Sunday 14 October 2012

Roxy Building



 In early 1930’s, Shri Nathji stayed at the Roxy building in Kulri Bazaar, next to the mosque. This Building also housed the huge art gallery of Shri Roop Kishore, also known as Guruji,who was a renowned artist of Mussoorie.. In 1936, Shri,  Roop Kishore made a portrait of Shri Nathji, at the express asking of Shri Babaji Maharaj, who was in Mussoorie at the time at Dilaram Estate. It showed Shri Nathji bare-headed in a beautiful pink embroidered zari ki achkan, his left arm on a shining table-top and a benign smile on his lips. Shri Nathji was the living epitome of divine beauty in this portrait. This portrait was kept at Roop Kishores Studio at Roxy Building.
An old lady took it to her home with a band. But everyone wanted the darshan of it so badly that Shri Nathji had to ask the old lady to give the portrait to him where all could see it. When the old lady was distraught Shri Nathji said to her: "Mataji! From now on you will see me in ever brick every tree ever leaf.." 
Bellow is the photograph of the same portrait of Shri Nathji, as made by Roop Kisore. The painting exists today at Savitri Nivas on the wall of the drawing room which contains his statue and his holy ashes. The painting was kept at Shri Nathji's house at Dehra Dun, where a devotee, Shri Rameshwar Das was so hypnotised by it that he took it off the wall and simply ran away with it in a tonga before he was caught and brought back with much love!!
 
There was a fire in Roxy Building in the 1950's and as a result the Art Gallery of Roop Kishore which was known as "Chitra Shala" was burnt down. The present new Roxy Building was built on the remaining portion of the Roxy Building. Roop Kishore shifted his new Art Gallery at Standard skating Ring at the mall. Roop Kishore remained devoted to Shri Nathji all his life. His son also sang classical Bhajans before Shri Nathji on His Birthdays in Mussoorie. Presently this building also has Roxy Hotel, besides, food joints, a tailoring shop besides some other businesses.


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