Adivasi BhaTki Art from Gondiya district of Maharashtra....

Adivaasi Bhatki Art...( Tribal Bhatki Art)....Durgabaicha Doh and other paintings....

India is a country of diverse vibrant cultures and tribal art constitutes an important part of this rich heritage. 

Tribes are believed to be the aborigines, the original and indigenous inhabitants residing mostly in jungles or in the deep interiors of the land. They have therefore been able to preserve their age old customs which have been transformed into popular art forms reflecting their lifestyle, rituals, ceremonies and celebrations. Art forms like Madhubani, Warli, Gond, Bhil, Patua and others are popular tribal art forms which most of us know. 

I was therefore taken by surprise when one of our SHG woman from Gondiya said that she was developing Adivasi BhaTki art. I saw the paintings and felt they are similar to the Gond. However, the artist Yogita Dinesh Mouje from the remote Gondiya district of Maharashtra explained that there maybe some similarity to Gond art but it was art of their own tribe BhaTki. They are tribals and she being one among them had taken it upon herself to do research on what she calls as Adivasi Bhatki art and develop it further.

I was extremely intrigued by her grit and confidence. She felt that there was no point in chasing the mundane or depending on works like MGNREGA for a livelihood. She was keen to develop the Bhatki art, take it to glory in the nation and abroad and also make it her livelihood. Her exihibits are on display at Ajeevika Mela at Pragati Maidan. When I went there for a visit she took great pains to explain the art form. She stated that the paintings depict original stories from the lives of the tribals , their lifestyle, rituals, celebrations. On display were an array of colours weaving stories of simple ways of living, dance forms, fishing. and others jungle tales. One painting depicted a story of a cobra who had devoured a deer and had wrapped itself around a tree to speed up the process of digestion. 

I was really touched to hear the story of a painting by the name Durgabaicha Doh. Doh in Marathi means a bund or a small dam. Yogita stated that Durgbai had five brothers and they worked on their field. There was a huge shortage of water in their village and the brothers decided to build a small dam ( doh) to conserve water. The sister would carry food for them everyday to the worksite.The site was located at a distance on a hill.

The ground was rocky and also extremely tough to work on. The weather used to be hot and the brothers found it difficult to work with clothes so they would work without wearing clothes. They therefore told their sister that she should come with the food but bring it up to them only when they indicated and signalled to her to come up through a sign after they were clothed.

One day Durga came with the food and waited for a long time for the indication but the brothers were busy with work and did not communicate. After waiting for a reasonably long time and worrying that the brothers might be hungry or in some trouble she went up the hill and found them working without clothes. The brothers caught unawares were ashamed and jumped from the hill they were digging. Durga also followed them to death. The story is hearsay but a folk lore she has heard. She said that the doh remained incomplete but still exists  by the name of Durgabaicha doh. One of Yogita's painting tells this story. Incidentally a mela is held every year in Bhandara district during Makar Sankrant in memory of Durgabai and her brothers and a temple is dedicated to her. 

Each of the BhaTki painting made by the artist has some hidden tale. Her conviction to work hard on this art form to make a name for it not only in India but internationally made me awestruck

If you are at Delhi please do go to the Ajeevika Mela at Pragati Maidan, see her exhibits and explore something new.....The Adivasi BhaTki Art....

#AJVK2018 

#SarasAajeevikaMela2018