Growth and Tradition of Pahari Miniature Painting

Novelist, short story writer, poet, linguist, art historian art critic, painter, sculptor, social scientist, sportsman and a filmmaker, Onkar Chandra Sharma, who writes under the nom de plume Onkar Rahi, was born on 20th, May 1940 in a family of scholars traditionally devoted to the studies of Sanskrit and oriental languages. A combination of sports and scholarship, love for research, astrology, occult, tantra, culture, Vedic studies and social services, make Mr. Rahi a rarest of the rare personalities. He joined prestigious Indian Police Service at the age of 23 after serving as a lecturer in a college for two years and retired at the top most rank as Director General of Police from Madhya Pradesh, the State where Khajuraho is located. His first encouter with Khajuraho, in 1965, continued culminating in Khajuraho Unknown in 2006. Mr. Rahi is credited with seven novels in Hindi and one in English, a collection of short stories, two books on Hindi linguistics, an anthology, and two books on art and sculpture. His novel 'Shavyatra' published in 1972 was acclaimed by the critics as one of the best in Hindi literature. He has edited famous work, 'Crime Against women'. As chief editor of M.P. Police and society. His earliest contribution, as editor, was noticed in 1961 in 'Kangra Annual' an art magazine, and ever since he is dedicated to studies in art. Human Rights Criminal justice system and violence against women are his special fields of activity. His hobbies include collection of rare books, coins, paintings, sculpture and antiques. Presently he is settled in his home town, Kangra in Himachal Pradesh under the snow clad Western Himalayas and is involved in social and charitable activities in addition to his literary pursuits.