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Gandhi’s mural by Brazilian artist adorns Churchgate station building

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Mumbai, Nov 14 (IANS) A gigantic multicoloured mural, depicting Mahatma Gandhi alighting from a train at a railway station in the 1940s, went on display at the iconic Churchgate station building, earning praise from millions of daily Western Railway commuters.

The permanent mural, sponsored by Asian Paints Ltd as part of its CSR activities, has been painted by renowned Brazilian artist Eduardo Kobra and his team of 52 associates and technicians over 18 days. It was completed last Friday.

It is an adaption of a photograph of Mahatma Gandhi at the railway station in the early 1940s clicked by Kulwant Roy which is now owned by Aditya Arya Archive and India Photo Archive, said Western Railway (WR) spokesperson Ravinder Bhakar.

The mural stands an imposing 81 feet tall and 54 feet wide, showing Mahatma Gandhi preparing to deboard a train that has just chugged in at a railway station sometime in the 1940s at the height of the Indian freedom struggle when the railways and its stations played an important role in spreading word of the independence movement.

“The mural aims to use the power of public art to create a dialogue and join people under a positive message of peace. WR’s Mumbai Division accorded the proposal of Asian Paints in collaboration with St+Art India Foundation for beautification of exterior facade of the Churchgate station, which is also the headquarters of WR,” said Bhakar.

The mural weaves together one of the most iconic leaders of India’s freedom movement who is also revered around the world as the “Apostle of Peace” on the facade of one of Mumbai’s oldest railway stations.

The commuting millions using the station daily get a glimpse of the marvelous creations of quirky, colourful murals and graffiti and the artwork commands attention to the painting on the wall, he added.

Kobra, known worldwide for his photorealistic portraits, rich in colour and geometric kaleidoscopic shapes, pays tributes to historical leaders in the name of peace, thereby creating memorable landmarks in different cities globally since the past decade.

Recognised as a master in creating landmarks thanks to his impeccable technique and power of images, he frames images which are symbols of a country for its citizens and the rest of the world.

Among Kobra’s most celebrated pieces of gigantic artwork include the portraits of Oscar Niemeyer in Sao Paolo, Albert Einstein and Mother Teresa in Los Angeles, “Kiss” in Times Square, New York.

Along with his team, he created the Guinness World Record for the largest spray painted mural “Etnias” for the 2016 Rio Olympics.

Kobra, two associates and a technical team of 50, spent 18 days till November 10 to transform Churchgate station building, a landmark for the city, and through the mural, elevating it to an iconic site of art for the world.

–IANS
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Foodman Vishal Singh Honored for Hunger Free World Mission in Bangkok

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Lucknow: Vishal Singh, a renowned social worker from Lucknow, also known as Foodman, has once again made India proud. He was honored by the Happy Hands Gloves Cooperative Limited Company in Korathai, Thailand, for his work with the Hunger Free World Mission.

The Hunger Free World Mission’s meeting was held in Korathai, Thailand, under Vishal Singh’s leadership. Representatives from several countries, including Mr. Raja Dwivedi (Managing Director of Happy Hands Gloves Limited), Thailand Coordinator Mr. Raja Mishra, and member Mr. Varun Singh, attended the event.

Under Vishal Singh’s leadership, the attendees took a pledge to work together toward creating a hunger-free world.

Speaking on the occasion, Vishal Singh explained that the main goal of the Hunger Free World Mission is social participation. He said the mission is not just about feeding people but also about meeting other basic needs of those who are struggling. The mission focuses on helping families of terminally ill patients in hospitals by providing food and shelter. It also works to fulfill essential needs like education, jobs, and care for the elderly.

For the last 16 years, the Vijay Sri Foundation has been providing free services, benefiting thousands of people. Vishal Singh highlighted that the mission aims to gain global recognition like other organizations such as WHO, WWF, and Red Cross, which work for social causes.

During this meeting, Vishal Singh was appointed as the Chairman of the Hunger Free World Mission by representatives from various countries. They also discussed holding regular meetings in different countries to push the mission forward.

Business tycoon Dr. Abhishek Verma has also supported this humanitarian mission, vowing to promote the idea of “Seva Parmo Dharma” (Service is the highest duty) worldwide. Vishal Singh praised him, stating that people like Dr .Abhishek Verma inspire others to work for the betterment of society.

Recently, Romania’s Ambassador, Mr . Daniela Sezonov Ţane, invited Vishal Singh to the Romanian Embassy in Delhi, where they discussed the mission in detail. Impressed by his humanitarian work, she honored Vishal Singh and invited him to Romania to take the mission forward .

Food man Vishal Singh has been serving the people of India for the past 16 years. Through the Vijay Sri Foundation, he provides free meals to cancer patients & their families ,shelter, and education for women & children along with running free old-age homes in Lucknow.

In addition to his humanitarian work, Vishal Singh also addresses issues like crime and corruption through his role as Chairman of Seva Path Media and Managing Director of Vijay Sri Foundation.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Vishal Singh and his team worked tirelessly to provide food and help to the needy, including starving children, elderly citizens, and pregnant women. Despite contracting the virus himself, he continued to assist others after his recovery. He even created a life-saving oxygen regulator using household items, which was praised by doctors both in India and abroad.

In his address at the meeting, Vishal Singh spoke about his mission to create a hunger-free world. He pointed out that India’s large population, along with issues like unemployment and poverty, has caused the country to fall on the Hunger Index. He urged people to contribute just one handful of grains daily to help create a hunger-free world.

He concluded by saying that through social participation, we can empower the people around us, meet their basic needs, and work together to build a stronger, more prosperous, and developed society.

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