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It was in 2006 that Ismail Gulgee, alegendary abstract, portrait painter and sculptor from Pakistan, was in New Delhi for a group art show organised at the Park Hotel. He is no more now, having died under mysterious circumstances at his seaside Karachi residence along with his wife Zarrine and a maid. He was 81. One had occasion to meet him for the second time this past year when he was in the Capital to support his son Amin Gulgee, a well known sculptor, who was showing his works for the first time here. Incidentally, his body was found by Amin himself. Back at the Park there few new reporters who didn’t know that he was a noted painter. He didn’t mind. Like a child happy with his achievements, he showed a couple of writings to them and said, “Dekho mere bare main kya kya chhapa hai”. On the second occasion, he seemed like a doting father, but a completely dependent husband. He called his beloved wife ‘Zaro’. Amin listened to each of his words very carefully as he spoke about art and his life as a U.S-returned engineer whose heart beat for art only. This self-taught artist held his first art exhibition in 1950. His works included a 1957 portrait of Afghanistan King Zahir Shah. His other subjects were U.S. Presidents Jimmy Carter and George Bush, Prince Karim Agha Khan, former Pakistan President Ayub Khan, and King Faisal. Taking leave he had said, “I never think of death. I am just 80-years-young”. Famous last words?

RANA SIDDIQUI

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