Ashwani Chopra: Candid Photo Artist
- ART & ARTISTES
Life&More- 5
- 3 minutes read
Ashish Khokar
A for amiable. C for camaraderie. Ashwani Chopra was a jovial, happy, helpful, happening photographer who served Delhi’s art field, selflessly. Pay him, don’t pay him but he continued to smile. He always had a good word for most. Came to halls to take photos of dancers and musicians unobtrusively. Others do drama, change ordinary sounding names to be in things but don’t rise above the mundane. Ashwani Chopra’s frames were like himself: natural, unaffected, unpretentious. He never attached ego to his work and dine out of routine work, which few upstart photographers now pretend to in a Delhi. All Johnies-come-lately, they strut ordinary stuff as extra ordinary. Not one for self-promotion, Chopra remained genial and gentle, ever smiling. At heart he was the quintessential artist. A photo artist.
He must be a happy man at home too with Rosy for his wife, daughter Shaily and Aditya Kapur as son in law because if one is happy at home, then one can be happy in the cruel, jealous, tiring world outside too.
Padma Shri Kathak dancers of Delhi, sisters Kamlini and Nalini on learning of his sudden passing away say “Oh, very sad. We had a long association… he served Kathak Kendra as a photographer too, he indeed was very generous and a good soul … we will miss him…”
Once at a function in BVB, at my book launch, he just came uninvited (we couldn’t afford a photographer and this was pre-cell phone days, when anyone could take a photo!) covered the function and later sent me free photos. When I said, “Ashwini bhai hum kahan se pese de sakte?” He said “pese ke liye thoda aya, aapki dosti mein aya!” True Punjabi by nature, he was: Giving, generous, gregarious. There was nothing petty about him. Dilwala dilli wala.
Many national art organisations benefitted from his photospheres. He created atmosphere of beauty and an ecosystem of goodness. Government organisations are drab places, his photos decorated the halls and galleries of many august bodies like the Kathak Kendra, National School of Drama and Sangeet Natak Akademi.
A for Ambala where he was born on March 12, 1960 and A for Anand Vihar in Delhi, where he lived with family. He will be remembered most for his gentle nature and genuine work in art photography. His heart gave up in the end but that’s because it was made of gold, in this age of tin. His end came yesterday (April 18) in Delhi. He and his camera must be now busy documenting devas in devalok. If not Vaikunth. Om Shanti.
Ashish Khokar is a renowned dance critic, historian and editor- attendance.
5 Comments
A balanced, well- written tribute about a genuine artist all those of us who were regulars at Habitat Auditorium or IIC, were familiar with. Unobstrusive yet noticeable with his camera in hand, Ashwani ji was a respected figure in his field. For any artist, it’s his contribution to his art that lives long after him. Ashwani ji’s pictures have immortalized him.
Most precious world you have given in this speech (shardhnjali ).even that we can say it is less for this devatma. Everybody is helpless in front of God’s time. So let we pray to God to send his soul in his own Lok that is more than heaven.
OM NAMO NARAYAN
An incredible man he had been! His treasured possession was his winsome smile which always adorned his happy face. He knew not how to say no, he valued his friendship more than anything else. Equally loving and sweet is his wife and daughter. His passion for photography and love for his friends kept him going. May God keep him in His embrace!
He was a brillient boy from his childhood. He was very smart and active. His father was a drawing teacher and he had a keen interest in art from his childhood. He was lovely son, helpful brother and a responsible father. I express my deep condolence on his sudden demise.
Thank you so much Ashish ji for paying such lovely tribute to my father. Indeed every word is true and brought tears in our eyes. You contacted me on the very day my dad left us and put in so many efforts in this. Can’t be thankful enough. 🙏🏻