In an era where smartphones dictate dialects and emojis outpace alphabets, regional languages often find themselves flickering like old memories. But in the city of Ludhiana, artist Gagandeep Kaur is building a bridge back to those roots—one brushstroke at a time—using art not only to preserve language but to voice urgent calls for change.
Gagandeep Kaur, a visual artist and cultural advocate, has turned to calligraphy painting not just as an aesthetic pursuit, but as a powerful medium to revive Punjabi.
Studying fine arts exposed her to global technique, but it was the beauty of the Gurmukhi script that pulled her heart homeward. She began blending calligraphy with themes of Punjabi heritage—but soon, her canvases began speaking louder.
“I was fond of painting since childhood,” she says, recalling her earliest memories of sketching village scenes. “After completing my Masters in Fine Arts, I started teaching the subject at school but found that the present generation was drifting away from their mother tongue. Then I thought of spreading awareness regarding the importance of preserving the language through art.”
But it was the stillness of the Covid-19 lockdown that truly shaped her direction. “The lockdown turned out to be a blessing in disguise,” she reflects. “It gave me the time and space to learn calligraphy professionally through an online course. That’s when everything clicked.”
While the world paused, she practiced. While others scrolled, she scribbled. And when restrictions lifted, Gagandeep re-emerged—not just as an artist, but as a mentor. Today, she conducts her own workshops and classes, helping students not only embrace Punjabi but also improve their handwriting and rediscover the joy of letters.
From verses of Bulleh Shah to timeless Punjabi proverbs, her canvases serve as windows into the linguistic heritage of the region that is often overlooked. Each piece is carefully crafted, blending contemporary design with traditional Gurmukhi script, inviting viewers to engage with their roots in a fresh, dynamic way.
What makes her art truly resonate is its purpose-driven pulse. Gagandeep delivers urgent messages through her brush—‘Save the Girl Child’, ‘Say No to Drugs’, ‘Save Water’, ‘Protect the Environment’. Some pieces pair poignant calligraphy with visual elements; others rely on script alone, allowing the power of language to speak for itself.
She describes her style as “a string of pearls beautifully embedded”—and indeed, each letter holds elegance and weight. Her tools span from the modern to the traditional: pen, brush pen, and the age-old kalam, each chosen with care to mirror the message it delivers.
“It’s not just about art—it’s about visibility,” she explains. “When people see Punjabi letters framed in colour and meaning, they pause. They read. They feel.”
The Tribune
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