Daily Times

Tell us about your foray into the field of arts. How did it all begin for you?

I was very young actually, I must be only five or six when I got involved in playing with powder colours and water colours. I would sit on a large piece of paper and with my fingers only would make abstract designs and develop my imagination. I only became serious about my craft after the age of 16, when I finally completed my schooling and joined Forman Christian (FC) College. Since I was not interested in studies that much, I left FC College and joined the National College of Arts instead. I was interested in painting and so I begun studying that. I noticed that I was slightly different from other students. I was using the college’s studio to paint since I didn’t have a studio of my own like the other students. I would paint till early hours of the morning. I had my own style and technique. I also wasn’t doing regular class work. I didn’t like doing that. I used to do it on my own accord. My principal at that time was Shakir Ali and Khalid Iqbal taught fine arts. Both were very nice to me because they thought I was different as I wasn’t bothered about marks. I just used my own imagination and had my own style of work. They never stopped me from being creative and thinking outside the box. However, I left NCA without getting degree and set up my own studio and started working professionally. My initial painting series began with Partition in mind. I worked on it during early 1970s. I used to dream about bloodshed and the caravans and the agony although I had never read about Partition ever. Also, I wasn’t even born in that era, but these dreams were recurring. One day, I narrated these recurring dreams to a friend who told me that these were about Partition, so I wanted to get them out of my system. I decided to honour the martyrs of Partition by working on a painting series. One day, Allama Iqbal’s son Javed Iqbal invited me over, telling me that had heard about my paintings. He showed me some letters in which his late father had written that he wanted someone to paint Javed Nama poetry. I told him I would do it. I worked on it for a year, and once I was done, the entire press and media got together to give it coverage. A few other artists had tried before me but had never really gotten down to finishing it, like Chughtai had also tried but had only finished one part. A lot of scholars and poets who saw it appreciated and praised my work. I have painted a lot of architectural series as well and also still life, abstract and seascapes etc. People usually ask me why I paint on so many subject and don’t just stick to one and I always tell them that I’m a student of nature and that I’m still learning. One of the names of Allah is Al Musawar. Since, He is the master, I’m His student. That is my philosophy. I believe the level of excellence should be there. In 1989, I was the only artist to receive the National Endowment for the Arts award in the United States. A total of 72 artists from 62 countries were nominated but I won it. It is the most prestigious award given to a non-American. I was never interested in living abroad as I wanted to work with special children, orphans, widows and prisoners.

I used to work with special children as I loved entertaining them. I wondered why people called them special when they themselves won’t even try to do anything special for them. So I started treating these children to five star hotels, lavish restaurants and popular public places.

You are also into social work, philanthropy and stamp designing. Tell us a little about that.

I used to work with special children as I loved entertaining them. I wondered why people called them special when they themselves won’t even try to do anything special for them. So I started treating these children to five star hotels, lavish restaurants and popular public places. Their parents used to feel embarrassed over taking them out in public. I use to take from 200 to 6000 Special Children out to public places. Words alone cannot change the life of special children. One needs to do practical work. So for 15 years, I had undertaken the responsibility of taking them out and making them feel at ease. However, I have noticed that things have changed now. Parents don’t feel ashamed now. Then I worked for the prisoners languishing in jails. I worked for widows and poor and sick people. I wanted to help them all. I have donated over 700,000 prints of my work all over the world to charitable organisations. I have donated 90 percent of whatever I have earned from my own pocket. That’s why, I call myself a servant of Pakistan. I’ve served my country for 47 years. Whenever I go abroad, I always showed a positive side of my country. The largest museum of China which is the National Art Museum of China in Beijing has my original paintings in their permanent collection. Two of my drawings are a part of permanent collection of the National Gallery of Fine Arts in Jordan. Two of my drawings are in the permanent collection of the Royal Ontario Museum. A lot of my paintings are with private collectors in different countries. In Pakistan, many multinationals and private collectors have my paintings. I’ve made around 1,500 abstract paintings for different causes and over 2,000 calligraphies. When Shaukat Khanum opened, I donated over 2,00 calligraphy paintings to the hospital. Hundreds of my paintings are with non-governmental organisations. Over 1,500 drawings I’ve donated to foreign countries to charities. I don’t own anything in Pakistan and there’s a reason behind it. When I was six, the doctors told my parents that I only had two to three months to live as both my kidneys had failed. However, the children who shared the same disease as mine passed away after this time frame but I survived. The doctors said it was a miracle because when my new X-ray came, it defied the results of the previous one. So, I try to give back to Allah’s creation as He gave me a new life. I organised the longest awareness walk from Karachi to Peshawar in 1994 which was for over 4,000 kilometres. I did this because I wanted to see how poor people suffered. I also organised an awareness walk from Pakistan to India in 2001. I walked with Ruth Pfau for the cause of leprosy, and then for cancer and education. Once, I met with population planning people in Karachi, who asked me to attend a population planning conference at a lavish hotel. I refused because I couldn’t understand the reason behind holding a population planning conference at a lavish hotel that should’ve been taking place in a slum area where it was much needed. One of my stamps was printed in Indonesia and the other in Pakistan. In 2000, one of my 1947 paintings had four stamps that were issued on August 14, 2000. So much has happened in my life. I haven’t documented everything. I helped build the first judicial complex in Karachi’s central jail. For the purpose, that prisoners couldn’t even reach the court for so and so reasons. Sometimes their commute wouldn’t be arranged, sometimes when they’ll reach, the judge wouldn’t be there, etc. so the judicial complex was for this reason.

You belong to the Zoroastrian faith. Has it been challenging for you growing up in a country where you know you are a minority? Has it ever interfered with your work?

For 47 years, I have been honoured and respected. I’ve never felt like a minority. He further added that he belongs to the Zoroastrian community but takes great pride to be a Pakistani. I embrace all religions. It’s a source of pride for me to be a Pakistani. People all over the world tell me we’re only 1,500 Zoroastrians in Pakistan but I tell them that we have contributed immensely to Pakistan as well. Even Muhammad Ali Jinnah’s wife was a Parsi. I was a disciple of Sufi Barkat Ali who hailed from Faisalabad. I learned from him that I should just serve and never bother about these things. Allah gave life to me and He’ll take care of everything. I’ve worked so hard and have never felt disheartened because of anything. I never picked and chose who I wanted to work for. One day, Sufi Barkat Ali called me and told me to sit on his seat. He advised me to only serve Pakistan. That’s why I’ve never sought seeking a position in any organisation.

Having been a social worker and a philanthropist yourself, what social issue do you feel the most strongly about?

There are many like women’s rights, child rights, prison reforms, orphans and special children’s rights. I’ve not just gotten love and respect but awards and medals as well. I was honoured with the China Peace Medal. I had received Ambassador For Peace in Canada by Universal Peace Federation and Women Peace Federation For World Peace in Mississauga Toronto Canada. Houston’s mayor gave me a 2009 honorary citizen and goodwill ambassador title. I’m the recipient of the Sitara-i-Imtiaz.

What are you currently working on?

I’m working on a total of 108 paintings for a foundation who wanted to educate poor children. All these paintings are 10ft by 8ft. I’m donating my work to them.

Do you think artists are given their rightful due in Pakistan? Is this field financially lucrative?

I have only worked and have never bothered about any due. I don’t belong to any art group as well. I don’t believe in these.

What according to you has been your biggest achievement?

I have lived my life fully and in a decent way.

We at Daily Times consider you one of our national heroes. Who are some of yours?

Abdul Sattar Edhi, Adeeb Rizvi and Ruth Pfau.

Achievements

MASTER OF ALL TRADES

Jimmy Engineer is not just an award winning artist, but a recognised social worker, a highly distinguished philanthropist and a stamp designer as well.

INTERNATIONAL STAR

I have painted over 3000 paintings, over 1800 abstract paintings, over 2000 calligraphy, more than 1500 drawings and over 700,000 prints in private collection in more than 60 countries. Countries where my original paintings are Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea, Abu Dhabi, Bahrain, Italy, London, France, Switzerland, Sweden,Sri Lanka, Russia, Holland, Spain,Germany, Dubai, Jordan, India,China, Philippine, Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore,Canada, Usa, South Africa, Malaysia, Turkey, Pakistan in fact almost every part of the world.