Dubai: Paintings by a UAE-based Indian artist are the only artworks that feature in a new book about a popular radio show hosted by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Entitled Mann Ki Baat (Heart’s Voice), the book, which is named after the show, was unveiled on Friday in New Delhi, in a ceremony attended by Indian President Pranab Mukherjee.
In all, 11 of Dubai-based artist Akbar Saheb’s illustrations on various themes have been published in the book, including the cover illustration.
The book will be widely circulated within the urban and rural Indian community in English and Hindi, and will soon be released in all regional languages and foreign languages.
A big fan of Narendra Modi, Akbar Saheb had earlier painted a series of 12 paintings themed on the Indian prime minister and his achievements over 12 years, which were also exhibited in Baroda in Gujarat, in early 2015.
Originally from Mangalore, Karnataka, the 54-year-old artist has lived in Dubai for the past 22 years.
“This is a huge honour for me and I can never thank Prime Minister Modi enough for singling me out of thousands of local and expat Indian artists to contribute to a project so close to his heart,” said Saheb.
“I feel extremely fortunate to be a part of the book Mann ki Baat, which, as a radio programme, has been a social revolution, giving voice to thousands of Indians,” added Saheb, who was present at the book launch.
Saheb has followed Modi’s rise to India’s most powerful office for 15 years, and had the chance to meet him on his August 2015 visit to the UAE.
“He left an incredible impression on my mind as a people’s person,” the artist said.
“I’m humbled that he remembered me and I am mentioned as his well-wisher in the book.”
Saheb, who paints full-time, has more than 1,000 works to his credit — including in oil, acrylics and watercolour.
He has also exhibited a series of paintings paying tribute to the rulers of the UAE.
