[Assam] A story of grit and determination

Tue Aug 22 07:43:14 PDT 2006

Nothing is impossible if one has grit and determination.
  Cheers ,
  Ankur
  Austin , Texas

                Its all for love of art: From bearing bullet wounds to switching hands
GUWAHATI, Aug 21: He fell prey to the assault of some gun-toting youths. In fact, he was shot at and left to die by some armed young men on the spot, but destiny had a different script for the Fine Arts student and he recovered from the wounds.
Today Maneswar Brahma has emerged as one of the promising artists from the Northeast. More surprisingly, Maneswar used his left hand (originally he was a right-hander) for creative activities, as his right hand received serious wounds in the incident. But his left hand did not betray him.
Recently, the Lalit Kala Akademi, the premier Fine Arts institution of India, honoured Maneswar with a National award. Maneswar received the prestigious award for the year 2005. His last series of art works titled Victim that narrated the horrifying moments of events in his own life brought him many other significant awards, too.
The series of art works with powerful lines, colour and images on canvas with strong anti-terrorism messages also drew attention of art connoisseurs of North-East, which nurtures nearly 20 active insurgent outfits fighting New Delhi for various demands ranging from independence to self rule for the local inhabitants.
Maneswar, who hails from Kokrajhar district of Asom, has to narrate a long tale to describe the urge for creating the art work series titled Victim. His sensitivity and realisation relating to the unlimited agony of those victims of insurgency have emerged as the theme of the paintings. After the accident, where Maneswar was shot at by some insurgents few years ago, the talented arts student returned to Shantiniketan and continued his endeavour to play with the form, figure and colours on the canvas.
Born in Halipara near Bijni in lower Asom, Maneswar was admitted in Kala Bhavan under Viswabharati University at Shantiniketan in 1993. It was during the first half of his student life when Maneswar faced that fateful incident, where he barely survived. Maneswar came to his home town on a vacation. During his stay in his village, Maneswar was picked up by two youths telling him that their leaders were waiting for him for his advice on some matter. Maneswar obliged and accompanied them. But shortly thereafter both the youths identified themselves as cadres of a Bodo militant outfit.
The Bodos are one of the earlier settlers in Asom, many of whom started an armed struggle against the government of India demanding self-rule in the eighties. The two cadres picked up Maneswar, who himself represents the Bodo tribe, for nothing but punishment.
However, Maneswar couldnt fathom the reason for retribution. He also failed to convince the gun-toting youths about his innocence. It was later found that he was picked up in place of someone else, clearly a victim of mistaken identity.
On the second night (on October 10, 1995), Maneswar had to face the bullets of the militants. Earlier the gunmen took him to a field and then shot at him. Maneswar shouted hopelessly but in vain and crawled his way while writhing in acute pain to a nearby college hostel. The boarders immediately informed the police and finally Maneswar was shifted to the Guwahati Medical College Hospital.
Maneswar recovered slowly but steadily. With his strong will power, Maneswar left for Shantiniketan directly from the hospital. Following the injuries to his right hand, he discovered his inability to resume his art work with weakened muscles. There was no other choice for the young painter than to start using his left hand for his day-to-day activities. In reality, he had to start everything again right from scratch. Like a gritty fighter, he overcame the adverse situation and started painting again.
After the brief period, Maneswar was first recognized by the Birla Academy of Art and Culture, Kolkata. One of his paintings from the Victim series was awarded by the Academy during its 33rd anniversary celebration in 2000. Maneswar was also honoured by Karnatakam Chitrakala Parishad Trust (Bangalore), South Central Zone Cultural Centre (Nagpur) and the Department of Culture, Union Human Resource Development Ministry. His work titled Unfinished Story was also included in the 47th National Exhibition of Lalit Kala Akademi in New Delhi. Maneswar believes that peace has now returned to the Bodo inhabited areas of Asom after the new Bodo Accord signed between the Government of India (with the Government of Asom) and the Bodo Liberation Tigers Force (BLT).
Presently associated with the Shrimanta Shankaradev Kalakshetra in Guwahati, Maneswar Brahma, however, nurtures no grievance against anyone (for the fateful incident). Because, for me it was just an accident; and I am determined to remove all hurdles to fulfil my own high expectations, said the hard-working painter disclosing his recent invitations that came from various organisations to exhibit his art works in different parts of the country. (SANS)                          BUSINESS ASSOCIATES  »               »
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