Karkhana - Sarkar-e-Khalsa 2025 Calendar - 11" x 14" Print

Set in a modest kārkhānā (workshop) in post-Mughal Punjab, artisans demonstrate resilience under Sarkar-e-Khalsa. Amid crumbling walls and flickering oil lamps, they work late into the night. A woman gilds a Khalsa battle standard, while a man embroiders a Rumal Sahib to robe Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, symbolising the union of Miri (martial) and Piri (spiritual) forces.

This scene honours Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s patronage, which revitalised the arts by welcoming Mughal-skilled artisans. His support led to a thriving textile industry, producing sought-after wool, silk, and cotton goods. The borders of their work feature life-filled motifs; crocodiles, bhujangis, and lotus flowers, which represent the empire’s vitality and spiritual depth. Despite decline, the artisans embody the promise of renewal.