“Indian and Lithuanian culture is about learning to understand the voice of ‘other’ and something beyond”. Ignas Sadauskas (Lithuanian Guru and Singer)

New Delhi: Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts Kaladarsana Division celebrated arts and culture in its totality as it conducted two symposiums and a cultural performance in a day. IGNCA Kaladarsana division in collaboration with Amar Nath Sehgal Private Collection on the occasion of Centenary Birth Anniversary of the legendary artist Shri. Amar Nath Sehgal, Padma Bhushan organised a symposium “The Assembly of a Creative Process- Amar Nath Sehgal”. Later in the evening, IGNCA Kaldarsana division in collaboration with G20 Bharat2023 India, Sanskar Bharati, Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram, International Centre for the Cultural Studies organised an international seminar on “Conservation of Diversity Lithuanian Experience” and cultural music performance presented by Cultural group of Lithuania – “KULGRINDA”. The morning occasion was graced by Shri Prayag Shukla, Eminent Art Critic and Dr. Sachidanand Joshi, Member secretary, IGNCA. The other guests and speakers who spoke on the subject were Shri. Ramkrishna Vadela, Secretary I/C, Lalit Kala Akademi, New Delhi, Dr. Laxman Prasad Sr. Assistant Professor, SOPVA, IGNOU, New Delhi and Dr. Kumar Jigeshu, Assistant Professor, College of Art. Prof. (Dr.) Richa Kamboj, HoD, Kaladarsana, IGNCA, New Delhi and Ms. Mandira Row, Resident Curator, Amar Nath Sehgal Private Collection, New Delhi was also present. In the evening Zymantas Mozuraitis, Deputy Head of Mission at Embassy of Lithuania to India, Prof. (Dr.) Shashi Bala, a renowned Indologist, Dr. Ignas Sadauskas, Lithuanian Guru and Singer, Chetan Joshi a famous flautist and Vetra along with her other members of the Kulgrinda group were present.

Prof. Shashi Bala while speaking on the occasion informed the audience that this seminar and cultural musical performance is being conducted under the flagship of G20 Bharat2023 India. She further added that the impact of geography is important and also added that linguistically and psychologically both India and Lithuania are alike. She further added that the cultural continuities and relationship between India and Lithuania is not well researched. If we look into the depth of it we will realize that the philosophy of India is preserved in Lithuania. Zymantas Mozuraitis said that Lithuanian folk is a broad concept. He ended his speech on a positive note as he mentioned India will open its embassy in Lithuania in 2023. He concluded by saying that Dr. Ignas a guru a philosopher and member of the musical group greeted the audience by saying “Namaste the people of Bharat”. He further shared his experience in India and praised the Indian hospitality. He later stressed how Lithuanian culture is a culture of living traditions and this culture has been passed down through “Diana” (transmission of oral culture). He further elaborated that Indian and Lithuanian culture is alike. He further added that in Lithuanian culture there is “learning to understand the voice of ‘other’ and something beyond.

While addressing the participants, Shri Prayag Shukla touched upon Amarnath Sehgal’s life and stressed upon his life as meditation of art and also added how his line drawings were profound. He further said that Amar Nath Sehgals life should be seen in totality and in reference to time as well. He elaborated and said that the freedom of doing art with conviction was not there when Amar Nath Sehgal was doing his art. The heritage of the country can be many but the real heritage of the country is richness of its culture in context to art more especially the art of sculpting and hence its conservation is important. Shri Shukla said in this context that nature is massive but art is more massive than nature. Shri Shukla summed by saying that, “ No art is bad art” and some artists have accumulated some larger aspects in their work and therefore work of art must be seen in its context.

Dr. Sachidanand Joshi while speaking on the subject of symposium said works of Amar Nath Sehgal is inspiring and how it brings to fore the humanist aspects of arts. Dr. Joshi lauded the efforts of the organizer of the symposium and said the topic is important as it brings works like this into discourse of young people without which its rightful purpose shall not be solved. He reiterated that Amar Nath Sehgal was an artist who kept the human side of art to the fore and concluded by saying that works of Amar Nath Sehgal is in public gaze and it’s a big thing.

Shri Ramkrishna Vedala while addressing the audience said that he is greatly thankful to IGNCA because IGNCA has been advocating the idea of memorial lecture. He also added that, in the memory of artists, if there are series of lecture, the craft of the people live for long. Speaking on Amar Nath Sehgal he said “If I say something on Amar Nath Sehgal, it would be pretentious and I would not venture into that”. However he added that Amar Nath Sehgal never imitated anyone and kept to his indigenous roots and he was the conscious and unconscious representative of the people. Dr. Laxman Prasad emphasized on the holistic dynamics of the beauty and stressed that the concept of beauty depends on the consciousness of the person. He further elaborated on how art can be practiced, through the conscious, subconscious and unconscious mind. He gave some tips to the young artist which included going outdoors as this practice will add depth to their art and observation will enhance the skill of line drawings. Dr. Kumar Jigeshu also stressed upon the idea of ‘seeing’ in art and on concept of beauty. He further added that to ‘see’ is the perspective and in art there is only positivity.

Dr. Richa Kamboj talked about the different facets of arts and how Amar Nath Sehgal was multifaceted artist. Dr. Kamboj later gave PPT presentations on the art works in different medium of Amar Nath Sehgal. She also emphasized on humanistic aspect of Amar Nath Sehgal and said in that context Amar Nath Sehgal believed that every artist has to be a humanist. Dr. Kamboj also said that Amar Nath Sehgals art is the art moving from abstract expressionism to realism. Mandira Row, also spoke on the occasion and brought to the fore some lesser known facts about Amar Nath Sehgal and the symposium ended with small film on Shri Amar Nath Sehgal and his relationship with Delhi “The Delhi Story”.

Chetan Joshi speaking on this occasion praised the efforts of Sanskar Bharti in bringing the Lithuanian music to our country and said when one sings alone its is practice but when we sing together it’s a prayer. The evening ended with cultural musical presentations of the group ‘Kulgrinda’, it should be noteworthy that the group sang their Lithuanian music along with Indian music reciting Sanskrit shloka and ‘Sambhu’. The evening ended with ‘Vande Matram’ sung by the group from Lithuania- Kulgrinda.