Children’s story book 'Majhe Vadeel' (My Father) Rajesh at the final stage

Rajesh Vangad - like all Warli artists - paints on walls, paper or canvas, blackened or smeared with dung for green or terracotta for rust red.

The artist was asked to paint a series of pictures depicting a day in his father’s life, as seen by him as a child. There was no story at this point. The series he came up with brought every aspect of the tribal universe to life. From the sun and the moon, to harvest and forests, there is equal space and importance given to every sentient being. Curiously, a tiger kept appearing in his pictures for no apparent reason.

After discussing the larger meaning of his work, a story was woven around his drawings. Since he had never thought of writing neatly or spreading his artistry into script, he took a week to master the art of fine handwriting. Ramesh translated the original story from English to Marathi via Hindi, and wrote the script in the book himself, illustrating between the lines whenever the whim overtook him.

The artist was overjoyed that the preciousness of all living beings, so fundamental to the philosophy of the tribal communities of India to which he belongs, became the central meaning of this work. Along with the development of the story itself, the ‘child’ in the illustrations can be seen growing and learning to understand the basic laws of nature.

A fine bamboo stick dipped in rice paste helps him draw the elegant stick figures that tell his story.