Its a Saturday again and a rainy one at that in Goa and its time for me to post another introduction to a Goanet Poster.
This time round the die has fallen on an Artist, Thespian, Caricaturist and an Intellectual. Goanet is fortunate to have among its posters people from all walks of life embracing a variety of professions but a man of so many parts is indeed a great catch. Charudatt Prabhudesai comes from a family which has its roots in Goa's Southernmost Taluka, Canacona. Charudutt (Charu to his friends, and seeing as Goanet is a family linked by the invisible bond of love for Mother Goa, one can, I suppose call him Charu and be forgiven) was born in Panjim and did his schooling in one of Panjim's famous schools, The People's High School which was founded by Late Mr. J. M. Surlikar - himself an institution in Goan Educational Circles. Charu did his BFA at Goa College of Art The Goa College of Art, Miramar, under the tutelage of D. Harihar and Padmashree Prof. Lakshman Pai and Sri K. Vishwambhara. Charu's lament is the fact that though he averaged a 6.5 in Internal Assessment and though he was the best student for the years 1982 to 1985, he was not awarded a first class nor was he awarded a fellowship, though he won a few prizes. However, he succeeded in getting a small grant from the Kala Academy in Goa to enable him to study further and acquire a MFA through Maharaja Sayajirao University(MSU), Baroda. MSU of 1980s was a hub of art activity. He was fortunate to work with great professors like Ghulam Mohammed Sheikh, Dr. Ratan Parimoo, Prof. Deepak Kanal and the like. Late Bhupen Khakkar was actively interacting with students of painting then. During this time he participated in the National Art exhibition, New Delhi, 1986, where both his entries were put on view. During his Baroda years he got more absorbed in the Sri Aurobindonian thought and in 1990 moved down south to the Sri Aurobindo ashram. He was there for 8 years. The purlieu of the ashram was perhaps a step that led him to make Auroville ( http://www.auroville.org) his home, and in 1998 he joined the international township, just 11 km from Pondicherry. Charu is an artist by profession and an actor. In Charu's own words, "I had always done theater - in Goa, in Baroda, and in Auroville. I have acted in many plays, including Shakespeare's ( Hamlet & The Tempest), Tagore's "Sacrifice", Molière's 'Tartouffe' and Sri Aurobindo's play 'Purseus'. Recently worked in comedia de l'arte('King Stag'), & Peter Shaffer's 'black comedy. I am also a caricaturist and I have illustrated childrens' stories. Some of my work was animated by* bookbox.com* "Primarily I am a Goan painter. I live in Auroville with Paula Caesar and our son Mir Maulik Caesar Prabhudesai. I write a blog called 'foggy impressions of things' @ charudattap.blogspot.com" Ladies and Gentlemen of Goanet, it is a pleasure to have in our midst Mr. Charudatt Prabhudesai. Let us welcome him with applause. -- Tony de Sa. tonydesa at gmail dot com ^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v