Special Lecture On “Women in Indian Art: Classical and Folk” by Dr.Rajasri Mukhopadhyay, organized by Dept. Of English, Cooch Behar Panchanan Barma University
April 26th 2018: A special lecture on “Women in Indian Art: Classical and Folk” by Dr.Rajasri Mukhopadhyay [Art Historian, Researcher, Educator, Former Senior Research Fellow, Asiatic Society and a National Award Winner as a subject expert of UGC Film on Orissan Temple Arts(2003)] was organised by the Department of English, Cooch Behar Panchanan Barma University.
The inaugural session started with the lighting of traditional lamp by Dr.Debkumar Mukhopadhyay, Vice Chancellor, Dr. Abdul Kader Safily, Registrar, Dr. Jayita Sengupta, Head of the Dept. of English and by Dr.Rajasri Mukhopadhyay. This was followed by felicitation of Dr.Rajasri Mukhopadhyay by Sm.Piyalee Saha, 2nd Semester student with a painting by herself.
Dr. Jayita Sengupta presented her welcome address and thanked the university authorities for their support and cooperation. Speaking at the event, the Vice Chancellor remarked that such events provide opportunities to the students to learn more. The Registrar in his speech said that this type of special lectures will encourage the students to carry on multidimensional research work.
The first session, with the theme “Alasa Kanya: Indolent damsels of Odishan Architecture” was chaired by Dr. Goutam Biswas, Associate Professor of the Chemistry Department. Dr Rajasri Mukhopadhyay shared illuminating views on antiquity related to the concept of the “Alasa Kanya” and its representation in classical and pre-modern times. The interactive session was followed by a tea break. The second session at 1.30 p.m was on the theme “Women and Folk Art in India” . It focused on women as creators in the folk art of Patachitra. Dr. Mukhopadhyay explained how agency and gender identity impact their painting. Dr Mukopadhyay also shared her experiences and observations from the study of women patuas of Naya gram, West Midnapur based on direct field research. Dr. Mukhopadhyay also highlighted how some of the folk art forms like Kantha, Madhubani, ritual art forms like Alpana, Aripana, Rangoli were exclusively done by women and how art forms like Warli or Worli Painting, Madhur Kanthi weaving, and wall painting were mostly done by women and how this folk art is closely integrated with their everyday life. There was a screening of a very poetic documentary film by Supriyo Sen on Patachitras as a grand finale to these illuminating lectures.
The programme witnessed a huge gathering of faculty members of different departments, research scholars, and students. It ended with a vote of thanks by
Dr.Jayita Sengupta.
A Report prepared by
Benoy Pradhan,
Research Scholar, English Department