Andretta, a village of artists in Palampur, cries for govt attention

Ravinder Sood

Palampur, November 16

Andretta, a small village situated in the foot hills of the Himalayas and 10 km from Palampur, is known as the ‘village of artists’ as a number of famous artists of the country have settled here.

But, a little has been done by the state government to provide basic facilities in the village.

Nora Richard, an Irish writer, dramatist and follower of Tolstoy, settled in this village. Nora’s husband was a professor at Government College in Lahore. After his death, she left for England, but later returned to India in the mid thirties and permanently settled at Andretta.

Nora had built a beautiful English styled cottage, constructed of mud, slate and bamboo with the help of local masons in the village. She taught drama to the students from Punjab and various other parts of the country. Later, she was honored by the Punjabi University, Patiala.

She had donated her house and land to Punjabi University, which is now preserving it as a heritage monument.

During the nineties, Dr SS Boparai, the then Vice-Chancellor of Punjabi University, took keen interest in the property of Nora Richard. He declared it as a heritage monument of the Punjab government.

Dr Boparai, with the help of local craftsmen, carpenters and masons restored the house to its original look. The original shape and interiors of the house were not disturbed.

Students from Punjabi University come to Andretta every year on October 29 to celebrate the birthday of Nora Richard. They enact professional drama in her modest memory. Besides, on her death anniversary special functions are also organised here by the students of Punjabi University.

Nora also called two other artists from Lahore namely BC Sanyal, a well known painter and sculptor and Professor Jaidyal, who was her husband’s student. They had also built a mud house in this village.

Later, Prithvi Raj Kapoor used to visit this village and stay with Professor Jaidyal, who was his tutor in Lahore.

Another famous artist Sardar Sobha Singh, painter of Sikh Guru, also settled in this village. The memories of Sardar Sobha Singh are still in this village. His family members have preserved his entire paintings in his memorial know as ‘Sobha Singh Art Gallery’.

After Nora’s death in 1971, there was a vacuum in cultural activities in this village. Now, BC Sanyal’s daughter Amba has started a new venture know as ‘Nora’s Centre for Arts’.

Mini, the son of great artist Sardar Gurcharan Singh, is also settled in this village. He has also started the ‘Andretta Pottery and Craft Society’. The society sells its rangoli patterned glazed earth ware all over the world.

Mini also teaches students about how to make pottery. Besides, he has also set up a museum with a complete collection of Himachal village pottery, which is on the verge of extinction today.

Unfortunately, the state government has shown no interest in this village and till date it has failed to declare it as a heritage village.

Most of the roads and interior path of the village are in a bad shape. There is no drinking water facility as well.

“The village can be a tourist hub if proper amenities are proved,” said the villagers.