Manoj Pal: He makes all the difference to your mag!

As he deftly moves his fingers over the computer mouse… a concrete shape is given to the spirit and philosophy of THE TEENAGER TODAY.

Manoj has been an integral part of THE TEENAGER TODAY, as the cover designer and layout artist. Incidentally, 37 years ago when he designed the cover of THE TEENAGER for the first time, it was for the first issue edited by Alfonso Elengikal, the present editor of the magazine.

Manoj was born and brought up in his Nana-Naniji’s (maternal grandparents) home in the erstwhile French-ruled town of Chandernagore in the Calcutta suburb, where any form of art was given more importance than games and sports. The old man cut down his smoke allowance to buy his four-year-old grandson some paper and paints; Nani taught him his first brush strokes.

All through his life he has stood up for the truth, and at times, even at the cost of arousing the ire of his parents — and had been severely punished — but never detracted from his principles. His frankness and truthfulness may have hurt some people but he never made any statement in a bid to console them.

Grown up radically different from others of his age he dropped out of college to join the Government College of Art & Craft in Calcutta and became an artist instead of finishing as a B.Sc. (Honours).

Very often, he sits all by himself and reads Dostoevsky, Tolstoy, Tagore, Kafka, Moravia, Naipaul, Marquez or any works of classic or modern literature. This habit of reading has led him also to writing poems, short stories, a unique manual on drawing and painting, and two widely-acclaimed novels — The Hues Of Red and Season Of Fallen Leaves. He is currently working on his third book.

While his Nanaji was an exceptional artiste who never exchanged music for money and gave absolute liberty to Manoj to shape his own personality, his paternal grandfather, a freedom-fighter and a school headmaster, was an uncompromisingly tough and determined pioneer of social reforms. Manoj has inherited the traits of both. He is not only a talented artist who has participated in numerous painting exhibitions and art camps throughout the country but he is also a person who can go to any extent to uphold the truth and righteous conduct.

Asked as to what hurts him the most, he replies: “When someone close to me lies.”

All through his life he has stood up for the truth, and at times, even at the cost of arousing the ire of his parents — and had been severely punished — but never detracted from his principles. His frankness and truthfulness may have hurt some people but he never made any statement in a bid to console them. Keep it up, Manoj! We admire you for this wonderful quality.

Manoj nourishes a dream very close to his heart — that of seeing the great works of art in the world, like that of Michelangelo at St Peter’s Basilica, Rome. Manoj, THE TEENAGER TODAY hopes that your dream may one day become a reality!

Manoj Pal’s paintings and books can be viewed at www.manupal.info.

Email manojpal.pal@gmail.com to order his books.