Guwahati: Nagaon artist Sujit Das met Union Textiles Minister Giriraj Singh and Textiles Secretary Neelam Shami Rao at the New Delhi Indi Haat inauguration. He used the platform to demand more national and international support for Sanchipat manuscript painting. The art form faces extinction. Das urged the government to prioritize the preservation, documentation, research, and promotion of these traditional works.
Sanchipat manuscripts rely on the bark of the agar tree. Artists apply natural pigments like hengul, or cinnabar, and haital, or orpiment, to create the images. These scrolls hold the Bhagavata Purana, Kirtan, Ramayana, and Mahabharata. Das told officials that the tradition represents an important part of India's cultural legacy. He stated, "The tradition of illustrating sacred texts, including the Bhagavata Purana, Kirtan, Ramayana and Mahabharata, on Sanchipat manuscripts represents an important part of Assam's artistic heritage and India's cultural legacy."
Das is currently the sole representative of this craft at the National Exhibition running July 10 to 19 at the National Crafts Museum in New Delhi. He holds live demonstrations of the Sattriya-style painting for visitors. His work continues to reach new audiences. He has exhibited these paintings in over 35 countries.
Recent honors bolster his mission. The Centre for Cultural Resources and Training under the Union Ministry of Culture granted him a Senior Fellowship this year. His work also broke new ground when the Lalit Kala Akademi selected a Sanchipat painting for the 65th National Art Exhibition. This marks the first time the art form gained entry to that event.
Comments