Shimla, 15 October 2026: On the concluding day of the Diamond Jubilee Celebrations at the Indian Institute of Advanced Study (IIAS), Rashtrapati Niwas, Shimla, the Hon’ble Governor of Himachal Pradesh, Shri Kavinder Gupta, unveiled the bust of Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, the founder of the Institute, and inaugurated the permanent art gallery dedicated to Kangra miniature paintings, titled Kangra Kalam: The Pahari Miniature Art Gallery. On the occasion, the book Folk and Rural Imagery in Kangra Miniatures: An Indigenous Indian Art Perspective, based on Kangra miniature paintings, was also released. The event marked a significant step in the Institute’s efforts to bring Himachal Pradesh’s rich artistic heritage, Pahari community life and traditional art and culture to a wider audience.
“Kangra Painting Is a Symbol of Our Civilisation and Culture”: Governor
Addressing the gathering at the inauguration of the art gallery, the Hon’ble Governor, Shri Kavinder Gupta, said that Kangra painting is a symbol of our civilisation and culture. He observed that the Himalayan states of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand share several cultural and civilisational similarities, which are expressed effectively through the region’s paintings. The Himalayan region reflects both ancient and modern traditions of painting.
The Governor expressed confidence that the newly established gallery would provide tourists from India and abroad with an opportunity to understand the civilisation, culture and artistic traditions of the hill regions. He emphasised the need to keep the art forms and traditions of these regions alive and acknowledged the significant work undertaken by artists in this direction. Appreciating the initiative, he said that the gallery would serve as a gift while also playing an important role in preserving the region’s civilisation and cultural heritage.
A New Art Gallery Connecting Kangra Miniatures with Everyday Life
Located in Room No. 8 of the Institute’s main building, near the Secretary’s Office, Kangra Kalam: The Pahari Miniature Art Gallery aims to preserve Himachal Pradesh’s rich Pahari miniature painting tradition and present it to tourists, art enthusiasts and the wider public. The gallery offers an opportunity to appreciate Kangra painting beyond its familiar depictions of royal courts, religious narratives and celebrated artistic themes, bringing greater attention to the everyday life, folk traditions and rural surroundings of Pahari society.
The gallery is closely associated with the concept of Folk and Rural Imagery in Kangra Miniatures: An Indigenous Indian Art Perspective. It places particular emphasis on presenting Pahari community life, rural activities, folk music, traditional customs and the relationship between local communities and nature through the medium of miniature painting.
During a five-day miniature painting workshop organised at the Institute in June 2026, traditional miniature artists worked within the Guru–Shishya Parampara (teacher–disciple tradition), using natural colours, traditional tools and fine painting techniques. The artists and their disciples shared their experience, skills and traditional knowledge. The creative process provided an opportunity to express contemporary rural life and folk culture through a traditional artistic idiom.
A distinctive feature of this initiative is its attention to subjects that often appear in the background or margins of traditional paintings. These include a farmer ploughing a field, people singing folk songs in a courtyard, a woman carrying a basket, the life of the Gaddi community, the preparation of traditional food and a procession of a local deity. Through these subjects, the gallery presents the living cultural memory of Pahari society and diverse aspects of everyday life through artistic expression.
Book on Kangra Miniature Paintings Released
During the programme, the book Folk and Rural Imagery in Kangra Miniatures: An Indigenous Indian Art Perspective was released. Authored by Prof. Himanshu Kumar Chaturvedi and Dr. Pankaj Gupta, the publication represents an important effort to understand Pahari folk life, rural settings and local cultural experiences through Kangra miniature paintings.
The book brings into focus an aspect of traditional Pahari painting in which nature, everyday life and the cultural activities of local communities occupy an important place. It presents painting as a living tradition in which artistic skills, local experiences and knowledge transmitted through the Guru–Shishya Parampara remain closely interconnected.
The publication marks an important step towards documenting traditional art forms and making them more widely accessible to academic and cultural audiences. It also strengthens efforts to understand the relationship between art and everyday life and to pass the region’s artistic heritage on to future generations.
Bust of Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan Unveiled
During the ceremony, the Hon’ble Governor, Shri Kavinder Gupta, also unveiled the bust of Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, the founder of the Indian Institute of Advanced Study. The occasion symbolised respect for the intellectual legacy associated with the establishment of the Institute and its academic objectives. Dr. Radhakrishnan is remembered for his contributions to philosophy, education and the pursuit of knowledge. His bust on the Institute’s premises underscores the enduring values of scholarship and intellectual inquiry.
Institute Employees Present a Glimpse of Art and Folk Culture
A cultural programme was also presented by the employees of the Institute as part of the Diamond Jubilee Celebrations. Featuring music, dance, poetry and folk performances, the programme showcased India’s cultural traditions, with particular glimpses of the folk cultures of Himachal Pradesh and Rajasthan.
The programme opened with a dance performance based on Ram Stuti, presented by Mrs. Rajni. This was followed by solo singing performances by Dr. Anuradha Raturi and Shri Swastik Verma. Shri Som Prakash Thakur presented a solo dance, while Ms. Ojasvi recited a poem.
The Rajasthani group folk dance added a special vibrancy to the programme, with Institute employees participating collectively. Dr. Neelanjana and Dr. Manoj Kumar Verma also presented solo singing performances. The cultural programme concluded with a Pahari dance, through which the employees offered a glimpse of Himachal Pradesh’s folk and cultural heritage. Together, the performances reflected cultural diversity, collective participation and the celebratory spirit of the occasion.
Institute Promotes Art, Culture and Academic Discourse
The art exhibition Bharatiya Forms, Expressions and Consciousness, organised as part of the Diamond Jubilee Celebrations, was also a major attraction for visitors. Featuring works by artist Nisha Jaiswal, the exhibition was inaugurated on 11 October. It remained open until 15 October, daily from 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., at the Rabindranath Tagore Art Gallery near the Pool Theatre.
The book fair organised during the celebrations showcased publications from national and international publishers. Free entry was provided to visitors for both the art exhibition and the book fair, and the Institute’s regular entry ticket was not required for these events.
Held from 11 to 15 October 2026, the Diamond Jubilee Celebrations gave prominence not only to the Institute’s academic activities but also to art, culture, literature and traditional knowledge systems. The inauguration of the permanent art gallery, the release of the book and the cultural performances by Institute employees on the concluding day reflected this broader vision. These initiatives by the Indian Institute of Advanced Study represent significant efforts to promote the preservation, documentation and wider dissemination of India’s artistic and cultural heritage.