The recently inaugurated Jharkhand Bhawan in the national capital, known for its modernity and grandeur has given renowned recognition and respect to the State’s traditional folk art. Adorning the structure is a Sohrai painting- the largest ever created on any building, measuring around 69 feet by 44 feet and made at a height of about 110 feet, has been registered in the India Book of Records.
Upon verification of the record, the team from India Book of Records honoured the artist Dhananjay Kumar hailing from Ranchi with a certificate, medal and book of record. The building was inaugurated by Chief Minister Hemant Soren on September 3 earlier this year.
Kumar took about 20 days to complete the art work which is visible from a distance of a few kilometers. As many as 200 paintings featuring the tribal art of Jharkhand have also been displayed across the campus which were created by 40 artists over a period of one and a half months.
Paintings made by Kumar are decorated at various premises across the State including the new High Court, Chief Minister's Office, State Museum, Paryatan Vihar and his artwork is also popular amongst buyers in various countries.
A resident of Doranda, Ranchi, Kumar has been taking painting classes for children at his school Kalakriti School of Arts for over two decades. A software engineer from BIT Mesra by profession, Kumar has also worked in a bank for some years. He has received more than 130 international, national and state level awards and was also honoured by President Draupadi Murmu- former Governor, Jharkhand, several Chief Ministers of Jharkhand as well as many state and central ministers.
With an inclination towards painting since childhood, Kumar established his own painting school in 2011 and in 2014 he quit his lucrative bank job to re-establish the painting school and started imparting training. Kunar is not only popular amongst the residents of Ranchi but also has students from various parts of the State. Along with this, he is also involved in taking online painting classes for children from around 12 countries.
In his endeavor, Kumar is working to take the folk art of Jharkhand to the new generation and so far has imparted training through more than 50 folk painting camps. Kumar has connected hundreds of poor girl students to this work by giving them free training and providing employment through art. With his free training to child prisoners many have taken it up as a profession and are now part of the mainstream society.
