Surjit Patar Pencil Portrait

Its finished. A deep respectful feeling is taking over me after uploading this artwork. Finally im starting to draw portraits of the people representing my roots and im happy that Surjit Patar ji’s portrait is one of the first of these portraits. There is a feeling of satisfaction for a making a good portrait and then there is a feeling for drawing something meaningful. Im very hopeful that most of the Punjabies will enjoy this portrait.

I was so taken over by the feeling that i translated one of his Punjabi poems “Balda Birkh Haan” for the benefit of my English viewers… naturally its a very crude translation…. in no way one can express his words in English.. of course im the least capable to do that.. but i tried…

I’m a burning tree, almost done, just till the evening
Still I long for a spring

I won’t stay, but my songs will remain
My songs are water and I’m a line on its surface

I was torn and made into a flute
In the shape of this flute, I’m the scream of that jungle

On a page of fire, I’m a line of daffodils
They are debating if I’m right or wrong

I’m a burning tree, almost done, just till the evening
Still I long for a spring