Cultural Significance of Gift

Syllabus: General Studies Paper 2

At the recent Quad Summit held at Tokyo, Prime Minister of India carried with him gifts for leaders of the US, Australia and Japan showcasing India’s rich cultural heritage and art forms.

Sanjhi Art form:

Sanjhi panel gifted to US President Joe Biden is based on the theme of Thakurani Ghat (It is one of the most famous ghats on the banks of the holy river of Yamuna in Gokul).

• This art form originated out of the cult of Krishna.
• It involves creating stencils based on incidents from the life of the deity and then hand-cutting these on thin sheets of paper using scissors.
• Sanjhi was popularised in the 15th and 16th centuries by the Vaishnava temples and was practiced by Brahmin priests.

Gond art painting for Australian PM Anthony Albanese:

The gift depicts a popular motif in Gond art — the Tree of Life, with intricate patterns and lines that are a trademark of Gond art. Gond art is practised by the Gond community in Madhya Pradesh.

• It is often traced to Jangarh Shyam, who in the 1970s and ’80s began drawing the largely oral myths and legends of the tribe onto the walls of homes in the village of Patangarh.

Rogan painting:

Prime Minister of India gifted the Japanese PM a hand-carved deep brown wooden box with a gold and white Rogan painting on a green cloth as its central motif.

Rogan is a form of cloth painting that is considered to be more than four centuries old and is primarily practised in Kutch district of Gujarat.

• The word ‘Rogan’ comes from Persian, meaning varnish or oil.
• The craft uses paint made from boiled oil and vegetable dyes.
• Usually, only half the fabric is painted and it is folded to create a mirror image.
• Originally only men used to practice the art form. Now several women in Gujarat also pursue it.