After a long, fruitful innings in academics, a mineralogist-turned administrator has taken to painting to express his experiences and ideas about the society.

Retired VC of B S Abdur Rahman University, Chennai, and of the Kashmir University and Pondicherry University, Jalees Ahmed Khan Tareen, a Geologist with specialisation in Mineralogy, has been painting for the past six months to give an apt expression to his creativity. He has so far painted around 75 paintings and hopes to complete at least 100 artworks before exhibiting them either in the last week of June or first week of July.

“I lost my father at the age of seven. We had to leave our native Hampapura in K R Nagar taluk and shift closer to our grandfather’s house in Mysuru. Whatever I am today is due to the efforts and care of my mother. She took care of the whole family, all my brothers and sisters. Most of my paintings thus, revolve around women, particularly a mother,” he said.

“If a woman is not educated, half the community is lost. So, education is vital for women. A man’s education follows,” he said.

His paintings touch almost all aspects of life, human relationships, struggles in life, science and technology, literature, art and culture. Showing a painting, which depicts a couple of cows, he said, cows are an integral part of our lives. “Right from the birth of a child, when babies are fed with cow milk as an additional food supplement, cows play a major role in the lives of the people,” he explained.

Defining ‘painting’ as a very effective means of communication, Tareen said, the artist in him would have helped him transform into an administrator from an academician. “Long back, I had painted the evolution of Science on a 12X4 canvas in 1973 which now adorns the wall at the entrance of the Earth Sciences department in Manasagangothri, University of Mysore. Later, I could not pursue my passion due to various reasons. I retired in May 2015 after serving as VC of B S Abdur Rahman University. Of late, it struck me that I should follow my instinct and start painting. I have been giving expression to my feelings, emotions and thoughts. The subjects vary and depend on my mood and situation. I use acrylic paint as the medium due to its longevity,” he said.

“At least 50% of the expected proceeds from my paintings would be used to construct a school building of the Muslim Education Society at the Idgah Maidan near Bannimantap. This hobby has given me satisfaction. It will continue till my last breath. The paintings will be on display at my house and any person, who has a liking for arts, can visit to see them,” he said.

A Padmashri awardee and a busy academician, as he holds some honorary posts in several organisations, Tareen is a widely travelled person. He has also published ‘Fire Under Snowflakes’ a memoir of his stint as VC of Kashmir University from 2001-04. After successfully completing all his responsibilities across India, he has now come full circle as he returned to Mysuru where he started his career.
DH News Service