New Delhi : The new Parliament building houses an extensive collection of around 5,000 artworks, but, just over a month into its inauguration, plans are already afoot for the next phase of the art project, which will focus on the freedom movement and Indian traditions.
While the concept and proposal are ready, the execution may take another year, The Indian Express has learnt. The next phase will include around eight new galleries — split equally between the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha Foyers — besides artwork to adorn the dining halls.
The first floor will also have two galleries — one on the role of women in the nation’s development and another one showcasing the role of tribal leaders in the freedom movement.
Sachchidanand Joshi, Member-Secretary of the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA), said a gallery dedicated to India’s “fight for esteem, pre-1857” will come up on the upper ground floor of the Lok Sabha Foyer, besides another highlighting the freedom struggle (1857 to 1947). The IGNCA will execute the project under the aegis of the Ministry of Culture.
The first floor will also have two galleries — one on the role of women in the nation’s development and another one showcasing the role of tribal leaders in the freedom movement.
The Rajya Sabha Foyer will have two new galleries on the upper ground floor (on India’s knowledge and Bhakti traditions) and two on the first floor (on the Indian connection with nature and traditional sports). The other walls of the building will be decorated with shlokas and other sacred symbols, said Joshi.
On the first phase of the artwork, which was much more extensive, Joshi said that they were assigned the project in February 2022 and had to execute it in under one year. In the brief given to them, he said: “The basic idea was to keep Indian ethos in mind, and showcase Bharat and bharatiyata.”
On the first phase of the artwork, which was much more extensive, Joshi said that they were assigned the project in February 2022 and had to execute it in under one year. In the brief given to them, he said: “The basic idea was to keep Indian ethos in mind, and showcase Bharat and bharatiyata.”
They also had to ensure that all regions and states of India find adequate representation. For instance, said Joshi, a decorated wall of the Central Foyer, named Jan Janani Janmabhoomi, had 75 women artisans create crafts representing 28 states and eight UTs. Another gallery called Shilp Deergha had more than 250 craft pieces sourced from 400 artisans from across the country.
Efforts were also made to represent Indian traditions and legendary artists. The Samudra Manthan mural, which adorns the Lok Sabha wall in the Central Foyer, signifies the churning of ideas and thoughts for public welfare.
The cost of the overall building project is estimated to be more than Rs 1,200 crore.
