Lad captures images of Imas on paper with pencil

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Jul 13 : With a pencil and paper in hand, Pearl would sit in a corner of the Khwairamband Ima Market and draw unsuspecting "mothers" selling goods and vegetables. He would then give them the sketches and also some money !
The happiness and laughter he gets as a reaction to this act is what gives him the "kick" and pleasure.
"When I hand them the sketches I made of them secretly, they would laugh and smile, and appreciate the art. Some would even cry with tears of joy and bless me. This makes me happy," Pearl said.
Laishram Pearl belongs to a humble family in Kakwa Laishram Selungba Leikai. He is the son of Laishram Kiran Singh and Laishram ongbi lbema.
A BA 3rd Semester student of Manipur College, Pearl takes immense pride in his art and he loves making sketches.
He started learning drawing and making sketches on his own when he was in Class III, and he has never had a mentor in the line.
When his family wants him to pursue and put his mind to other trades, he has never detached himself from his desire to sketch and paint.
When other artists charge money for portraits/images they sketch, Pearl has his own style. He has little desire to sell his work. His sketches are a gift, and he offers money to help out his subjects.
He makes sketches of unsuspecting people in the markets and on the road. However, not everyone gets picked as the subject of his sketches.
Pearl prefers to make sketches of innocent children and elderly persons.
He has a special place in his heart for elderly persons and the "mothers" in Khwairamband Keithel who are selling vegetables and goods to support their families.
"The mothers in the Khwairamband Keithel work tirelessly to feed their families. They have made sacrifices. They are brave and hard-working, and in their struggle, they have forgotten to smile. Even if it is just for a moment, I want them to smile a little and take their minds off their burdens," Pearl said.
Pearl said he enjoys seeing people's reaction to his sketches.
"When I give them the sketches I made of them in secret, they would look at it with surprise. For a moment, they would forget all their worries and laugh with joy," Pearl said.
Pearl said he started making sketches of "mothers" in Khwairamband Keithel on March 22, 2024.
"The first sketch I made was of an elderly grandmother. When I handed the sketch to her, she looked at it and cried with tears of joy. She gave her blessings, and I offered her some money I had with me," Pearl said.
Pearl said this encounter with the elderly grandmother inspired him to make more such sketches. Since then, he has made 33 sketches and given away a major portion of his earnings as "gifts".
While pursuing a Bachelor's Degree,  Pearl does odd jobs in his spare time to earn him some money, which he gives to others.
"We are a humble family and we don't have money, but I feel happy giving whatever I can to help them. The money I offer to them isn't much, but helping them gives me joy," Pearl said.
Pearl said he would continue making sketches, and also reach out to displaced people staying in relief camps.
"My sketches may or may not be good. If my sketches can bring joy and laughter even for a moment in people, then I would consider them pretty good art," Pearl said.