KOCHI: When Sanjith Mandal got down at Kozhikode railway station four years ago along with the many migrant labourers from West Bengal, he would never have guessed what the future had in store for him. The migrant labourer, with an innate talent to draw, today ha been appointed as the caretaker of Gudhaam Art Gallery which will open in January 2017 at Gujarati street.
“I came here in search of a job. I had to earn money to buy medicines for my ailing parents,” said Sanjith. He started working at a hotel, but never forgot his real passion, drawing. He found time to draw. “The painting brush and colours are costly and hence I can’t afford them. So, I began drawing using white and black pens,” added Sanjith.
Sanjith Mandal became popular among the art lovers in the city after an exhibition of his 25 paintings which was held in the city in April this year. These paintings were drawn while he was in his native village where he had to face hunger and poverty. The exhibition was well received by both the artists and public. “My friends made me conduct the exhibition,” says Mandal. He loves Kerala for welcoming him into the world of art. “I never expected this kind of recognition,” he says.
Many huge half finished paintings can be seen scattered around in his room. All of them will be put on display in the upcoming art gallery.
Gone are days when he used to draw with black and white pens. He now has access to colours, wood powder, crayons and costly brushes. “I am being paid to clean the premises. This makes me financially independent and hence I can buy more art materials,” said Sanjith.
“We realized that without art and culture, a city’s growth is incomplete. So we initiated this project and there was no better choice than Sanjith to entrust the responsibility of the art gallery,” said Naseeb Mehmood, the designer and partner of this project. Sanjith has drawn 43 paintings so far. If he can sell these paintings, he will earn fifty per cent of the sale amount. “It is a deal,” Sanjith laughs.