My father’s magnum opus amazed us: KM Birla

My father, Aditya Vikram Birla, was a self-taught painter and found his calling in recreating the works of some of the masters—Roerich, Husain and others. He had done several canvases, displaying great dexterity with the brush and an amazing creativity. One morning, he announced at the dining table that he was now going to try his hand at recreating the Mona Lisa, much to our amusement!

The canvas absorbed him for many months. Finally, one Sunday afternoon, after a family lunch, he said he was now ready to show us his work. All of us—my great grandfather, grandparents, mother, sister, uncles, aunts and cousins—crowded around the canvas, covered appropriately with a paint stained cloth. He unveiled his masterpiece, with a flourish, to a collective gasp from his audience. We gaped and gaped! We were simply awestruck at the striking similarity with the original.

My parents gifted this painting to my uncle, Chandrakant, on the occasion of his wedding. It will now be on display at the museum my mother is building in Pilani, Rajasthan, our hometown, that will capture the life and works of my father.