CULTURE

ARTSCAPE
DD: Time to keep pace with the changing times
Garima Pant

Down the memory lane (Oil on canvas). Threat of war (Oil on Canvas)

Ever tried watching a programme on the national network? It is a nocturnal paradise. A sleeping pill for the non-sleepers. A person can sleep even during the day. They are a drag. These are some of the comments of Delhiites, who tried to watch the national channel over the week. The comments were solicited in a random spot survey to ascertain the views of the public. We reproduce some of them in the hope that this would help the powers that be to improve things.

You can lose count of the number of times they repeat a programme. All the present-day stars of the big tele-serials can be seen as young strugglers on the repeat national network programmes. The presentation sometimes makes you want never to touch the television sets again.

The number of mistakes occurring on the national network are the maximum and people involved seem to turned a blind eye to all of them. The periodic message of ‘sorry for the interruption’ has been the originator of many jokes. Even the cricket matches are not left alone. It is a ritual to show so many advertisements between overs that every following over; the first ball is definitely lost in their flow. Listening to the commentary during the match on the network makes you want to switch off the sound and then watch. “The world’s largest democracy has such a shabby national network that it is a shame on the governing body,” said a viewer.

Prasar Bharati and even the government has been crying hoarse to justify its continuation with the old form as it wants to justify its stand on entertainment within its accepted social structure. Everything has to be within censors. They seem to have forgotten that this is the satellite age. There is information overflow and constant competition to make one’s channel the best. No one can be stopped from accessing information, which some people don’t want anyone to see. But where are we?

We are projecting old and stale images of India across the nations. For them, our country is still inhabited by snake charmers and kings and queens. It is of utmost importance of protecting and remembering our culture and traditions. But not at the cost of a backward image.

It is hard to believe that it is the same channel that gave the first and probably the biggest and the most popular soap of Indian television ‘Hum Log’, has at present such a poor quality of shows on air. It seems Doordarshan has forgotten to keep pace with the changing times. It does not believe in changing for the better. A definite and complete revamp is most urgent and pressing need of this sinking Titanic called Doordarshan.

Art for purpose

An exhibition of oil paintings by Rattan Kumar called ‘Art for Purpose’ was on display at the Lalit Kala Academy, Gallery No. 2. The exhibition had works ranging from topics like ‘Threat of war, Kashmir, Complications, Marriage, Down the memory lane’ and so on.

Rattan Kumar, who has done B.P.A. (Painting) from College of Arts, Delhi, has won many prizes. He has participated in numerous group shows and exhibitions, the latest being at Rabindra Bhavan, New Delhi. About his latest works, he says, “The individual work of art remains disconnected and incomprehensive in its aim and intentions without the spirit of stimulus and purpose, of context and contemporaries problems. But how it is attended, looked at, understood, and then - a few feelings stick in the memory or forgotten. In the paintingm, it is important that what is behind it, the invisible behind the visible, the depth of expression and thoughts without contents, it is just a piece of a physical object.”

Kahani Darbar

The Punjabi Academy is organising a trilingual short story reading programme from Saturday in the main auditorium of Punjabi Bhawan here. Renowned short story writers like Prem Gorkhi (Punjabi), Balraj Komal (Urdu) and Shrawan Kumar (Hindi) will read out their stories. Eminent Hindi and Punjabi writer, Dr Mahip Singh will preside over the function. The programme promises to be a delight for those who are still interested in stories and books.

For art lovers

With the promise of monsoon, the art scene in the Capital is also getting lively with exhibitions galore over the weekend. Paintings from prominent artists like M. F Hussain, Ram Kumar and Kishan Khanna among others are being displayed at the Vadehra Art Gallery in the Capital. The exhibition is a delight for those who have been following the works of the contemporary artists in the country.

For the peace lovers and those who believe in the traditions of Ahimsa (non-violence), the Gandhi Smriti Museum offers a visual experience and tonnes of information about the apostles of peace like Mahtama Gandhi, Martin Luther King, Daisaku Ikeda.

Entitled – A Legacy of Building Peace, rare photographs, quotes and information booklets of the three great men of the century have been tastefully displayed for the benefit of the visitors.

The Ramakrishna Mission here is also holding an exhibition of the paintings, photographs and sketches of Swami Vivekananda, the founder of the mission.

At the Crafts Museum in Pragati Maidan, Indian craftsmen continue to demonstrate their skills for the benefit of the visitors.

The artefacts crafted by them are also being exhibited there. All in all, a busy weekend for the art lovers.