That the portraits made by him of former President S.D. Sharma adorn the walls of Rashtrapati Bhavan and those of Gandhi, Nehru and many other national leaders are mounted in Parliament House, speaks volumes about his finesse as an artist. These are just a few of the over 1000 portraits made by him. Ajay’s painting skills are equally laudable. Some of his renowned works are displayed at the B.R.Ambedkar Park (these were conceived by Satish Gujral), and the G.B. Pant Social Science Institute at Allahabad. Ajay has also designed the interior layout and logo of the Museum of Development of Man at the same institute.

But more than Ajay’s painting skills, it’s the depth of his concepts that lends credibility to his artistic works. In the role of an artist, he sees himself as a conscience-keeper of society, drawing most of his inspiration from painful circumstances. The process of converting this inspiration into a piece of art becomes for him the process of aligning illusion with reality. What is born out of this effort is a pattern which is perverse yet acceptable. "Forbidden Stairs" is the first out-of-Allahabad solo show of Ajay. His themes and ideas have been depicted by the use of various symbols. Stairs, apples and rose buds have been used as symbols to represent the plight of women inhabiting Mirganj, the red light area near the artist’s home in Allahabad.

His previous exhibition drew inspiration from the contemporary works of poets Badri Narayan, Neelabh Ajamil, K.K.Malviya, Yash Malviya, etc. Besides poetry, music also inspires him to create.

Ajay also came out with a series on labourers, depicting their hardships; and another on Quit India Movement. What made him choose the title "Forbidden Stairs" for the present exhibition? "Even in a static state, stairs signify growth. There is an element of hope woven into this symbol. And hope is the basis of all creations, including mine," says Ajay.

Everything about Ajay’s creations seems meticulously handled, especially his impressive use of brush strokes. "I like to struggle with the division of space and play with colours in that space," he says, recalling how he picked up his skills at the various workshops he has attended. At one such workshop, held at Mussoorie, the participants included Jatin Das, Vasundhara Tiwari and Bhavesh Sanyal. "I came back maturer by at least five years." As an instructor of art, Ajay advocates workshops for the grooming of art aspirants.

Ajay does not believe in limiting himself by sticking to just one medium. He has handled crayons, oil colours, and acrylic and water colours. "Whatever the medium, the work of art should be able to showcase the prismatic endeavour of the artist," he stresses. Ajay’s works showcase exactly what he wants them to. The present series depicts the lives of women forced into prostitution. Blue, mustard, and other heavy shades add depth to his works. "I am not attempting to suggest anything through these works. I am simply stating the final truth. The moods of people who inhabit this area are captured in the flowing strokes," he adds.