Aug 20 2014 : Mirror (Pune)
Key to save nature hidden in tribal art
Mayuri.Phadnis @timesgroup.com TWEET @ThePuneMirror
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A joint project by two environmental institutes is aiming to preserve biodiversity, cultural heritage of the state through workshops to be held by masters of tribal art
The growing pressures of globalisation and homogenisation is bringing into focus traditional culture, artwork, folk lore, and their links to biodiversity.A joint project by Bharati Vidyapeeth's Institute of Environment Education and Research (BVIEER) and Maharashtra State Biodiversity Board (MSBB) is aiming to preserve the biodiversity and cultural heritage of the state through workshops by masters of tribal art work who are commercially successful. The research was conducted by Dr Erach Bharucha, director of BVIEER and chairman of MSBB, Dr Rahul Mungikar, senior research consultant (MSBB), Dr Shamita Kumar, Vice Principal, Dr Kranti Yardi, Professor, and Pallavi Ganju, programme officer of BVIEER.
Folk culture is abundant in Maharashtra, with local tribes such as Gonds, Korkus, Warli, Katkaris, Mahadeo Koli, and Pardhis spread across the state. Each tribe has its own distinct cultural values and rituals, embedded in art, that revolve around biodiversity and its conservation.
“The art, craft, folklore and rituals of traditional communities need to be preserved.The knowledge of varied wildlife, trees, and sacred groves is integrated into our culture and are ideal examples of conservation strategies,“ said Bharucha.
Giving an example of the Warli community in the western regions of Maharashtra, Ganju said, “Warli paintings are aesthetically simple.Their analysis brought out the influence of nature. Out of 86 paintings that we analysed, 137 faunal and 315 floral elements were found.However, artists are dying out because of reduced monetary returns due to middlemen.“ She also spoke of Rann Bhoot (forest ghost), a well-known folktale. The ghost is a protector of jungles and scares children if they exploit and damage forests. They also worship the Umbar tree (Ficus Racemosa), as the roots have a lot of fresh groundwater around them.
Another tribe highlighted in the research is the Korku tribe dwelling in the Satpura ranges. This tribe is divided into clans associated with a tree or an animal. A particular clan has to protect the species it is named after.
“Another one is the Madia Gonds from Gadchiroli. They have their own artwork and metal artefacts called Dhokra art. In Maharashtra, there is only one artist named Suresh Pungati who practises this art at a commercial level. He too has left his native place and now runs Devrai Art Village in Panchgani,“ Ganju added.
“Most of our art draws inspiration from realities of nature. We have animals, birds and tree figures made from brass. I have also modified it into rock Dhokra art -a combination of brass and graphite. The art, however, is dying, since people in my tribe are not good at marketing, their financial conditions are not improving,“ added Pungati.
According to senior research consultant in MSBB, Dr Rahul Mungikar, this traditional knowledge can be used for sustainable development. “Cultural values have changed through generations and the current generation is ignoring the importance of biodiversity. Traditional intelligence and knowledge is important and sustainable development is possible if some traditional ways, in tandem with scientific steps, are revived,“ he said.
Folk culture is abundant in Maharashtra, with local tribes such as Gonds, Korkus, Warli, Katkaris, Mahadeo Koli, and Pardhis spread across the state. Each tribe has its own distinct cultural values and rituals, embedded in art, that revolve around biodiversity and its conservation.
“The art, craft, folklore and rituals of traditional communities need to be preserved.The knowledge of varied wildlife, trees, and sacred groves is integrated into our culture and are ideal examples of conservation strategies,“ said Bharucha.
Giving an example of the Warli community in the western regions of Maharashtra, Ganju said, “Warli paintings are aesthetically simple.Their analysis brought out the influence of nature. Out of 86 paintings that we analysed, 137 faunal and 315 floral elements were found.However, artists are dying out because of reduced monetary returns due to middlemen.“ She also spoke of Rann Bhoot (forest ghost), a well-known folktale. The ghost is a protector of jungles and scares children if they exploit and damage forests. They also worship the Umbar tree (Ficus Racemosa), as the roots have a lot of fresh groundwater around them.
Another tribe highlighted in the research is the Korku tribe dwelling in the Satpura ranges. This tribe is divided into clans associated with a tree or an animal. A particular clan has to protect the species it is named after.
“Another one is the Madia Gonds from Gadchiroli. They have their own artwork and metal artefacts called Dhokra art. In Maharashtra, there is only one artist named Suresh Pungati who practises this art at a commercial level. He too has left his native place and now runs Devrai Art Village in Panchgani,“ Ganju added.
“Most of our art draws inspiration from realities of nature. We have animals, birds and tree figures made from brass. I have also modified it into rock Dhokra art -a combination of brass and graphite. The art, however, is dying, since people in my tribe are not good at marketing, their financial conditions are not improving,“ added Pungati.
According to senior research consultant in MSBB, Dr Rahul Mungikar, this traditional knowledge can be used for sustainable development. “Cultural values have changed through generations and the current generation is ignoring the importance of biodiversity. Traditional intelligence and knowledge is important and sustainable development is possible if some traditional ways, in tandem with scientific steps, are revived,“ he said.
