Ganpati specialist

The 46-year-old,serving in the police department for the past 22 years,has kept his passion for painting alive and finds contentment in painting the city’s favourite deity. A resident of Curry Road,Vichare has been painting for the past 28 years and is among the few artists whose idols have lively eyes. “For me,the eyes are the most important part of an idol. They could make the deity look alive. It has been my passion and motivation to paint the eyes of Ganesh idols. After my duty hours,I come to the Maya Nagar workshop in Byculla and paints Ganesh Idols through the night,” he says.

Vichare had not received any formal training in painting. “I loved painting since I was a kid,but had no guidance. Six years ago,I applied to the Rachna Sansad College for Fine Arts and got a degree,” the BCom graduate says. “I have been painting these idols since I was a kid and each Ganpati festival,I paint over 300 idols a day,” the father of two girls adds.

Many Ganpati mandals call Vichare to paint their idols. “I have been painting the idols of Ganesh Galli,Khetwadi and Byculla mandals for 12 years now. I have to wrap up my works a month before the Ganesh festival and rush to the mandals. I take my set of 156 brushes and a bag full of paints along. Every year I have a theme colour,and this year it’s blue.”

Vichare has painted even 28-ft high Ganpati idols. He was the recipient of the DG Medal in 2009 and has been nominated for the President’s award four times in the ten years.

He has also been invited to houses of people for painting idols. “I don’t take fees for the painting,but have received priceless gifts. Someone had given me a currency coin from the British era some five years ago,and its my most dear gift.”

Ask him how long he will continue to do this. The answer comes with a wink — “As long as Ganpati wants me to.”