Pandi Ram Mandavi, 68, an artist from Chhattisgarh’s Narayanpur district, was awarded the Padma Shri for his contribution spanning five decades to the field of traditional musical instruments and wood craftsmanship.
He is the only person from Chhattisgarh to feature among the list 113 Padma Shri winners this year.
Mandavi, from the Gond Muria tribe, specialises in the manufacturing of a flute called ‘Sulur’, made of bamboo.
Mandavi learned the art, passed down through generations by his ancestors, at the age of 12.
Speaking to The Indian Express, Pandi said, “I left school in the class 4. But my father imparted our ancestral skills of wood craftsmanship to me. He did not receive any award from the government, but thanks to him, today I am getting this respect and everyone at home is excited. All credit goes to him.”
Mandavi has not only been preserving the cultural heritage of Bastar for the last five decades, but is also giving it a new identity. He has taken his art to the global stage through embossed paintings, sculptures and other wooden handicrafts.
“My dream is to make a museum in my village to display my artwork so that the coming generations can learn from it and carry forward the art. I hope the government supports this idea in some way,” he said.
As a cultural ambassador, he has exhibited his art in at least eight different countries. Additionally, through his workshop, he has trained over a thousand artisans.