Shimla: Bringing alive the tradition of Pahari miniature painting, young artist Devender was conferred the best artist position at the north zone inter university competition recently held at Lucknow.
Speaking to Hill Post, Devender said, “there were many good artists at the inter university competition but being declared the best artist was a very special moment for me.”
In all there were 37 universities that participated in the competition held at Baba Sahib Bhim Rao Ambedkar Central University, Lucknow.
Devender is a Fine Art student pursuing a master’s degree course at the Pahari Miniature Painting Institute of Integrated Himalayan Studies and under the aegis of department of visual arts, Himachal Pradesh University.
After the downfall of the Mughal empire, who were great patrons of the arts, the Pahari (literally meaning Hill) school of paintings gained pre-eminence in North India where between the 17—19th centuries.
Royal houses of Kangra, Basholi, Nurpur, Guler and Garhwal turned patrons and supported many artists.
One of the characteristics of these paintings was that they were mostly miniatures but regional variations did get reflected across the land stretching from Jammu Almora, Himachal Pradesh and Garhwal.
Genres ranged from the bold and intense Basholi Painting to the delicate Radha Krishna lore reflected in the Kangra paintings.
As Editor, Ravinder Makhaik leads a team of media professionals at Hill Post.
Spanning a career of over two decades in mass communication, as a Documentary Filmmaker, TV journalist, Print Media journalist and with Online & Social Media, he brings with him a vast experience. He lives in Shimla.
