Winston Churchill said that I am willing to meet my MAKER but whether my MAKER is willing to face the ordeal of meeting me is a different matter altogether…

Shehla Masood had the same belief and the same spirit, she lived by it and she died believing it, that I’ll do my job, so be it that I have to meet my MAKER, be it for environment, wild life conservation, RTI, Police high handedness, corruption and all such issues that plague Indian society and common people like you & I. And being close to her, I know for sure that her MAKER is having a tough time because she will, in her after life, will still be tenacious to ask probing questions to her MAKER… Read the rest of this entry »

“Shalu Appi”, that’s how i have known her and that’s how some of us in our ‘little’ friend circle have known her. I have known her as a guide, mentor, a great friend and as an awesome cook in telephonic conversations with my friend Rajil when he used to cook for all of us almost every night and in every party. Man… those were the days.

We use to jump in and out, break things apart, argue, get into fights, crack jokes and cry with loud music in the background and we would be the most decent and adorable lads for two minutes when neighbors came to complain. And when we got hungry?, everyone in the room knew that it was the time to call our master chef “Shalu Appi” for her magical recipe, Mutton Korma. We would behave like good kids, wouldn’t make noise and would listen to her instructions carefully on speakerphone. We all would try and contribute as much as we could to cook it as soon as possible and would get slapped with “patience” through that speakerphone. Yupp, patience along with it’s ingredients and ‘khada masala’ is the key to Shalu Appi’s deliciously finger licking Mutton Korma. …and i guess you know rest of the story.

Appi..ek problem ho gayi hai….Appi yaar kuch paise chahiye.. Appi…zara der ke liye aapki gaadi le ja raha hu…Iss ek problem ka matlab kisi bhi tareh ki chhoti ya badi musibat hua karti thi..un kuch paise ka matlab kitne hi rupye mang liye jaate thae aur kuch der ka matlab kayi din bhi ho sakte thae…..Shalu Appi..bachpan se ye lafz mere liye ek behisab taqat …ek behad mazboot sahara raha hai….kal se khud ko iss baat ka yaqin dinlane ki koshish kar raha hu ki ab zindagi me na kabhi koi problem ayegi aur na hi paise ya gaadi ki zaroorat hogi…Appi ye kaise ho sakta hai ki ab ke baar me jab aapko pukarunga..koi jawab nahi ayega…….Shalu appi ne hamesha logo ki madad kari..logo ke liye ladti rahi..corrupt logo aur system ke khilaf…aur aksar hi aise logo ko jab rokna mushkil hota hai..to khamosh kar diya jata hai…dosto kal meri badi behen RIP shehla Masood ki awaaz hamesha ke liye band kar di gayi..unke liye duya karein..allah unhe maghfirat de… via Rajil Zaidy

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I came across Prabal’s artwork on Facebook through a friend’s comment on it and i ended up browsing his entire artwork catalogue and we ended up being friends for life. He is an engineer by profession, a drumist by heart and an artist by soul. It is indeed an honor to write about Prabal, his take on arts and journey so far as an artist, ohh sorry, as a painter rather (this is what he would like to be called).

1. So, who is Prabal Mallick and where is he from?

Everyday I discover a little about who Prabal Mallick really is. But one thing for sure you give him a little love and you get back a whole lot of it. Prabal was born and brought up in different parts of Orissa (now Odisha). His formative years were spent at RIMC (Rashtriya Indian Military College), Dehradun. Then he went on to do his engineering at IIT, Kharagpur. From there he came to Bangalore to stand on his own two feet and is just about managing till now (He works as a engineer). By the way someone told me that he also played drums for a local (Bangalore) Fusion/Rock band for sometime and just swears by watercolors.

2. Do you always wanted to be an artist or there is a story behind it?

Well I do not consider myself as an artist, though I think I am somewhat of a painter. I started painting when I was a child. I don’t really remember when. And since then I have been on and off it. About three years back there was a sudden surge of inspiration and since then I have been just into it. And probably there is a realization there somewhere in my subconscious now that this is what I always wanted to be doing (for a living or otherwise).

3. When did you first paint and what was it?

As I said I really don’t remember. But what I remember is that I used to keep drawing on floor and walls and then one day my father bought me some paints and brushes and as they say, rest is history.

4. What is Art to Prabal Mallick?

I read an art quote somewhere. ‘Life beats down and crushes the soul and art reminds that you have one’. I think this quote more or less expresses what I feel about art in the context of society. And in an artist’s context I think its a path of self discovery.

Prabal also has a great sense of humor, a light hearted man and a firm believer in Karma. This is what he said when i called him ‘The Man’ on accepting to write for this interview on such a short notice.

No no please dont call me the MAN.. Just joking.. Actually I was reminded of this movie ‘School of Rock’ where jack Black says these famous lines…
‘The Man. Oh, you don’t the Man? The Man is everywhere. In the White House, down the hall, MRS. MULLINS, she’s the Man. And the Man ruined the ozone, and he’s burning down the Amazon, and he kidnapped Shamu and put her in a chlorine tank! And there used to be a way to stick it to The Man. It was called rock ‘n’ roll. But guess what. Oh, no. The Man ruined that too with a little thing called MTV!”

5. What do you feel when you paint, can you explain that feeling in detail?

Elation, Peace, despair, anger, hope, thrill, disappointment, hope again. elation all over again….. It is like a roller coaster ride, happening in a different world to which I am transported when I paint.
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