New Delhi: PM Narendra Modi, during his Mann Ki Baat address on Sunday, July 30, 2023, appreciated the late painter from Rajkot, Prabhatsinh Barhat, for his artwork capturing the procession of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj on canvas.

“I am reminded of a unique painting. This painting was made by Prabhat Singh Modbhai Barhat, an artist from Rajkot. This painting was based on an incident in the life of Chhatrapati Veer Shivaji Maharaj. Artist Prabhat Bhai had depicted that Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj was going to visit his Kuldevi ‘Tulja Mata’ after the coronation and what the atmosphere there at that time was. To keep our traditions and our heritage alive, we have to save them, live them, and teach them to the next generation. I am happy that, today, many efforts are being made in this direction,” said PM Modi.

Prabhatsinh had created a painting depicting the procession of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj on his way to seek darshan of his Kuldevi Tulja Bhavani after his Rajyabhishek. This masterpiece was skillfully crafted on canvas within Prabhatsinh’s personal studio at his home. The renowned historian from Ujjain and Padmashree Awardee, Vishnuprabhakar Vankarji, had served as an inspiration for him to undertake this painting of the procession of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.

Aside from this artwork, Prabhatsinh Barhat has created more than 100 paintings depicting horses from Kathiawar. Among his accomplishments is a painting illustrating the Rajyabhishek of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj on an 888-metre canvas. Born in 1953, he passed away on August 24, 2018. His painting exhibition was posthumously held in Rajkot from August 24th to August 26th, 2019. It is worth noting that he was a descendant of the 16th generation of Jamnagar Rajkavi Isardasji, as revealed by Professor Ambadan Rohadiya. Rajkavi Isardasji authored a Granth named ‘Hari Ras,’ dedicated to Bhagwan Dwarkadhish Ji. DeshGujarat