Corps commander-turned-calligrapher exhibits his work in Lahore

Exhibition of calligraphy pieces by retired Lt Gen Humayun Khan Bangash started at the Defence Services Officers Mess on Tuesday.

Bangash, a former corps commander of Lahore and ex-ambassador to Turkey, joined the calligraphy department of the Hast-o-Neest Institute of Traditional Studies and Art at Lahore after retirement.

He has been ardently pursuing his passion for learning this traditional Islamic art since then. His art pieces are based on Khat-i-Sulus. They depict his originality of ideas and are a treat for eyes as well as the heart.

Besides Pakistan, the artworks of Mr Bangash, who is now 75, developed the passion for calligraphy and have been equally recognised in Turkey and Japan.

In his own words, calligraphy is an art where a few verses on a single piece of paper can surpass the effect of voluminous books and opens one’s mind to the new insights.

Originally published in Dawn, May 11th, 2016