Mother’s love in every stroke: Celebrating Karunadas this Mother’s Day

KANNUR: In a poignant tribute to her late son, Karunadas, a homemaker from Mathil, Payyannur, has found a unique way to channel her grief into art. By commissioning vibrant murals in public spaces—the very medium her son loved most—she keeps his memory alive while inspiring others.

Every year on May 2nd, her son Arjun Das’s birthday, Karunadas ensures a new mural is added to a city wall. Most recently, at Shenoy Square in Payyannur, artist Prakash Puthoor brought a new vision to life at her request. Similar tributes already adorn walls across Kozhikode, Kannur, and Bekal.

Arjun Das was a gifted 20-year-old artist who was beginning to make a name for himself in the world of colours and lines. Tragically, his journey was cut short on June 15, 2015, when he drowned in the Teesta River during an internship in Sikkim.

Before his passing, Arjun had travelled across the country with friends, leaving his mark on public walls. One of his most celebrated works remains the "City of Spices" caricature of Vasco da Gama, painted on a wall in Kozhikode in 2015.

To fill the void left by his absence, Karunadas decided to continue his legacy through the art he championed. She is supported in this endeavour by her husband, Mohandas, a retired police officer, and her daughter, Arathi, who is a designer.

Healing through community: Haven for bereaved mothers

Beyond her personal tribute, Karunadas has established a support group for mothers who have lost their children. Understanding that grief can be isolating, she organized a collective that brings together mothers from across Kerala and beyond.

Through organised travels and regular meetups, the group provides a space for healing and solidarity. Karunadas has helped many who felt their lives had ended with their loss to find a renewed sense of purpose.

"Those who have lost their children do not need sympathy; they need support," says Karunadas.

Today, her collective includes numerous members from outside Kerala, proving that while the pain of loss is universal, so is the power of a mother’s love to transform that pain into a beacon of hope for others.