Tuesday, 20 February 2018

Gori Yousuf Hussain-Karbala Messenger through Calligraphy



Writings of Imam Hussain,Hazrat Ali & Imam Musa Kazim by Gauri   

Dr.Mazhar Naqvi
Gauri  Yousuf Hussain is an example of how the blessed name of Hazrat Imam Hussain can change the attitude of an individual? He was a famous painter but now he has dedicated his life to produce replicas of relics associated with 14 Infallibles(Chahadra Masoomeen).He also devotes his time to glorify Sufis like Khwaja Moinuddin Chishty Ajmeri who are known for their unconditional love for the Holy Prophet and his progeny.
Hailing from Bharuch(Gujrat),the turning point came in the life of Gauri when he met a painter in London during an exhibition. To his dismay, the painter dubbed his work as an average one and invited him to his residence. When Gauri asked his host as to why was he not happy with the paintings that had always been praised .the host replied “what you are doing may be of commercial value but you are not preparing for the day of judgement”. “What should I do was natural query from gauri? The host them suggested him to glorify the mission of Hazrat Imam Hussain through calligraphy. This happened in 2007.
Gauri found the suggestion too appealing to resist. He immediately bid good bye to his brush forever and distributed all his paintings among his friends absolutely free of cost.Upon return to india, He started learning calligraphy and soon become proficient in it through sheer hard work. He visited Iran where a book containing the relicts and letters of Hazrat Ali, Imam Hussain and imam Musa Kazim was presented to him at a famous library. Gauri decided to reproduce the relics through his work and since then he has not looked back. In the past few years, he has exhibited his work in more than 35 countries and has the distinction of perhaps the only calligraphist of India working on Panjatan and Aulia ikram.












 Gauri Presenting His Work to Chairman Kashmir Society, Mr.Renzu Shah

A portrait displaying the letters of Imam Hussain, Hazrat Ali and Imam Musa Kazim is considered to be his most celebrated work. Likewise, he has to his credit of painting the largest painting of Shaaam-e -Ghareeban. His uses natural colors and paper produced with the famous Kaghzi family of Sanganer in Rajasthan. Gauri has also exhibited his work at Ajmer Sharif and he also participated in the international Sufi conference held in Makanpur recently.

Unfortunately, he has never been invited by any Imami organization for displaying his works.But it has not dampened his spirit. He says’ Shias too will invite me one day. i feel that Imam want me to concentrate on his mission among his non-Shia  lovers.”.  (References available on request. Images presented by Mr. Gauri)

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