Basohli (formerly Vishwasthali) is the name of tehsil and town in Kathua district in the union territory of Jammu and Kashmir, India. It is situated on the right bank of the River Ravi, at an altitude of 1876 ft. The town was founded by Raja Bhupat Pal sometime in 1635. It was known for the palaces which are now in ruins and GI tagged Pahari miniatures paintings (the Basohli school of Pahari painting).
Basohli is known for its unique 'Basohli Paintings'. In the late 17th century, Basohli emerged as a great centre of Pahari paintings. According to well known Dr. Herman Goltz, "Basohli painting are among the great achievements of Indians". Their central inspiration is Vashnavism, the themes have been taken from the spics and the Puranas.
The different themes of the paintings are religious (Gita Govinda and Ramayana), secular, historical, contemporary and literary. Besides the paintings bring out extreme emotion combined with a lyrical sense of Basohli landscape.
Basohli paintings are said to have been described as 'Poems in colours'. The paintings are marked by strikingly blazing colours bold lines, rich symbols and peculiar features giving an accumulative impact of highly sensuous environs.
Geography
Basohli is located at 32°30′N75°49′E / 32.50°N 75.82°E / 32.50; 75.82.[2] It has an average elevation of 460 metres (1509 feet). Basohli is situated in the uneven lofty hills of Shiwaliks. It is situated in the right bank of Ravi river. Part of the Ranjit Sagar Dam falls in the area of Basholi.[3]
Demographics
According to 2011 census,[4] Basohli had a population of 5433. Males constituted 52.01% of the population and females 47.99%. Basohli had an average literacy rate of 77%, higher than the national average of 59.5%; with 57% of the males and 43% of females literate. 12% of the population was under 6 years of age.
Religion
The religious distribution of the population is as follows - Hindu 83.01%, Muslim 16.38%, other 0.61%.[5]
Basohli painting
Basohli is widely known for its paintings, which are considered the first school of Pahari paintings, and which evolved into the much prolific Kangra paintings school by mid-eighteenth century.[6] The painter Nainsukh ended his career in Basohli.[7]
Radha and Krishna in Discussion, (An illustration from Gita Govinda) Gouache on paper (c. 1730).
Goddess Bhadrakali, adored by the Gods. Basohli. India. c. 1660–70.
Maharaja Sital Dev of Mankot in Devotion, Ink, opaque watercolor, and silver on paper (c. 1690).
^National Museum, New Delhi. For description of the work see: Martin-Dubost (1997), p. 73, which says: "Ganesha getting ready to throw his lotus. Basohli miniature, circa 1730. National Museum, New Delhi. Attired in an orange dhoti, his body is enitirely red. On the three points of his tiny crown, budding lotuses have been fixed. Gaṇeśa holds in his two right hands the rosary and a cup filled with three modakas (a fourth substituted by the curving trunk is just about to be tasted). In his two left hands, Gaṇeśa holds a large lotus above and an axe below, with its handle leaning against his shoulder. In the Mudgalapurāṇa (VII, 70), in order to kill the demon of egotism (Mamāsura) who had attacked him, Gaṇeśa Vighnarāja throws his lotus at him. Unable to bear the fragrance of the divine flower, the demon surrenders to Gaṇeśa."
^"Basholi". Falling Rain. Archived from the original on 10 January 2012. Retrieved 21 July 2008.
^Chaitanya, Krishna (1987). "Pahari centres". Arts of India: Architecture, Sculpture, Painting, Music, Dance and Handicraft. Abhinav Publications. p. 62. ISBN81-7017-209-8. Archived from the original on 22 May 2023. Retrieved 24 March 2023.
^Sikh History In 10 Volumes (Dr Harjinder Singh Dilgeer), vol. 1.
Further reading
Hutchinson, J. & J. PH Vogel (1933). History of the Panjab Hill States, Vol. I. 1st edition: Govt. Printing, Pujab, Lahore, 1933. Reprint 2000. Department of Language and Culture, Himachal Pradesh. Chapter XVIII Basohli State, pp. 587–613.
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