Qualification- Diploma in Commercial art - 1968
Siblings – a brother and a sister he is the eldest, brother is a Carpenter and sister is the principal of deaf and dumb school in Dadar.
In the year 1944 October 9th a baby was born to Mr Shamrao and Mrs Usha who is named Suresh Shamkant Gokhale, he was brought up as a normal kid but, when his mother took him to a private school for the admission they found out that he had some disability so he was rejected admission in the school.
He got admitted to the corporation school. He used the Chalk to express his affection for drawing.
Finally his parents were able to locate a remote deaf and dumb school in Pune. There were very few students and Suresh joined them. He was not quite good at academics as his interest was in drawing. He wanted to bring out his creative and unique talent and nourish it.
His parents took his feeling and spoke to a teacher MALTI JOSHI of S.P College. The teacher looking at the interest of Suresh, took a challenge and admitted him as the first student and that is the beginning of his real schooling. The school was just out of the S.P College and Suresh started living his real colors of life. He got friends of same attitude in his school and his talent started to flourish. The principal of S.P College saw Suresh and his friends interest in the field of Drawing, and he built a hall within the college and gave it to them. This lead Suresh to make lot of collages, drawing and clay Ganesha’s at school that made him stand apart as an artist among all other students.
He still remembers how his teacher encouraged him to know the skills such as Carpeting, sculpting, and even stitching, but his interest was in drawing. So he told his teacher,” I will not do things which I don’t like to do”.
Suresh’s father who passed away in 1999 had worked for Kirloskar Oil Engines and Pumps. He was very much occupied with his son’s interest in painting, one fine day, Suresh got his fathers attention His father took him to a new painting school Upon requesting they admitted Suresh because he proved to be excellent artist. That is where he got an opportunity to appear for his first drawing exam ‘Elementary’ and he cleared the exam, Immediately he decided to appear for ‘Intermediate’ which is the next grade drawing exam. At the same time Suresh met with an accident, ant his right hand got fractured. The exam date was appearing nearer, so he started practicing with his left hand. To everybodies surprise, he appeared for the Exam by drawing in his left hand and cleared the exam. His life’s journey had started.
In the future, he participated in International Landscape Competition. He stood 4th in the same and received a certificate From London.
Life had a different turn and a lesson for Suresh. After his schooling as he appeared an art exam to the big surprise he failed twice in the exams, in painting.
Further to that see how God helps, one of his close family friend asked him to contact Abhinav Kala Mahavidhyalaya the only art school in Pune.
Upon enquiry he was advised by the teacher not to take up the painting but the commercial side because, that was going to help him in future.
Parents supported him financially and encouraged him to move on when he failed in the last year of his Applied Commercial Art.
The first job in his life was at TOM e BAY (Advertising) Pvt. Ltd. For the first 4 years he worked for a salary of Rs 300/-. He worked there for 10 years from1968 to 1977.
In 1972 he got married to Jyoti who is also deaf and dumb and had finished her Diploma in Cloths and Stitching. They had their first normal child named Tanuja who is now a BMHS in Ayurvedic.
Later Suresh joined WESTERN ADVERTISING MARKTING SERVICES. His art works were visualized here. This boosted a self-confidence in him.
He was awarded by Maharashtra as a best deaf and dumb performer for the service. He always worked with clear understanding of his capabilites and the interest of his company. He also believed in the principles of contribution and appropriate remuneration. He had to leave WESTERN ADVERTISING MARKTING SERVICES just because of this difference in the principles.
Suresh later joined PADMAJA ADVERTSERS Pvt. Ltd. At the same time of his life he had his second normal child named Prasad who is now a architect and designer.
He foresaw the future of computer graphics. So he left PADMAJA ADVERTSERS Pvt. Ltd. and joined IOLINE data system as an illustrator. He did a lot of visual work for IOLINE data system. Even if the titles didn’t release his work was appritiated. Being deaf and dumb helped him to concentrate and contribute a lot to the creative work he was doing. The IOLINE was soon merged with KIRLOSKAR COMPUTERS SERVICES LTD. (KCSL). During his association with KCSL he has drawn many cartoons, Calikacher, 2D Animation etc. His knowledge continued to grow, and he believed in giving the best.
Finally in 1999, he was the first person to get retired from KCSL. After 5 years of his retirement from KCSL he returned to Pune and started preparing clay status of Lord Ganesha. These beautiful idols were admired by all.
Suresh is a self made man. He never got any formal training for learning Photography, Screen Printing and Computer Graphics. He learnt all these skills on his own by experimenting. He believed God is the source of inspiration.
Suresh took a different path from the rest of the world.
Today at the age of 60 years Suresh runs his own Studio cum Office at Pune.
He does several things that would cater the Industry today.
In 2001 he was awarded with the National Award by the Government of India. At New Delhi, the President of India Shri Shankar Dayal Sharma presented him the award for his great services and excellent work in all field of Art.
He starts his day by practice of Yoga, which keeps him active throughput the day. He goes to his office by bicycle. He spends his time in sketching, he reads a lot and sometimes does landscapes also.
In the year 1997 he was instrumental in the formation of Maharastra Association of Deaf, which is an association for sports activities. In 1980, the same club was renamed as Mahashtra Sports Council of the Deaf. In activities like drama, dance, mime this group has won a remarkable appreciation from all over India. It has recently won the first prize at Bangalore.
HE decided to live his life on his own terms with his self-confidence. He is also occupied in helping others as well as painting and spending time with his creative being with in. He loves watching cartoon network, hours after hours.
The eager to go ahead can over come all the hurdles ahead of us in our life. This is the lesson we can learn from a man like Suresh.
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