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"I was born on 13th June, 1945, I belong to village
Thapla, Distt. Almora of Kumao Hills of Uttar Pradesh. My father expired in 1985,
my mother is a housewife. We are five brothers and a sister among all I am the
eldest son. " I was always interested in joining the defense forces and so was
a very fervent NCC cadet, always raring to go. An excellent sportsman and marksman,
I won several prizes and awards.
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In 1970 I joined the Indian Air Force as a Ground Training Instructor and was
posted to Belgaum in Karnataka. On December 16, 1970, while demonstrating somersaults
in gymnastics during the Inter Squadron Sports Meet, I slipped and injured my
neck. I was so shaken, that I did not stop crying for six months.
In
1978, as I was resting, my attention fell on the adjustable table attached to
my bed. The idea of mouth painting struck my mind and I decided to give it a try.
I requested my attendant to give me a pen and paper and attempted to write my
name. I succeeded in holding the pen in my mouth and wrote my name. Elated by
that, I tried to draw a flower and some leaves. | |
A few
months later, I came across a card painted by a mouth artist. I immediately got
to work and procured the address of the International Association of Mouth and
Foot Painting Artists. The association comprises some 700 artists worldwide, who
in most cases are afflicted by different forms of paraplegia and hence use either
their foot or mouth to paint. |
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The director
and staff at the rehabilitation center were very happy to see me paint that first
flower, and asked me to keep it up. That was the turning point in my life. I simply
continued painting. In my desire to paint, I forgot everything else. A keen power
of observation is necessary for an artist and so I spent a lot of time watching
birds, flowers and the surroundings around me. Everyday I worked for about four
to five hours.
No body can teach you painting. The desire has to
come from within you. I have been a member of the association since 1983 and
have been regularly contributing paintings.
In 1992, I went to China
to attend an international mouth and foot painting exhibition. I still relish
the international recognition that I got. It was the happiest day in my life.
Our painting serves as excellent diversional therapy for people like
us. It has also become a profession, and so I will be concentrating on developing
my art further. Painting saved me from dying of depression says Kohli..
I enjoy watching old Hindi movies. Sohrab Modi, Raj Kapoor and Dharmendra
are my favourite stars. I don't like the latest ones, but I like Madhuri Dixit,
Juhi Chawla and Aamir Khan. We organize the trips ourselves and about 40 to 50
inmates go together for these trips. The long journeys do not tire us and we really
enjoy ourselves.
I am happy and my paintings are my life line which
keeps me going ", says Hari Ram Kohli. | |
