Syed Sadequain Ahmed Naqvi was an artistic genius born in Pakistan yet celebrated the least in his homeland. He is regarded as an amalgam of Picasso and Michelangelo of Pakistan as he was not just a painter, he was a calligrapher and mural artist as well.
On his 87th birthday, Google is honoring Picasso of the East, with a doodle and it’s all for the right reasons.
Sadequain interpreted the works of many renowned Asian poets including Faiz Ahmed Faiz but his heart is mostly reflected in Iqbal’s poetry. Everyone knows how intricately woven Iqbal’s poetry is and presenting in visuals is no easy task but Sadequain did it so eloquently that if someone doesn’t get his poetry, he’ll get a gist of it through Sadequain’s creations.
Here is Sadequain’s interpretation of Iqbal’s poem ‘Qalandar Ki Pehchan‘
In this painting, a human is shown spread over the universe and taking control of it.
Iqbal’s poem from Baal e Jibreel illustrated by Sadequain is another depiction of Sadequain’s grasp over Iqbal’s poetry.
Zameen by Allama Iqbal illustrated by Sadequain is another haunting display of human life’s reality.
Sadequain also put out his thoughts onto canvas on Mirza Ghalib’s poetry, another challenging poet of the East.
He was an expert in painting murals and many of Pakistan’s popular and historical structures have Sadequain’s murals in them.
If you ever get the chance to visit Lahore Museum, do look up at the ceiling because this is how it looks like:
State Bank of Pakistan was also honored by the maestro in 1961 when he painted this mural titled ‘Treasures of a Lifetime’ displaying famous poets of subcontinent’s history.
Pakistan’s largest mural which is 200 x 70 ft was also painted by Saddequain in 1967 in Mangla Dam’s plant and here’s just a portion of that mural titled ‘Saga of Labor’.
The mural on Frere Hall’s ceiling in Karachi painted in 1968, titled ‘Arz-o-Samawat‘ is the most majestic one.
Fun fact: it’s unfinished as Sadequain died while he was painting it.
Here’s a closer look at the Frere Hall mural
Just look at it and be mesmerized by the power of the painter’s mind
He also painted murals in India before partition.
Here’s one in Banaras Urdu University.
And here’s one in National Geophysical Research Center, Hyderabad, Deccan.
Pakistanis are also pretty happy about Google honoring our legendary artist.
Google has a brilliant Sadequain #googledoodle out for the legendary artist's 87th birthday! pic.twitter.com/Un9L8zy1Vl
— Ahmer Naqvi (@karachikhatmal) June 29, 2017
Google pays tribute to the renowned Pakistani artist Syed Sadequain through this beautiful doodle on his 87th Birthday ?? pic.twitter.com/IK73STkGUy
— Tanvir Hussain (@TanvirH) June 30, 2017
Proud feels! :’)
Google pays tribute to Sadequain through #GoogleDoodle on his 87th birthday today
Feeling proud ?? pic.twitter.com/r0ARfEurvd— Fatima Tipoo (@Ft96_0fficial) June 30, 2017
Google has a brilliant Sadequain #googledoodle out for the legendary artist's 87th birthday! pic.twitter.com/UYwslFgQhZ
— Waleed hamza (@Walleed_Tweets) June 30, 2017
Today's google doodle! #Legendary artist's 87th birthday! #Sadequain ❤️ pic.twitter.com/ivDQDqo6yT
— Shermeen Khan (@khan_shermeen) June 30, 2017
Let’s remember our heroes more so we don’t have to be reminded of them by others’ doodles.