With a Will to Live There Always is a Way to Life

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This miniature is based on one of the many stories that have cropped up around 'Panch- tantra', a Samskrit classic consisting of moral stories. 'Panch-tantra' is a collection of non-religious secular stories each of which ends with one moral teaching or the other. For some two thousand years now these stories of 'Panch-tantra' are the house-hold teacher of village folks and the Gita of the illiterate. In common mind the 'Panch-tantra' is the last word on morality, hence any commonplace, a fiction or narration, that comes out or concludes with a moral stands attributed to 'Panch-tantra'.

The painting here depicts the tale of two persons disabled by blindness and lameness but despite this they seek accomplishment of their objectives. The blind man, as goes the tale, was a recluse, painted here as a sufi, who could spread love and goodwill, and of course God's name, amongst common ones by his song and music. The lame person could not walk of his own but had a good a talent for music, was spiritual by nature and fit to work manually. The disability not only rendered their talent useless but also led them to starvation as the blind one could walk but could not see and hence was confined to his cell and the lame could see but could not walk and thus approach anyone even for charity.

Once they happen to meet each other and decide to work together. Now the lame person showed the path and led the blind one to a destination and supporting himself on his shoulders walked along with him. One sang and the other one accompanied him. Thereafter every village, its lanes, streets and chaupalas, began reverberating with their celestial music. They sang of God, love and brotherhood and had become the instruments of the Almighty. Earlier for their livelihood they had to beg but despite that they starved. Now charity rained upon them out of people's devotion. Thus, they were able to use their talent and accomplish the objectives of their lives and at the same time feed themselves properly. This miniature characteristically portrays this theme, though contrary to the details of the story the lame one has been painted with his eyes closed as if a blind one. The houses in the background denote the village, a long staff carried by one of them his blindness and the support under the arm of the other one his lameness. .

This description by Prof. P.C. Jain and Dr. Daljeet. Prof. Jain specializes on the aesthetics of literature and is the author of numerous books on Indian art and culture. Dr. Daljeet is the curator of the Miniature Painting Gallery, National Museum, New Delhi. They have both collaborated together on a number of books.