Feature

DREAMS help us to escape from our mundane lives, give us visions of what may be and make us realise the fact that our lives would have been so much happier if we had really chased those dreams. The soul of life lies in the actual realisation of a dream. Here is one man who chased his dreams and projected those images to inspire others.

Born in 1982 in Kandigram village in Gopalgonj, Tejosh Halder grew up as any other kid, except for his extraordinary hobby to mould clay into various shapes and forms. He toyed with clay for hours, along muddy banks of swamps and ponds in his village, to give form to astounding images which projected from his fertile imagination. Even as a first grade student in Shehalebulia Children's Home (a home run by the Church of Bangladesh), Tejosh had moulded a figure of a cow so vivid that astonished the whole village. His father was enthralled by the craftsmanship. He knew his youngest son would make him proud one day, disappointingly though, he passed away only when Tejosh was in fifth grade.

Since then, Tejosh participated regularly in Thana level competitions in categories of pencil sketch, clay work and painting from class II to IX wining numerous prizes for his patron institute Shehalebulia Children's Home and his school Mongla St Paul's School.

The college years in Mohsin College Khulna, were among the toughest years for Tejosh. He had to leave the Children's Home, thus lodging and maintenance cost soared while he had to meet ends. He was compelled to give up creative pursuits. Nevertheless, hope was finally rekindled when Tejosh started in Charukala in Dhaka University. After long struggle he won the Gold Medal in the Annual Exhibition in the Institute of Fine Arts.

Since then, there was no looking back. He has crossed every hurdle, mastered all the crafts of his trade and rose to the pinnacle of triumph with his continuing glory and awards. He just could not stop dreaming and so could never stop working. It was often painstakingly difficult and expensive to continue, but Tejosh's resolve was as impregnable as some of the media he played with while carving his statues. He completed his graduation from DU in 2007. Afterwards he decided to chase his dreams even further into the heart of the creative fraternity by venturing abroad to explore new frontiers. He is presently doing his Masters in Visva Bharati University in Santi Niketan.

Tejosh recalls with due solemnity and gratitude, the contribution of Abul Khayer Litu, Chairman, Bengal Foundation who has helped him secure a scholarship for the two years he will need to complete the course in India.

Awards won by Tejosh Halder:

2005: Gold Medal, Annual Exhibition of Institute of Fine Arts, Dhaka.

2006: Honourable Mention Award, 12th Asian Art Biennale, Dhaka.

2006: Media Best Award Annual Exhibition, Institute of Fine Arts, Dhaka.

Tejosh uses various media to depict his images, observations, thoughts; media like glass fibre, bronze, copper, etc. Though incorruptible on the outside, the sculptor could whittle them proficiently, to make them speak his own language.