Well-known painter Machiraju Ramachandra Rao has worked on a unique painting to pay tribute to the country’s newly discovered hero, Mayur Shelke, in his own way.
Mr. Shelke, a switchman, rushed in time to save the life of a six-year-old boy who fell on the railroad when a train approached them recently at Vangani station in Mumbai.
Mr. Machiraju put the finishing touches to his 28 “by 23” oil painting, saying that Mr. Shelke, who risked his life to save the boy, was his real life hero. The painter said he was moved when Mr. Shelke donated half of the £ 50,000 reward he received from the Railroad Department to the visually impaired mother of the child he rescued.
“Nobody could keep up with his bravery and generosity,” said the painter.
Mr Shelke had also asked everyone to donate money to support women and children in need in such difficult times, said the painter, who is closely associated with well-known Tollywood director Trivikram Srinivas and actor-politician Pawan Kalyan, and won recognition for his eye-catching collection of paintings on a national and international level.