(M Radha Madhavi)
Today is the 99th birth anniversary of the renowned painter of the century Kondapali Seshagiri Rao. Though there may not be a parallel between him and wanother ‘jewel’ of the nation in painting MF Hussain, Kondapalli too in his own right boasts of his chequered career as a painter and teacher. Moreover, he is truly a proud son of the soil, Telangana.
Kondapalli may not have got the rewards he deserved due to the government’s apathy, yet thousands of his trainee students of the department of Fine Arts in the city-based Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University, certainly remember their ‘guru’ even now as he taught them how to hold a brush.
Many authors, who featured him as an iconic figure of his times, say that his interest in art began early in his childhood when he was encouraged and groomed by his teachers. It is believed that it was a Minister in the erstwhile Nizam rule, Mehdi Nawaz, who reportedly spotted his talent and sent him to Shanti Niketan. History reminds us that Rabindranath Tagore stayed in Mehdi Nawaz Jung’s bungalow in Banjara Hills in Hyderabad on his visit to the city. his clearly explains how ‘talent’ was recognized during those days, irrespective of other considerations.
At Shantiniketan, he is believed to have worked with the famous Nandalal Bose. Later he moved to Hyderabad, to work as Head of the Department of the same Fine Arts College in JNTU, where he took a diploma. Today, his paintings adorn many prominent locations across the globe. Some of those include the Saarjung Museum, Mythri Vanam, Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan in Hyderabad, the Indian Embassy in Washington DC, USA, and Sri Lord Venkateswara Temple in Pittsburg, PA. More than anything, he was also commissioned by the world’s richest temple, Tirumala, the abode of Lord Srinivasa, on Seven Hills, where one could find his painting in the temple precincts.
Family members tell us that during his career he had completed over a thousand masterpieces on a variety of subjects, including mythological stories, epics, and historical events, with oil paintings, murals, and aqua texture paintings. What is more heartening to know is that even after his formal superannuation from the service way back in 1984, he never had a day without holding a brush, till he breathed last in 2012.
All those big names who are in news these days were all his disciples, who opt to lie low as far as publicity is concerned.
Though he received several awards and was recognized the world over, it’s ironic that Telugus know little about this genius. Unlike commercial artists, who are making a fast buck, Seshagiri Rao was a contented man. He never craved for publicity during his heydays. As a recipient of a fellowship from the Lalitha Kala Academy, he completed 16 paintings depicting Kalidasa’s Abhignana Shakuntalam, which incidentally is yet to get published due to funds crunch. His paintings are also exhibited in London, in US, and Moscow, besides in other countries. He was recognized once by the Government of India as the best painter. Kondapalli hails from one of the ‘seats of education’ during the undivided Telugu state or even after bifurcation. The soil is not only known for one of the best paddy varieties but also many stalwarts in different fields of academics. Once he admitted in one of his media interviews that he derived unforgettable joy in his life doing fabulous work at Ramappa temple in his native district. Many might not know that it was he who designed the Telugu Talli statue initially. Just before his demise, it was the Parcha Ranga Rao Memorial Trust which has felicitated him. He is also the proud recipient of the Hamsa award. Interestingly, Seshagiri Rao, who celebrated his 83rd birthday with his family members at his residence in Hyderabad, reportedly promised the state government to set an up state gallery to showcase his work. But that remains an unfulfilled promise. Added to that the artists also wonder why the government which is giving away awards to all other professionals, why not institute an award for the ‘Best painter’ from among those who pursue fine arts as a profession to eke out their livelihood.
