Dal Lama, an alleged drug trafficking defaulter has spent a decade painting the walls of Asia's largest prison with his serene Buddhas and inviting landscapes. He tells FYI he's glad his art travels to shows abroad even though he can't
Dal Lama, an alleged drug trafficking defaulter has spent a decade painting the walls of Asia's largest prison with his serene Buddhas and inviting landscapes. He tellsu00a0FYI he's glad his art travels to shows abroad even though he can't
Thankfully, some jailbirds don't undervalue their wings. They flap them free for all to feel life's beauty, and when it's finally time to fly away, it's they who are prepared, and the prison isn't. Dal Lama, an inmate of the Tihar Central Prison is a 29 year-old remanded to custody 10 years ago in a case of drug trafficking.
He set his soul free in the lock-up. It was art that did it for Dal. Today, gigantic Buddha paintings on the towering walls of Tihar tell the story of his enlightenment, and lyrical landscapes make his co-dwellers dream of another day in paradise. His art has travelled across the world, even as he stays shut from it.
Six months later, the story will be different. FYI entered Jail No. 4 to settle for a talk over tea with Lama.
Your name bears an uncanny resemblance to the Dalai Lama. Have you felt like a messiah?
I don't know. Maybe. I believe in the Buddha.
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Did you start painting in prison?
Yes. Lamas are born artists, they say. I just felt like doing it.
When was the first time you drew something after entering Tihar?
That was seven years ago. Initially, a teacher from Pusa used to guide me. Then, the jail authorities provided me with paints and brushes. Theu00a0 passion never faded.
Has art set you free?
May be, my soul. I think it's my calling. When I'm painting, I'm not thinking. It comes on its own, and doesn't tire me. It's a wonderful way of keeping busy and reflecting. In some ways, it also feels like redemption.
Which artists do you look up to?
The non-conformists and dreamers, like Raja Ravi Varma and AS Bullar. I draw inspiration from Western classical artists like Michelangelo, too.
Your favourite subjects?
Landscapes. I think of being at the place when I'm drawing it. I draw solace from it. And I enjoy drawing the Buddha. Whenever my friends see my Buddhas, they say they experience peace and hope.
Which medium makes you happier the walls of your current home, or the canvas?
Both. Doing the walls takes about a week, if I paint for around three to five hours a day; doing it on canvas is much quicker. I like concentrating on the details the birds, the leaves and flowing water, for instance.
Does it bother you that your work has travelled to shows in London, and you can't?
No. The jail authorities are kind. I get to keep 25% of the profit they earn from the sales. It is directed towards the Prisoner Welfare Fund. I'm happy with those
savings.
Has your family seen your art?
My grandfather used to paint when I was a child, but I wasn't interested those days. Today, of course, most of my family, which is in Nepal, has cut off ties with me. But now I have a new family here. Once I'm out, I will begin afresh, with no strings attached to the past.
Have you considered taking up painting full-time?
It's tough to gain a footing in the commercial circle; I won't earn much. Here, they (the authorities) do everything. It won't be easy to sell art otherwise. But I'll give it a thought.
But there are thousands of struggling painters, and you are the only one who gets to dress up the walls of the largest prison in Asia. Doesn't that give you confidence?
It feels like an honour. My sentence will hopefully end in six months, and I will miss all this. The jail taught me to find joy in a God-given gift, and find freedom from negativity in a place that's supposed to be all about sin.
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