Imagine a vibrant coming-together where city life embraced rural charm, all through the universal language of art. That’s exactly what happened when bright young minds from across Bengal gathered for a special workshop, eager to connect and learn from one another.
Just last Friday, a group of senior students from Kolkata’s prestigious La Martiniere for Boys school ventured to Konedoba, a Santhal-majority village in Jhargram district. There, they spent the day transforming a wall, brushstroke by brushstroke, alongside the local children. This charming settlement is fast becoming a recognized hub for artistic expression.
Their collective masterpiece took the shape of an infinity symbol: on one side of this endless ‘8’, the village youngsters poured their creativity into imagining a bustling city, while on the other, their city counterparts brought their perceptions of serene village life to vibrant existence.
Artist Mrinal Mandal, reflecting on the workshop aptly named ‘The Traversal,’ shared his observations: “Here we had students from privileged, English-medium schools engaging with children from a developing village, all painting on the same canvas. The moment they started creating together, any sense of difference — be it economic background or social standing — simply vanished. Art truly has a way of unifying us all.”
Approximately 20 boys from La Martiniere, spanning Grades 8 to 12, joined forces with nearly 50 local children from Konedoba. “We prepared an infinity symbol on a wall,” Mandal explained. “The city boys then depicted their vision of a village, while the village children painted their ideas of a city. This initiative is more than just art; it’s a vital exchange that helps dissolve social and economic barriers.”
Mr. Mandal, an alumnus of Kolkata’s esteemed Government Arts College, has dedicated himself to community art since 2018, residing in Jhargram’s villages. He successfully transformed Lalbazar into a thriving art hub and is now extending this impactful work to Konedoba, just seven kilometers away. Both these inspiring projects are championed by the Chalchitra Academy, a Kolkata-based collective where Mandal serves as a founding member.
The visiting teachers from Kolkata expressed their delight to the Chalchitra Academy, calling their trip to ‘Khwaabgaon’ (the ‘dream village,’ as these transformed settlements are affectionately known) a “wonderful experience.” They remarked, “Our students truly flourished, exploring their creativity through painting and art under your exceptional guidance. The interactive session and the unique opportunity to paint directly on the wall made this visit unforgettable.”