Mola Ram orMaula Ram (1743–1833)[1] was anIndian painter, who originated theGarhwal School of Miniature Painting.[2][3] He was also a poet, historian and diplomat.[4]Mukandi Lal did research on him.[5]
He was born inSrinagar (now inUttarakhand) to Mangat Ram and Rami Devi[6] and worked for theGarhwal Kingdom from 1777 until its annexation first by theGorkhas in 1803 followed by theBritish Raj in 1815.
It is said[7] that two miniature painters of theMughal imperial court at Delhi, Sham Das and his son Har Das (or Kehar Das[4]), accompanied Sulaiman Shikoh, the son ofDara Shikoh, when he escaped from his uncleAurangzeb in 1658 and sought refuge from Prithvi Shah of the Garhwal Kingdom, which had its capital in Srinagar. The painters remained in Srinagar as the royaltasbirdar (picture-makers), and developed the Garhwal style of miniature painting. Mola Ram was one of their descendants.[7] The inception of the Garhwal school of painting is also sometimes credited to him. His son Jwala Ram and grandson Atma Ram continued the tradition, but further descendants suspected a curse and gave up painting.[4] However, one of his descendants, Tulsi (often confused with Tulsi Mistri, another contemporary painter) was also a painter.[1]
Mola Ram worked during the times of Garhwal rulers Pradip Shah, Lalit Shah, Jayakrit Shah andPradyumna Shah from 1777 to 1804. He continued to work for the development of art and literature during the period of the Gorkha rule (1803–15) and the British rule over Garhwal.[6]
Mola Ram himself initially painted in theMughal style until visitingKangra,[8] e.g. his paintingMastani is in the Mughal idiom,[9] while his later paintings, e.g.Vasakasajja Nayika,[10] are in the Garhwal style, and can be calledGarhwaliPaintings in true sense. Some of his paintings are signed.[2]
He wrote the historical workGarhrajvansh Ka Itihas (History of the Garhwal royal dynasty) which is the source of information about several Garhwal rulers.[11][12] He starts with Shyam Shah and goes on to describe Dularam Shah, Mahipati Shah, Pritam Shah, Medini Shah, Lalit Shah, and Jayakrit Shah.[13] He also wroteGanika Natak orGarh Gita Sangram in 1800.[14] Mola Ram himself played a part in politics, helping Jayakrit Shah obtain help from Raja Jagat Prakash ofSirmur to quell a rebellion at the battle of Karparoli.[15][16]
Mola Ram wroteGarhrajvanshkavya,Ran Bahadur Chandrika,Shamsher-e-Jang Chandrika,Bakhtawar Yash Chandrika and others.[17] When KajiBakhtawar Singh Basnyat reachedSrinagar on 1867V.S. (i.e. 1810 A.D.), Mola Ram described the Gorkhali administration since 1861V.S. (i.e. 1804 A.D.). In appreciation of Mola Ram's works, Kaji Bakhtawar gave 61 goldsovereigns, a horse, a robe, some weapons and restored hisjagir villages and daily allowances.[17] Mola Ram dedicatedBakhtawar Yash Chandrika in praises of KajiBakhtawar Singh Basnyat. He also wrote about the past, present, and future of the Gorkhali administration in Kumaon and Garhwal, which had predicted the possible collapse of Gorkhali rule as mentioned in his another workGarhrajvanshkavya.[17]
Mola Ram died inSrinagar in 1833.[6]
A large collection of Mola Ram's paintings are preserved at theHemwati Nandan Bahuguna Garhwal University Museum inSrinagar,Uttarakhand. Some of his paintings can also be viewed at theBoston Museum, USA, at theBharat Kala Bhawan inVaranasi, and at theKastur Bhai Lal Bhai Sagrahaalaya,Ahmedabad.[6]
Mukandi Lal wrote the book 'Garhwal Paintings' published by the Publications Division of the Government of India in 1968 which traced the history of Garhwal school of painting showcasing Mola Ram's various paintings and sketches.[6]
Maula Ram's great-grandson, Tulsi Ram (also known as Phattu Sah), was responsible for painting most of the murals found on the walls of the Jhanda Darwaza of theRam Rai Darbar inDehradun.[18]
