When: 22 August, 2016
Where: Rajasthan
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11 Railway stations in Rajasthan now have an attractive theme-based face-lift!
Recently painted surface of the Bikaner Railway Station in Rajasthan where floral motifs have been used -- take a look at the intricate work of the local art maestros.
Rajasthan, known for its rich heritage and grand forts, has added a unique feather to its heritage turban. The latest initiative is at its railway stations. As many as 11 stations, some of them were unkempt and dreary, have been turned into places of art. Artwork with exquisite themes have been completed at 11 stations and two more--Kishangarh and Alwar stations--are in the pipeline. The works are not just a new coat of paint and cleaner surroundings but they are fast earning the tag of public art galleries. As Bharatpur has a bird sanctuary, the railway station theme promotes idea of conservation. Floral motifs from Badal Mahal have been used to decorate the station in Bikaner. The famous Bani Thani paintings are catching visitors' attention at the Ajmer station. Udaipur has used representations from the Mewar School of Art, an important school of miniature painting of the 17th and 18th centuries. The Kota station has traditional paintings from Bundi School of Art.
Similarly, the Jodhpur station has been embellished with Phad paintings done on cloth depicting stories of local deities and gods. The Sikar station has unique Shekhawati paintings and frescos of havelis that captivate passengers. The Jaipur Railway Station is painted with Jogi Art, a tribal art form that hinges on dots and lines done by artists from Mount Abu. Whereas the Jaipur's Gandhi Nagar Station has been done with paintings of traditional Rajasthani puppets and the Jaipur skyline could be seen on the platform of Durgapura.
The first to get a facelift was the Sawai Madhopur Railway Station, gateway to the world-famous Ranthambhore National Park. The station has now become a virtual living art museum of wildlife, showcasing the flora and fauna, including the famed tigers of the wildlife reserve. This station recently bagged the prestigious national tourism award of the Union Tourism Ministry for 2014-15. The artwork from the Ranthambhore School of Art was led by two master painters Gajanand Singh and Narayan Singh. A team of 20 artists decorated about 7,000-sqft area of the railway station with the paintings of forests, banyan trees, tigers, leopards, bears, darters and tree-pies. The project was funded by the World Wildlife Fund India. Railway stations in the state are being painted thematically, taking cue from the Prime Minister's "Swachh Bharat Abhiyan". Railway stations in the state are being given thematic facelift so that they stand out in terms of aesthetics, cleanliness and are also user-friendly.
The puppet theme for the Gandhi Nagar Station was chosen after much deliberation because it's an important part of Jaipur's rich history and is dying a slow death. The realistic kind of a painting of special puppets of sun, birds and elephant in bright colors over a Persian Blue background creates a 3D effect. In addition craft motifs and creative forms of clouds used in traditional paintings also appear. For the busier main Jaipur Junction, simple art form was chosen to connect with the masses. Whereas the Durgapura Station, where luxury trains such as Palace on Wheels originate, one can see the skyline of Jaipur's walled city. The walls have the same pink hue which was chosen by Sawai Ram Singh, when Jaipur was painted pink for the first time to welcome the Prince of Wales, later Edward VII, in 1876. The commuters who board the train or get off at the Durgapura Railway Station, even before entering the main city, which is eight km away, can get an essence of the walled city and its skyline, depicting dome of temples, old buildings and government offices. Artists have also painted the street of Chandpole to Choti Chaupar on the giant wall of the railway station.
