‘Many poor kids in Bhagalpur keen to learn this art form’

BHAGALPUR: An indigenous painting art form known as ‘shunya anda shaili’ comprising jute canvas and mural paintings has not only been generating interest among local artists at Bhagalpur but also motivating children from poor families to start formal education.
Developed by Ramlakhan Singh, the principal of Kala Kendra at Bhagalpur, the unique art form, also known as ‘Gurujee shaili’, is based on Ajanta style of painting and Bhagalpur’s Manjusha art as well as sculpture art.Organic colours and jute canvas are used on walls and floors for this art form.
Kala Kendra, the institute imparting training in this art form was established at Lajpat Marg in Bhagalpur in 1954.
Kaushmika Priya and Sagarika Srivastava have been trying to reach out to the people with this art form. “Ramlakhan Gurujee developed this technique of painting, which is symbolization of zero,” Priya said.
“Gurujee teaches young artists. The unique reason to use ‘zero’ as base in this art form is based on the philosophy that starts from ‘nothingness to infinity’ and that ‘every child learns from nothing to the infinite substratum of knowledge’,” she said.
Rajiv Kumar Singh, a teacher at Kala Kendra, said major beneficiaries of this art form are children from slum areas, who got motivated to learn it and finally enrolled in schools and colleges.
“Many children from families living in slum areas like at Mayaganj, Barari and Bhikhanpur are thankful to this art form as they took up schooling or college level education and some are in jobs,” Rahul said.