Sadiya Al Nadwi Saudi Gazette He is a creative soul. At 61 years old, he displays the energy and flamboyance of people half his age, while showing the expertise of sand art. He is one of India's leading sand animator Colonel Rameshwarnath Chhibber, or more popular known by his alias Ronnie Chhibber. The ambidextrous sand animator gently sprinkles fine layers of sand on a transparent canvas atop a light box, and then swiftly goes on to create intricate three-dimensional figures, symbols, objects and landscapes on sand frame-by-frame within seconds, spinning into stories. Synchronized music and subtle lights on stage add to the hypnotic effect. The mesmerizing art is viewed by the audience with the help of a projector and screen. Sand art is not merely drawing or sketching, which children and adults alike usually do on dusty objects or window panes for fun. While performing the live sand animation art, Chhibber said that there is no room for mistakes; a single wrong stroke, a beat, or a light change skipped during the performance can ruin the whole act. “Any one element going wrong can mean disaster." Chhibber said the artist has to be extremely focused; should be exceptional at drawing or sketching; and should have complete knowledge of the anatomy of the human body, animals, plants, among others. The artist should also be well-versed with the topic or story he/she is going to portray in front of the audience. Chhibber had served the Indian army for 30 long years. He was also trained as a helicopter pilot, which gave him an opportunity to analyze everything from above, developing a bird's-eye view. As a helicopter pilot, Chhibber was usually on surveillance of the region under him, and it was during those testing times that he used the dusty army truck wind screens to create the target areas of the opposition as an impromptu aid to brief the soldiers under his command. From there Chhibber became interested in sand art and aspired to become a sand artist. Drawing on sand had started off as a necessity; however it soon became the center of entertainment for Chhibber. The self-taught sand artist honed his skills for over 10 years until he delivered his first performance in Rajasthan in an international creative acts event. From there onwards there was no stopping him; as for the past seven years he has extensively traveled across India to show the art he mastered in various events. Internationally, Chhibber has performed 12 shows in prominent events in Bahrain, Doha, Damascus, and Muscat. He has made 40 sand art backdrops for an Indian ballad named “Taj Express" by Shruti and Vaibhavi Merchant, currently being screened in Singapore. Creativity spurred inside Chhibber and he decided to go a step ahead to accomplish another exemplary feat, performing the sand animation act blindfolded. He is the only sand artist in the world who has a patent for the Blindfolded Sand Animation Act from the Government of India under the Barnes agreement for all major countries of the world. When invited to perform for an event, Chhibber is only given a vague idea or a theme.“It takes 15 -20 days to prepare a complete storyline with music and narrations, and 6 – 10 hours of practice every day to perfect it. “The ability to come up with a strong and complete story is the hallmark of a good animator, and it only comes with maturity of age, experience, and knowledge," Chhibber said. Chhibber is also a corporate trainer, international magician, oil painter and actor. Being a staunch philanthropist, he raises funds for the Red Cross Society, Army Wives Welfare Association, Blind Schools and Handicapped children through his art and performances. Bismilliah Khan, one of the world's greatest Shehnai (aerophonic wind instrument) maestros, is Chhibber's source of inspiration. Chhibber was recently in Jeddah to demonstrate his sand animation art during the Saudi Japanese Automobile High Institute's graduation ceremony for its ninth graduating class, in the presence of Prince Mish'al and other dignitaries.
