New Delhi, April 4 A diplomat's work largely involves conducting bilateral engagements and signing agreements, but Ambassador Jayant Khobragade, India's envoy to Spain, seamlessly combines his profession with his artistic pursuits.
The 1995-batch IFS officer is currently hosting an exhibition of his artworks, created over the last nearly 30 years, including many he painted while abroad during his various diplomatic assignments, at the Travancore House here.
Titled 'Journey with the Divine Flow', the exhibition features 45 artworks, depicting nature in various hues, trees, Lord Ram's battle with Ravan on a "monumental" canvas, Lord Krishna playing Holi with Radha and 'gopis', as well as artworks inspired by flamenco dance and Spanish music.
One of the oldest paintings on display is 'Buddha Must Laugh', an oil on canvas created in 1997, which the diplomat-artist calls his "only political work" on display at the exhibition.
"Art is very close to my heart. Diplomacy is my profession, music is my passion, but painting is simply a way of life. I have been painting for three-and-a-half decades. This is my 15th exhibition, and the second in Delhi," Khobragade told
The diplomat, who was appointed India's envoy to Spain last year, had previously served as the country's ambassador to ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) headquartered in Jakarta, and Kyrgyzstan, as well as on diplomatic assignments at Indian embassies in Moscow, Madrid, Almaty, and Bishkek.
Asked how his journey in diplomacy and art converged, Khobragade said he didn't see them as contradictory.
The diplomat, who also has a passion for music and photography and enjoys writing poetry (all captions carry lyrical lines), shared how many of his artworks were inspired by the surroundings and cultures of the host country where he was posted.
"Any artist perceives their surroundings. When I was in Spain, I drew inspiration for painting. In Moscow, I held an exhibition titled 'The Russian Soul', which focused on Russian poetry."
"As the Indian ambassador to ASEAN, I had the opportunity to visit some of the region's most important temples, such as Angkor Wat and the Borobudur temple, which left a lasting impression on me," Khobragade said.
One of the key aspects of diplomacy is fostering people-to-people ties between two countries, and Khobragade said that art helped him establish those connections.
"Diplomacy itself is an art. For a diplomat, it is very important to connect with people," he said.
One artwork, 'Leela: A Duel in Mind', stands out due to its impressive scale – 2 m x 1.5 m – and vibrant use of colors.
Khobragade said he painted it two years ago when he was posted in Jakarta, and it took him almost nine months to complete.
"I wanted to depict the connection between India and Southeast Asia, the cultural and civilizational connection between the two sides.
"While I portrayed the more traditional image of Lord Ram from our culture, I depicted Ravan from Southeast Asia. Sometimes, the depiction of Ravan with 10 heads in a single row is not always accurate; instead, it is often represented in a 5-3-2 tiered fashion," he said.
The vivid canvas also depicts a battlefield and the fire in Lanka, Ravan's kingdom, in the background.
Asked about his work inspired by Spanish culture, Khobragade said he did so from 2008 to 2011, when he was posted as a counsellor in Madrid.
These works are titled 'Flamenco', 'Daughters of Spring', 'Daughters of Autumn', 'Dance', and 'Knot in the Threads'.
"I drew inspiration not only from flamenco dancing, but also from visiting various museums and studying classical European paintings. One needs visual literacy, as I call it, for art," he said.
On his second stint in Spain, Khobragade said, "As soon as I arrived in Madrid, I purchased a canvas and paints and started painting. Some of those works are on display, such as 'Octo-Ganesha' and 'Holi', depicting Lord Krishna and Radha."
"We are celebrating 2026 as India-Spain Year of Culture, Tourism, and Artificial Intelligence. So, as part of this cultural celebration, this exhibition is my personal contribution," the ambassador said.
Sharing the story behind the theme and caption for his 1997 artwork 'Buddha Must Laugh', Khobragade said, "When India conducted its first nuclear test in 1974, the prime minister described it as 'Buddha Smiled'. In the 1990s, negotiations on the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) were not progressing.
"So, I thought that now 'Buddha Must Laugh'. I displayed this painting in August 1997 at the Lalit Kala Academy. In May 1998, we conducted another round of (nuclear) tests."
While Khobragade has travelled to many countries and exhibited his works on various subjects, his color palette remains "very Indian".
"I absorb cultural elements wherever I stay, but the core remains Indian," he said.