It would be right to call 26-year-old Dhurba Raj Sharma aka, Rashik Raj, a ‘renaissance man’. Having worked as a painter, a poet and a musician, he has already set his feet strong in the art field. His achievements include garnering first position in ‘Open Art Competition’ (district level from Bardiya) and third position in ‘All Nepal Real Drawing Competition 2064’.
Dhurba grew up around the aesthetic beauty of Tharu art, which worked as a prominent reason for him to aspire to become a painter in the future. He said he used to draw pictures of gods and goddess and send them to random people through post without mentioning the address. Although a childish act, this habit helped him groom his talent.
Similarly, Dhurba managed to become a jury member for a singing competition while he was in school. He had a good voice and it made him popular among friends.
After SLC (now SEE), Dhurba came to Kathmandu to pursue his dream of becoming a singer. He, however, studied Fine Arts at Lalitkala Campus in Bhotahiti upon learning that painting could be studied as curriculum course. He also earned a Master’s degree in Fine Arts from the Central Department of Fine Art, Kirtipur, and a Post Graduate from the Central Department of Psychology.
I was inclined to literature, especially poems, because my father was a poet. He has been my role model,” he said. Literature is liberal field in a sense that one doesn’t need to attend college to study literature. So I was drawn toward the field.” Dhurba feels that his poems are like paintings; like words framed beautifully in a sheet of paper. “My poems are basically based on human psychology, nature and daily life. Readers have full freedom to analyze and interpret my poems as per their understanding,” he said.
He is currently working to publish his poem series and is also working as a freelance artist as well as writer. All-rounder Dhurba is also a social activist and the president of Aabha for Creativity, an NGO that helped the victims of 2015 Gorkha Earthquake and Saptari flood.
“In the future, I don’t want to stop no matter what happens in my life. I want to carry on and continue doing good deeds for the society. My motto in life is to live for today. I may be jack of all, but I believe I am primarily an artist,” said Dhurba.
Trials and triumphs
