An example of Samrup Rachna calligraphy. "Murti" written in Nastaliq and Devanagari shown.
Samrup Rachna is a 60-piece calligraphy collection of Apni Boli, a fusion of Hindi and Urdu created by Pakistani artist Syed Mohammed Anwer.[1][2]
The name is derived from the Sanskrit words Samrup (समरूप), meaning "congruence" or "similar", and Rachna (रचना) meaning "creative work" or "design".[3] In linguistics, languages such as Hindustani that are written in two different scripts are called synchronic digraphia.[4]
The calligraphy combines Devanagari (northern Brahmic) and Nastaliq (Perso Arabic) scripts of Hindi-Urdu, which Anwer refers to as Apni Boli.
The calligraphy is pictographic and visually representing the meaning of the each word. For example, the Hindustani word surahi (meaning "ewer" or "pitcher" in English) is written in Apni Bolicalligraphy in a way that it also forms a picture of an ewer.[5][6]
The artwork highlights the shared linguistic heritage of Hindi and Urdu, underlines their cultural and linguistic similarities.[7]
The 60-piece collection was published as a book titled "Samrup Rachna: Calligraphic Expression of Apni Boli" (Hindi–Urdu) at the Pakistan Mother Languages Literature Festival, held at the National Institute of Folk and Traditional Heritage in 2016.[8]
In July 2025, the Indian Ocean Rim Area Research Project at Osaka University, Japan, included "Samrup Rachna" in its art archives.[9]
Calligraphic representation of "Diwali"Dr. Syed Mohammed Anwer, the creator of the Samrup Rachna art.
Samrup Rachna Exhibitions
1. The Launch of Samrup Rachna Calligraphic Expressions, 2012
The inaugural exhibition of "Samrup Rachna-Art for Peace" was held in Islamabad from April 2–4, 2012. The artist, Syed Mohammed Anwer was interviewed by VOA. [5]
Visitors at Samrup Rachna Inaugural Exhibition, Islamabad, Pakistan
2. Kuch Khaas the Centre for Arts, Culture & Dialogue, Islamabad, 2012
A session featuring Syed Mohammed Anwer, the artist behind Samrup Rachna Calligraphy, was held at Kuch Khaas Center of Arts & Culture, Islamabad, on April 27, 2012.[10]
Dr Syed Mohammed Anwer giving a presentation on Samrup Rachna at Kuch Khas Art Gallery, Islamabad.
3. Samrup Rachna – Apni Boli book launched at Cultural Festival on World Local Languages Day, 2016
The book on Samrup Rachna's calligraphic work was launched[11] on World Local Languages Day, 2016, at a Cultural Festival held at Lok Virsa, Islamabad. In an interview at the festival, Anwer outlined his journey and motivation in creating the artwork.[12]
6. South Asian Scripts, Chicago University USA, 2018
Syed Mohammed Anwer's artwork was displayed in an exhibition titled “Cosmopolitanism and National Identities” at the University of Chicago from September 5, 2018, to December 14, 2018. [1]
Samrup Rachna Exhibition , RedHouse New Delhi, India
"Juta" (shoe) written in Samrup Rachna calligraphy
↑ Cheung, Yat-Shing (1992). "The form and meaning of digraphia: the case of Chinese". In K. Bolton and H. Kwok. Sociolinguistics Today: International Perspectives. London: Routledge.
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