Tamil Nadu - Chennai   

Governor calls for more schools to promote art

— Photo: S.R. Raghunathan

TRIUMPHANT MOOD: Governor Surjit Singh Barnala with winners of a drawing competition held to mark the 161st birth anniversary of Raja Ravi Varma, in Chennai on Wednesday.

CHENNAI: Pencil sketches of Raja Ravi Varma, paintings on global warming and war-torn Sri Lanka stood majestically along with a few others at the Raj Bhavan here on Wednesday. They are among the winning entries of the drawing competition conducted to mark the 161st birth anniversary of Raja Ravi Varma.

Speaking after distributing the prizes to the winners, Governor Surjit Singh Barnala said Raja Ravi Varma adopted Western academic styles to represent Indian mythological images and his paintings, which stand a testimony to the richness of Indian art, gave aesthetic forms to classical Indian literature.

He said the ancient art forms of the country must be taken across to other parts of the world and all forms of art must be encouraged.

More art schools should come up in the country to inspire and educate the aspiring artists.

On Ravi Varma’s inborn talent, he said the painter showed signs of brilliance by pencilling animals and natural sceneries at the age of seven.

He urged the parents and teachers to identify and nurture the talents in the children right from early age.

Organised jointly by South Zone Cultural Centre, Thanjavur, and Valli Art Gallery, Erode, the competition saw participation of 836 students from 17 districts. Students from class VI to XII took part in the event held at Pudukottai.

B.C.M. Prasad, great grandson of Raja Ravi Varma, said the painter was hailed in the family for both his artistic talent and spirituality.

Director of South Zone Cultural Centre, Thanjavur, K.V. Giridhar, Valli Art Gallery founder M. Valli Narayanan and its director Anbarasi Stanlin spoke.

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