One of the perks of being a travel writer is you get to meet characters you did not even know existed. Including Kikasso the artist in Pushkar.
The only Sikh I met in Pushkar, he says he has been painting since 1970. But he has had careers in the Army as a wireless operator from 1972-1978 and as a cashier in Syndicate Bank after that before taking voluntary retirement in 2000. It was then that he decided to pursue his ambition of being an artist full time.
[Click on any image for a larger view]
He displays his art on the street, and happy with that. He says he never took formal training, and learnt through meditation. Going by the real name of Sardar Kishan Singh Munawat, it was a foreigner who pointed out to his work being like Picasso’s. Till then he had not even heard the name Picasso; he looked him up subsequently and decided to seek further inspiration from this great master; after all, we all need to look up to someone in life he says. It was then that Kishan became Kikasso. And, in Kikasso’s own words, “Picasso was a modernist before the Renaissance, and I am a modernist too.”
Prices vary from Rs. 200 for a small picture, going up to a few thousand. Am image of a global family sells for Rs. 1,000. My request for an interview got the response, “I don’t want to be famous, nor do I need publicity to sell. I only take pleasure in my work, and I know good things will sell. My market is global anyway so this interview may not mean much.” He followed this up with an endless interview before I pressed eject.
Kikasso claims to have been born on August 15, 1946, exactly a year before India gained independence. He says his father is a priest in the local Gurudwara, or Sikh temple. A sign at his street shop says, “Born, Live Pushkar, Love to Work Pushkar.” Kikasso adds that he will be in Pushkar till the last day of his life.
How much of his story is true? A silversmith across the road says no one is sure. According to him, “Some say he is not a real Sikh. Others say he murdered someone and is impersonating as a Sikh to evade arrest. No one knows when he even came to Pushkar. His father may have been a priest in the Gurudwara, but no longer for sure.”
Believe it or not, but do chat up Kikasso when in Pushkar.
Painting titled 'Global Family'
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
Interesting article. Kikasso is really a tale worthy of being told!
Hey … i happened to bump into him as well … he narrated the same story to me
it was quite amusing .. pablo picasso and kristo kikasso
Thanks for your comment Siddhant – yes, it is interesting to meet such characters. That’s what makes travel so wonderful.
dear ajay jain
apka lekh bhaot acha he
magar unhone jo kaha who sirf ek story nahi unki gindagi he
kya sach he kya nahi agar jane ka sokh he to uski family se pucho
naki duniya se kyoki me janta hu jitne mu utni baat hoti he
to kabhi koi lekh likho to viswas ke sath liko naki ek formalty ki tarah
sorry agar mene zyaada likh diya ho to kyoki jis adami muje pala he uske bare me aisi baate me bradaast nahi kar sakta aur sayad app bardast naa kar sako kyoki ye koi khel nahi he