Background
The tribal communities in India are guardians of traditional knowledge and the cultural heritage of the country. The history of these communities can be traced to the prehistoric times and thus, their values are interwoven into the ecological and cultural fabric of the country. Hence, it is imperative that their rights be adequately protected and their social, cultural and economic identities be recognised by law. The Constitution of India guarantees protection to their rights under Part III while certain special provisions like Article 244 and 342 ensure that the ethos of these communities is preserved. The Government of India is also committed to improving the lives of these communities through welfare schemes like the Van Dhan Yojana, providing scholarships to students from the tribal communities and the setting up of TRIFED which offers necessary support to the artisans from these communities and has significantly contributed in the enhancement of their livelihoods.
India’s forested areas, especially the protected areas have been home to a number of tribal communities and forest dwellers who have developed their own distinct culture and traditions. These communities rely on the forests for sustenance and thus, their lives are intricately intertwined with the forests. According to the 2011 Census, there are over 1,70,000 villages in India located close to forested areas and as per the India State of Forest Report 2021, more than 300 million people are dependent on the forests for their livelihood. These forests are also a haven for the numerous species of wildlife found in the country, some of which are endangered and vulnerable to extinction. The presence of humans in wildlife territory threatens their survival as both groups compete for resources on land. This leads to potential conflicts.
However, a silent conversation between these communities and their natural environment has been going on for years. The tribal communities have been living harmoniously with the forests and its various elements and have even contributed to successful conservation efforts through their age-old beliefs and customs which revere the forests and its creatures. It is this silent conversation between humans and nature that forms the base for an art exhibition, aptly titled ‘Silent Conversation: From Margins to the Centre’. Organised by the Sankala Foundation and National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), the art exhibition aims to spread awareness about the urgent need to preserve the environment and explore alternative livelihood opportunities for these communities, thereby reducing their dependence on the forest resources and minimising human-wildlife conflicts.
First Edition
Second Edition
Third Edition
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The first edition of the art exhibition was organised by the Sankala Foundation in partnership with the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) at the India Habitat Centre, New Delhi from 3rd to 5th November 2023. The exhibition was inaugurated by the Hon’ble President of India, Smt. Doupadi Murmu in the presence of Union Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Shri Bhupender Yadav, and then Minister of State, Shri Ashwani Kumar Choubey, senior officers, diplomats, art enthusiasts, conservationists, and students alike. The exhibition was an attempt to promote and preserve the conservation ethos of the country. The 2023 exhibition displayed 134 artworks created by 102 artists from approximately 30 tiger reserves of India. The artists were invited to Delhi for the main event and had an opportunity to meet and interact with the Hon’ble President at Rashtrapati Bhavan as well as went on guided tours across the capital city. A first-of-its-kind initiative, the exhibition was lauded by the visitors and garnered much attention in the press as well. The exhibition was a success with 76 of the total artworks displayed being sold and the proceeds of each sale were directly credited to the respective artisan’s account.
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The second edition of the Silent Conversation art exhibition was held from 17th to 20th October, 2024 at India Habitat Centre, New Delhi. For this edition, the teams from Sankala Foundation and NTCA have gone beyond the boundaries of the tiger reserves and searched for traditional art forms of the tribal communities and forest dwellers in national parks, wildlife sanctuaries and community reserves. The visitors were treated to an expertly curated display of over 200 paintings and 100 art pieces from 22 protected areas of India. Tribal art forms such as Gond, Warli, Pata Chitra, Bhil and Sohrai were displayed for four days in the capital. They all witnessed a varied audience ranging from government officials, diplomats, business persons, entrepreneurs, art enthusiasts and critics, conservationists as well as student eager to learn about India’s heritage. This year as well, the proceeds from each sale were directly credited to the respective artisan’s account.
The pieces being exhibited have been created using sustainable materials, highlighting the communities’ sustainable way of life which aligns with Mission LiFE initiative of the Government of India. 40 artists whose works were displayed at the exhibition and have been invited to participate in the main event, providing them an opportunity to inform the urban population about their customary art and inspire them to adopt their resourceful methods. The artists went on guided tours through the city and explored the rich and diverse culture of Delhi from its historical monuments, bazaars and gardens to its different cuisines. Of these artists, 15 were further chosen for the prestigious Artist Residency Programme at Rashtrapati Bhavan. These artists were hosted at the Rashtrapati Bhavan for seven days where they gained knowledge about the different art forms of India and had an opportunity to bring their learning into practice. This residency programme provided them a chance to network with their peers and establish meaningful professional connections. At the end of the residency, the works created by these artists were chosen for display at the Rashtrapati Bhavan.
The event also included cultural performances by various artists of the tribal communities which further created awareness about the folk arts of India, thereby, promoting the cultural heritage of the nation. Gazi Khan Barna, a noted folk artist, will be performing with his group on the evening of 17th October, treating the visitors to an audio-visual performance of the Maanganiyar music from Rajasthan. The evening was graced by the Hon’ble Minister of Culture and Tourism, Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat.
The second edition of the exhibition aimed to create a sustained market for the artworks created by the tribal communities and forest dwellers, thereby providing an alternative livelihood for them and to educate the unknown, especially the young generation about the rich culture of India. The purpose of this event is to inspire the urban population to internalise the conservation values, which have always been a part of the Indian cultural heritage. Therefore, the exhibition hopes to achieve a three-fold objective of livelihood generation for the tribal communities, promotion of traditional arts and crafts, and contributing to the discourse concerning wildlife conservation and forest preservation. The event hopes to traverse national boundaries and showcase Indian art and traditions at a global stage in near future, spreading the message of conservation, culture, and empowerment.
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The third edition was held at the Rashtrapati Bhawan Cultural Centre from 21-28th October 2024. Out of 40 plus artists, 12-15 artists were selected for their artists-in- residency initiative and art workshop program. Under this programme, these artists got an opportunity to showcase their unique expression of painting and creating art forms by residing within the Rashtrapati Bhawan premises. These paintings and artworks were further presented to the Hon’ble President on the 28 th of October 2024 which became part of the national cultural heritage.
