Preserving Heritage Bharatiya Sanskritik Kendra’s Tribute To Culture & Courage
   Date :02-Feb-2025


Ram mandir koradi by Shilpashree T Baskaradoss 
 
By AASAWARI SHENOLIKAR :
 
Celebrated across cultures and generations, Lord Rama s story transcends religious boundaries, motivating millions to uphold the values that he is associated with - truth, humility, integrity, an unwavering devotion to duty, compassion - both in their personal and social lives. Embodying these timeless virtues, his life offers lessons on leadership, courage, and family values. The Bharatiya Sanskritik Kendra at Nagpur, through innumerable paintings brings alive his epic saga, and also pays tribute to our courageous heroes who fought for their Motherland... 
 
 
 
“Ramayana, is more than just a tale; it is not only an integral part of India’s collective consciousness, it’s a treasure trove of life lessons that has taught generations about responsibility, loyalty, love, ethical conduct and the neverending pursuit of virtue. We have all grown up reading and hearing from our elders stories about Lord Rama, heard praises about Ram Rajya and many a time have sought eternal wisdom from its verses that resonate with astuteness. Transcending time and culture, it is this journey of Lord Rama - from his birth to coronation - depicted in detail through 108 paintings - that finds a place of pride at the Bharatiya Sanskritik Kendra,” says Shilpashree T Baskaradoss, the man who shaped Banwarilal Purohitji’s vision of ‘enriching the future generations of India’. Having contemplated for a long time to create a monument with the object of promoting love for Indian culture and evoking patriotic feelings in the young generations, Banwarilal Purohit, ex-Governor, Assam, Meghalaya, Tamil Nadu, Punjab, during his stint as the Governor of Tamil Nadu, got in touch with renowned artist T Baskaradoss, and after much contemplation, they zeroed in on the concept which today stands tall as a unique monument, the one and only of its kind in the country, that honours heritage and patriotism. “Purohit Sir’s vision of having one such Kendra in Nagpur, the heart of India was what I translated and brought to life,” says the divinely gifted artist who visited the site, drafted the first blueprint, measured, sketched, drew, planned and collaborated - in short, lived and breathed about the Kendra, until it was completed and inaugurated on July 5, 2023 at the hands of President Droupadi Murmu.
 
“The only instructions I received were, ‘We would like Tulsidas’ Ramayana to be depicted through the paintings’. I, and my team were given an absolutely free hand, which is why the project was completed in record time. With no interference from any agencies, all I had to do was concentrate on painting and setting up of the Kendra in all its glory,” says the soft-spoken artist, who has received numerous awards for the spectacular body of work that he has produced from 1973 - the year that he graduated from College of Art & Crafts, Kumbakoman, till today. The period when Covid-19 brought life to a standstill, proved to be a boon to Baskaradoss, as it was during this time that he dived headlong into the project, and worked, not on a single painting, but on several at any given time. “I was clear in my vision, having detailed everything I wanted in each painting,” he explains, revealing how meticulous he was in his work. His previous myriad and vast experiences, made working on the Kendra’s project much smoother. You cannot help but marvel at the final outcome which is nothing short of spectacular. As you look around, you notice how much deliberation has gone into constructing each panel, each yalli, each motif; much consideration has gone into designing of the halls, the placement of the paintings, the symmetry of the hall ensuring continuity of the theme, efficiently using lighting to amplify the exhibits, effectively utilising the vertical space, so that each nook and corner stands out. Pointing to the amulet worn by Ravana in one of the paintings, Baskaradoss directs my attention to an intricate motif on one of the panels - that is designed based on Ravana’s amulet.
 
These and many such items - big and small - have contributed to making the Sanskritik Kendra a marvellous, novel exposition that showcases an important part of India’s rich cultural and courageous milieu. It is these meticulous details that are one of the highlights of the Kendra, and just by word-ofmouth publicity has been drawing visitors by the hordes. In a span of an year, the Kendra has seen over 12 lakh footfalls, and that is an achievement in itself. Through detailed paintings that bring to life Lord Rama’s journey which adorn the first floor, the Ramayana Darshanam Hall, of the Kendra, to paintings that portray India’s freedom struggle and its great warriors - some celebrated, some unsung; through intricate motifs and sculptures - each having an in-depth thought behind its design, each artefact tells a story, celebrating India’s spiritual and patriotic heritage. And it took all of three years for T Baskaradoss to lay down his brush after adding final touches to the canvases, more than 200 in number - a few of them truly huge - all of which are displayed in the two galleries of the Kendra. Conceptualised by Bhartiya Vidya Bhavan’s Nagpur Kendra, under the able leadership of Banwarilal Purohit, Trustee, Vice President, Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan and Chairman of BVB Delhi Kendra, the Bharatiya Sansritik Kendra, spread over 1.43 hectares with each floor occupying a space of 14760 sqft., takes us on a journey that is both enriching and enlightening. In the Ramayana Darshanam Hall, the epic tale of Ramayana unfolds through 108 exquisite paintings.
 
“Each is a masterpiece,” points out T L Raja, Joint Director Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Nagpur Kendra, who, along with T Baskaradoss has worked tirelessly to bring the project to its fruition. Vividly capturing key episodes in the life of Lord Rama, the detailed informative descriptions of the episodes, in English, Hindi and Marathi, provide visitors with a deeper understanding of the timeless legacy. Designed to ignite patriotism and celebrate the freedom fighters, the second floor hall, aptly named Bharat Mata Sadanam, pays a heartfelt tribute to all those prominent individuals who played a key role in India’s struggle for freedom. At its heart stands a magnificent seven-foot brass statue of Bharat Mata, and the Sadanam, starkly different from the Ramayana Darshanam Hall, houses 115 paintings showcasing the heroic struggles from 1857 to 1947. “The most unique thing about this exhibition is that 21 Param Vir Chakra Awardees find a place of pride on the walls,” says T Baskaradoss, as he proudly points to the wall and narrates how much thought process and brainstorming have gone into each nook and corner, each an architectural marvel. It is not only the artefacts inside the Kendra that take your breath away. Visitors will be left awe-struck by the 27-foot black granite statue of Veera Hanuman that greets them as soon as they step inside the premises of the Kendra; they will be captivated by the idol of Sri Shuba Drishti Ganapathy at the entrance, the remover of all obstacles, the God with whose blessings things were completed without any major glitches; the various yallis guarding the entrance; the patterns on the walls, doors, and ceilings - all in sync, a continuum of the entire floor. And the grand paintings in the corridors are simply astounding.
 
Mention must be made of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj on his throne and that of Lord Rama and Hanuman embracing each other. The way Baskaradoss has been able to capture the emotion in the eyes of Lord Rama and his ardent devotee is something that can come only from an artist who possesses immense faith in the work that he has undertaken While T Baskaradoss’s pivotal role in the completion of Bharatiya Sanskritik Kendra is unparalleled, mention must be made of Sthapati K Dakshinamoorthi, who managed the temple architecture. Their expertise and meticulous attention to detail, visualising every aspect of the Kendra, and ensuring flawless execution, have created a unique masterpiece, one of its kind in the country that harmoniously blends heritage, design, and storytelling. “And this has all come together because of one man, Banwarilal Purohitji, who staunchly believes in the preservation and propagation of our Indian culture and traditions, dreamt and visualised and worked towards making his dream come alive. For the future generations to be enriched and enlightened,” states Baskaradoss, the genius, on a concluding note.