This Sunday morning meet could well have carried on into the night for there’s so much about this man that the city had to share. Memories of the late Manjit Bawa as a dear friend to those of him as a teacher, his love for Sufi music to his concern for social events...there were after all so many facets to this legendary artist, who passed away a few days earlier after being in coma for three years. The condolence meeting was organised by the Chandigarh Lalit Kala Akademi at its office in Sector 34 State Library on Sunday morning.

Well-known art critic Nirupama Dutt shared the art and times of the artist with the audience consisting of various personalities from different walks of life who gathered to pay their homage. Dutt chronicled Manjit’s life and art from the point of view of a friend as well as that of an art critic. She also put in perspective his place in the history of modern Indian art. “He wanted to paint the sky red since he loved the colour. He was a brave painter who had the courage to follow his convictions without regard of the popular trends. We will remember him for his energy and the simplicity which reflected in his work,” Dutt remarked as she added, “Birds and animals were recurrent features in his paintings, either alone or in human company.”

Another friend and renowned city-based artist Shiv Singh shared the fun time spent with Bawa. “He was a fun loving person. He always used to sing the song ‘Har charkhe de gere ve main tenu yaad kardi’ and now we miss him a lot but he will live in our hearts. He was so attached to his roots and had immense love and respect for Punjab,” said Singh. Further on, Diwan Manna, chairman, Chandigarh Lalit Kala Akademi, shared the multi-faceted aspects of Bawa’s personality which included his love for Sufi music, his concern for social events and his unusual organizational skills. “India truly has lost a very significant artist who was at the peak of his artistic journey when he fell ill. There was still a lot to come from his brush,” spoke Manna.

Others who shared their personal encounters with the artist and the respect they have for his art included Viren Tanwar, Malkit Singh and Jagdish Garcha. Theatre personality Gurcharan Chani, Secretary Punjab Arts Council Rajpal Singh, artist S Raj Kumar, novelist Neel Kamal Puri, radio announcer Vijay Vashisht, Secretary CLKA Ravinder Sharma were among those were present to pay tribute to the artist.