This MBA artist works in a fintech during the week, creates murals on school walls over weekends

With a stroke of his brush, Manmoy Maji transforms the dreary walls of government schools in Bengaluru into colourful, vibrant spaces that fill children with delight and awe. The 35-year-old has collaborated with 24 schools so far to create murals on their walls. 

“I initiated my mural art project in 2022. The focus is primarily on government primary schools, transforming them into spaces that inspire creativity and cultural expression,” Manmoy tells 30Stades.

“These murals are more than just artistic transformations; they are windows to the world for schoolchildren, portraying roles like doctors, soldiers, scientists, astronauts and athletes,” he adds. 

Manmoy works in the fintech field but his heart lies in art. He was born and brought up in the Steel City of Jamshedpur, Jharkhand. “My parents felt I was good at art so they enrolled me in art classes from class 1. So, my art education ran parallelly with academics,” he says with a smile. He had completed his diploma in fine arts by the time he was in class 10.

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Mother’s role

Manmoy’s father is a retired Tata Steel employee. He credits his mother, a homemaker, for encouraging him to pursue art. “She would pick me up from school on Saturday (which was a half day), give me lunch and after I freshened up she would drop me at art school. I had art classes every weekend.” 

“I want to emphasise the crucial role played by my mother in nurturing and cultivating my relationship with art. She instilled in me a deep appreciation for the creative arts. Her unwavering guidance, support and encouragement are behind the art initiatives I am pursuing today, says Manmoy. 

“I studied in R D Tata School till class 10. I was inspired by the philosophy of the Tatas. Ratan Tata has been a great inspiration. After completing junior college, I did a BBA in  Vishakhapatnam.” This was followed by an MBA at Xavier Institute of Social Service (XISS), Ranchi, completed in 2014. Manmoy got placed in American Express Bank and moved to Bengaluru. He has worked for four years with payment service provider PayU.  

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Moment of epiphany

“I attended an art workshop in 2022 conducted in a government primary school. The school walls were dull and uninspiring. There were cracks in the walls. A sudden idea struck me. I suggested to the principal that I could help him create a mural on the wall to brighten the schoolroom. I made an astronaut visual. The students were very excited when they came to school on Monday and saw a transformed classroom,” he shares. 

While schools cover the painting cost, Manmoy and volunteers, if any, are happy to provide their labour. Usually, the murals are 6 ft in height and 12 ft in length. 

It takes 6-8 hours to complete. Acrylic colours are used, explains Manmoy. 

Significant impact

The murals integrate visual education with cognitive development. They are not just about adding colour but about enriching the educational experience. They serve as powerful visual stories, bringing professional dreams to life and helping children identify and relate to potential future careers, he says. 

Manmoy believes that the impact on schoolchildren is manifold. The colourful transformation of their learning environment fills young children with joy. 

The murals ignite classroom discussions on different professions. They foster ambition in the older children to pursue similar callings and equip themselves with the education and skills needed. 

Showcasing role models on the walls also inspires students to aim high whether it is saving lives as doctors, serving the nation by becoming Army personnel, or exploring the universe as astronauts. 

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Sharing his expertise

Manmoy has learnt myriad art forms during his 10-year art course. Since art is not his livelihood but his passion, he sells his artwork for any price the buyer is willing to pay. Also, during the weekends, he teaches school kids in his society art. Whatever parents want to contribute, they pay.  

“I teach children and teenagers in my society painting with oil pastels and watercolours,” he says.”

“Recently, I learnt block printing since I was eager to create art on fabric. Now I am teaching the children this art.  They print on handkerchiefs and jute bags.  Their joy and pride in their artwork give me immense satisfaction. I tell children that one day of the week they should become ‘artist of the day’.”

A fledgling initiative Manmoy is working on is promoting tribal art. He is creating a platform for tribal arts and crafts so that artisans can showcase their artwork. He is communicating with artists in remote areas. “Tribals use natural colours like rice powder and turmeric to colour the mud walls of their homes. I am trying to promote Sohrai art, Patachitra and Dokra metal work, which is famous in Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh, among other art and craft forms,” says the committed artist.  

Some more murals made by Manmoy are here:

(Aruna Raghuram is a freelance journalist based in Bengaluru. She writes about people, environmental matters, parenting, DEI issues, and social/development enterprises.)

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