Huge applause to Chhattisgarhi Jhinjhari and Dondaki clay art at Delhi Parade

     New Delhi/Raipur, January 26, 2012: A tableau on international famous Jhinjhari and Dondaki clay art of Chhattisgarh today received huge applause at the Republic Day parade at New Delhi.

     The tableau of Chhattisgarh based on the traditional Jhinjhari and Dondaki clay art had depicted the rural tribal art form by internationally-acclaimed late Sonabai, Darogaram and Atmaram Manikpuri.

     President Pratibha Patil, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, his Thailand counterpart Yingluck Shinawatra and other dignitaries received the tableau with waving hands when it was passing before them.

     Works of Sonabai Rajawar of Puhaputara village in Sarguja district are in display in Mingei International Museum, San Diego, USA and various other museums across the world, including in Australia, Japan and Germany.

     It is also displayed in National Art Museum, New Delhi.

     Women do decorate walls with clay during festival seasons in rural India, but that art form was revived with a new touch by Sonabai, which was aptly described by Mingei International Museum, San Diego as “The art of Sonabai Rajawar is unique. It has no precedent”.

     The tableau with a huge statue of Sonabai gave a glimpse of her artistic masterpiece. This self-taught artist embellished her home with brightly painted clay sculptures, wall panels and lattice-work.

     Her paintings, sculptures and toys were an unusual blend of complex design and simple understatement, infused with delightful imagination. It depicts animals, people and flora and reflects the immortal charm of tribal life. The figures are so vivacious that one feels it will come to life in no time. The walls of her house are adorned with figures such as parrot, monkey, dancer, flute player made up of useless parts of bamboo and clay.

     Sonabai was honored with President Award in 1983 for her work in clay art. She was also honored by Government of Madhya Pradesh in 2002 with ‘Shilp Guru’ award and ‘Tulsi Samman’.