Teacher by profession, painter by passion: This lady lecturer inspires her students like none other

Dr Bidyutprabha Rout, a lecturer at Semiliguda College in Koraput has a unique interest. Apart from imparting knowledge to students, she is also a painter, a sketch artist, and a sand artist. Her murals adorn many walls of the southern Odisha town of Koraput.

From scenic beauties to tribal rituals and culture, which the district of Koraput has in abundance, Rout’s brush strokes make them come alive on the walls of the town.

Hailing from Sunabeda, Rout’s artworks are on display in many organisations in the district. She is recently in the news for her murals on the walls of Semiliguda College.

Speaking about her passion, Rout said, “I have never received any formal art training. This is my interest and passion. Though I have started doing murals now, I have been doing oil paintings and sand art from my childhood days. I do it after my working hours.”

“I grew up in Koraput district. So, I know the socio-economic, cultural and heritage value of the area. When the idea of painting the college wall was envisaged, I thought why not paint it with the Koraput culture to display it to the outside world,” she said.

“I can do portraits on everything including oil paint, watercolour, fabri-colour. I paint on whatever I get my hands on even on sarees and bedsheets. I do it because it is my passion. I have never tried to commercialise it,” Rout added.