Loknath’s banners on display at Utkal University in Bhubaneswar. Telegraph pictures

Bhubaneswar, April 19: Loknath Jagat, the official “poster boy” of Utkal University, has been painting cool banners for the annual events of different departments of the varsity for the past five years.

Loknath, a law student who is fondly known as Lokesh, had started by making a banner for his friends. He was pursuing a master’s degree in public administration then. “One of my friends, who was the president of the university students’ union at that time, had asked for an unconventional and striking theme for his department’s annual function. I volunteered to help and he instantly agreed,” Loknath said.

He rushed to the market to buy a thick black cloth, fabric colours and paintbrushes. A few hours later, he had finished painting a pair of peacocks in the act of preening. “I named it Laissez Faire, which means unrestricted freedom. The pair of peacocks symbolised that freedom,” he said.

His first assignment drew wide applause from students and teachers and he received a cheque for Rs 1,500. Enthused by the response, he painted a huge banner on a “dream angel” for his own department (public administration). Soon, he was flooded with requests from friends and juniors in other departments.

Nowadays, Loknath not only design and paint, but also hands out tips on the overall decoration of the varsity’s cultural programmes and activities.

“Though students take the help of professionals for an event, they keep me in the loop,” he said, adding that he had even choreographed dance recitals for the department’s functions.

He achieved a new high when he made the banner for the MBA department’s annual bash last week on the Halloween theme. “Until now, I had been concentrating more on traditional designs. But, Halloween was a completely new subject and quite challenging. The MBA students appreciated it a lot,” he said.

Loknath might not be paid for every assignment that he takes up, but the satisfaction that he gets from being immersed in a world of colours is what matters to him the most. “At times, the students provide the necessary painting material to me. However, payment is not an issue. Painting is my passion and I don’t want to attach a price tag to it,” he said.

Loknath is now preparing for the civil service examinations, but makes it a point to devote at least a couple of hours to his passion everyday. “Once I start working, I might not find enough time to paint. As long as I am a student here, I will take up whichever assignment comes my way. The university has provided me the perfect platform to indulge my interest,” he signed off.