A young artist from Kuchrod village in Neemuch district, Madhya Pradesh, has drawn widespread attention with a portrait of Prime Minister Narendra Modi painted entirely using tea — a medium chosen deliberately to echo the Prime Minister's well-known origins as a chai seller. Rahul Kumar Lohar, the artist behind the work, unveiled the piece on 24 June as a tribute to 12 years of the Modi government's key programmes and milestones.

The Artwork and Its Medium

Unlike conventional portraits rendered in acrylic or watercolour, Lohar's creation uses brewed tea as its sole pigment. The choice of medium is layered with symbolism: Prime Minister Modi is widely known to have assisted at a tea stall in his youth before entering public life, and Lohar said he wanted the material itself to reflect that journey. 'The special aspect of this painting is that it has been made using the tea we drink every day. That is what makes it unique,' he said.

The finished portrait is not merely a likeness — it is also a visual map of governance. Lohar embedded references to 12 key initiatives within the composition, making the work as much a political chronicle as an artistic one.

Twelve Schemes Depicted in the Portrait

The initiatives represented in the tea portrait span infrastructure, space exploration, sanitation, agriculture, housing, and digital policy. They include the Ram Mandir consecration, the Chandrayaan lunar mission, India's hosting of the G20 Summit, Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana, PM Kisan Samman Nidhi, Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, Vande Bharat trains, Make in India, Ayushman Bharat, Digital India, and Atmanirbhar Bharat.

Lohar noted that the selection was necessarily curated. 'Although there are many more initiatives, I selected these prominent ones for this tea-based artwork,' he said, adding that a close examination of the portrait reveals each scheme embedded within the composition.

Artist's Background and Inspiration

Lohar hails from a rural background in Neemuch and has previously attracted attention for unconventional artistic projects. He cited Prime Minister Modi's life trajectory — from humble beginnings to the country's highest executive office — as his primary motivation. 'Motivated by his life's journey and achievements, I decided to create his portrait using tea,' he said. He added that the work carries a broader message: 'One should never forget one's roots.'

Local residents and art enthusiasts have appreciated the piece, with many noting that Lohar's rural origins and self-driven creative practice make his work a compelling example of grassroots artistic ambition.

Significance and Wider Context

Unconventional portrait art — using materials such as coffee, sand, or recycled waste — has gained traction across India as artists seek distinctive ways to engage with public figures and national themes. Lohar's tea portrait fits within this tradition while adding a specific biographical resonance tied to the subject's own story. This is not the first time the Neemuch artist has attracted public notice for his work, suggesting a sustained creative practice rather than a one-off gesture.

Whether the portrait will travel beyond Kuchrod village for wider exhibition remains to be seen, but its reception so far points to the enduring public appetite for art that bridges personal narrative with national symbolism.