Indian boy receives 'heartfelt' from PM Modi for stencil portrait
A 14-year-old Indian body in the UAE is over the moon after Prime Minister Narendra wrote him a 'heartfelt' letter of thanks for a painting of himself by the teenager.
PTI, Dubai
PUBLISHED ON FEB 23, 2021 01:27 PM IST
A 14-year-old Indian body in the UAE is over the moon after Prime Minister Narendra wrote him a 'heartfelt' letter of thanks for a painting of himself by the teenager, according to a media report on Monday.
Saran Sasikumar, a class IX student in Dubai, created a six-layered stencil portrait of Modi, to mark Republic Day on January 26, the Gulf News reported.
Sasikumar, whose family is from Kerala, sent the portrait to Modi via External Affairs and Parliamentary Affairs Minister V Muraleedharan, who had visited the UAE in January.
In the letter, Modi said: "Art is an effective medium to express our innermost thoughts and emotions and connect our imagination to creativity. The portrait drawn by you reflects your undying commitment and dedication to painting, as well as your love and affection for the nation.
"I am sure that you will take your artistic skills to higher levels of excellence in the years to come. May you continue to draw many more beautiful portraits and at the same time, excel in the academic sphere. Best wishes for a bright and successful future." A scanned version of the letter, bearing Modi's signature is available on Twitter, posted on Sasikumar's account.
In reply, Sasikumar wrote on Twitter: "Thanks a million to honourable @PMOIndia Shri @narendramodi for his kind words in this letter appreciating my painting. This is a big motivation and source of inspiration for budding artists like me."
Speaking to Gulf News, Sasikumar said stencil art is his passion and that he has made over a hundred portraits. He said the letter from Modi would always remain special as the prime minister's hardwork is an inspiration for him.
Follow more stories on Facebook and Twitter
This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text.
Topics
A calendar of truth and lies: The Weekly Puzzle by Dilip D’Souza
By By Dilip D’Souza
PUBLISHED ON MAR 05, 2021 07:52 PM IST
There are plenty of puzzles about liars and truth-tellers
Dalmia: Raza’s vibrant works with underlying meanings made him better known
By Navneet Vyasan
UPDATED ON MAR 05, 2021 06:24 PM IST
Yashodhara Dalmia’s biography on the legendary artist opens up a side to him which was never previously explored
The Sporting Life: Are we prepped for Tokyo, asks Rudraneil Sengupta
By Rudraneil Sengupta
PUBLISHED ON MAR 05, 2021 06:20 PM IST
They’ve waited an extra year, suffered from illness, disrupted schedules and little to no training. And the Olympics are now just five months away.
Wonder women: Anupama Chopra picks her top heroines of the silver screen
PUBLISHED ON MAR 05, 2021 05:14 PM IST
If not on Women’s Day, when! Here are some of the most fierce, fearless and fabulous female characters to have lit up our screens.
Touring the Frick Madison, New York’s newest cultural landmark
Bloomberg, New York
UPDATED ON MAR 05, 2021 03:02 PM IST
The museum’s chief curator takes us on guided tour through the galleries inside the former Whitney (and for a time, Met Breuer), which will house the Frick Collection’s masterpieces while its Fifth Avenue mansion is expanded.
Dutch artist uses ultraviolet light to zap coronavirus
Reuters, Rotterdam
PUBLISHED ON MAR 05, 2021 12:45 PM IST
Dutch designer Daan Roosegaarde's "Urban Sun" installation seeks to harness ultraviolet light to reduce the amount of coronavirus in the air in busy spaces and lessen the risk of transmission.
Elusive artist Banksy confirms he's behind prison artwork
AP, London
PUBLISHED ON MAR 05, 2021 09:56 AM IST
Banksy appears to have thrown his support behind a campaign to turn a former prison in the English town of Reading into an arts venue, after the street artist confirmed that artwork that appeared on a red brick wall of the prison was of his making.
Photos: In Mississippi, small-town bluesman keeps aging music alive
AP
PUBLISHED ON MAR 04, 2021 07:34 PM IST
Jimmy 'Duck' Holmes, 73, is the last Bentonia bluesman, the carrier of a dying musical and oral storytelling tradition born in this Mississippi town of less than 500 people. And now, he's a Grammy-nominated artist, with a recent nod in the Best Traditional Blues Album category for Cypress Grove, a record he hopes will help preserve the Bentonia blues long after he’s gone.
Berlin's custodians of silence look forward to museums reopening
Reuters, Berlin
PUBLISHED ON MAR 04, 2021 07:10 PM IST
Through the cold winter months, Berlin's museum directors have been custodians of silence. With doors closed to visitors due to the pandemic, artworks have languished hidden from view, but now curators are looking forward to reopening.
In Mississippi, small-town bluesman keeps aging music alive
AP, Bentonia, Mississippi
PUBLISHED ON MAR 04, 2021 12:02 PM IST
Across the South, the venues — historically owned and frequented by African Americans — have shuttered as owners pass away. Blues experts believe Holmes is the only American running a juke joint owned by his parents.
Nepal takes up reconstruction of heritage sites with Indian aid
PTI, Kathmandu
PUBLISHED ON MAR 04, 2021 10:31 AM IST
India on Wednesday pledged ₹24.6 crore for reconstruction of three heritage sites in central Nepal that were destroyed during the devastating April 2015 earthquake.
Pyrex and Pink Daisies: Midcentury vintage cookware is back in style
AP, New York
UPDATED ON MAR 03, 2021 06:15 PM IST
Vintage kitchenware is back in style -– pieces from the mid-20th century painted with flowers, bright colors, and specific functions, such as bracketed chip and dip bowls or four-piece refrigerator storage sets.
Tonywatch: Dede Ayite's costumes always 'build up layers'
AP, New York
PUBLISHED ON MAR 03, 2021 05:56 PM IST
For “A Soldier's Play,” which explores racism within a Black U.S. Army unit, Ayite created special padding in the elbows and knees for actor David Alan Grier, who was frequently pummeled onstage. The soldiers' boots had to look broken in so she handed them out at the beginning of rehearsals.
Personal letters, autographed photos: How Golden Era superstars connected
By Alfea Jamal, Hindustan Times, Delhi
UPDATED ON MAR 03, 2021 03:32 PM IST
Back in the 50s and 60s a young starstruck Bollywood fan, Mehrunissa Najma wrote to her favourite celebrities including legends Sunil Dutt, Saira Bano, Sadhana among others in hopes of autographs. The late cinema lover's hobby has now turned into an invaluable collection of India's cinematic history.
'Giraftari': Shri Ram Centre to welcome back theatre lovers
PTI, New Delhi
PUBLISHED ON MAR 03, 2021 12:57 PM IST
In good news for theatre enthusiasts, the Shri Ram Centre (SRC) will finally reopen its doors to the public on Friday with 'Giraftari', a play based on Franz Kafka's popular novel "The Trial", said the organisers in a statement.