Meet Dharmesh Yadav, a Delhi cop who is also a talented artist
His dream to pursue art as a career was stymied when Dharmesh Yadav joined Delhi Policed in 1997. He did hold on to his passion, though.
Yadav, 42, an inspector in rank, is on deputation in the investigation division of the National Human Rights Commission, and he is also a self-taught artist. Besides carrying out his duties with dedication, he manages to also find time to paint and create artwork. He says, “I haven’t got any formal training. It’s a gift of God, I like to believe. I’ve been painting since my school days. I contemplated enrolling in an art college for graduation. But there was a sense of uncertainty about making a career in this field. So, I chose a government job over this, for a safe future.”
At first, it seemed that the demands of the police job would gobble up all his time, leaving none for art. “Though I never wanted to be a part of the police department, it was all destiny. It has been 20 years now with Delhi Police, and due to the odd work hours, I had stopped painting,” says Yadav.
I haven’t got any formal training. It’s a gift of God, I like to believe. I’ve been painting since my school days. DHARMESH YADAV
INSPECTOR, DELHI POLICE
But painting, it seems, was also his destiny, and “two years ago, I started it again”. As soon as he did so, he felt rejuvenated. “I’m so happy,” says Yadav, who is “planning to take voluntary retirement to focus passionately on art”.
Yadav belongs to Ajmer, Rajasthan, a state where art is a part of life. Even when police duties put paid to his painting — initially — he still found time to sketch. Now, Yadav takes about a month to finish each painting. The artist, who does oil on canvas, exhibit his works, too. “[The paintings] are really liked by everyone, and people from Dubai and other foreign countries have expressed their fondness for it, too,” he says.