The first rays of the rising sun penetrate through heart of the darkness and make it wind up its existence. With the departing darkness, everyone in the village named Chitrakut escapes to take the sunbath from troubling cold of the winter which is just begun. The village is really beautifully located in the net of captivating hills. It is rich in all its aspects of the Nature. Looking at these aspects of the Nature, one may imagine that Nature in real sense exists here as if this little village is God gifted. The birds in the nest twitter loudly so that the entire Chitrakut would wake up and begin to work. The rivers, streams and the waterfalls which rested in the night begin flowing gently inviting the people of Chitrakut to enjoy swimming in them and their warm beauty. The rain has just departed making everyone smile. The fresh and lush green trees, the bush and plants and the dancing grass revitalized by the rain invite everyone in and out of Chitrakut to dance with them and sing a song of happy life. The green farms have compelled everyone to wear the ornament of smile. The sky is quite clear as the rain has shifted his colony of black veiled people which concealed his beautiful face from the world. It seems that the beautiful sky smiles at its own spotless beauty reflected in the gently flowing water of rivers and rivulets. The waterfall gently falls and flutters as if someone has hung a beautiful faint blue curtain at the top of the hill. Some birds take a huge flight in the air and spread happiness everywhere and inspire everyone to think to fly like them in the sky of never ending dreams. All these living aspects of the Nature make Chitrakut a breathtaking, lovely, cheery and riveting landscape inviting all the lovers of beauty to Chitrakut to mollify their senses ever hungry for delicious food. For the painters it provides constantly changing and rare landscapes for their beauty searching eyes. But despite of these natural wealth, Chitrakut leads an unknown life.
Being distant and geographically ill-located, the world and its inventions like electricity, schools and colleges are yet to rich there. The parents send their children to schools which are some kilometers away from Chitrakut. But the people of Chitrakut are happy with whatever they have and never blame God for what they don’t have. The happy Nature has taught them to be happy in all the times. In such satisfied conditions, lives a family headed by a farmer Shivhar who earns sufficiently from his farming work. Shivhar has a son Ravi studying in the seventh standard. What makes him happy is going to school on foot and capturing as much beauty of nature as possible. Shivhar is very happy that his son Ravi is not bull-headed like him and has keen interest in books. He toils and moils to provide Ravi whatever he demands for his studies. Once it happens that Ravi is attending a drawing class. The drawing teacher asks his pupils to draw a landscape and color it. The teacher is taking a round and going close to everyone to see how everyone is performing. Suddenly the drawing teacher takes a pause at Ravi and gets so much impressed by his painting skills. The teacher moves his fingers through the curly hair of Ravi and gives a pat on his back. The painting is shown to everyone and the Headmaster comes up with special appreciation for Ravi which makes him feel on the top of the air. Thus the drawing class becomes his favorite class. Every day the painting of Ravi is displayed on the notice board which brings a lot of appreciation for Ravi. Looking at the captivating landscapes of Ravi, his drawing teacher predicts, “My loving Ravi, I am sure that one day you will shine on the canvas of the world of Painting.” This appreciation and inspiration from the teacher enhances his inclination and interest in painting. Since then painting becomes his obsession.
Obsession for painting reaches at its zenith when he begins to find painting in everything around him. At home looking at the vegetables and their green and fresh colors, cattle grazing in meadows in an around the village, shepherd playing on flute and the beauty of the sunrise and sunset is always been his attraction and he promptly draws them. Sunday is special day for him. Ravi gets up early in the morning and reaches with his painting tools sometimes to waterfalls in the deep valley or sometimes at the greeneries at the river and rivulets. Thus he begins to communicate with nature and depicts its live and ever changing manifestation in his paintings. Gradually his skills bring him good name fame and recognition in his village. Of and on the neighbors and people in village come to Ravi with their request for drawing either of the portrait of their departed ancestors or some Gods like Ganesha. His father Shivhar becomes extremely happy to see that at an early age his son is growing with good name and fame in the town. But what worries him is the future in this field. He has seen many more summers in his life and knows that what future is there in the field of painting. He is wise enough to understand that the art of Painting either takes its artist to it’s zenith of success or makes him an ordinary artist struggling to survive on his art. There is no doubt that Shivhar is happy at heart that his son is doing well but what strikes him is his excessive passion for art which diverts him from his academics.
Once he calls Ravi and advises him, he needs to study other subjects and doing painting whole day does not mean that he is studying. But Ravi ignores the words of advice of his father. Initially he keeps quiet but when the fever of painting goes overhead and seeing Ravi neglecting his academics, he shouts at him. “Ravi, I don’t like you ignoring my advice. I advised you previously to concentrate on the study of other subjects but you continued with your interest. If you are looking at it as your career, I am sure that one day you would beg and then you would realize my words. Stitch in time saves nine. It is not too late, you begin the study of other subjects and side by side you continue your passion for painting. If you ignore it you would make us suffer and eventually you too.” Ravi does not take it seriously and continues his passion for art. Whole day he gets engaged in the drawing this and drawing that.
On every Sunday, he leaves home early in the morning and visits various natural sites in his village. Sometimes he forgets to take his food as he gets drowned in his art. One day it is evening time, Ravi is drawing a sketch under the dim light of the lantern. Shivhar comes from the field and sees that his son is drawing some sketch. He gets irritated and snatches his pencil and drawing sheet. “You difficult child, why don’t you listen to my advice. Your uncontrolled passion for this trivial art would make all of us beg. Stop your painting otherwise you will have to pay price for what you do.” Shivhar takes away the pencil and drawing sheet and hands over to his wife warning her not to give it to the crazy son unless he asks her. Ravi wants to reply but seeing angry temper of his father, he prefers to be silent. Little Ravi gets frightened by this manifestation of angry father and the way he warned him. He determines that he would not touch the brush unless his father asks him.
In school, he stops attending drawing class and focuses on the study of the other subjects. Sudden change in Ravi disturbs his drawing teacher. One day at the time of interval, the drawing teacher calls Ravi in the staff room and asks him. “Ravi, what is wrong with you? I have been consistently recording your absence at the drawing class. What is the reason? Are you fed up with this art or any other reason is there which prevents you?” Ravi looks down as his eyes are turned watery and controlling the shading tears he says, “It is not the matter of my interest. I want to do it. I can’t live without it also. But sir………” The teacher stops him in the middle and says, “If not yours then whose interest matters? On whose instruction are you going away from the art? Tell me who is he?” Ravi replies, “It’s my father. He says that there is no future for me in painting. It would make them suffer one day.” The drawing teacher gets shocked that such things are told to Ravi. The drawing teacher asks him to go. Meanwhile the drawing teacher meets the Headmaster of the school and conveys the whole matter. Both decide to meet Ravi’s father.
The drawing teacher along with the Headmaster comes to Ravi’s house to convince his father. When they come, Shivhar, Ravi’s father, is working in his field which is at a calling distance from his house. When he gets the message from his wife, he hurriedly comes home and welcomes the guests. The Headmaster of the school says to Ravi’s father, “We have come here to tell you that your son Ravi is an extraordinary artist. If he is given good exposure and freedom to go with his passion, we all are sure that one day he would be a star on the canvas of the world painting. We have realized his caliber and from our side we are doing all that we can to make him achieve his mission. We request you to give him enough freedom at home also so that the art within him will get bloomed. We assure you that his excessive interest in paintings won’t affect his academics.” Shivhar, the poor fellow just goes on listening what the Headmaster says and instead of retorting or questioning further; he prefers to keep mum and mixes his sound with them. The Headmaster and father’s meeting makes the passage smooth for Ravi’s passion for art.
The time goes ahead and with that Ravi also. He completes his matriculation and takes admission for art diploma in nearby city. His skills get further flourished there. Proper conditioning in Art College brings out a genius painter hidden in him. His painting skills make him very popular and thus he becomes the most promising student artist of the college. His ceaseless efforts at art bring out wonderful pieces of painting which he wants to display. With the permission of the Principal of the college, once he organizes his own painting exhibition in his college. It is widely visited by the people of the city and most of the paintings are sold out on the spot. The exhibition gives him financial support and makes him realize that he possess caliber of an international artist. He sets the goal to be an artist of an international fame and creates wonderful masterpieces in art one after another. He successfully completes his diploma and aspires to go to Mumbai; the city which he thinks would complete his dreams. He goes home and tells his father about his achievements and expresses his desire to go to Mumbai for further study.
Shivahar is very happy watching his son climbing the ladder of success. He is ready to do anything and everything possible for such a hardworking and genius son. When Ravi expresses his desire to go to Mumbai for further studies in art of painting, without wasting a single moment, he gives him an oral consent and stands as a strong support in the way of fulfillment of his ambition. Ravi gets admitted in the topmost art college in Mumbai. It is the college visited by the world’s best painters. Every now and then the renowned painter personalities visit the college and guide the students about the paintings. Watching their glory and their luxurious life, Ravi’s passion to be like them gets aggravated. He draws outstanding pieces of painting one after another and excels all the students there and gets immense appreciation from all. Once the institute decides to organize a painting exhibition of its students. To inaugurate this, the world famous painter from Germany is invited. Ravi selects his two paintings which he thinks are very dear to his heart for the painting exhibition. The painting exhibition is inaugurated. Many artists all over India visit this painting exhibition with the intention that they would get the chance to have a talk with the world famous German painter. The guests are observing the paintings displayed and suddenly the world famous German painter takes a pause at the painting of Ravi and gets engrossed in it. The features of the painting are so outstanding that they steal the heart of the painter. All of a sudden he exclaims, “Marvelous! What a painting! What a combination of colors and effects are! What a presentation! I am really lost in seeing it. Who is this painter? Please call him here. I want to see him.” The Principal of the college feels proud and instantly calls Ravi standing nearby. When Ravi comes there, the world famous German Painter gives him a warm handshake and embraces him as if two great painters represent two different ends of the universe are meeting. Looking at Ravi, he says, “My dear young artist, your painting has stolen my heart. You have colored it so nicely that it makes me kiss your lovely hands. I confess it that after a long period of interval, I have got a chance to see such painting which possesses the caliber of being world’s classics in art.” Ravi gets astonished with this appreciation and wants to say a lot but the stream of words gets blocked and with great difficulties he expresses his feelings of gratitude saying, “Thank You Sir. Thank you very much.” The German Painter asks him to meet him after the exhibition.
When he goes to see him, he is having a cup of tea with the other guests in the Principal’s cabin. He conveys his message through a peon to the artist. Meanwhile the other guests disperse and Ravi gets a chance to have free conversation with the German painter. He says, “Ravi, my dear young artist, watching your painting and its potential, I think you deserve to be an international artist. See, there is a world famous art gallery in France which invites paintings from the artists worldwide and announces the masterpiece of the art from them every year. I want you to send your paintings for that, I am sure you will rock.” Ravi gets fascinated by the idea and instantly he conveys his agreement saying, “Sir, thank you very much for the confidence which have shown in my talent. I take your advice very seriously and soon I begin to work on that.” The idea of displaying his painting in the world famous art gallery in France ignites his spirit. He determines that very soon he would begin to work on that ambitious project.
His higher education is going on very smoothly with new creative manifestations of art every day. One day the peon of the college hands over a letter to Ravi. He reads it and comes to know that his father is serious and wants to see him instantly. Ravi packs the bag and leaves for Chitrakut. He meets the father who is suffering from asthma. Ravi wants to take him to the doctor but Shivhar stops him saying that it is of no use now as the disease has crossed its limit. One day at the time of sunset, Shivhar feels difficult to breathe. Ravi sitting by him cannot bear this miserable condition of his father and prepares to shift him to the nearby hospital but before he does it, Shivhar takes the last breath. As a son he completes the ritual of cremation. The house is at mess as it is overcrowded with guests and the visitors.
Sudden departure of father makes him more responsible to himself and his lonely mother. The responsibility of looking after his lonely mother and farm falls on him. He feels frustrated at heart as he knows these domestic responsibilities won’t take him to the desired high flight in the sky of art. His mother has grown physically weak now and is unable to handle the household and farming activities. She wants him to marry so that all things would be at their places. He aspires to be back and completes his education and the most cherished desire but the domestic responsibilities come in his way and thus he gets confined in Chitrakut. Now Chitrakut is not what it was. It is absolutely changed during this long interval. It is transformed into a town having all the facilities. The population has become double or more. As per mother’s wish, he gets married and settles down in Chitrakut as a painter side by side looking after his ancestral farm. Soon he gets blessed with a son and names him Raviraj. His devotion and dedication to his profession makes him very popular as ‘Painter Babu’. Everyone in Chitrakut fondly calls him “Painter Babu’ which pleases him very much. He becomes a commercial painter fulfilling the painting needs of the people in and around Chitrakut. As the earnings from painting increase, he transforms his house into a sufficiently big house where he makes separate and capacious room for his business. There is always crowd of the visitors and customers. His popularity as the painter keeps him full day engaged. He is so busy in his profession and domestic responsibilities that he does not understand how years have slipped out of his hands.
Years pass like that of passing clouds in the sky. But he has not forgotten the enshrined desire to be an artist of international acclaim. It is still burning in one of the dark corners of his heart and waiting to be exposed. Ravi decides to work on his old project. He reserves an hour from his hectic schedule for fulfillment of his long cherished desire. After dinner, he goes in his room and shuts it down and begins to work on his painting to be sent for German gallery. One day his wife Seeta asks him about late night awakening. Then he shares his dream with his wife, “Seeta, I wanted to complete my education and be an artist of international fame. But sudden death of my father spoiled all my desires. I am working on a huge painting of a dancer which I want to send to the world famous art Gallery in France which invites paintings from the worldwide painters and announces a masterpiece from them. In addition to name, fame and recognition, it would give me prosperity” Seeta gets excited with the idea and says, “Go ahead Ravi. My best wishes are with you. Frankly ask if any support is required.” Ravi thanks her and continues his work.
Raviraj his son now studying in tenth follows the footprints of his father. He also takes a keen interest in painting. Whenever he is free, he accompanies his father and keeps watching for hours how his father paints. Seeing his son’s interest in painting, Ravi guides him and tells him all the minute things of this art. Ravi’s fame as a painter crosses the frontiers of Chitrakut and he gets orders from nearby places. Whole day he is engaged in painting. He does not get time to eat. Sometimes he works with hungry stomach. When he finishes his day’s orders, he moves towards his project and till late in the night, he works on that. The painting is about to be finished. With a long canvas, he covers the painting almost six to seven feet high. Whenever he goes out, he warns to his wife Seeta that none should touch the painting.
This hectic schedule has an adverse impact on his health. The burden of work so increases that he becomes incapable to complete the orders in time. It affects his health. One day in the morning, he takes the brush and is about to start day’s orders of the customers, suddenly he finds that his right hand gets trembling and he falls down. Half of his body gets paralyzed. Raviraj takes him immediately to hospital with the help of the neighbours where the doctors declare that he has received a severe attack of paralysis and there is no chance of recovery. Paralysed Ravi is brought home. It is a great shock to the family. Seeta is almost collapsed but looking at young Raviraj, she controls herself. Now she is over burdened with responsibilities. She has to look after the farm, Ravi’s mother and an ever sick husband and studying Raviraj also.
A cot is arranged in one of the rooms where Ravi has kept his painting project. Ravi feels sad over his condition and prefers to be silent. Whenever he looks at his wife, Seeta, tears start rolling down. One day Seeta is sitting beside Ravi and feeding him. Ravi begins to weep. Supporting him she says, “It is inevitable. We are helpless, when the things are not in our hands. In such inevitable and unacceptable circumstances what can you do? I think you should accept the things as they happen to you and learn to be happy with what you are and whatever you have. Learn to accept that you are disabled. If you don’t, you will experience death at every moment of your life.” These words of Seeta empower him and he breaks his silence. “Seeta, how much you have suffered on account of me. It hurts me. I feel that I have wronged you and Raviraj as well.” Suddenly he takes a pause and his eyes are instantly shifted towards the curtain covering his dream painting. He says to Seeta, “What makes me unhappy is not my miserable plight but my unfulfilled dream to complete my dream painting.” Once again he turns silent and gets engrossed in staring at the incomplete painting as if it is communicating something to him.
Once, Ravi is sleeping on the bed. His son Raviraj enters his room and silently tries to uncover the wooden frame and gets pleasantly shocked to see a beautiful incomplete painting of a dancer. He comes back to his mother asks her about the painting. Initially Seeta tries to avoid answering it as it is one of her bitter memories. But when she observes that her son has grown over obstinate and he is not in mood to accept negation, she breaks her silence over the incomplete painting. Listening to the things behind his unfulfilled dream, a desire to do something which would please his father begins to trouble him. When it is noon, he enters his father’s room and finds that his father is engrossed in some deep thinking. He silently goes and sits beside his father and says, “Father, will you do me a favor?” Looking at his humble and ever obedient son who has never demanded anything and never complained about anything so far asks him, “Dear, what favour do you expect from me?” Raviraj feels free and opens the desire which is fluttering in his mind. “Father, I am not a great painter like you. But I have been observing you painting since my childhood. During these long years, I have grasped the techniques and tactics which you apply in your paintings which make it a living one. Yesterday I saw the thing behind that curtain and mother told me about it which has caused a desire in my heart to please you by doing something worthwhile.” Ravi somewhat surprised asks him, “Raviraj, my dear son, what pleasing thing do you want to do for me?” Seeing that his father has become soft, somewhat frank and in jolly mood, he puts his final question, “Will you do me a favor to complete your painting?” Ravi asks him, “How is it possible? How can you add the things which I want in my painting?” “Pappa, you just guide me. I will do exactly as you say. Trust me. I am sure that I can do it as you expect.” Finding that his son has become obstinate and he is quite confident over his expectation, Ravi agrees to allow him to complete his unfinished painting.
The work begins. Raviraj colors the painting as his father guides. He cares that all the gestures and color effects would come in the painting. In month’s time, turning nights into days, Raviraj completes the painting. Ravi sees the final painting and he finds himself in seventh heaven. He calls Raviraj and appreciates him kissing him number of times. In mood of joy and excitement, he calls his wife Seeta. She comes there. Ravi says to her,” Seeta, see what has your son done. He has made my dream come true.” Looking at the completed painting, Seeta gets astonished and exclaims, “Marvelous! Raviraj, you have done a miracle!” Raviraj feels very proud of himself as he made his father smile.
A few days later, he calls Raviraj and asks him to write a letter to the Principal of his Art College in Mumbai inviting him here for some important work. Raviraj writes the letter as desired by his father and posts it. After some days the Principal comes to see him. They talk a lot as they are meeting after a long time. The Principal feels very sorry over the miserable plight of his most promising student. After having lunch, Ravi tells him the purpose of calling him here. He asks Raviraj to uncover the painting. Ravi does it and seeing the painting, Principal gets enthralled for some moments he stares at it and gets lost in its beauty. When he comes out of it, he says to Ravi. “Ravi, What a painting it is! Truly saying, I have never seen such painting in my life. It is really a masterpiece of art.” Raviraj tells him in brief the story behind its completion which makes him give a pat on the back of Raviraj. Ravi humbly requests him, “Sir I want you to send my painting to France for the exhibition and I am sure that you won’t say no. Principal says, “Ravi, you had been our most promising student. We feel very sorry over whatever happened with you. When you were fit you did a lot to enhance the repute of our college. As the Principal of the art college and as an artist, it becomes my prime concern to keep art alive and flourishing in all conditions and motivate the artists to take this art to its glory. Don’t worry, Ravi. I assure you and it’s my promise to you that your painting will go to France.” Ravi feels on the top of the air with this superb affirmation.
Principal takes the painting with him and on the next day he sends the painting to France. The world’s best art gallery has invited the paintings from the artists worldwide as per its years’ tradition. The selection committee is there which consists of the world’s best painters who shortlist the paintings. Out of the shortlisted, they chose one to be honored as the masterpiece in art of that year. The selection committee continues its short listing work of received paintings. One day the Principal receives a mail from the Art Gallery in France that his sent painting is shortlisted for the final round and very soon final round will be conducted which will choose the best among the shortlisted as the masterpiece and the news of it will be broadcast on T.V. on a particular day about which they will be informed very soon. The Principal becomes joyful conveys the message to Ravi. It is a surprise to Ravi and to his family. The Selection committee completes its process and honors’ Ravi’s painting as the masterpiece of the year. Immediately after the declaration of the result, The Principal receives the mail from France with coupons for free airline journey. At 8:00pm on the same, the news of the result of the masterpiece painting of the year is broadcast with the name of Ravi. The family of Ravi sitting at T.V gets astonished on watching the news. Ravi feels rejuvenated as his long cherished dream has come true. He calls Raviraj and embraces and says, “Raviraj, You made me happy.” Raviraj feels overjoyed and silently receives the greetings.
The Principal calls Raviraj on phone and asks him to get ready to go to France for felicitation. The Principal comes to Chitrakut and takes the entire family to France. There felicitation program is organized in a huge auditorium which is replete with the lovers of arts and the audience all over the world. Ravi and his family is invited on the stage and honored and given a cheque of a huge amount. This is the most memorable and euphoric moment in their lives. Their eyes are pleased with warmth of happy tears rolling down on their cheeks. They all experience that their hearts beat faster as if they are dancing. The entire auditorium experiences severe vibrations caused due the huge clapping sound. The anchor of the program hands over the mike to Ravi to express his feelings. Ravi sitting on a chair holds the mike in his left hand. The flood of happily dancing tears block the outlet of his feelings. For a few moments, he silently holds the mike and silences his dancing tears. He begins his talk and narrates the whole story behind the completion of this masterpiece. The whole auditorium experiences the flood of tears in real sense. When Ravi ends the story and thanks to the art and organizers of the gallery which gives him this honour, the whole auditorium stands and gives him and his entire family a standing ovation. The clapping sound in the auditorium is long heard by the family which becomes their most cherished memory.