Walls of government offices, schools, colleges and homes in Bankura’s Bishnupur town are being adorned with paintings in the style of Jamini Roy, a son of the soil, as part of a beautification drive.

Roy (1887-1972) hailed from Beliatore in Bankura and was one of the famous pupils of Abanindranath Tagore, internationally renowned painter and nephew of Rabindranath Tagore.

“Bishnupur is a popular tourist destination in Bankura. At least 2 lakh tourists, including foreigners, visit every year during the four-day Bishnupur fair that begins on December 23,” said Manash Mandal, the sub-divisional officer of Bishnupur.

“So we decided to make the town colourful by painting pictures on the walls of government offices as well as private homes following the style of Jamini Roy,” he added.

“Jamini Roy hailed from Bankura and it will be our effort to pay a small homage to him,” the SDO said.

Asked whether the administration had taken the consent of homeowners before painting their walls, Mandal replied in the affirmative. “They readily agreed when we approached them. Some of the residents told us that they would pay for the paintings,” the official said.

The district administration is spending Rs 90 lakh on the beautification drive.

Apart from the Bishnupur fair, tourists come to the town round the year to see the famous terracotta temples built by the Malla kings in the 17th and 18th centuries.

The massive Dal Madal cannon, built in the 17th century, stand testimony to the skills of artisans of that time. The Baluchari sari also attracts tourists. The Jamini Roy-style paintings have already been completed on the walls of the government offices in the town.