Parshuram Atmaram Gangavane

Parshuram Vishram Gangavane is an artist of the Thakar Adivasi community who has worked since 1975 to preserve its traditional arts. He was named for the Padma Shri in 2021 in the field of art, from Maharashtra ^[1].

Ten arts from his father

Gangavane was born on 1 June 1956 in Kudal, into the Thakar family of Gangavanes ^[2]. From his father, Vishram Gangavane, he learned more than ten traditional arts, among them Chitrakathi storytelling with painted pictures, kalsutri bahulya string puppets, leather puppets, Pangul Bail, powada, gondhal and Radha nritya ^[2].

A museum in a cowshed

In 2006, under his leadership, the community at Pinguli set up the Thakar Adivasi Kala Aangan museum and art gallery, which displays puppets and objects of Thakar culture up to 500 years old and draws visitors from India and abroad ^[2]. It was built in his own cowshed ^[2].

Through the trust that runs it, and with his sons Eknath and Chetan, he has staged string puppet shows in villages across Maharashtra on causes such as HIV awareness, saving the girl child, de-addiction, cleanliness and Covid-19 ^[2]. The museum also encourages young Thakars who have moved into other work to stay connected with their traditions ^[2].

Teacher

The Ministry of Culture made him a guru in its guru–shishya scheme, and he has run eight courses with more than 150 graduates ^[2]. He has performed string puppetry and Chitrakathi at government festivals in many states and taken part in more than 100 workshops ^[2]. He received the Sindhudurg tourism friend award for promoting cultural tourism ^[2].