COLOURS OF LIFE: Maneswar Brahma (above) and his work, Unfinished Story

Maneswar Brahma refused to be a victim of circumstances. A spirited painter, he was ridden with bullets fired by gun-totting youths in Guwahati. But destiny, it seems, had a different script in store for the fine arts student. He did not succumb to his injuries. On the contrary, he has emerged today as one of the most promising artists from the Northeast. With his right hand having been severely injured, Brahma uses his left hand for his creative pursuits.

Brahma was recently presented with a national award by the Lalit Kala Akademi, the premier fine arts institution of India. His latest series of art works titled Victim depicts the horrifying events of his own life and reveals the agony of victims of insurgency. The powerful lines, dark colours and stark images laced with a strong anti-terrorism message have also caught the attention of art connoisseurs in the Northeast where nearly 20 insurgent outfits are still agitating over various demands.

The artworks, mostly paintings and graphics, are realistic but reflect a predominantly pensive mood. Black is a recurrent colour, but Brahma also uses red and other bright colours to good effect. Noni Borpuzari, an Assam-based senior artist and one of the finest print makers of India, is full of praise for Brahma. Commenting on the manifestation of harsh realities in Brahma’s works he says, “Brahma’s power of observation and tireless attempts at expressing events around him through a creative medium is noteworthy.”

Brahma, who hails from the Kokrajhar district of Assam (now renamed Asom), has, however, been unable to put behind his harrowing experience, although he terms it an “accident”.

“Even today when I talk about it, I am petrified. I would like to erase it from my memory but somehow I can’t. All my works bear traces of the incident,” says a reticent Brahma.

Born in Halipara near Bijni in lower Assam, Brahma was admitted to Kala Bhawan under Viswabharati University in Santiniketan in 1993. It was during his formative years as a student that the nearly fatal incident occurred. Brahma was in his home village on a vacation. During his stay there, he was accosted by two youths who told him that their leader wanted to “talk to him”. He accompanied them. But soon the youths said they were members of a Bodo militant outfit. Among the earliest settlers in Assam, many Bodos had started an armed struggle against the government of India demanding self-rule in the Eighties.

Later, it was discovered that Brahma, who himself belonged to a Bodo tribe, had been picked up in a case of mistaken identity. But all his pleas of innocence fell on deaf ears. On October 10, 1995, the militants took him to a field and shot him. They then left him to succumb to his injuries. Brahma had severe injuries on his right hand and in the lower portion of his chest. But he decided to make a last ditch effort to save himself. He crawled back slowly to a nearby college hostel. The boarders spotted him and informed the police. Brahma was shifted to the Guwahati Medical College Hospital and, as he lay on the hospital bed fighting for life, the local dailies published the news of his death.

Not one to be deterred, Brahma fought death and after making a slow recovery, returned to Santiniketan to resume his play with form, figure and colours. But his agony was far from over. He was hardly able to move his right hand. He began a physiotherapy session but there was very little improvement. Brahma regained some strength in his right hand through sheer grit and medical support. But that hardly enabled him to pick up the paint brush. So he began to use his left hand for his daily activities and subsequently, for painting.

It was an ordeal but I was determined to continue with my painting. I spent many sleepless nights but at the end, I regained my confidence,” recalls Brahma. Eventually, his hard work paid off. He was first recognised by the Birla Academy of Art & Culture, Calcutta. One of his paintings from the Victim series was awarded a prize by the Academy during its 33rd anniversary celebration in 2000. He was also honoured by Karnatakam Chitrakala Parishad Trust (Bangalore), South Central Zone Cultural Centre (Nagpur) and the department of culture under the Indian ministry of human resources. His work Unfinished Story was also included in the 47th national exhibition of the Lalit Kala Akademi in New Delhi.

Brahma now believes that with the signing of the new Bodo accord between the central government, state government and the Bodo Liberation Tigers Force on February 10, 2003, and the subsequent formation of the Bodoland Territorial Council, peace has returned to some regions of Assam.

Now associated with the Shrimanta Shankaradev Kalakshetra (Guwahati), Brahma insists that he bears no grudge against anyone. The militants have, apparently, admitted their mistake unofficially, though the culprits have not been brought to book. Brahma stresses, “It was just an accident. And I have to cross all the hurdles to reach my goal.” And now that he has been receiving invitations from various organisations across the country to exhibit his art works, it seems that his goal isn’t far away.