Art attack: Inspiring story of the painter from IIM Lucknow

We all have been passionate about our crayons, brushes and sketch pens at some point of time in our childhood. Mohini Patil, a PGP first year student of IIM Lucknow (IIM-L), continues to have her box of colours with her, inside campus. She enjoys trying out different art forms and specifically loves sand animation and encaustic painting.

Her art collection seems like a product of artistic usage of crayons or colours or anything else, but definitely not what she reveals. "Encaustic is a rare and an amazing art," she says. "It means mixing multiple colours. And I use crayons, melt them and paint with an iron." Mohini has been practicing encaustic art for six years.

Such art forms are rare and are getting rarer every day. On the reason behind art moving away from the masses in general, she says, "The lack of awareness is creating this void. Interest should be there along with it, as well. This fact has always bothered me. I've learnt art forms from YouTube videos with no expert training and I know that it is difficult. But then, where there is a will there is always a way."

Her biggest achievement is the Mumbai National Art Exhibition that featured four of her masterpiece creations in 2011. She recalls, "It was the moment when my dreams since childhood came true. I can still feel goose bumps when I remember the evening."

Mohini says that she would soon start a website that would have online sessions on craft making, sand animation and oil painting amongst many others in different levels. As of now, she sits with her canvas, iron and crayons whenever she feels tired of studying. "It basically acts as a refresher, an energy booster. After few strokes on the canvas, I suddenly feel so complete."

Is art dying out of today's youth? If it is, how do we retrieve it? Explains Mohini, "If someone has a little idea about an art form, one should research it out. The thirst for knowledge and the eagerness to learn will never let one stop before any barrier." 

Mohini wants to keep this amazing hobby going along with her academics in IIM-L. She realises the fact that finding out time for painting after classes and assignments would be difficult but she says, "Even if someday I get busy and leave art work, art will never leave me." You go, girl!

Devanshu Kakkar mentors under privileged children

Not many of us would remember the last child we snubbed at, who appeared at the window, when our cars were stuck at a traffic jam. Where we do not even sit back to think what compels them to come out in the streets, at times, in extreme weather conditions, Devanshu Kakkar, a first year PGP student of IIM Lucknow, shares his insight.

Ever looked at the eyes of those children and orphans who stare at the school going kids, holding the fingers of their parents? Wouldn't most of them wish to go to school, or to be at least under the care and guidance of someone? These questions chased Devanshu since his days in school when the kids in their once green, blue, grey clothes-turned-rags would stare at him. What started off as a question, took the form of an endeavour to make a difference to the lives of these small ones, to give them hope and support to live their dreams. Devanshu, beyond the red bricks of IIM Lucknow, is now an active member of the Rotaract Club.

"Graduation and academics were no pressure for me. People join clubs and committees. I just wanted to explore my ideas," he says. Our country has 2,500 Rotaract Clubs and the members are the youth. They run schools and conduct classes for students from diverse backgrounds and are achievers in their own domains. "One of my student was a national level karate player; another was an actor in a theatre. They cross hurdles and difficulties every day. Stories of their achievements and wit can run for pages," he recalls.

The club also encourages promotion of culture and values that are specific to the state it functions in. The children love festivals and their joy knows no bound when they celebrate Diwali, Children's Day and many more. Today we all are running rat-races. Most of us are aware of our social responsibilities. But we complain about lack of time. Says Devanshu, "Multitasking has always been a challenge. I had CAT on 3rd November. My students had their pre-board exams in the same month. So, could I take a break for my own studies in October? No. I accept them as a part of my own reality."

On the possibility that these students might step on the other side of the red bricks, Devanshu says, "I recently got a call from my student who I was mentoring. He wanted guidance to proceed from Class X to engineering. This happened after I told them about JEE, which was oblivious to them before. Most of them come from slums but you give them something to aspire for, they will achieve them."

"I would suggest others to keep their motivation going, irrespective of how the other factors affect you", he says, about the young crowd of people who aspire to create an impact through an initiative like his. "This is a success for me. Even if it has helped only one child, I would be glad, since my help would touch a generation. I would love to carry on my work with the Rotaract club in Lucknow. I have plans."

Devanshu is a perfect epitome of all those who want to follow their dreams in life.