The India’s national Museum of Mankind, Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Manav Sangrahalaya (IGMRS), is all set to recommend the Ministry of Culture to announce Pedana as country’s ‘heritage village’. The IGMRS is an autonomous organisation of the Union Ministry of Culture.
The status of the heritage village would help in conserving the Kalamkari art form in its traditional way, apart from promising recognition for the artisans involved in the rural industry. In his 2010 visit to Pedana, IGMRS’ Assistant Keeper P. Sankara Rao had already completed larger part of the research, establishing all necessary parameters that support the town to be named as heritage village.
Presently, Raghurajpur in Odisha, a village inhabited by artisans producing sheer poetry on pieces of treated cloth, dried palm leaf or paper, was one of the most celebrated ‘heritage villages’ for tourists from across the globe. “We will mostly try to complete our research on Kalamkari in our five-day ‘Kalamkari festival’, which is scheduled to be celebrated in Vijayawada from November 26. A documentary on the art will also help us to show the world the beauty of the art and artisans’ work”, Mr. Sankara Rao told The Hindu .
He said that a proposal would soon be submitted to the Ministry of Culture, recommending that the town should be included in the list of the heritage villages of the country. “The IGMRS will also seek support from Andhra Pradesh, if necessary. The status will attract tourists ”, said Mr. Sankara Rao.
Kalamkari Festival Authorities of The Victoria Jubilee Museum, Vijayawada, have already accepted the proposal from the IGMRS to conduct the Kalamkari festival on the museum premises in spite of ongoing renovation works. According to IGMRS official, artisans belonging to Srikalahasti (Chittoor) style of Kalamkari and Pedana style (Hand block) would together display their art to the visitors. Pedana-based wooden block makers and weavers would also join the festival.
