His art encompasses Guwahati. The various facets and milieu of the city echo the creative pursuits of one of the most talented contemporary artists of the state, Simanta Jyoti Baruah.

?Consciously or unconsciously, the topography, people and life of the city come alive in my work. The city has given me so much. The smells and sights of the city are an integral part of my childhood reminiscences. From providing me with a home and a loving family to a livelihood, the city has been my greatest benefactor,? says the award-winning artist.

?Over the past three years, day in and day out, I have been working wholeheartedly trying to put on canvas one of most challenging subjects till date,? says Baruah. ?Terrorism is a worldwide phenomenon. Its poisonous sting has infected one and all. No matter whether we stay in Afghanistan or in Assam, the scourge of terrorism is most menacing. This time, I want to convey through my work my opposition to terrorism and support for curbing its very roots.?

His series on terrorism will debut in the city before being displayed at the Jehangir Art Gallery in Mumbai early next year. The series comprises 20 paintings, of which eight are on display at his home ? which resembles an art gallery ? in Chenikuthi.

One of the paintings ? titled Terrorism in Pocket and painted strikingly in red ? depicts the demonic effects of terrorism.

?Red symbolises dynamism. It depicts blood, doubts and anything fearsome.? Baruah believes that every colour depicts an emotion. ?In this series, red is prominent. In one of my earlier series, the serenity of blue was manifest. I have made red prominent this time in order to convey the message of terrorism to art lovers.?

In another painting, Secret Killing, the artist, taking inspiration from nature, has used pitcher plants to symbolise the human mind?s sinister motive in killing fellow beings.

The 39-year-old artist has no formal degree or diploma. He has impressed people with his talent since childhood. Over the years he has taken lessons from his immediate surroundings and the works of veteran masters displayed at the Guwahati Artists? Gallery.

Baruah?s brilliance shines through not only on the canvas but also in academics. After taking his bachelor?s degree in civil engineering from the Assam Engineering College, Baruah, who loves to introduce himself as an ?artist architect?, passed his AMIE (architecture) from the Institution of Engineers of India in 1983. He is now a zonal engineer with the Guwahati Municipal Corporation. ?My profession has never ever acted as a hindrance in the way of my passion,? he says.

?My job as an engineer and knowledge in the department of architecture in fact helped my art. My work as an engineer has never tried to sneak and intrude into artistic endeavours.?

His work has been hugely appreciated around the country.

His awards comprise nine gold, eight silver and three bronze medals he won in various competitions, including university-level competitions, zonal and national youth festivals.

His paintings were also exhibited as part of the ?Fifty years of art in independent India? project.

He is also the recipient of a junior fellowship from the department of culture, government of India, New Delhi, for a period of three years from 2001.

The painter also dabbles in sculpture and some of his creations have found pride of place in his alma mater, the Assam Engineering College, the Guwahati stock exchange and the Srimanta Sankardev Kalakshetra.

The artist has also taken up the responsibility of passing on his skill to the younger generation.

?Passing on one?s knowledge to others has an unique satisfaction. Teaching is a two-way process where at times the teacher takes the role of a learner and the student with his individual knowledge teaches many unknown facts to the guru himself,? he feels.

Learning is a never-ending process. I am still striving to learn and whatever I will learn I want to learn with utmost honesty.?

On the scope of an artist in the state, Baruah says, ?To be frank, there is limited scope for artists in the state. But I would suggest artists not to be demoralised by the scenario and create their own space.

?The society and government needs to patronise art and artists equally. Otherwise the collapse of a society and civilisation is unavoidable.?

Along with his artist wife Niva Devi, an alumni of Santiniketan, Baruah has taken full care to remain within the parameters of art.

His home, which is currently undergoing renovation, is an example of innovative architecture at its best.

An artist who loves to follow intermittent pattern of rainfall as far as his working hours are concerned. Baruah paints whenever his inner voice prompts him to forge a link with colours through prefect and precise strokes.