Suresh Nair explaining the Wall of Peace to US art researcher Natalie Callahan.
Art aficionados from around the globe are paying frequent visits to Cherpulassery’s famed Wall of Peace. The latest visitor who stood in awe in front the modern mural art on the 700-ft-long compound wall of Government Vocational Higher Secondary School at Cherpulassery was Natalie Callahan, a Fulbright-Nehru research scholar from the US.
Ms. Callahan studied the mural in the company of its creator, Suresh K. Nair from Banaras Hindu University. She has been working under Prof. Nair at Varanasi. “It’s a lovely work of art. It has a beautiful message,” said Ms. Callahan, appreciating the hard work of a handful of artists behind the Wall of Peace.
An art researcher from Chatham University, Pittsburgh, Ms. Callahan was particularly enamoured by the technique used by Prof. Nair and his team in the creation of the great mural.
She was accorded a reception by the officials of Cherpulassery municipality and Government Vocational Higher Secondary School, Cherpulassery.
Municipal Chairperson P. Ramachandran said that the Wall of Peace was attracting tourists from all around the world owing largely to its unique size and nature. “It’s an amazing work of art,” he said.
Prof. Nair brought his long-held vision of the Wall of Peace to life when his alma mater, Government Vocational Higher Secondary School, approached him for a creative contribution. “I was eager to give back to my old school in a meaningful way,” he said.
The 700-ft-long mural was crafted in a warm golden hue using cement and sand on the 10-ft-high compound wall. It has garnered widespread acclaim, including the prestigious Eurasia World Record for the largest public art project. Adorning the century-old school wall, the mural serves as a testament to Prof. Nair’s creative genius.
In a display of global unity, the word “peace” is embossed on the wall in 250 languages from around the world. Visitors, especially from abroad, have been left in awe, especially as they could read the universal message of “peace” in their native languages.
In the mural, created under the aegis of the School Project Aiming Centre of Excellence (SPACE), Prof. Nair wove the struggle for freedom as a powerful theme, complementing the universal message of “peace”. “My aim is to promote freedom and peace among all,” he explained.
The mural begins with a depiction of the moon, symbolizing darkness and bondage, and culminates with an image of the sun, representing the dawn of freedom, peace, and enlightenment.
The wall honours Cherpulassery’s local freedom fighters. Prof. Nair drew inspiration from “Khilafat Smaranakal”, a memoir by freedom fighter Moozhikkunnathu Brahmadathan Namboodiripad. The book recounts his brutal treatment by the British, including being dragged to prison tied to a horse. Prof. Nair brought these powerful images to life on the wall, alongside other tributes to local heroes.
The wall also showcases Cherpulassery’s rich cultural heritage, including traditional practices like Kaalavela and Karalmanna’s iconic Pandibhojanam. The wall commemorates Mahatma Gandhi’s historic visit to the region, further enriching mural.
The Wall of Peace stands out when compared to Prof. Nair’s impressive 200-ft-long cement mural at the India-Pakistan Wagah Border. The Cherpulassery mural has surpassed the Wagah mural in both scale and subject matter.
Published – December 09, 2024 03:20 am IST
