|
|
 |
 |
 |
| Saturday, 31 July 2004 |
 |
|
 |
Features | |
| News Business Features Editorial Security Politics World Letters Sports Obituaries
|
Pakistan artist with a penchant for social work by Malini Govinnage Jimmy Engineer, an internationally acclaimed artist and social worker from Pakistan will be here this month to have a series of 'Fun and Food' programs with 'special' children - mentally and physically handicapped, orphans and underprivileged. The programs will be launched in several hotels in Colombo, Kandy and Negombo. Jimmy, who says 'special' children have a special place in his heart, has had many such programs for children in Pakistan, his native land. His venues for such programs have been big hotels in and around the city of Karachchi, where these young people could otherwise never dream of even sighting these places meant only for the privileged few society. The young guests, some of whom have to be wheeled in or led in get a sumptuous treatment with food, entertainment of music and dance, a most memorable day out for any young person. At least for a day they will be away from the austerity of their Homes, orphanages or hostels and allowed to be lavish in their happiness. A day spent in a plush hotel, having a luxurious meal may not exactly be the solution for the miseries in their lives; Jimmy Engineer admits, but this one day will be a ray of sunshine in the dark corners of their lives and, who knows, that one day of happiness will be etched in their memories, bringing a little smile on their faces now and then, he believes. Apart from these programs for special children Jimmy has been engaged in many other crusades in his county, in an effort to help bring peace, equality and respect for human dignity in society. He has led many Walks in aid of a number of causes such as, Creating awareness about human rights and human dignity, highlighting the importance of education, creating awareness of the importance of opening more schools in the country, of the plight of deaf and blind children, highlighting the misery of poor and sick children, and emphasising the importance of asserting the consumer rights. These are only a few in the list of the Causes he has led Walks. The objectives of his numerous walks are centred on a few themes, he says: Promotion of human rights and human dignity, enhancement of quality of human life, and creation of equitable civil society in his country. In the year 2002, (June 13) he did a solo peace walk to create greater awareness about the importance of peace in South Asia region. The walk started at the shrine of Sufi Saint Data Gunj Buksh in Lahore and ended in Wagah border where the tension between India and Pakistan was at its peak at the time. His penchant for social service has not become a hindrance at all for his artistic career. In fact it was mostly the earnings from his paintings that he spend generously on his goodwill projects. He paints a variety of themes - landscapes, still life - cultural and religious - seascapes historical paintings and paintings on the theme of war, and calligraphy. Some of his work depict the 1947 holocaust - the suffering, bloodshed and sacrifices that took place in the birth of Pakistan. These canvases and murals have been exhibited extensively both in Pakistan as well as abroad. Many of his paintings are in private collections in Italy, France, Denmark, Switzerland, Russia, China, Germany, USA and in many other countries. In the few days Jimmy was here on a holiday he has travelled to many places in the country and he says: "I hold many sublime thoughts about the country and its people. In many places I found the statues of the Buddha, with his most compassionate look on His face, as you enter the city of Kandy. You can't fail seeing the colossal white Buddha on a hill top, with that look of compassion pervading the area. This look of compassion cannot be anything other than an inspiration for one's good and kind thoughts and deeds. The island is blessed with His compassion. If the country walk in the footsteps of His teachings it can bring only goodness and nothing else." |
|
News | Business | Features
| Editorial | Security
Produced by Lake House |
