Padmashri Parshuram Gangavane

 

Shri Parshuram Vishram Gangavane has been tenaciously preserving and promoting the traditional art forms of the Adivasi Thakar Tribe since 1975.

Born on June 1, 1956, to the tribal family of Gangavanes in Kudal; he has learnt over ten traditional arts from his father, Vishram Gangavane. These include Chitrakathi, Kalsutri Bahulya, Leather Puppets, Pangul Bael, Powada, Gondhal, Radhanrutya, and six more traditional art forms of the Thakars.

In 2006, the community at Pinguli under his leadership set up a “Thakar Adivasi Kala Aangan”  (TAKA) Museum & Art Gallery depicting the 500 Years old traditional objects and puppets of the Thakar culture and has since been visited by both local and foreign tourists. A school is working to teach both women and men of the community to paint the traditional Chitrakathi,(tradition of storytelling through paintings & music)through which they preserve the Thakar art forms. The Vishram Thakar Adivasi Kala Aangan Charitable Trust owns a museum and an art gallery at Pinguli, Maharashtra; incidentally this museum was built in Shri Parshuram’s cow shed. Through this trust and the support of other like-minded artisans and his sons Eknath and Chetan, Shri Parshuram has hosted many HIV Aids awareness,Beti Bachao, Vyasan Mukti, Swachh Bharat Abhiyan,Health Awarness programs, covid 19 awarness performances through Kalsutri Bahuli (string puppets) in many villages of Maharashtra. Through the Kala Angan Museum Shri Parshuram also promotes the tribal traditions amongst the Thakar youth who have currently moved to other fields and occupations.

Shri Gangavane is the recipient of numerous awards and honours that acknowledged his efforts in preserving folk traditions for the last four decades.   He was honored with State Award for Nasha Bandhi Abhiyan awareness through String Puppetry. He was also honored with Sindhudurg Tourist Friend Award for his work to promote CulturalTourism in Sindhudurg Tourism District. He was nominated as a Guru under the Guru Shishya Parampara initiated by the Indian Ministry of Culture and has since conducted 8 Learning programs with over 150 graduates. He has also travelled in various states of India to perform String Puppetry & Chitrakathi in Government Cultural Festivals. He has additionally conducted and participated in more than 100 workshops across the country to promote and share the lessons about his tribal art.

His contribution to society through the conservation and promotion of his art form is unparalleled and he hopes to empower his community by nurturing the traditional art forms for future generations.