For a quarter of a century (1679-1704), the city of Anandpur was a cultural hub and an advanced centre of learning. More than a hundred Sikh, Hindu and Muslim scholars and intellectuals headed for the city from across the Indo-Islamic world in their pursuit for a liberal patron to sponsor their literary endeavours.

This painting explores the diversity of the poets, comprising two Sikh, two Hindu and two Muslim scholars, under the united umbrella of artistic expression and spiritual exploration.

The isometric view of the architectural space shows both workshop and formal areas of the Anandpur Darbar, each figure engaged in the various processes of creative writing: from ink-making, to paper preparation, to studying literature, to composing poetry, and receiving recognition from the Guru himself. Mata Jito’s role in the darbar is highlighted as a great patron of the arts. 

The painting poetically visualises the following calligraphed from Suraj Prakash Granth:

ਸ਼੍ਰੀ ਕਲਗ਼ੀਧਰ ਅਨਂਦਪੁਰ ਬਿਲਸਤਿ ਬਹੁਤ ਬਿਲਾਸ।
[Behold] the Adorner of the Plume as he is seated in Anandpur in a state of happiness and enjoyment!

ਜਿਤ ਕਿਤ ਤੇ ਬਹੁ ਗੁਨੀ ਨਰ ਸੁਨਿ ਜਸੁ ਆਵਿਤ ਪਾਸ॥੧॥
From all places, skilled poets of excellence have surrounded him, having heard of his fame (as a patron of the arts)

Commissioned by The Anandpur Art Project. Provenance: Toor Collection,