Patangarh has now become a pilgrimage site for painters. Patangarh is a small village in the Karanjia development block of Dindori, a tribal district in eastern Madhya Pradesh. Patangarh now shines like a pole star on the global map. It is the village of Jangarh Singh Shyam, a highly talented Gond painter who reached the pinnacle of fame during his lifetime. He passed away prematurely but gave new life to Gond painting, a heritage of his community. Today, many talented Gond painters not only earn their living through painting but also continue to enrich Gond painting with their imagination and creativity. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has brought Gond paintings to the world by gifting them to VIPs and guests.
Patangarh is a village of about 300 households. All are Gond or predominantly Gond sub-caste. They have become ambassadors of Gond art. Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav is generously encouraging Gond artists. The new generation of Gond artists is participating in national and international exhibitions. Gond art now boasts a GI tag, making it a sought-after art market worldwide. The late J. Swaminathan, renowned art connoisseur and painter, is credited with discovering Jangarh Singh Shyam’s talent.
Today, as the country celebrates Tribal Pride Day, it is relevant to discuss the unique Gond painting of Madhya Pradesh. As the urban community and art lovers have grown in interest, Gond painting has become renowned worldwide.
Atmaram Shyam is a young Gond painter from Sunpuri, a village near Patnagarh. He has been active in Bhopal for the past seven years. He is dedicated to the preservation, promotion, and dissemination of Gond art. His paintings beautifully depict the Gond community’s culture, traditions, folklore, customs, wildlife, nature, and the interrelationship between humans and the environment.
Through painting, Shri Atmaram Shyam expresses the cultural identity, traditional knowledge, and lifestyle of tribal communities on canvas. His goal isn’t just to create paintings. He also wants to pass on his culture and traditions to future generations.
Atmaram Shyam, a postgraduate in Fine Arts, studied up to the 12th grade in Dindori. He has had a keen interest in painting since childhood. His grandfather, Narmada Prasad Tekam, is an established painter, from whom he received guidance. His elder sister, Sushila Shyam, is also an established painter, who taught him the nuances of painting. Discussing the themes of his paintings in detail, Atmaram says, “The tree of life and nature, animals, birds and wildlife, the culture and traditions of the Gond community, tribal festivals, customs and folklore, forests, rivers, mountains and the environment, traditional musical instruments and folk life, and the interrelationship between humans and nature are his favorite subjects.”
Atmaram has participated in numerous national and international exhibitions and art festivals. He has received numerous awards and honors for his artistic pursuits, including the Gold Award in 2022, the International Art Award in 2021, and a special award for live art performance at the International Trade Fair. At the BRICS Summit in Indore, his Gond paintings were appreciated and purchased by foreign guests, especially delegates from the United States. One of his artworks was presented to the Consulate General of India (CGI) in Australia.
- Art performances and achievements
He had the opportunity to give a live painting demonstration at a special meeting of the Madhya Pradesh Cabinet in Bhopal. Chief Minister Dr. Yadav praised his artwork. Atmaram has started teaching and training students and youth in Gond painting. He trains college students in Gond painting and organizes art workshops. He says that this is his work to connect tribal youth with traditional art. It is our responsibility to discover and encourage local talent. Every citizen should be aware of tribal culture and heritage. The new generation should be proud of its art heritage and cultural identity.
- Teaching in Dindori
Atmaram Shyam recently organized a series of art workshops in Dindori district to teach the nuances of painting to young people. The main objective of these workshops is to connect local children and youth with art, encourage their creative talent, and increase awareness of tribal art and cultural heritage. Atmaram says that art education should not be limited to big cities and institutions. It should also reach youth in rural and tribal areas to attract them towards art entrepreneurship. Atmaram expresses his gratitude to the Madhya Pradesh government for promoting the arts. He believes that art is the best tool to increase awareness and sensitivity towards culture, history, and nature.