Jamshedpur-based artist, Ashim Poddar, was recently honoured by Ratan Tata, former Chairman of Tata Sons, who was moved after seeing one of his paintings. The painting, which went viral across India, depicts Poddar paying homage to the company’s founder, JN Tata. After seeing the painting in Kolaba, Mumbai last week, Tata reached out to Poddar to invite him to his Mumbai home where he praised the artist for his work, describing the emotion it had evoked in him.
Poddar, who has been an artist since childhood, was thrilled to meet his hero, a man he has admired for his simplicity and values. He said, Ratan Tata is rich in his simple nature, the love, and respect he gave me, as well as the encouragement he gave me, for which I will always be indebted to him.
The artist’s painting has won acclaim from several others too, including actor Sonu Sood, who called Poddar to Mumbai to congratulate him on a painting he had made of Sood, which had garnered widespread attention.
Poddar has attained nationwide recognition for his paintings, with people from across the country and overseas buying his artwork for several lakhs of rupees through online channels.
With a bright future ahead of him, Poddar is a shining example of how passion and talent can lead to recognition from the most renowned figures, even for a small-town artist. We wish him all the best for his future endeavours.
