It was conceived as an expression of solidarity among doctors across the country in the face of increasing incidents of violence against them. Fifteen lakh finger impressions of doctors were collected over four months in 2016 and made into a 469.75-sq m painting. The effort has now secured an entry in the Guinness Book of World Records as the largest fingerprint painting.
The painting was the brainchild of Naveen Koval, Assistant Professor of Paediatrics at the Kannur Medical College (KMC) here. The Indian Medical Association (IMA) supported Dr. Koval’s venture.
“It is not just a painting but a symbolic representation of our fight to end violence against doctors,” said Dr. Koval at a press meet here on Tuesday. Its entry into the Guinness Book will enhance the importance of the message at a time when attacks on doctors are on the rise, said Dr. Koval, a native of Kanhangad. Most of the work, titled Ray of Hope, was done by students of KMC. The painting depicts doctors’ hands being tied with stethoscopes as they face violence at work.
The outline of the painting was first made on canvas which was then divided into hundreds of grids.
Pieced together
The pieces of the canvas (grids) were sent to many medical colleges in the country to get the fingerprints impressed on them as per the outline. The grids were then joined.
IMA officials present at the press meet said they were hopeful that public, media and the government would be much more sensitive to the issue. It was for the first time that so many doctors had come together for a single cause, they said. IMA Kannur president Moidu Madathil, secretary Jibu Edamana, vice president Kshemanand, and KMC former dean P.P. Venugopal were present at the press meet.
