From Commerce to Colors: The Artistic Odyssey of Ojha

One of the rewards of visiting the Jehangir Art Gallery every Tuesday is getting an opportunity to meet numerous dignitaries from the art world. During one of such visits, Mr Satish Naik, the Chief Editor of Chinha,  introduced me to Mr Chandrashekhar Ojha, the former Marketing Manager of Camlin. His immense passion for the field of art became evident from our very first encounter. Interestingly, Mr Ojha despite having no artistic background or connection with the art field, purely driven by the desire to take on a new challenge, accepted a position at Camlin. He joined Camlin in 1985 and continued with the same organization till his retirement.

During his time at Camlin, he developed a strong bond with the art world and developed a genuine love for art. Even after retirement, his passion led him to regularly visit art galleries, appreciating the work of new artists. It is remarkable for a Marketing Manager responsible for sales of colours to demonstrate such commitment and deep affection for art.

Our conversation at Jehangir went on for about an hour and a half,  and it was during this discussion that the idea emerged that he could share his experiences in the form of articles in  Chinha Art News. Readers will soon have the opportunity to read those through the upcoming article series titled ‘Adventures of a Salesman in the Art World’. Throughout our conversation, Mr Ojha shared numerous stories, including the progress of Camlin as a company and other insights about the art materials business. His attachment with Camlin is so strong that he has still preserved his first company ID card from the 80’s when the company was just beginning its journey in color manufacturing. Ojha’s first appointment was in Jodhpur, followed by Delhi and Mumbai. During his time in Delhi, he became deeply involved in the local art scene, successfully organizing several art workshops and programs for painting.

Ojha holds unique perspectives on the distinctions between the art scenes in Delhi and Mumbai. What sets him apart from anyone else in the colour business is that he came across many artists throughout his career, about whom readers will have the opportunity to explore in his upcoming article series.

During his professional tenure, Mr Ojha also organized special art workshops for children, inviting distinguished guests to participate. This instilled in parents the belief that their children could pursue successful careers in the art field. Drawing upon his specialization in child psychology, Ojha documented the essential elements of effective art workshops for children, which itself is a significant contribution.

Ojha’s unwavering commitment to Camlin led him to being regarded as Mrs Rajni Dandekar’s  (Head Marketing, Camlin Group) right-hand. While many employees have moved on to other organizations after they had their time at Camlin, Ojha has never been enticed by offers from other companies due to his loyalty to  Camlin.

We are confident that readers will thoroughly enjoy this series of articles penned by a “salesman” who traverses the world of color. Typically, marketing managers do not prefer to be labelled as salesperson. However, Mr Ojha embraces the label of a salesman, which showcases his candid personality. They say a true salesman can even sell a comb to a bald person, and Mr Ojha managed to sell colors in remote areas where they were unheard of. He spearheaded new experiments and adapted the company’s products based on the needs of the consumers. As you read Ojha’s story, you will realize that he embodies the essence of a genuine salesman, motivated not solely by profit but by his profound love for art. Undoubtedly, his passion gives him a distinctive edge.

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– Kanak Waikar 

Chinha Art News