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Colour wise, food wise
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Discover a new Paresh Maity. Not just great canvases, he can make all kinds of pakodas, chutneys, pickles and egg curry too
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Photo: R.V. MOORTHY
SOMETHING BRIGHT FOR THE PALATE Painter Paresh Maity relishes the mutton varieties at Haveli restaurant in New Delhi's Taj Mahal hotel
When does a cook feel the happiest? Of course, when he is showered with praises for his cooking.. Ask Master Chef Irshad Ahmed Qureshi of Haveli restaurant in New Delhi's beautiful Taj Mahal hotel and of course, the restaurant manager too about such an experience recently. In all likelihood, they will talk of seasoned artist Paresh Maity, who showered both the chef and the manager with flattering remarks after the sumptuous lunch he had at Haveli.
Says Maity, a famous name in Indian art, and surely a synonym for punctuality, "I am really enjoying the wonderful food and the great ambience." Otherwise a reserved sort, Maity, who makes rare public appearances on the Delhi art scene, is currently in the news because of his exhibition of new watercolour creations presented by the Art Alive gallery.
"I am an inaccessible artist, they say. Would you believe, I don't allow even my wife in my studio!" he says, flashing a pearly smile as he sips his orange juice for a starter. As a young boy, Maity was more fond of clay modelling than academics. He would find excuses to run away from studies and, sitting at home in Tamluk, 10 kilometres from Kolkata city, mould images of "Thakur" (the deity).
"I come from a humble background and wasn't always able to afford colours and sketch pens for my paintings. But seeing my passion for art, rich boys from my school (Hamilton House, where Khudi Ram Bose also studied) would give me paper and sketch pens to draw for them," recalls the 45-year-old painter as he relishes bhatti ka murg (roasted chicken kabab) and galaouti kababs (lamb kababs) with the customary green chutney. "These are so good, they melt in the mouth," he switches topics to pass the compliment.
Interestingly, Maity was not the conventional `achiever'. When he was in standard VIII, he appeared for an art competition, he recalls. "When the results came, I stood nowhere as my painting was the worst. I felt shocked and ashamed. It hurt me so much that I made art my passion. I became a total recluse. From the next competition I was the star. I would always stand first or second in all the competitions," reminisces Maity, as mutton biryani with murg bemisal (chicken curry) takes position on the table.
Pakoda man
If Maity was a star in drawing and painting, he claims similar status as a pakoda-maker too. "I promise, I will give up cooking if you say you have tasted better aloo-pakoda, baigun (brinjal) pakoda, onion, gobhi and palak pakodas after you taste mine. And I can also cook a great egg curry. Also, all kinds of chutneys and achaar (pickles). My wife, for whom I generally don't cook, instigates my guests to insist that I make pakodas for them," he smiles.
As the ambience of the restaurant boasting a royal dιcor full of life-size pictures of maharajas, Moghul pottery and regal furniture takes Maity by surprise for its elegance, he decides to stretch his lunch hour with some Dal Haveli with plain naan, which tempts him "with its aroma."
"I relish all non-vegetarian varieties and hate burgers, patties and sandwiches. I like French, Thai and Italian food too. But there is no parallel to ghar ka khana. When I came to Delhi in 1989, I lived alone in Chittaranjan Park. I would regularly come home at 3 in the morning. All dhabas and restaurants by then would be closed. So I would cook on my own. That cultivated in me a habit of cooking without getting hassled," he shares.
Maity, as most in the art fraternity would agree, is not a product of the artificially created hype in today's art market. Much before the hype, he was famous and selling.Even when he was a student in the early 1980s, his works started selling for what was then "a whopping Rs.300". Despite that, his obsession for art didn't get any support at home, so he ran away and made Delhi his dwelling from 1989.
"Since I was selling and getting several awards every year for different shows and competitions, I didn't have problems in getting recognition in the Delhi art circle. By the time I completed my post graduation, I already had 30 solo shows to my credit. At the age of 41, I had done 47 shows!", he smiles as he sums up his meal with a yummy kulfi.
"After a long time I relished ghar jaisa khana outside my home. God bless you," he compliments the staff of the hotel, leaving them with a smile of pride.
RANA SIDDIQUI
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