An effort to etch Gandhi in Indian minds

KOZHIKODE: Artist Venu Cheekkonnu and Vadakara Education Society may not be very famous in the region, but they are making every effort to revive memories of the Father of the Nation in every nook and corner of their taluk so that the new generation is not alien to Gandhi’s teachings.  With paintings of Gandhi drawn by art teacher Venu Cheekkonnu, the Vadakara Taluk Education Department Teaching and Non-teaching Employees Welfare Cooperative Society, is going to every library that approaches them for a free painting.

“Venu is an art teacher at Naripatta RNM higher secondary School, where I also teach. A year ago, the idea was formed when the then DEO Suresh Kumar sought a painting of Gandhi at his office in Vadakara. Venu drew the painting and donated it to the office. Since then seven such paintings were donated to educational institutions, government offices and libraries,” said Sajeevan K., president of the society.  The society makes the portraits for free at the request of libraries and their mission is to make the youngsters aware of the Gandhi’s teachings and popularise him among the new generation too. 

Mr Sajeevan says that there are still many government offices and libraries that do not have a single portrait of Gandhiji and the society was very much ready to make for them. While Mr Venu draws the portraits for free, the education society provides the raw materials for them. “Our mission is to keep the memories of our father of the nation alive in the minds of every Indian, be it a youngster or an elderly. His teachings never lose value in the society and we are on a humble attempt to that big task,” he said.