Tikamgarh/Niwari
District Tikamgarh and the historic city of Orchha in adjoining Niwari in Madhya Pradesh are separated by a distance of 80 km. But the link between these two places in Bundelkhand region are the innumerable wall arts at major places as part of a beautification drive. Many of these are inspired from popular tribal art forms like Warli and Gond.
Orchha is a famous tourist destination. Dotted with architectural wonders, here many paintings are found near the site of the cenotaphs (memorials to kings) overlooking the Betwa river. Many paintings were executed under the Namaste Orchha programme in 2020. However, some were executed later.
The talent behind many of these tribal wall murals in Orchha is a non-tribal Shubham Dubey, a local artist. Dubey focuses on traditional and old forms of Indian art and promotes them through his wall paintings.
“Cultural things are vanishing. So, through my paintings I urge people to stay connected together, and also close to nature. In this way, we can safeguard our heritage,” Dubey tells The Indian Tribal.
In one of Dubey’s paintings, which is inspired from the Warli tribal art of Maharashtra, four women connected together demotes a close-knit life with the depiction of musical instruments standing for happiness.
In another painting, the rose, a symbol of beauty, has been painted, and in another resembling Gond art, birds are depicted on a wall.
At a homestay called the Mahua hill view in Ladpura Khas village nearby Orchha, the wall arts have been inspired from the famous Lakshmi temple of the historic city.
“I went to the temple and spent considerable time there. At the homestay, the motifs have been created on a light orange wall with white colour. Of the murals, there are Krishna and Radha under a tree, and also a man-woman painting which denotes balance in life. Wrestlers have also been shown,” the painter said.
He has started working on natural colours, which will take time, but at present uses acrylic colours.
Homestay owner Uma Pathak had hired Dubey to execute the paintings. On his part, the painter teaches some 40 students. “I have done many paintings at the Tikamgarh bus stand also through the use of imagination. Sometimes, I mix styles like the synthesis of Gond art with Bihar’s Madhubani style.”
VB Singh, the chief municipal officer of Orchha Municipal Council, shares with The Indian Tribal that many paintings were done as part of a survey under the Swachh Bharat Mission. As part of that a team from the central government comes for inspection and walls should look attractive.
(All Photos: Deepanwita Gita Niyogi)
