With the birth anniversary of Guru Ravidas approaching, an unfinished painting resting quietly in the hills of Himachal Pradesh has begun to draw renewed attention from devotees and art lovers alike. The portrait, created by legendary painter Sobha Singh, is widely regarded as the last saintly figure to grace his easel, making it both an artistic and spiritual legacy.The painting, preserved at the artist’s studio in Andretta Art Village, was commissioned in the early 1980s by Guru Ravidas Sabha, UK, representing members of the Ravidasia community settled abroad. As preparations begin across India and overseas for Guru Ravidas Jayanti scheduled on February 1, marked by kirtans, processions and community gatherings the portrait has once again come into focus as a powerful symbol of dignity, devotion and social equality.Sobha Singh, renowned for his spiritually evocative portraits, was known for transcending religious boundaries. His brush gave visual form to Sikh Gurus, Hindu deities, Sufi saints, Lord Buddha and Jesus Christ, reflecting his belief in spiritual universality. For the Ravidas Sabha, this inclusive worldview was precisely why the artist was approached, said Hirday Pal Singh, grandson of Sobha Singh.He said that in a formal letter dated May 24, 1983, the Sabha requested Sobha Singh to paint an authentic and dignified portrait of Sant Guru Ravidas. The communication candidly noted that earlier depictions by other artists had often carried undertones of caste discrimination, failing to capture the saint’s true spiritual stature and philosophy of equality. The Sabha believed Sobha Singh’s realism and humanism could correct this historical imbalance.Sobha Singh began work on the portrait in 1983. The result was a strikingly original composition. Often referred to as ‘The Swan Painting’, it depicts Guru Ravidas singing a bhajan while rhythmically striking his shoe to create music. The imagery powerfully blends devotion with the dignity of labour, portraying the saint not as an aloof ascetic, but as a working mystic rooted in everyday life.The incomplete painting of Guru Ravidas by Sobha Singh.Though the painting remained technically unfinished at the time of Sobha Singh’s death in August 1986, admirers have long felt that it is complete in essence. During his final days, the artist was working on three paintings simultaneously, and the portrait of Guru Ravidas became the last saintly image he touched, said Hirday Pal Singh.After the artist’s death, devotees approached his family seeking permission to copy and alter the painting, proposing that one hand of the saint be raised in blessing similar to the iconic Guru Nanak Dev’s portrait commissioned by the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee. A prominent business figure from the community even offered to arrange for another artist to make the change.The family, however, declined the request, stating that Sobha Singh had his own artistic vision and that altering the work would compromise the integrity of his final creation. Their refusal ensured that the painting remains exactly as the master left it, said Hirday Pal Singh.As Guru Ravidas Jayanti approaches, the portrait’s quiet presence has taken on deeper meaning. For devotees, it reflects the saint’s message of equality and humility; for art lovers, it stands as a testament to Sobha Singh’s lifelong commitment to humanity over hierarchy.In its stillness and incompletion, the painting continues to inspire reminding observers that true devotion, like true art, needs no alteration to endure.