Mumbai students revitalise Chamba’s traditional art

Chamba, July 6

As part of the Chalo Chamba campaign, a 10-day camp was organised to revitalise local art and traditions by the Resh Art Community at Kundi village in Sunara panchayat of the district.

As many as 32 students from JJ School of Art, Mumbai, collaborated with local residents to organise various activities. The campaign was supported by ‘Not On Map’ and the Tourism Department.

The objective of this initiative was to preserve and promote the art and culture of the district, while enhancing the local economy. Fine arts students engaged in traditional wall painting and also encouraged residents, especially youth, to participate in arts-related activities. Additionally, a communal space was created near the village water source for women to engage in different activities.

Founder of the Resh Art Community Tanvi Pujari, who is also a professional artist, says traditional practices of Himachal Pradesh are fading as the youth shows limited interest in traditional arts. With tourism not being fully developed and poor road connectivity, villages have a few means to strengthen their economy .

“The initiative aims to revive traditional art, offering a strategy to bolster the economy through art and tourism,” she said.

Tanvi pointed out the high market value of traditional art, suggesting that pursuing this direction could significantly improve local economic conditions. She also mentioned plans to organise similar activities in other villages of the district to bring local products to a broader market, thereby strengthening the community’s economy.

Meanwhile, Manuj Sharma, co-founder of Not on Map, said efforts were underway in the district to promote tourism and strengthen the economy. The initiative by the Resh Art Community was commendable and it highlights the need for collective efforts by all institutions and individuals in this direction, he said.