From Chalk to Paintbrush: Ngawang Tseten's Mountain Life
On my solo trip to Bir, Himachal, I stumbled upon a little shop near the landing site, called Drenten. From outside, it looked like any other souvenir corner — dreamcatchers swaying, rows of fridge magnets, Tibetan prayer flags fluttering. But inside, the place was alive with colours, and with a man who had quietly built a second life out of art. The shop belonged to a schoolteacher. “I came here to teach,” he told me, “but slowly I realised how much I loved painting.” For the past four years, he has managed both — teaching and the souvenir shop. The shelves are lined with magnets, stone paintings, and frames, all handcrafted by him. I noticed that he didn't put down his brush while talking to me. In fact, he answered my questions with the same ease that he laid down his colours — like the two acts had become inseparable. It looked like an art classroom itself, teaching patience and passion through him. Get a sneak peak of his work here . I asked him about the rows of mountain pray...