Shades of passion

Roop Takke who started off as a vegetable seller,15 years back to sustain his family of six could not part with his passion for colours. Even though his job demanded a dedicated employee he managed to take out time to sketch the lines on ground. “I used to draw rangolis around my vegetable cart on the road. In free time when customers were not there I did that,” reminisces Rooptakke whose vegetable cart’s distinguishing mark still remains the colourful rangolis. The moment Rooptakke’s cart pulls down at one of the corners of Model Colony,people know the road will be filled with colours in some time. One of the reasons why Rooptakke today is flooded with making rangolis is his continuous touch with the art. “Since I kept on drawing rangolis all the time I practiced it well and mastered the art,” he says.

Today Rooptakke is not just flooded with small time offers from different homes but the prestigious Pandharpur Temple Trust also acknowledges Rooptakke’s skill. “Every year I draw rangoli at the temple as well. Apart from that during festivals I am invited to Satara,Kolhapur and other places to draw Rangolis,” he says.

A year back Rooptakke started coaching classes for kids for rangoli making. at Vadarwadi one of the slums of Model Colony that also happens to be Rooptakke’s home embraced art with rangoli classes. “I wanted to our coming generations to practice this art form. How these vibrant colours relieve you from stress is what I want the people to feel,” smiles Rooptakke.