Rachna Chhokar, an IRS officer from the 2015 batch, has lived a life defined by two distinct paths: the rigorous demands of her profession and the quiet, soulful pursuit of art. Currently, on deputation, Rachna balances her bureaucratic responsibilities with an innate passion for sketching and painting. A self-taught artist, she began her artistic journey in childhood but only rediscovered her talent during the COVID-19 lockdown, finding new meaning and expression through traditional and experimental forms of art.
In an exclusive conversation with Indian Masterminds, she shared details about her artistic journey.
THE BEGINNING OF AN ARTISTIC JOURNEY
Growing up, Rachna always had a pencil in hand, drawing and sketching at every opportunity. Despite never receiving formal training, Rachna’s skill was evident.
Throughout her schooling years, especially until her 12th grade, sketching was her constant companion. However, when she began her career in civil service, her artistic pursuits took a back seat as the demands of her job required most of her time and energy.
REDISCOVERY DURING LOCKDOWN: A NEW ARTISTIC CHAPTER
The lockdowns during the COVID-19 pandemic, however, offered Rachna a rare gift—time. Amidst the global uncertainty, she found solace in creativity once again, but this time, her art took a different form. Moving away from her childhood focus on sketching, she explored traditional Indian art forms such as Madhubani, Pattachitra, and Warli paintings. Yet, as her artistic journey evolved, she found herself gravitating toward something completely different: sketching with white paint on black sheets.
“It was like rediscovering an old friend but in a completely new way,” she shares. “The stark contrast of white on black gave my work a deeper sense of emotion. It allowed me to express feelings that words couldn’t capture.”
This medium became her hallmark. Over time, Rachna expanded her repertoire to include charcoal sketches, using white acrylic paint on black paper as her chief medium. Her artwork captured raw emotions and subtle expressions, reflecting the internal worlds of her subjects.
THEMATIC EXPLORATION
For Rachna, art is not merely a visual endeavor but a profound medium for storytelling. “Painting, for me, is a bridge between the unsaid and the seen,” she says. “I often draw inspiration from literary quotes, where I try to visualize the hidden or underlying meaning. It’s an intersection between words and imagery—where the painting captures what the words leave unsaid.”
Rachna’s art captures complex emotions, layering her subjects with nuance and depth. She believes that art fills a gap where words are insufficient, expressing those intangible feelings that words can only hint at. Her work is deeply personal, offering viewers the chance to interpret the emotions and stories behind the scenes in their own unique way.
“What I love about painting is that it’s open to interpretation. How someone perceives my work depends on their own biases, experiences, and emotions. I find it fascinating that the same piece can mean different things to different people,” she told Indian Masterminds.
BRIDGING THE REALMS OF DEVOTION: BHAKTISM AND SUFISM
One of the recurring themes in Rachna’s work is her exploration of Bhaktism and Sufism, focusing on the spiritual elements of devotion and how they manifest in everyday life. She delves into the deep emotions tied to these forms of worship, capturing the interplay between the individual and the divine.
“Devotion is an intensely personal emotion, but it’s also universal,” Rachna explains. “I try to explore how this sense of Bhakti—of surrender, of connection—plays out in our daily existence. It’s about bridging the gap between the mundane and the spiritual.”
Her pen name, ‘Rach’, reflects this endeavor—a search to connect the personal with the universal, the seen with the unseen. In her art, Rachna captures moments of devotion and introspection, offering glimpses into a world that lies beyond immediate perception.
A PROFESSIONAL LIFE ANCHORED IN BALANCE
Despite her deep passion for art, Rachna makes it a point to separate her professional and creative worlds. “My work as an IRS officer requires a different part of my brain—logical, structured, and grounded in reality. My art, on the other hand, comes from my soul. It’s something I can’t control or structure—it flows in spurts, often when I least expect it.”
Rachna’s profession keeps her firmly anchored in the world of bureaucracy, but her artistic side is a counterbalance, allowing her to express emotions and explore abstract concepts that are far removed from her everyday work.
“The more I get anchored in my work, the more my creative side seeks expression. It’s like the two halves of me balance each other out,” she shared with Indian Masterminds.
While she admits it can be challenging to find time for her art, Rachna doesn’t see this as a limitation. In fact, the bursts of creativity she experiences after long periods of professional focus give her artwork a sense of urgency and depth.
THE ROAD AHEAD
With years of experience and countless sketches and paintings under her belt, Rachna is now preparing to share her work with the world. In December, she plans to host her first exhibition, along with other colleagues of the same artistic endeavors, where she will display a collection of her charcoal sketches, traditional Indian art, and her signature white-on-black paintings.
For Rachna Chhokar, art is not just a hobby or a pastime—it’s a vital form of expression, a way to bridge the gap between the visible world and the emotions that lie beneath the surface. As she continues to explore new forms and themes, she remains committed to capturing the beauty of the unsaid, one brushstroke at a time.
