Sadhna Dhand is a perfect example of a person who has turned physical adversity into strength. An artist from Raipur, Sadhna recently displayed in the Capital her artworks based on Lord Ganesha. Suffering from a rare orthopaedic disorder, Oestogenesis Imperfecta (OI), from birth, Sadhna could reach a physical height of three feet and three inches only. Her bones are so brittle that even a small jerk can cause a fracture. Having suffered more than 80 bone fractures in 55 years, she also lost her hearing capacity at the age of 12. But her mother, the late Rajkumari Dhand, ensured that Sadhna received proper training in fine arts and introduced her to the joys of painting with its iridescent strokes, which eventually encouraged her to battle the challenges of life through art.
Sadhna inculcated in her the basics and nuances of different art forms like Tanjore painting, glass painting, ceramics and sculpture. Asked about her favourite artwork, Sadhna says, “I like portraying the various forms of Lord Ganesha. It inspires me and gives me strength to fight all odds. My mother has been my biggest inspiration.”
“Sadhna's paintings are not limited to the canvas. She has used leaves, designing them into various shapes. She later photographed her works after which she applied them on canvas,” says Rajendra Sungaria, Secretary, Ship Varsha Art and Research Society, which organised the exhibition.
The inspiring artist likes photography and gardening — she has a collection of 200 bonsais at her house. Sadhna also likes to impart her art to others. Sadhna has trained 12,000 students in various art forms and won many awards for her work ranging from flower decoration to landscape photography.
