Nanhe Kalakaar : Addressing Cultural and Childhood Erosion

Growing up in the State of Rajasthan, known for its rich culture and craft tradition, has immensely enriched our lives and inadvertently shaped our personalities. All we could recall from our childhood, is perhaps a dance performance in school, a drama/natak performed with friends, winning a gleaming trophy for singing a patriotic song which still lies in our wardrobe, dressing up in bright Lehanga or bandhani turban, watching kathputlis dance, making mandanas with Nanis and dadis (grandmothers), or attending Melas with the parents, etc.

Now, bringing our awareness to present times, all we can observe is tiny hands and little eyes centered on the screens of mobile phones. Studies suggest that every minute of screen time is depriving the child from the time she/he can potentially spend on communicating or learning from others. Pablo Picasso once said that “Every child is an artist”, however Generation Alpha in their obsession of digital gadgets, has created their own isolated digital world which is devoid of any creativity and imagination. Brene Brown suggests that unused creativity isn’t benign. When we deny ourselves a creative outlet, it has the potential to metastasize and transform into emotions like grief, rage and judgment. At the backdrop of rising trend of creativity erosion among children, there is an apparent threat of Cultural Erosion. The State of Rajasthan is a rich tapestry of traditions, vivid attire, delicious cuisine, vibrant festivals, intricate art forms, etc. The rich craft and culture is not just a source of entertainment but a means to pass on stories and peculiar techniques from generation to generation. Had the ancient humans precluded themselves to make the cave paintings, we would not have the descriptive insights about our civilization. Similarly had the chhipa community ceased their practice of Hand block printing to settle on modern lifestyle, we would not be able to wear the magnificent block printed craft today.

Comprehending the significance of Art for every Child and Role of Children in preserving Culture, we are organizing our fourth edition of child-oriented Art Festival under our initiative “Nanhe Kalakar: Bachpan ke badhte Kadam”. Interestingly this is not just a two-day event yet an opportunity for every creative bud to exhibit his/her art and to perform charity at the same time.

What makes it even more thrilling is our theme, which is designed to ignite children's love for Rajasthan’s Culture and Craft in a modern language! We firmly believe that children hold the key to carry forward the rich legacy of Rajasthan, or else in coming future the Art Forms will only find a reference in history books. With our carefully curated sessions, we aim to foster a lifelong appreciation for Culture among young minds.