While 15 successful candidates from Jammu & Kashmir were still basking in the glory of their performances in the UPSC civil services examination 2017 another young girl from Udhampur district of Jammu province, Medhavi Sharma, has made it to the top ranks of National Institute of Design, (NID) by securing All India Rank 2 (Textile design).
The National Institute of Design (NID) is internationally acclaimed as one of the foremost multi-disciplinary institutions in the field of design education and research.
An engineering graduate from Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University, Medhavi Sharma is currently working as Project Engineer in a Noida based Software giant.
Speaking exclusively to The Pioneer, Medhavi Sharma said, "i am artistically inclined since my childhood , but the major breakthrough came with my first international gold in painting when I was in class 5".
She said i had painted an old man playing violin and received lot of appreciation at that time. I never looked back since then. My parents and teachers motivated me to learn painting.
Talking about her long journey Medhavi said, "I keep experimenting with different art forms. Naming some, She said i do lot of doodle art. last year i was shortlisted among top 10 doodle artists in the Red Bull Doodle Art Championship 2017.
She said i have also learnt traditional Basohli miniature art form from my mentor and guide SS Bloria (renowned Basohli painting artist of J&K).
Referring to her favorite subjects Medhavi told The Pioneer, "I often make paintings about the glory of my motherland 'Duggar Pradesh' in whose laps I grew up , whose tales were passed on to me by my grand parents and whose soil runs in my veins. Sometimes I paint to express my views over social issues . Sometimes, I paint to feel more like myself, she added.
Referring to her passion Medhavi said, I'm an ardent dreamer who'd romanticise every thing from a flickering earthen lamp to a beautiful sunrise.
She said i studied science to understand art from a different perspective. Even with my engineering degree I kept pursuing my passion . I have also tried my hand in oil painting, fashion Designing , digital art and sketching.
"Art is my way of channelizing my creative fire. To me art is a lot more than vibrant brushstrokes on canvas. It's a way of meditation. It is my voice".
Other than art, I actively participate in and organise social awareness drives, art workshops and donation campaigns. I've been a NCC cadet and represented my state in Republic day camp , Delhi 2009.
In collaboration with Vision 2020, I carried out a wall painting project in Devika where we artists spread awareness to keep the environs clean and green. She credited her success to her parents, Kusum Sharma -a govt school teacher and her self an author and father Subash Chander Sharma- a social worker. Her brother Swastik Sharma is hailed as young scientist. He had designed a steering wheel out of waste material. While her younger sister, who is a specially abled child, is currently studying Ayurveda and is a great source of inspiration for Medhavi.