Mangaluru Artist Turns Student Art into School Fundraiser
At 76 years old, veteran artist B Dayananda is on a heartfelt mission. He wants to help a local government school meet its basic needs through the power of art. Dayananda, who founded the Daya School of Arts, has been teaching charcoal painting free of charge to students for nearly four years.
Spotting a Need and Finding a Solution
Dayananda noticed the Sandpit Bengre Government Higher Primary School lacked essential amenities. He decided to take action. The artist put the students' artwork up for sale at a stall during the Kala Parbha art exhibition. His goal is to raise funds by selling these charcoal paintings.
The immediate requirement is an inverter for the school. Dayananda explained this to TOI. He said they hope to raise the necessary funds through the art sale. Works from ten to twelve students were displayed at the exhibition. Each piece carried a price tag of five hundred rupees.
A Lifetime Dedicated to Art and Teaching
Dayananda graduated from the School of Visual Arts back in 1974. He trained under the noted artist Ramdas Shevgoor and also studied at the BGM School of Art. Shevgoor remains his favorite teacher. Dayananda has taught charcoal painting to government school students for almost a decade. His work has reached about five schools, including Kapikad and Gandhinagar.
"The talent government school children possess is amazing," Dayananda said with enthusiasm. "They show so much love and enthusiasm. They look forward to coming and sitting with me."
School Leadership Expresses Gratitude
Umalakshmi K serves as the headmistress of Sandpit Bengre Government Higher Primary School. She confirmed the children have a keen interest in drawing. However, they lack opportunities to learn due to the absence of a dedicated art teacher.
The school has a strength of just seventy-five students. It does not have a drawing teacher. Dayananda has been conducting free classes for the past four years, usually on Saturdays. The headmistress emphasized that the entire initiative was his idea.
She revealed that Dayananda previously contributed funds to the school by selling his own artwork. He realized classrooms become dark during the rainy season. With most work now shifting online, an inverter became an essential item.
If more funds are raised, the money will be used for additional projects. These include building a compound wall and installing a steel basin in the handwash area.
Community Support Sustains the School
The headmistress noted the school sustains itself with support from donors and SDMC members. She expressed humility, saying, "When we see what Dayananda is doing at this age, our contribution feels very small."
The school currently employs three government-appointed teachers. It also has one guest teacher and three teachers sponsored by local residents. This community effort keeps the institution running.
Artist's Personal Passion
Beyond his teaching, Dayananda loves painting portraits of Sri Sri Ravi Shankar Guru. He maintains a vast collection of these works. His dedication to both his art and his students shines through in this meaningful project.
