https://en.bharatpedia.org/w/index.php?action=history&feed=atom&title=P._K._MahanandiaP. K. Mahanandia - Revision history2026-11-03T15:57:42ZRevision history for this page on the wikiMediaWiki 1.43.6https://en.bharatpedia.org/w/index.php?title=P._K._Mahanandia&diff=523356&oldid=prevNatishaMooring9 at 08:11, 22 March 20262026-03-22T08:11:40Z<p></p>
<p><b>New page</b></p><div>{{Short description|Indian-Swedish artist}}<br />
<br />
{{Infobox person<br />
| name = P. K. Mahanandia<br />
| image = File:PK_Mahanandia.jpg<br />
| caption = <br />
| birth_date = {{birth year and age|1949}}<br />
| birth_name = Pradyumna Kumar Mahanandia<br />
| birth_place = [[Athmallik]], [[Orissa]], India<br />
| alma_mater = [[College of Art, Delhi]]<br/>Government College of Art and Crafts Khallikote<br />
| spouse = {{marriage|Ann-Charlotte Mahanandia Von Schedvin|1975}}<br />
| children = Siddharth, Emelie<br />
| website = {{URL|https://pkmahanandia.com}}<br />
}}<br />
<br />
'''Pradyumna Kumar Mahanandia''' (born 1949) is an Indian-born Swedish artist noted for his journey by a second hand bicycle from [[New Delhi]], India to [[Borås]], Sweden<ref>{{Cite web |last=Jerosimic |first=Maja |date=31 July 2017 |title=Svindlande kärlekshistoria blir film |url=https://sverigesradio.se/artikel/6747909 |access-date=2023-10-19 |website=sverigesradio.se/ |language=sv |quote=För mer än 40 år sen cyklade Pradyumna Kumar Mahanandia hela vägen från Indien till Borås för sin kärlek Charlotte Von Schedvins skull.}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Andersson |first=Per |date=30 November 2004 |title=Indiern som cyklade till Borås |url=https://www.vagabond.se/asien/indien/indiern-som-cyklade-till-boras |access-date=20 October 2023 |website=Vagabond |language=sv |quote=Ödet ville annorlunda och tog honom på cykel 800 mil västerut – till kärleken i Borås.}}</ref> in 1977 to reunite with his Swedish wife, Charlotte Von Schedvin.<br />
<br />
==Early life and education==<br />
Mahanandia was born in 1949 in an [[Odia people|Odia]] weaver family in the village of Kandhapada of the [[Athmallik]] sub-division in the district of [[Angul]]. His father was a postmaster in Athmallik, where he lived during the weeks and commuted home on the weekends by bicycle. The family later moved to Athmallik.<br />
<br />
As his father was a member of the [[Pano (caste)|Pano caste]], when young he often faced discrimination from [[upper-caste]] Indians because he was a [[Dalit]]<ref name=[2]/> and his mother was a member of the [[Khonds|khond]] tribe. The khond is not included in the caste system of India and was therefore considered casteless.<br />
<br />
Mahanandia attended Mahendra High School, Athmallik and later joined [[Visva-Bharati University]] to study art. Despite his admission to the art school, it became impossible for him to pay for tuition, so he had to return home.<ref>{{Cite web|date=25 July 2020|first=Nishtha|last=Grover|title=Who is Dr PK Mahanandi? From untouchable boy in school to art advisor for Swedish government, his story|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/trending-news/story/who-is-dr-pk-mahanandi-from-untouchable-boy-in-school-to-art-advisor-for-swedish-government-his-story-1704282-2020-07-25|access-date=2021-07-27|website=India Today|language=en|archive-date=2021-07-27|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210727144942/https://www.indiatoday.in/trending-news/story/who-is-dr-pk-mahanandi-from-untouchable-boy-in-school-to-art-advisor-for-swedish-government-his-story-1704282-2020-07-25|url-status=live}}</ref> He later joined the Government College of Art and Crafts, [[Khallikote]] and then moved to the [[College of Art, Delhi]] in 1971.<br />
<br />
==Portraiture and meeting Von Schedvin==<br />
While studying at the Delhi College of Art, he shot to fame in portraiture by drawing the portrait of [[Indira Gandhi]]. He sought permission from the authorities to sit under the fountain in [[Connaught Place, New Delhi|Connaught Place]] and draw portraits.<ref name=[3]>{{cite news|last=Samal|first=R P|title=Two Angels on Earth and Their Life Path|url=http://www.facenfacts.com/NewsDetails/199/two-angels-on-earth-and-their-life-path.htm|accessdate=21 July 2013|newspaper=facenfacts|date=27 August 2010|archive-date=24 May 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130524181348/http://www.facenfacts.com/NewsDetails/199/two-angels-on-earth-and-their-life-path.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> It is here that he met Charlotte Von Schedvin on 17 December 1975. She was a student in London, and had driven for 22 days in a van to India, just to visit Mahanandia and have her portrait done. That portrait changed their lives as they fell in love with each other and married. Von Schedvin had to return to Sweden and asked Mahanandia to come with her, but he decided that one day he would go on his own.<br />
After she left, the two kept in touch through letters.<br />
<br />
Mahanandia did not have enough money to buy a plane ticket. He decided to sell everything, bought a bicycle and set off on his bike journey on 22 January 1977. He would cycle about {{convert|44|km}} every day and supported himself by drawing portraits of people along the way who provided him with money, food and shelter.<ref name="[2]" /> His travels took him through Afghanistan, Iran and finally through Turkey which allowed him to reach Europe on 28 May, then he continued to [[Gothenburg]] by train.<ref name="[2]" /><br />
<br />
On his long bicycle journey he expressed the sentiment that he doesn't understand "Why people think it was a big deal to cycle to Europe?".<br />
<br />
"''I did what I had to, I had no money but I had to meet her. I was cycling for love, but never loved cycling. It's simple.''"<ref name=[2]>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-35299608 |title=The man who cycled from India to Europe for love |publisher=bbc.com |date=16 January 2016 |accessdate=4 January 2018 |archive-date=24 December 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171224055441/http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-35299608 |url-status=live }}</ref><br />
<br />
Mahandia and Shedvin have two children, now adults, Siddharth and Emelie.<ref name=[1]>{{cite news|last=Singh|first=Sanjam Preet|title=Love in the time of hate|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/Punjab/Chandigarh/Love-in-the-time-of-hate/SP-Article1-1011458.aspx|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130215031249/http://www.hindustantimes.com/Punjab/Chandigarh/Love-in-the-time-of-hate/SP-Article1-1011458.aspx|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 15, 2013|accessdate=21 July 2013|newspaper=Hindustan Times|date=14 Feb 2013}}</ref><br />
<br />
==Recognition==<br />
Mahanandia is well known in Sweden as an artist and works as an adviser of art and culture for the Swedish government. His paintings have been exhibited in major cities of the world and appeared on [[UNICEF]] greeting cards. On 4 January 2012, he was awarded an [[Honorary degree|honorary doctorate]] degree from [[Utkal University|Utkal University of Culture]] (UUC) in [[Bhubaneswar]], [[Odisha]]. He was also designated as the Odia Cultural ambassador to Sweden by the [[Government of Odisha]].<ref name=[4]>{{cite web|title=Honorary Doctorate to PK Mahanandia|url=http://www.sasnet.lu.se/content/honorary-doctorate-pk-mahanandia|publisher=SASNET|accessdate=21 July 2013|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://archive.today/20130706114423/http://www.sasnet.lu.se/content/honorary-doctorate-pk-mahanandia|archivedate=6 July 2013}}</ref><br />
<br />
In 2010, Indian filmmaker [[Sanjay Leela Bhansali]] was planning to make a film on the love story of Mahanandia and Von Schedvin.<ref name="[5]">{{cite news|title=Bhansali plans movie on 'Two Angels' real Love Story|url=http://www.facenfacts.com/NewsDetails/374/bhansali-plans-movie-on-two-angels-real-love-story.htm|accessdate=21 July 2013|newspaper=facenfacts|date=15 September 2010|archive-date=10 January 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130110074141/http://www.facenfacts.com/NewsDetails/374/bhansali-plans-movie-on-two-angels-real-love-story.htm|url-status=live}}</ref><br />
<br />
==Further reading==<br />
<br />
* <small>Andersson, Per J., ''The amazing story of the man who cycled from India to Europe for love'', Oneworld Publications, London, 2017</small><ref>{{Cite web |title=The Amazing Story of the Man Who Cycled From India to Europe for Love by Per J Andersson |url=https://www.publishersweekly.com/9781786070333 |access-date=2024-02-22 |website=www.publishersweekly.com}}</ref><br />
<br />
==References==<br />
{{Reflist}}<br />
<br />
{{Authority control}}<br />
<br />
{{DEFAULTSORT:Mahanandia, P. K.}}<br />
[[Category:1949 births]]<br />
[[Category:Living people]]<br />
[[Category:Artists from Odisha]]<br />
[[Category:People from Angul district]]<br />
[[Category:Odia people]]<br />
[[Category:Indian emigrants to Sweden]]<br />
[[Category:21st-century Swedish male artists]]</div>NatishaMooring9