Palghar tribal Warli art gets Harvard boost

The South Asia Institute at Harvard University has boosted Warli art of Palghar tribals after they were recognised in the Livelihood Creation project which focuses on the key concepts in rural area handicrafts and handloom sectors. The NGO working to save the art form took the tribals to the workshop and set up a dedicated art studio for them.

Under the project, 125 organisations from 15 states participated, of which Palghar tribals were given Rs 50 lakh for become independent entrepreneurs by promoting the Warli paintings through the Raah Foundation, an NGO working in the tribal belts of Jawhar and Palghar. A project report was made on the tribals after studying their art form by the faculties at the Harvard Business School.

Artisans from all over Maharashtra participated in the workshop. “We helped the NGO to set up an art studio in Jawhar, which is dedicated to Warli painting as we feel that the art form which dates back to 4,000 years should be preserved and promoted,” said Dr Shashank Shah, Project director, Harvard.