Youth urged to preserve tribal art: Tara Douglas

Young people can not only help preserve the rich, indigenous tribal culture of India but also update tribal arts. This was the view expressed by Tara Douglas, animator and secretary, Adivasi Arts Trust, Delhi, while speaking on ‘Animating Tribal Art’ at an event here on Thursday.

Speaking about animating minority cultures and adaptation of cultural heritage for digital media, Douglas urged students from the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) and the National Institute of Design (NID) to participate in this initiative.

Her organisation, the Adivasi Arts Trust, seeks to promote awareness of Indian tribal culture and also works with the tribes involving them in digital media projects.

“Our aim is to preserve and promote tribal arts by making short animated films in collaboration with the tribal artists in India. We get the musicians, tribal artists, story-tellers and animation students together to make short films,’’ said Douglas.

Last time, they came up with a programme called ‘The tallest story competition’ which is the collection of five, 5-minute films based on the tribals of central India: Muria Gond from Chhattisgarh, Gond from Madhya Pradesh, Santhal from Jharkhand, Soara from Orissa and Warli from Maharashtra.

“We are working on a programme titled ‘Tales Of The Tribes’ which deals with the tribes of the North-East. It will be completed in a few years,’’

Cdr (retd) Anand Khandekar, immediate past chairman of the animation and gaming committee of the Mahratta Chamber of Commerce, Industries and Agriculture (MCCIA), and Tommy Sopwith, managing director of Bio Creations, were also present.