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Andhra Pradesh
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Hyderabad
Breathing life into stones
Favourite pastime: J. Dorai Raj who paints on stones. -
HYDERABAD: The expression ‘lifeless as a stone’ loses its meaning as you step into this retired bank manager’s J. Dorairaj’s house. Pebbles of various sizes and shapes can be seen in almost every nook and corner of his house in Lothkunta. From his portico to his living room to his son’s rooms, you see stones, small and big, white and black. But, behind each stone there is a story. His story began in Haridwar in 1975, when he stumbled upon a soft round pebble on the river bank. He collected 40 such stones and since then has collected 500 such stones from various places such as river beds, construction sites and even Egypt. Two months back, his stone collection took a new colour. He started painting his collection (except the ones collected in Hardiwar). What started with the painting of Lord Ganesha on a stone has gone on to become his new found hobby. So far, this 60-year-old has painted over 100 such stones. Bringing to life every stone, he is inspired from people and instances in his life. So, while a set of six stones, represents his ‘card buddies’, another stone is painted to look like a honeycomb. “There was this honeycomb on a tree near my house and that gave me the idea to paint it on a stone,” he says. His interest in stock market is evident when you look at a set of three stones which depict the ‘bear’, the ‘bull’ and the Bombay Stock Exchange.
An avid reader, Mr. Dorairaj hopes to bring to life on his stone scenes from his childhood. “Not many children these days know what village life is like and I want to paint this too,” he says.
“I took voluntary retirement in 2001 and since then have passed the Insurance test and related exams too,” he adds. As he perches on a bar stool in his ‘studio’, with multi-coloured stones around him, you see him bring lifeless stones to life.
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