Art Meets Tech: Kaiser Rahman's path to success

Handwara, Feb 16: At 19, Kaiser Rahman's hands tell two stories: one smudged with paint, the other dancing across a keyboard. Orphaned at three and raised by his father in Kashmir's Handwara, Kaiser has transformed childhood grief into artistic acclaim while pursuing his dream of building solutions through code.

"People see my awards, not the tears," says Kaiser, whose earliest memories are fragments of a mother's warmth he struggles to recall. His father, Abdul Rahman Najar, a labourer, worked tirelessly to fill the void. "He worked day and night so I never felt poor," Kaiser recalls, "but no one replaces a mother's love."

Art found Kaiser during the 2020 Covid lockdowns. Then a ninth-grader, he traded isolation for sketchpads and acrylics, teaching himself to translate emotion into vivid landscapes and portraits. His raw talent quickly drew national recognition, while his YouTube channel, K. Kaiser's Art Club, attracted thousands seeking his tutorials on transforming pain into beauty.

Yet Kaiser's ambitions extend beyond the canvas. Now pursuing a Bachelor of Computer Applications at Government Degree College, Handwara, he studies programming late into night. "Art saved me, but I want to innovate for others," he explains. Friends describe him as "relentless," though the pace takes its toll. "Sometimes I'm too tired to eat," he admits.

His artwork often features shadowy voids and solitary figures—echoes of loss that his viral fame can't fill. His ageing father worries: "I want him to rest, but he says, 'Abbu, I have to make you both proud.'" Teachers praise his focus but note his reluctance to share personal struggles.

Kaiser has become a beacon of hope. "He shows our youth that talent can thrive even in darkness," says high school mentor Fareeda Shouq. His YouTube subscribers, spanning India and beyond, find strength in his journey through their own battles.

As Kaiser prepares for competitive programming exams, he remains committed to both passions. "Allah gave me two gifts," he says. "I won't abandon either."

Studying a half-finished portrait, Kaiser reflects, "My mother's face fades in my memory, but not her spirit. When I merge art and technology, I'll carry her name forward. Until then, every painting—and every line of code—is a step toward healing."