The Official Painter of Tiruchirappally Railway Division

By Shafeeq Alingal  25th April 2016 06:58 AM

KOCHI: This year’s Railway Week observance has brought cheers to Sunil Kumar P, a young painter from Peruvayal in Kozhikode. Sunil Kumar, who is working as painter at Lalgudi railway station under Tiruchirappally division, has won the best painter award instituted by the Divisional Railway Manager.

Thirty-two-year old Anil Kumar was selected for the award after his paintings received accolades from Railway officers. Recently, the illustration of Tiruchirappally railway station by Anil Kumar was placed as cover photo of the official Twitter account of the Minister. Tiruchirappally railway station is considered to be one of the heritage buildings of Southern Railway. Besides, he was appreciated by Union Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu for painting his portrait. “It was really surprising when I came to hear from the senior officials that the Minister’s office used that portrait to greet Republic Day wishes,” said Anil Kumar.

The graduate in Botany from St Joseph’s College, Devagiri, joined Railways in 2013 as gang man after completing his Diploma in Applied Art. This D Grade employee cleared the departmental test for painter in 2015. Now, he is the official painter, whom the Tiruchirappally Division has entrusted all jobs ranging from board painting to designing buildings. “Fate had a positive turn. Now I can enjoy all the privileges of being an official painter,” he said.

Sunil Kumar expresses his gratitude to the public relations officer of Palakkad Division, K Gopinath. “When I joined at Tiruchirappally, Gopinath was working as public relations officer there. He kept prompting me to draw more and helped me to exhibit my talent before the higher officers,” Sunil Kumar said. The young artist’s major highlight is the ability to draw sketches within minutes. Sunil Kumar always carries papers, sketches and pencils with him. The artist, hailing from a financially backward family, is well aware of the budding artists around him. “I found it tough to make both ends meet as a student. There are plenty of budding artists in need of help and support,” he said.

Sunil Kumar is now planning free training camps for students in anganwadis across Kozhikode.