Odisha born teen Master Maharshi Sanket, 15, has vowed to campaign against bullying and sexual abuse in schools by launching a cycle yatra from Bangalore to Mumbai.
His Yatra is supported by many including Odisha born Sukant Panigrahi, film producer. Having witnessed at close quarters the impact of bullying on children, the suffocation and helplessness they experience when they suffer alone in silence, Sanket felt a need to SPEAK OUT.
Many renowned artists, social catalysts and citizens have joined hands with him. Art has always been an enduring passion for Sanket. He was enticed by colours at the tender age of three. Growing up in the serene environment of ‘Siddharth Village’ here, he used to spend hours dabbling in art after school.
He exhibited his art work at Renaissance Art Gallery, Bangalore. This brought him in touch with Bangalore based artists Shan Re and M.G.Doddamani.With them he began a new phase in the journey of exploring forms and colours.
His visits to various galleries like NGMA, Bangalore and Delhi and the Chitrakala Parishad helped him to draw inspiration from the works of Ramkinkar Baij and Amrita Sher-Gil as well as from the traditional wellsprings of Tanjore paintings and Mughal miniatures.
Sanket held Melange-the second exhibition of his art work [solo] – at Atta Galatta in Bangalore when he was 11. He has been closely working with people who are actively involved in social and environmental causes.
The recent incidents of rape in Kathua and Unnao shocked and saddened him and drove him to express his feelings through art. Sanket also is an avid cyclist.
‘’The experience has been amazing’, he says.”My cycle was a constant companion as I forayed into the lanes and by lanes of Bengaluru, sometimes taking me to my destination faster than a car [thanks to the traffic snarls here]!” Sanket is taking his passion for cycling to the next level in May through the 1,000 Km cycle yatra from Bangalore to Mumbai to raise his voice against bullying and sexual abuse. “Campaigning on my cycle is meaningful as it is a symbol of care, health, awareness and strength, for me.”