Shri.Avatar Meher Baba visited Navsari about 3 times in His lifetime. This large Parsi Community are ardent devotees of Avatar Meher Baba and perhaps this was the reason why young Ambaram was very much devoted since his childhood as he used to attend the Thursday Satsang at Meher Baba Centre. As a young lad Ambaram saw the ups and downs of this colourful World. He had utmost faith in God and cherished dreams of achieving something big in life. As he was moving ahead in life, he got immense devotion towards Shri Sai Baba. Shortly after this incident, Ambaram also made paintings of a great Saint of Gujarat, Shri.Rang Avadhoot Maharaj (these paintings are still present even to this day at Shri Kshetra Nareswar, located on the banks of river Narmada in Gujarat). It is said that when Shri.Ambaram met Parama Pujya Shri Rang Avadhoot Maharaj and presented this picture, seeing this picture given by him, Shri Rang Avadhoot Maharaj blessed him. His meeting with two great Saints had such a profound impact on his mind that he decided not to marry and remained single for life by strictly following Celibacy (Brahmacharya). Shri.Ambaram visited many pilgrim places during his lifetime. And during this pilgrimage, he met many famous as well as anonymous Saints and got their blessings as well. Any devotee who has visited Shirdi must surely have seen this photograph of Baba in Chavadi (which is currently housed in the Parayan Hall located within Lendi Baug). The entire credit for the story that is mentioned below onwards goes solely to Shri Ambaram Ji himself. Because, after the demise of Ambaram ji, a diary was discovered among his personal belongings, in which Shri Ambaram Ji himself had recorded these factual details. After His Mahasamadhi Baba gave darshan in the dream of Ambaram Lalbhai Kahar of Navsari towards the end of year 1952 as per the information provided by his family members. The dream had a tremendous effect on Ambaram, the artist. Then Ambaram painted this portrait of Baba that he got from his dream vision. The painting is 6’ by 4’ of Baba sitting on the stone posture. There is also a gigantic Aum behind Baba. After the completion of this painting, people of entire Navsari District thronged the house of Shri.Ambaram to have a look at this beautiful painting. Not only that. Devotees from far off places also visited Ambaram's house to see this painting. The devotees who came from far off places and Navsari to see this painting gave some money and from the money collected like this, this painting of Baba was framed. In just a matter of few days, this painting became talk of the town and also made headlines in some leading daily newspapers at that time. On 25th January 1953, a reporter wrote about Shri.Ambaram and this famous painting in Gujarat's leading daily Gujarat Mitra. Some Baba devotees sat in front of this painting and performed Akhand Parayan and Bhajan. Later on, this painting was kept in famous Mod Ganch Ki Wadi at Navsari for devotee's darshan. Later Shri.Thakur Bhai, the trustee of Shri Sai Mandal, Navsari, who originally hailed from Navsari but lived in Mumbai's Matunga due to his work commitments, lovingly requested Ambaram and took this painting from Navsari to Mumbai Matunga for two days. Even here, some devotees of Baba performed Naama Smaran and Bhajans with full joy, enthusiasm and devotion. And then on Monday, 23rd March 1953, on the auspicious Shri Ram Navami Day, this wonderful painting of Baba was taken by truck to Shirdi. When this painting was being taken to Shirdi, a strange incident happened. When this truck was passing through Khandala, Shri.Ambaram started smelling something burning, he immediately asked the driver to stop the truck and saw that the engine caught fire under the driver's seat and he immediately poured water on it. The fire was extinguished and thus a major accident was averted. He expressed his gratitude to Baba. And in the afternoon, the truck reached Shirdi. Ambaram kept this painting in the first room in the Old Wada to the left of Samadhi Mandir which had four to five rooms (perhaps Sathewada). Here an elderly devotee of Baba came to see this painting. His face had a different radiance (perhaps it was Shri Sai Sharanand Maharaj ji). Later this picture was taken to Shri Sai Baba's Samadhi Mandir. The Executive Officer at that time was very much impressed after seeing the painting and he immediately decided to keep this life size painting of Baba near Baba's samadhi. But later he thought that Shri.Vasantrao Balaji Talim, the Sculputor from Mumbai was giving final touches to beautiful marble statue of Baba. Hence, he thought to place this painting permanently in the Chavadi and finally everyone liked this suggestion. Thus, Shri Baba graciously accepted this portrait created by Shri Ambaram Ji, and since then, this photograph of Shri Baba has remained in Shirdi. In Chavadi It was placed in the place where Baba used to sit during the Shej Arati and Kakad Arati. The Pujari of the Chavadi used to perform Alankar daily with Ashtagandh. This photograph has now been moved to the New Parayan Hall. Shri.Ambaram stayed in Shirdi for 4 days. When he came back to Mumbai, Shri.Ambaram was told by a friend of his that here a supreme devotee of Shri Sai Baba, whose name is Shri.Kamu Baba who lived in a bungalow in Goregaon, Mumbai. Shri.Ambaram wanted to have his darshan. Accordingly, He reached Goregaon at around 2 o'clock in the afternoon. There a devotee outside Kamu Baba's room told Shri.Ambaram that Kamu Baba's health is not good, because of that he does not meet anyone at the moment. Hearing this, Shri. Ambaram was returning disappointed. At that time, Shri.Kamu Baba saw him and asked "are you the one who has made a big picture of Shri Sai Baba?". Hearing this, Shri.Ambaram was astonished and he started thinking in his mind "I have never met him before or I have seen him earlier, then how did he come to know about all this?". Kamu Baba asked the man sitting outside the door to send Shri.Ambaram inside His room, made him sit near him and there he asked the man to bring water. Shri.Ambaram drank water and later Shri.kamu Baba told Ambaram that Baba's infinite grace has been on him. He advised Ambaram to always remember Baba and if he does like that, he will definitely have welfare and he will come up life. After this incident, Shri.Ambaram again started pursuing his studies and in the year 1957, he passed Government of Mumbai Art of Examination and got a diploma certification from there.
Ambaram's Diploma Certificate After completing his diploma, he left India in 1961 and enrolled himself at the London School of Arts. Influenced by the styles of ancient painters exhibited in London's art galleries, he began adapting that aesthetic within an Indian context. Even in England, he made variety of lively paintings. He spent many days studying painting as a student at the Louvre Museum in Paris, continuously integrating that artistic style with Indian subjects. He created portraits of great spiritual masters and personalities such as Shri Rama, Shri Krishna, Lord Shankara, Shirdi Sai Baba, Shri Rang Avadhoot Maharaj, and Avatar Meher Baba. He unhesitatingly embraced Western themes as well and continued to paint for many years. Alongside his regular work, he created numerous vibrant paintings and held several solo exhibitions also. He held a solo exhibition in Wembley, London, which was inaugurated by the local Member of Parliament, Boynes Rhodes. He also organized an exhibition in Southall (London), which was inaugurated by the then Indian High Commissioner, Mr. Gore. The local news media highly praised this exhibition, which resulted in enhanced reputation for Shri.Ambaram ji. In the year 1978, Ambaram Ji’s mother harboured a strong desire to return to India. After staying in the U.K. (Wembley) in 1977 and subsequently in the U.K. (London) in 1978, Ambaram ji returned to India after spending 18 years at various places in England. Ambaram ji brought with him variety of canvases and variety of colours. After arriving in India, he held art exhibitions in Bilimora (1979), Valsad (1980), Navsari (1990), and Surat (2000). Subsequently, he conceived the idea of establishing his own art gallery - a space where Shri Ambaram Ji intended to display more than 50 paintings created with his own hand.
Ambaram's Art Gallery
Art Exhibition by Late Shri.Ambaram Lalbhai Kahar The fans of Shri.Ambaram celebrated his 75th birthday with great pomp and finally in December 2002, he established his own Art Gallery after performing all rituals. All this undoubtedly happened by the infinite grace of Shri Sai Baba. Even after 80 years of his life, he did not change his routine, his daily programme and his nature at all. Here he used to talk to everyone who came to the art gallery with great love. He used to narrate the story behind every single painting made by him in great detail. In this way Shri Ambaram ji with the divine grace of Maa Saraswati received the blessings of Sadguru Shri Shirdi Sai Baba, Shri Avatar Meher Baba, Sant Shri.Rang Avadhoot Maharaj and Shri Kamu Baba, Shri.Ambaram spent his life like a true Saint. He was quite healthy even during the last days of his life. And after leading peaceful life for many years, he breathed his last on 3rd August 2009. We are giving below the family tree of Shri.Ambaram Lal Bhai Kahar for the benefit of Sai Devotees:-
Please find the contact details of Ambaram Lal Kahar Art Gallery and residential contact details of Dr.Aravind C.Bharti:- Art Gallery Ambaram Lal Kahar Art Gallery Residence 9/100, Kaharwad, (Source: Personal Interview with Dr.Aravind C Bharti - Late Ambaram's Brother's Son and Shri.Krushang H Bharati by Shri.Jignesh C Rajput, Surat. Photo & Family Courtesy: Dr. Aravind C Bharti. Translated from Hindi to English by www.saiamrithadhara.com) |
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