கருத்துப் பரிமாற்றத்திற்கு மட்டுமின்றி, சாதனையாளர்களை ஊக்குவிக்கும் விதமாக, தமிழ் மணம் மற்றும் சுரதா அன்பர்கள் நிச்சயம் சாதனையாளர்களை சிறப்பு செய்வார்கள் என்ற நம்பிக்கை யுடன், நம்பிக்கைக்கும் முயற்சிக்கும் எடுத்துக் காட்டாக விளங்கும் திரு.உதயகுமாரைப் பற்றி உங்களுக்கு அறிமுகம் செய்வதில் பெரும் மகிழ்ச்சி அடைகிறேன்.

Udayakumar's left hand is limp. His right hand is no better, except for the thumb and the index finger. Making the most of these two fingers, the 29-year old has drawn over 400 paintings. As an eleven-month-old baby, Udayakumar was diagnosed with Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA), a neuromuscular disease, which affects the nerve cells in the spinal cord and causes the muscles to weaken and waste away.By the time he turned seven, the disease had taken control of his body. His spine had curved. Using his legs was out of the question. He could, however, be made to sit with a pillow for support.


The only hope was his right hand and wrist, which moved a bit more freely.Udayakumar knew what to do with them. He learnt to paint - on his own. This was a period of immense joy for Udayakumar as he studied masters such as Picasso and Rembrandt and eventually evolved his own style - abstract painting using acrylics. But the boy had to surmount one more obstacle. As a result of a fire accident in his 16th year, the ring and middle fingers on his right hand became useless.

Strangely, Udayakumar came into his own after this unfortunate incident. A prodigious output of acrylic paintings flowed from his paintbrush. Recognition, however, eluded Udayakumar for long. The tide turned in 2003 when Hotel Ambassador Pallava and Lalit Kala Akademi organised an exhibition of his paintings.The world woke up to Udayakumar. His ability to convey abstract ideas in lines and shades was appreciated. But, again luck deserted him. He spent the whole of 2004 and early 2005 in and out of hospital.


Now, even the two blessed fingers are lacking in strength. Great pain accompanies every effort to paint.It takes him a month to complete a painting. But the man is not giving up.Can he continue to overcome his handicap by the force of his willpower? One is not sure. For a few months now, Udayakumar is on a liquid diet (gruel and coconut water). He cannot swallow solid food anymore as it could choke him.Courtesy : The Hindu "


போராடும் வரை மனிதன்" என்ற பொன்மொழியிற்கினங்க வாழும் உதயகுமார் வரும் ஜனவரி 16 முதல் 30 ஆம் தேதி வரை சென்னை அம்பாஸிடர் பல்லவா ஹோட்டலில் விற்பனைக்காகவும், பார்வைக்காகவும் ஓவிய கண்காட்சி நடத்துகிறார். நமது சென்னை அன்பர்கள் நேரமிருந்தால் சென்று வர விரும்பிக் கேட்டுக்கொள்கிறேன்.திரு. உதயகுமாரை உற்சாகப் படுத்த பிரியப்படுபவர்கள் 044 - 55323974 என்ற எண்ணுக்கு அழைக்கலாம்.