Garhwal Post Bureau
Dehradun, 28 Aug: The four‑day ‘Vande Mataram–150 Years’ folk and tribal art workshop, exhibition and painting competition organised jointly by the North Central Zone Cultural Centre, Prayagraj under the Ministry of Culture, Government of India, and Graphic Era Hill University, Dehradun concluded last evening with nearly fifty artists showcasing their talent. The event provided a platform for diverse traditions of Indian folk and tribal art, presenting a powerful confluence of creativity, culture and national sentiment.
At the closing ceremony late last evening, renowned folk singer and Padma Shri awardee Madhuri Barthwal observed that painting is not merely a medium but a spiritual practice that inspires people to remain connected with nature and their roots. She emphasised that sensitivity and a humane outlook, as nurtured by artists, are essential for the progress of the nation.
Well known theatre activist Rakesh Bhatt stated that folk language, music and art are the soul of society and must be preserved with continuous effort, urging the youth to take responsibility for keeping Uttarakhand’s folk traditions alive.
Dr Jyoti Chhabra, Dean of the University’s School of Design, described the programme as a proud occasion for the university, noting that it offered students, art lovers and the public an opportunity to understand the diversity of Indian folk and tribal art. Coordinator Dr Krishna Kumar explained that the purpose of the event was to preserve and promote the country’s rich folk and tribal traditions while connecting the younger generation with their cultural roots. Artists created works in their distinctive styles and shared experiences, techniques and perspectives with one another.
The painting competition was the highlight of the event, with entries reflecting themes of cultural heritage, vanishing art forms, nature, folk life, respect for the motherland and Indian values. Five winning artists, namely Vishakha Gunjyal, Manvi Salathia, Meera Chauhan, Arushi Semwal and Harshdeep Kaur, were awarded Rs 25,000 each, while all the participants received Rs 2,100 as a token of appreciation from NCZCC. The event was conducted under the guidance of NCZCC director Sudesh Sharma, with subject experts Dr Alok Tirth Bhoumik and Neelam Jayala, and judges Dr Anjali Thapa and Dr Shashi Jha.
Nodal officer Dr Mandakini Sharma noted that the programme marked an important initiative in preserving traditional art forms and encouraging young artists. Students expressed happiness at having a platform to display their talent and said they gained valuable insights from subject experts.
The occasion was attended by Fine Arts Department Head Prof Dr Anand Karmakar, Prof Dr Neelotpal, Dr SK Sarkar, Dr Anirban, Dr Kapil Kumar, Dr Shreyasi and Dr Ajit Kumar, along with NCZCC representatives Ajay Gupta and Rajpal Panchal, besides other faculty members, researchers, students and art enthusiasts.
