Picture perfect

When the postman rings the doorbell to deliver a postcard from B.A. Kalyankar, he usually sees the same reaction on the faces of the reci...

When the postman rings the doorbell to deliver a postcard from B.A. Kalyankar, he usually sees the same reaction on the faces of the recipient 8211; a delighted smile! The reason for that smile lies at the back of the postcard, which contains not just a finely handwritten letter but also an attractive illustration.

What8217;s more, the illustration always pertains to the subject of the letter. So when a friend is about to go on a much-awaited trip to Nepal, Kalyankar will get out his box of water colours, his postcard and his drawing board. With quick, deft strokes, he will draw the famous Pashupatinath temple and despatch a prompt message of good luck. If his grandson8217;s examinations are drawing near, then a quick good luck card of a pen and paper is sure to find its way to him.

In these days of quick communication, when friends and relatives are just a telephone or an e-mail away, what prompts this 75-year-old artist to spend time and thought over a small postcard? 8220;I started to paint as a hobby in my younger days,8221; says Kalyankar, who thought it would be a good idea to combine his love for writing letters with his hobby. 8220;There is so much we can express through a letter while a lot of things remain unsaid in a telephone conversation.8221;

That a true artist can find creative expression on any canvas, even the limited space of a postcard, is amply demonstrated in Kalyankar8217;s case. Kalyankar8217;s illustrations speak their own language 8211; an evening scene with just two figures walking into the sunset, a branch bent with the weight of brown leaves, a bunch of colourful flowers against a plain background 8211; all evoking a different mood. In fact, his illustrations bear such a strong resemblance to printed postcards that a few years ago he found that those who received his cards had to pay an extra charge. So he even designed a stamp with the words indicating that the matter was not printed but hand-drawn!

Kalyankar, who retired as a gazetted officer from the Meteorological Office, recounts how he also owed his job to his ability to wield the brush. 8220;In 1947, when I had applied to the Meteorological Office for a job, the then chief, one Venkatesan, discovered my aptitude for painting and asked me to draw his portrait. He was so pleased with the result that he hired me at once.

8220;I take about half an hour or so,8221; says Kalyankar. A dedicated letter writer, he makes a careful note of birthdays, anniversaries, examinations and such occasions in a little diary. This hobby has earned him many admirers and friends. 8220;They display the postcards that I have sent them in their showcase,8221; says a happy Kalyankar.

As indeed are those lucky enough to be included in Kalyankar8217;s little black book.