The book aims to reveal analytically the creative and artistic activities and the Art works of the tribals of Mandla region in Madhya Pradesh. Some people may find tribal sculptures, images and symbols ridiculous, but this is because they do not try to understand them. The creation of an image is the outcome of man's mind. For the understanding and appreciation of tribal art, the knowledge of tribal religion is indispensable. A brief knowledge of gods, goddesses and spirits of the tribals of this region is an essential part of the book.
Dr. Umesh Chandra Misra (b.1942) is professor and Head of the Department of Painting, Indira Kala Sangit Vishwavidyalaya, Khairgarh (M.P.). He is the Dean of the Faculty of Painting of the same University. He was the Chairman of the Board of Studies in Drawing & Painting, University of Jabalpur (M.P.) among other assignments. He has several books to his credit.
The paintings and sculptures of Tribals are of exceedingly high quality and are documents of their cultural heritage. These reveal, in symbols, the most elaborate efforts of men's creativity. They record in their culture the various trends and traditions. Since art is the autobiography of culture we locate in it the aspirations, achievements and also failures of the people. Where the social structure is enshrined with the myths, beliefs, superstitions, taboos and witchcrafts with their traditional values, the art gives a power and responsibility to the tribals to control and guide them through it. The symbols or motifs in art portray the imaginations of men and these imaginations are the representative emotions of the people of a particular period and society.
"It is hardly more than half a century since the discovery of tribal paintings revolutionized the discipline of the fine arts in a similar way as the discovery of Mohenjodaro and Rupar changed the traditional outlook in Indian history and culture." Tribal art is merely a general term covering the art products and performances of tribals. The definition of art may run into several pages, but here we are more concerned with the 'Fine Arts', (specially painting and sculpture) rather than useful arts or crafts.
In the contemporary world of art, tribals have made their own place. Aboriginals or primitive tribals of Africa, Australia, Oceania & New Zealand etc. have contributed their richest traditions to the treasures of art. Some of the modern trends of art are the outcomes of the 'primitive' inspirations. Indian tribal people also have definite artistic manifestations. Most of them and their works remained completely shrouded from our knowledge. Moreover, until recent times very few efforts have been made to uncover our tribal art forms. The type of study to show the effect of art forms particularly human figure drawing, on cultural differences, was first investigated by Paget in 1932. Later on, the same tests were conducted by Wechslar in 1944, and Copeland in 1953. Shri Nityanand Das, Dr. Freda Mukerjee and Ajit Mookerjee have also conducted some field works. Sankho Chaudhuri, Pupal Jayakar and Enakshi Bhavnani have made certain efforts to enlighten the tribal art of India. The famous journal 'Marg', in its Vol. 22, No. 4 of September 1969, dedicated its tribute to the "Forgotten Arts of India." Apart from this, 'Marg' has given sufficient space to this subject in many of its previous issues. 'Art in Industry', a famous magazine has given deserved importance to it.
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