Monday, November 13 2000
A Lesson In Painting
By- A. Thiagarajan A. Thiagarajan is a banker by profession.
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It was a Friday morning when Mrs. Priya Bhagat called Mr. Ranjan Kumar. She asked him to send a model. She wanted to do a painting of a man in fear. She read about a painting on the subject in the latest issue of the magazine "Painting today" which is said to be the most authoritative on painting. It is the dream of almost every serious painter to get mentioned in the magazine. It is the "in thing" for every woman of the "society" to carry a copy or talk about the magazine.
All the magazines and journals subscribed by the college library would first go to her. Then to the college. She had that privilege. After all, she was the wife of Mr. Ashok Bhagat, the founder of the college.
"Two halls in the college permanently exhibit my works. The most colourful event in the college is the Founder's day of which a significant feature the exhibition displays my new works. Most prominent citizens of the city take part in these. Do I not select the best of the students' paintings and give a personal award?" she frequently told the Women's club.
"Let her forget painting and do some social work. The mayor may help her. He may arrange for it with much publicity. The " City Today" would do a story," was the response from the students in the college. He was not surprised.
But he can not take chances. The principal may not like it. Ranjan Kumar was himself a temporary secretary. If he didn't handle this well, his prospects are not good.
Ranjan called her on her cell-phone. " Madam, a new face must be refreshing for you. I do not think I would send any student from the college this time. There is one Mr. Jain. He is from Paris. He is a sort of painter himself. He is also a freelance writer and I think we can arrange for him to do a story on you as 'a woman who has arrived'. You may find him interesting on Yoga as well".
Ranjan felt greatly relieved she did not ask why he couldn't send some student from the college as was always being done. He definitely could not tell her that no student wanted to take up the assignment. It was the three or four hours of her chatter that was hated. She did not know how much of cajoling went before these. The very prospect of approaching the students was not welcome to Ranjan. He was happy that the issue did not come up.
When Mr. Jain arrived at Mrs. Bhagat's house, a maid showed him in. There were pictures drawn by Mrs. Jain on the wall. He could not help remembering Andrea del Sarto of Robert Browning. He read that dramatic monologue quite long ago; but could not forget the poem and his professor who handled that session. Andrea's tragic helplessness affected Jain. He could not bring himself to reconcile to the fact that there could be people like that. In the case of Andrea, he realized his situation to be similar and that was the tragedy.
"So, you are Jain?" the question brought him back to the present. Mrs. Bhagat was coming down the hall. She was clad in a typical Canjivaram silk with a large round red sticker in the middle of her forehead. Slightly on the well-endowed side, she was carrying herself with dignity in her steps and carriage. She was at the same time taking a look at clock on the wall.
"Good morning, ma'm. How would you like me to be? Is what I am wearing okay or do you have something in mind?"
"Of course, gentleman, you must change into something to underline the theme - fear," she said. There was a trace of subtle chiding in her "gentle man".
"You can express fear in the eyes. The background could be unobtrusive. What the subject wears could be subdued. A certain posture could be considered, though however it really doesn't matter. The brush must have the power to make it stand on its own without any other support," said Jain pretending not to notice the chiding in her voice and concealing his own amusement in an exaggeratedly polite tone.
"How did you do that sitting posture in that painting?" he continued in the same vein; he was pointing to a picture on the wall.
He continued. "That is a typical yogic posture, You must know some Yoga, I am pretty sure. You must have been practising Yoga for years or there is a certain natural rhythm in you- your body and your carriage vouch for it. Very few youngsters can boast of this nowadays"
Mrs. Bhagat got up from her seat and came to him.
"I really don't know Yoga. Everyone talks about it. It features in foreign journals also. It is something, which pushes me into my shell when somebody mentions it in the Club. Do you really believe that I would be able to pursue it?" she asked.
"It must come naturally to you, madam. I mean it. Without much of a strain. But now where would you like us to go for the painting session, any specific place in mind?" Jain asked her.
"But Mr. Jain, tell me about Yoga first. How long would it take to pick up the basics?" she asked.
Jain noticed that she mentioned "Mr." when she addressed him this time. He said, " It is not a big deal for you. There are books and video presentations. A Yoga teacher is coming over to Ooty next month for a holiday. I know him. I can ask him to plan to visit you and stay here for sometime. It could be arranged".
'Of course I would love it. How do you like the idea of my starting an Institute of Yoga or a department for Yoga in the college itself? She asked Jain.
"Madam, I will make out a small write-up on the project with some macro details of cost and time schedule. We will discuss it further. But as for now, which type of posture do you prefer for the current painting session on fear?" he asked her.
" Actually, you see Mr. Jain, I am dying to learn Yoga. Last week in our club I was mentioning this to the wife of the mayor. I think we must have a Bhagat Institute of Yoga before the next year-end,' she said pacing the floor.
She was silent for a few minutes and he too kept quiet. Suddenly she turned to him and asked him, "of course, you would not discuss this with anybody, right? I would rather announce it myself in a properly convened meeting of the press and some dignitaries."
"Of course, not a word to anyone. Madam. As for now, do we start the modeling session?" he asked her.
"Not to worry, Mr. Jain. I will drop you now at your place. I am glad I met you. We can see about this later. I must also thank Mr. Ranjan Kumar for this," she said walking towards the door.
There was a story on the proposed Bhagat institute of Yoga in the next Sunday edition of the local magazine with the photographs of Mrs. Bhagat in various yogic postures.
Ranjan Kumar is now the secretary of the college.
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