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| Rajan Manjeri, Art teacher, P.M.S.A.High School, Elankoor, Malappuram |
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Apart from his monthly salary as teacher of fine art in a school, Rajan Manjeri did not have any wherewithal to fulfill his dream of starting a park populated with his own sculptures and paintings. And yet he achieved this in the 70 cents of land taken on lease with money obtained by borrowing and taking loans. And he did it with the desire to bring happiness to the students and people around P.M.S.A.High School, Elankoor, Malappuram where he worked.
A product of the Thalassery Fine Art Society, Rajan had stumbled upon sculpture by chance. A casual effort at home to mould a tiger using cement and steel proved successful. This gave him confidence to venture further. Together with that migration, Rajan transplanted himself to Elankoor.
The park, Sargachitra, has a thatched structure, which is the art gallery displaying about 50 creations. A part of the gallery doubles as room for learning music. Students start visiting the park from morning. On holidays, the art gallery fills with musical notes of the learners.
The dinosaur in the middle of the park, the crocodile in the pond on the right side, deers etc add to the ambience of the park. Few other artists who also came over to Elankoor have helped him in their production. Near the pond, there is a sculpture of a drowing youth throwing up his arms and seeking help. The financial situation of the artist could perhaps be read from this symbolic figure.
But the bitterest buffeting of fate may be the recent insistence by the owner of the land to vacating it.
Courtesy:
Babu Thachinganadam,
Sree, Malayala Manorama, August 28, 2005
Contributed by: Administrator
