The dervish of colors: Sughra Rababi, who made art a beacon for humanity

History sometimes produces artists who do more than just paint pictures, they capture the emotions of their era in colors.

Every line from their brush becomes a symbol of humanity, love, and hope. .Sughra Rababi, a renowned Pakistani painter, designer, sculptor, and social worker, was one such extraordinary personality. She did not use art as a means to gain fame or wealth but made it a tool to serve humanity.

Her life is clear proof that when art aligns with human compassion, its impact echoes far beyond borders, languages, and generations.

In recognition of her artistic and humanitarian services, UNICEF, a United Nations agency, established the “.Sughra Rababi Fund.” Furthermore, the mayor of San Francisco declared January 19, 1994, as “.Sughra Rababi Day.” This was not just an honor for one individual but a global acknowledgment of Pakistani art and humanitarianism.

.Sughra Rababi was born on August 29, 1922, in Karachi, into a wealthy, educated, and respected business family. Her father, Ghulam Ali Tayyab Ali Mandviwala, was a well-known industrialist, businessman, and landowner. He belonged to the Dawoodi Bohra community.

After the partition of India, the family migrated from Gujarat (Madhupur/Mandvi) to Karachi. Their residence on Preedy Street was considered one of the city’s prestigious homes, and their company, “Mandviwala Motors,” was the sole distributor of famous British and European car brands like Nash, Rover, Alvis, and Panhard.

The family was not only distinguished in business but also had a rich tradition of knowledge, literature, journalism, and fine arts. .Sughra Rababi was the eldest of five siblings.

Her sister Anis Mirza became a prominent journalist in Pakistan and was the first woman to write the famous column “From the Press Gallery” about National Assembly proceedings for Dawn newspaper. Another sister, Bano, moved to Sri Lanka after marriage, while Salma Noorani was an excellent tennis player.

.Sughra Rababi received her early art education at the Sarnagati School of Art in the historic Pakistan Chowk area of Karachi. Later, for higher education, she went to Shantiniketan, a renowned institution in the subcontinent.

There, she gained creative freedom, learned Eastern aesthetics, and discovered principles of artistic expression that gave her work a unique identity.

In 1940, she astonished the entire subcontinent when she won the top prize at the All India Painting Competition as a young female artist.

Famous artists and great personalities from across the region, including Tagore, Bose, and Abdur Rahman Chughtai, had their works displayed in this competition.

When the results were announced, everyone was amazed. .Sughra Rababi’s painting “Anarkali” secured first place, making her the first woman painter to win the highest honor in this prestigious competition.

This success was not only a recognition of her extraordinary skill but also opened a new and bright chapter for women painters in the subcontinent. Her internationally famous painting “Anarkali” placed her among the leading women artists of the region. Later, this masterpiece also became the cover art for the novel “Anarkali” by the famous writer Mirza Hamid Ali Beg.

.Sughra Rababi was not just a painter but a multi-talented creator. She was highly skilled in oil painting, acrylics, calligraphy, abstract art, symbolic expression, and sculpture.

She never imitated any style but created her own unique artistic language, blending Eastern tradition, spiritual elegance, and modern aesthetics.

During her stay in Lahore, she married the famous painter Azar Zubi. Later, in Karachi, she established the “Rababi School,” where painting, sculpture, and dance were taught.

This institution was not just a center for learning art but also a place for nurturing creative consciousness and human values.

The brightest aspect of her life was her humanitarianism. Instead of spending the large amounts she earned from selling her paintings on personal comforts, she dedicated them to charitable projects.

She organized several exhibitions specifically to raise funds for Palestinian students, famine victims in Somalia, and those affected by the Bosnian war. For her, the true greatness of art was only complete when it could wipe away the tears of a suffering person.

Her last solo exhibition, held in San Francisco in 1992, received extraordinary acclaim. Two years later, in the same city, she organized a charity exhibition to aid Bosnian victims, in recognition of which January 19, 1994, was declared “.Sughra Rababi Day.”

But fate had other plans. Just three days later, on January 22, 1994, the 70-year-old .Sughra Rababi was busy preparing another relief program for Bosnian war victims in her home studio in Karachi’s KDA Scheme 1 when unknown individuals brutally murdered her.

This tragedy was a great shock not only to Pakistani arts but also to global cultural circles. Regarding her murder, her daughter expressed suspicion toward her father, Azar Zubi. Initial suspicions also pointed toward her husband, but after legal proceedings, he was released.

The murder mystery remains unsolved to this day. During the same incident, her priceless painting “Anarkali” also mysteriously disappeared, and no trace of it has ever been found.

.Sughra Rababi’s tragic death ended the life of an artist, but her art, her ideology, and her humanitarian spirit became immortal.

Sadly, today’s younger generation in Pakistan is largely unaware of her personality and contributions, even though she is among the few Pakistani women who not only proved their artistic excellence globally but also dedicated their success to serving suffering humanity.

.Sughra Rababi’s art teaches us that painting is not just about spreading colors on canvas—it is also the skill of lighting lamps of hope in broken hearts. She was a dervish of colors who spent her life creating beauty, spreading love, and making service to humanity her greatest masterpiece.

Such personalities may physically leave this world, but the colors of their character, art, and service never fade. .Sughra Rababi is among those who will always be remembered with respect, pride, and love in the history of Pakistani art and humanitarianism.