Preserving Oraon Tribal Art: An Artist’s Mission

Swift Summary

• Oraon artist Anamika Bhagat showcased her paintings at a two-day seminar titled ‘Glimpses of tribal life: Knowledge and intangible expressions,’ held at Loyola Collage of Social Sciences, Thiruvananthapuram.
• her art reflects Oraon tribal life, depicting everyday activities such as farming, festivals like the harvest festivity of Karma tree, and traditions passed down generations.
• Customary Oraon art uses black soil mixed with glue; finding materials often involves sourcing natural substances like green leaves and specific soils from forests.
• Migration for education and employment is reducing knowledge transfer of cultural traditions among younger generations within the Oraon community.
• Anamika sees preserving this heritage as essential and remains committed to teaching others who are interested in learning about Oraon art.

Indian Opinion Analysis

The exhibition by Anamika Bhagat highlights an urgent need to preserve India’s rich tribal traditions amidst modern challenges. With migration impacting the continuity of oral knowledge transfer across communities such as the Oraons,initiatives like seminars serve as bridges connecting tradition with urban awareness. The use of natural mediums in her artwork underscores sustainability while accentuating cultural depth.

Promoting awareness through exhibitions could be crucial for safeguarding indigenous communities’ practices. Efforts to engage younger generations-whether through education or integrating these traditions into contemporary dialogues-remain essential for cultural protection. Empowering artists like Bhagat ensures visibility for marginalized voices that contribute immensely to India’s diverse identity.Read more: [Link not provided]