Students etch history with dots on seven-foot-long sheet

A brainchild of Shoeb Narmawala,the school’s art teacher,the project began in 2004 and since then there has been no end to adding on to the dots.

“Making pictures using dots and that too using water colour is not an easy task,especially for the beginners. It needs a lot of patience and this is exactly why I had started this project. Some try to put bigger dots,while others make minute dots and bring perfection to their work,” said Narmawala.

The students had begun the project with the Mughal period and chronicled events up to the Indian freedom movement,and major news events like Kargil War,Cricket World Cup,Bollywood,major natural calamities,as also Indian festivals.

“Students from Class VIII to XII have pitched in with their contribution. They generally work when they have a free period or some times even come on Sundays and holidays to complete their part. Every student keeps a count of the dots and the half completed sheet gives a boost to the younger students,” said Narmawala,who will be awarded by the Lalit Kala Academy for one of his paintings next month.

Most of the students are from the slum areas near Nagarwada and Narmawala feels the paintings are an inspiration to them. “Every year many of my students participate in the art competition and many of them also win them. Most of these students are from the corporation schools and colours and panting is very new to them,” he added.

Sunaif Saiyad a Class XII student said,“I was in Class IX when I did a part of the painting.”

The seven-foot-long sheet is almost nearing completion,but the students don’t want it to end. “We will add more sheets to it and keep the legacy alive,” said Narmawala.