Bangalore: Who says that “merit” belongs only to the Brahminical social order? Even an Untouchable ‘can rise to international heights and surpass a born Brahmin if opportunities are available. Here is a reallife story to disprove the “merit theory”.
An Indian Dalit artist, P.K. Mahananda from Atha Malik, the tribal jungles of Orissa, is making waves in Sweden.
He is a wonderfully friendly and open person – a single great smiling brown face with teeth like white exclamation marks of joy and eyes with the gleam of mild tarns. His deep interest in people is also a great ‘asset for him as an artist – he draws and paints Portraits with a painstakingly realistic technique, always with the rare ability to capture something unique in the face he has before him. He has already “had creditable successes at exhibitions in Boras and Goteborg, Sweden.
PK (which is an abbreviation of Pradyumna Kumar, ‘names which PK believes Swedes have difficulties ‘in pronouncing) is Mahananda’s pseudonym as an artist. It can be said that he is a born artist, otherwise he would not be in northern Europe, far from the deep jungle in southeastern India where he grew up and where he was destined to remain had he not possessed his gift.
Talents from mother: PK has inherited his talents from his mother. At an annual ceremony it is ‘common be draw patterns and mystical images on the mud walls of the huts in his jungle villages, and his mother was one of those who administrated this artistic tradition. Already as a child PK often drew in the I sand and painted-on stone slabs. While the tradition of the village only prescribed white when painting, the little boy’s eyes longed for color, and he made tones for his paintings. In school, the teachers I discovered his ability to make drawings and portraits I better and more quickly than any other. So, he was he first from his village to be given the opportunity (for continued studies. In 1971, at 20, he was sent to I Delhi University on a stipendium to study art and art I history. In 1976, he completed his degree and since I then has supported himself as an artist.
Mahananda does his sketches in 10 to 12 minutes. One of this new celebrity most well-known models ‘was the female cosmonaut Valentia Tereshkova. Naturally PK has also drawn portraits of famous men, for example the Indian President F.A. Ahmed, but it I am portraits of women which predominate in his works. I Love with Lotta: But when one day PK set the lines of Swedish girl on paper all other celebrities faded out. It was love at first sight and at first stroke of the pen. PK proposed after a 3-week long acquaintance, married a Swedish bride before the village chief, and then had to work for several months in order to ‘save up for a ticket to travel around half the globe in order to be reunited with his beloved. It is a truly gripping love-story. This gifted Indian is now with his Lotta in Sweden, where he has made history.
Mahananda, came to Delhi with an excursion group and became a student of Delhi College of Art. PK even remembers days when he had to go without food for a day or two. Inspired by his mother, PK was longing to become an artist, and is now very happy as he earns quite a good amount through his portraits. PK’s art has an amazing combination of creativity and longevity to attract a crowd who look long and intently at his paintings.
UN Honor: Painter, Administrator and Head of Department of Recreation, Pradyumna Kumar Mahanadi was born in Athmalik, India, on Dec.25 1951. He married Ann-Charlotte won Shchedrin in 1979 and they have one daughter, Emelie. He studied the Swedish language with the Swedish – National Board of Education in 1978 and went on to take a special course in Swedish History and Society in 1979. Between 1980 and 1982 PK was employed as a Trainee Administrator and Leader of Department of Recreation by the Government of Sweden at the People’s College, Mullsjo, Sweden. This post included work at the UN Offices, Stockholm, and the Swedish * International Development Authority. Since 1983 he has taught painting in different colleges and institutions in Sweden.
One of his drawings was honored by the United Nations Association of Sweden, Boras, by being used as a greeting card. PK lists his hobbies and interests as painting, writing, yoga, travelling, helping poor people, cultural exchange, international understanding, working for peace, organizing exhibitions on Indian Art in Europe and awarding scholarships every year to needy students of Ari and Music in India.
PK is a distinguished member of the growing family of Dalit Voice worldwide.
