Rajan started drawing on the school blackboard at the age of five. Many of the sketches he drew during school and college were given as gifts to his friends. After graduating in Mathematics from Vivekananda College in Madras (now Chennai), he one day drew a Ganesha. His friends became interested and pushed him to draw more. His imagination fired up and he broadened his vision: he began to specialize in Ganesha. Gradually his collection grew in size. During the Ganesh Puja festivals, he was invited to hold exhibitions of his artwork.

It currently has more than 525 black and white sketches, some 30 color paintings and 15 on glass. He has held more than twenty exhibitions in Mumbai alone. In Mumbai, the people of Vashi, Dombivili, Thane, Malad, Mulund, Lower Parel, Matunga and Santa Cruz have benefited and enjoyed his shows. Kalapathy in Kerala, which is Rajan’s hometown, has also seen a couple of exhibitions. He plans to offer his drawing collections to anyone who wishes to organize an exhibition. All paintings are laminated and well preserved.

His collection of Ganesha images offers a very wide variety: some standing, some sitting, some playing musical instruments such as Tabla, Veena, Tamburi, drums, etc. Represented are Ganeshas in different moods such as perplexed, mischievous, upset or just happy. For Ganesha devotees it is a treasure for veneration and worship.

Rajan Ramakrishnan, that’s his full name, was born in Palghat, Kerala, educated in Hyderabad, graduated from Madras and now resides with his wife and ten-year-old son in Dombivili, Mumbai. His education in various cities may have broadened his vision and helped him see Ganeshas in different shapes, sizes, structures and materials.

Encouraged by his supporters, he has started his own blog: http://rajandraws.wordpress.com. Here, most of the Ganeshas that he has drawn are portrayed in different categories. All sketches are available for free download for personal non-commercial use under Creative Commons Copyright.

Rajan is barely forty years old and he has a long way to go. Ganesha will take care of him, we can be sure. Take a look at those photos. You will be convinced that what I say is true.