Shimla, Oct 15 Himachal Pradesh Governor Kavinder Gupta on Thursday unveiled a bust of former President Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan and inaugurated a permanent gallery dedicated to Kangra miniature paintings at the Indian Institute of Advanced Study (IIAS) in Shimla.
The events were held on the concluding day of the institute’s diamond jubilee celebrations at Rashtrapati Niwas. Radhakrishnan was the founder of the institute.
The governor inaugurated the gallery, titled ‘Kangra Kalam: The Pahari Miniature Art Gallery’, and stressed the need to preserve the region’s traditional art forms and cultural heritage.
Appreciating the initiative, Gupta said the gallery would serve as a valuable gift while playing an important role in preserving the region’s civilisation and cultural traditions, according to an official statement.
The gallery draws on the concept of ‘Folk and Rural Imagery in Kangra Miniatures: An Indigenous Indian Art Perspective’, highlighting Pahari community life, rural activities, folk music, traditional customs and the relationship between local communities and nature through miniature paintings.
Gupta expressed confidence that the gallery would offer tourists from India and abroad an opportunity to understand the civilisation, culture and artistic traditions of the Himalayan region.
He also released a book titled ‘Folk and Rural Imagery in Kangra Miniatures: An Indigenous Indian Art Perspective’, based on Kangra miniature paintings.
The event marked a step towards showcasing Himachal Pradesh’s artistic heritage, Pahari community life and traditional culture to a wider audience, the statement said.
Interacting with the media, Gupta said Kangra paintings were a symbol of the region’s civilisation and culture.
He said Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand shared several cultural and civilisational similarities, which were reflected in the region’s paintings.
The Himalayan region reflected both ancient and contemporary painting traditions, he added.
(PTI News)
