KOCHI: As the saying goes, if you have to achieve something in life, you have to stand on your own legs. Sajay Kumar Pathanapuram makes a literal case for it. With the help of his two strong and flexible legs, he has been sketching and painting portraits ever since. Sajay is one of those strong-willed persons who does not brood over things that are missing in his life but shows people how to live with the gifts one has. Hence his physical deformity does not depress him beyond a point. “God has given me two wonderful legs which is more than enough for me. There are people in the world who are more unfortunate,” says Sajay, with profound optimism.Right since childhood, Sajay showed an artistic inclination. Rather than concentrating on academics, he found himself drawing portraits of people and animal figures in class. “When I was in Std 1 in St Stephen’s Higher Secondary School I used to draw with pencil and pen. I was also not very interested in studies,” says Sajay. His talent was first discovered by his class XII English teacher. This prompted him to go and pursue a degree in BFA from Raja Ravi Varma College of Fine Arts in Mavelikkara. “Even though my family was not that encouraging initially with my decision to become an artist, they never stopped me from learning art,” says this 24 year old young artist who is currently doing MFA from RLV College of Music and Fine Arts Tripunithura.The inspiration to break free for Sajay came from a parrot. “The image of the bird reminded me of myself. I decided then that I do not want to be caged like the parrot but wanted to fly to the unbound horizons,” says Sajay who came all the way to study in Kochi from Pattazhi, Kollam. “My mother still cries over the phone as I am alone here. She could not accept my decision to live without anyone’s help. But I stood my ground to come down to Kochi. I realised that at some point of time we are all alone,” he says.It was during his graduation that Sajal got the chance to socialise with people and observe that there were people with miseries greater than his own. “While studying in Mavelikkara, I stayed in Jyotis an institution where special children were taken care of. Seeing those kids I thanked God that I am lucky compared to them. I have not faced the challenges that those kids had to encounter. And seeing their lives, my perspective on my own condition became more positive,” says Sajal who wishes to conduct a solo exhibition soon. “I want to bring in my own style to my paintings. A style that is not followed by anyone else in the art world,” he adds.
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