IGNCA promoting interdisciplinary study of Indian rock art

From the prehistoric Stone Age cave paintings at Bhimbetka, to the murals and rock-cut sculptures in the Ajanta and Ellora caves, Indian rock art is believed to contain some of the earliest recorded history of mankind, apart from being masterpieces of creativity in their own right. Among the initiatives being implemented are a first-of-its-kind rock art centre at Nagpur, a rock art heritage park in Leh, a permanent gallery at the Mahant Ghasidas Memorial State Museum in Raipur, and a certificate course at the Indira Gandhi National Centre for Arts in Delhi, which will also help to develop academic course content on the subject, to be used at universities across India. “The IGNCA has designed an academic programme on rock art, focussing on the exploration of the artistic manifestation emanating from man’s primary sense perceptions,” says Prof. Sachidanand Joshi, member-secretary of the IGNCA. Primeval man’s vision Such study will provide a global perspective on rock art research and encourage Indian scholars to dedicate themselves seriously to the discipline, as it is directly related to the primeval vision of man and perhaps represents the first creative act of early human beings. Several survey and pilot study programmes are being organised as part of the IGNCA’s National Project on the Rock Art of India to encourage scholars and students to take up this emerging discipline.