My Artistic Journey: From a Village Student to a Devotee of Lord Jagannath through Art

Jyotiranjan Gudia standing with his painting.

When I got admitted to Class 3 at UGME School in Kudumulugumma, there was no hostel facility available for me. As a result, I had to travel from my home to school and back every day. My father went to Kudumulugumma to find a tutor for me and arranged for tuition classes. However, since I couldn’t stay there, he spoke to the Headmaster of my school and asked if I could stay with one of our relatives who was already working there. I continued my studies at that school but never ate the hostel food provided there. Every day after school at around 4 PM, I would ride my bicycle home, eat there, attend tuition classes and return to the hostel with my dinner packed in a tiffin carrier. I used to eat my homemade food sitting with the hostel kids, while they ate the food served to them.

I lived like that for three years.

When I was in Class 5, I used to take a mat with me every day to sit for tuition under Maheswara Maharana Sir. One day, I forgot to bring my mat and asked my classmate Tulabati Khila if I could sit on hers. She refused. So, I took her mat and wrote "Maharana Sir" beautifully in English on it. When Sir arrived and saw the beautifully written name, he asked everyone who had done it. Everyone said it was me Jyotiranjan Gudia. That day, Sir told me, “I will bring you some paints and you will write inspiring quotes in beautiful handwriting on every wall of the school.” From that day, Sir developed a deep fondness for me. Along with writing moral quotes on the school walls, he also encouraged me to start painting. However, the wife of the Headmaster would send me every day to graze their cow. Because of this, I started missing important lessons like Mathematics and Science. While others were progressing in class, I was left behind, spending my time grazing cattle instead of learning. One day I realized that this was hindering my education. I gathered the courage and politely told them I wouldn't be able to do those tasks anymore. As a result, they asked me to leave the hostel.

Maheshwara Maharana Sir, UGME School, Kudumulugumma

So once again, I started commuting from home to school by bicycle. Maharana Sir noticed all of this. Impressed by my courage and passion for art, he asked me to stay with him. I lived with him for three years. He not only taught me but also cooked food for both of us. When I completed Class 7, Sir asked me to continue living with him until I finished Class 10. I agreed. After passing my 10th-grade exams, I got admitted to KISS, Bhubaneswar, for my +2 education. When I completed my +3 studies and returned home, I created a painting of Lord Jagannath and gifted it to Sir as a token of my gratitude.

Jyotiranjan Gudia standing with Lord Jagannath Temple painting in 2017 at KISS.

The painting shown in the images is of the famous Jagannath Temple in Puri, Odisha, with the divine trio Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra and Subhadra vividly depicted in the foreground. The rich colors and intricate detailing in the artwork reflect the deep devotion and artistic growth I have experienced over the years. I signed the artwork under the name Jyoti Art Kiss, a tribute to my time at KISS and the journey that began in a small village school.