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A message on elephant conservation through Gond mythological art
New Delhi, Aug 14 (IANS) Gond artists have only their cultural stories to fall back on, renowned Gond painter Venkat Raman Singh Shyam says while pointing to his artworks on nature and elephants at the Gaj Mahotsav at Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA) here.
The four-day festival aims to raise awareness around conservation of the Asian elephant, and features works by an array of artists, along with four from the Gond genre.
Shyam, a second-generation artist from the Pardhan Gond tradition, has been painting under the tutelage of his uncle, Gond master artist Jangarh Singh Shyam.
Linking his art to the stories he heard since childhood, the Bhopal-based artist said elephants are an important mythological element for the Gonds.
His installation “Gaj-Dhan Lakshmi” — a mix metal, wood and acrylic work — narrates the duality of a divine being, “Maha Lakshmi”, and how it symbolises prosperity.
There is also a painting of a legend involving “Bada Deo” — a form of Shiva worshipped in the middle Indian tribal belt — and an elephant that could fly.
“There’s a legend where I come from. When an untamable flying elephant was creating chaos in villages, the villagers prayed to Bada Deo.
“When the elephant was sleeping, the god came and took away its wings, and sent it to the jungle. This is how we believe elephants came to be earth wanderers,” Shyam told IANS.
The 47-year-old artist also said Gond art is just a visual way of capturing oral history.
“When my uncle Jangarh Shyam was told to do a Hanuman painting again, he did it differently because he doesn’t know the anatomy of a painting. A different version of a story runs through his head each time.”
The artist, through his paintings, brings forth the deep connect nature has with mythology, and how it all stems from the stories they inherit.
“They don’t have a structured system to teach arts. Gond art stems from the stories we have. They come from the oral traditions told on their musical instruments called ‘Bana’,” he said.
Shyam, whose 2015 autobiography “Finding My Way” has been endorsed by art historians John Berger and B.N. Goswami, prescribes reconnecting to elephants through mythology.
He said the Gond lifestyle is a cycle of giving back to nature what is taken from it, and extending this idea would help conserve the fauna.
His artworks are exhibited in the “Gaj Yatra” section of the festival, organised by Wildlife Trust of India (WTI) and the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEFCC), partnered by the International Fund For Animal Welfare (IFAW) and United Nations Environment (UNE).
It is an amalgamation of dance and music performances, films, exhibition of elephant themed paintings and photographs, puppet shows and clay modeling sessions, among others.
The festival will conclude on August 15.
–IANS
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Dr. Abhishek Verma Dedicates a Shelter in Memory of His Mother, Veena Verma, at KGMU; Inaugurated by Daughter Nicolle Verma
World-renowned business tycoon Dr. Abhishek Verma has supported Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission. In memory of his mother, Late Veena Verma, who was a 3 term Rajya Sabha MP.
Dr. Verma dedicated a state-of-the-art free permanent shelter for the attendants of patients at KGMU Medical University, Lucknow, under the aegis of Vijay Shree Foundation. His daughter, Nicolle Verma, inaugurated the shelter.
During the event, Foodman Vishal Singh honored Nicolle Verma by presenting her with a memento. Mrs. Nidhi Sharma and Avantika Yadav, associated with the organization, welcomed her with garlands. Following this, Nicolle Verma distributed essential items to the attendants and also handed out fruits. She became emotional remembering her grandmother on her birth anniversary.
On this occasion, she also inaugurated the “Veena Verma Sevalaya” in memory of her grandmother, Veena Verma, to serve the attendants. She expressed, “I feel proud that my family is engaged in nation-building as well as social service. Today, in collaboration with Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh Ji, I feel immensely proud to dedicate this shelter for the poor, helpless, and needy attendants of patients battling serious illnesses like cancer. I am honored to be associated with the Hunger-Free World Mission for humanity.”
Inspired by the continuous humanitarian service provided by Vijay Shree Foundation over the past 17 years, Nicolle Verma donated 10 lakh rupees to support the cause. The purpose of this donation is to ensure that services continue for the needy attendants of patients suffering from severe illnesses in hospitals, as facilitated by Foodman Vishal Singh.
It is noteworthy that Dr. Abhishek Verma’s family has a legacy of public and philanthropic service. They are helping millions to carry forward the values and service work of their parents. On the occasion of his mother’s birth anniversary, Dr. Abhishek Verma dedicated this state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College to serve the attendants of patients through the Vijay Shree Foundation.
Supporting Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission, Dr. Abhishek Verma assured that he would continually support keeping this flame of humanity alive. He also promised to assist in providing medicines to the helpless patients.
Continuing her grandmother’s legacy of service, Nicolle Verma personally served food to the needy patients and attendants. She said, “It is our good fortune to have received the joy of doing this noble work today through Foodman Vishal Singh. I have taken another step forward in carrying my family’s values and cooperation by joining hands with the Vijay Shree Foundation. My father taught me to serve and help the needy, and I feel happy when I bring a smile to someone’s face.”
On the birth anniversary of the late Veena Verma, the event organizer, Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh, said, “We feel proud and happy that Dr. Abhishek Verma, a globally renowned business tycoon, has extended his support to uplift our country from the hunger index. Today, on his mother’s birth anniversary, he inaugurated a state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College, which will always be helpful for the needy attendants of patients. It is a pleasure for me and the organization to receive the affection of Mr. Verma.”
The event was attended by General Manager Verma Family Office Hemant Garg, Sonu Rajput, and the organization’s volunteers, including Sandeep Singh, Parmeshwar Ji, Prashant Rao Gautam, Balram Singh, Ramesh Chaudhary, Suman, Jeetu, Anil, Suraj, Vinay, Manish Bhadauria, Manas Mehrotra, Vivek, Apurv, Happy, and others.
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