Odisha-Born Artist Mahanandia Appointed Art Advisor To Swedish Govt, Naveen Congratulates

Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Sunday congratulated eminent Odisha-born artist PK Mahanandia on being appointed as the Art Advisor to the Swedish government.

“Greetings and congratulations to Odia artist PK Mahanandia for his appointment as Advisor to the Art Department of Government of Sweden… His success has brought glory to the entire State. May he achieve more fame in the days to come”, the Chief Minister said in a tweet.

Born to a Dalit family of Kandhapada village in Angul district, Mahandia had a penchant for the art since his childhood days.

Chasing his long-cherished dream, he got enrolled in an art college in New Delhi in 1971.

The fate of this eminent artist changed during the visit of the Swedish national Charlotte Von Schedvin to New Delhi who fell in love with him after watching his exquisite art collection. After marrying him, Charlotte returned to Sweden.

Desperate to meet his wife, Mahanandia sold off all his assets in 1977 and bought an old bi-cycle. He cycled all the way to Sweden enduring five months of the gruelling journey and finally had a reunion with his wife. Later, he was granted the citizenship of Sweden.