Drawing dreams, teacher guides students towards art
Since Class 10, Rohit Kumar aspired to be a painter. Now a drawing teacher at Government Girls Senior Secondary School, Bhargo Camp, Jalandhar, he is living that dream — not just for himself, but by inspiring a new generation of student artists. A dedicated educator and accomplished painter, he has spent years nurturing a love for art among his students.
Though he initially wanted to pursue art at Apeejay College of Fine Arts, Jalandhar, financial constraints led him to complete his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in art from Hoshiarpur. Undeterred by limited means, Rohit’s dedication to art has earned him recognition, with several solo and group exhibitions under his belt. Known for his brilliant and dreamy watercolour landscapes, his paintings — often of foggy mountain hamlets, lush greenery and quaint red hill houses — have made a mark in regional art circles. He is also known for beautifying school walls with his art.
He has held three solo exhibitions in Jalandhar and Amritsar and participated in several group shows across the region.
“Just because they are in a government school doesn’t mean students can’t dream. A big artist can come from anywhere — and often does,” says Rohit. “I teach drawing and hope our schools will also produce great painters and artists.”
While his Classes 6 to 8 have batches of 70 students each, the number of students opting for drawing in the senior secondary classes — where it is an optional subject — remains limited. However, under ‘Project Awaz’, an initiative to encourage students to engage in painting, dancing, theatre and other performing arts, Rohit is using every opportunity to expose his students to cultural and artistic experiences.
Even during his free periods, he engages with non-art students, sharing the magic of painting with them.
“If one eats dal every day at home, one gets bored. Variety is the spice of life — and that includes the arts,” says Rohit. “I believe we should even start cultural exchange programmes at the school level, where guest lecturers and artists visit and interact with students.”
Currently, only 15 to 20 students opt for drawing at the senior secondary level. Due to the presence of various vocational courses such as beauty parlour, computers, IT, and security under the National Skills Qualification Framework (NSQF), many students lean towards these more “pragmatic” options. Still, Rohit sees Project Awaz as a promising step toward rekindling interest in the arts.
Jalandhar