High Commission of India, Dhaka organized the Gandhi @ 150 art camp from 12-15 December 2019 at Sreemangal, Sylhet Division, Bangladesh. 15 young artists from Bangladesh participated in the art camp. Rokeya Sultana, a renowned artist and professor at Faculty of Fine Arts, Dhaka University was the mentor of the camp.
Government of India has been commemorating the 150th Birth Anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi across the country and in Indian Missions abroad. The Gandhi @ 150 art camp is part of High Commission of India's commemoration of this significant year. Earlier, High Commission had organized a Vegetarian Food Festival, tree plantation and a cycling event. Schoolchildren from over 50 schools participated in a quiz on Mahatma Gandhi as well. A high-level event celebrating the Mahatma was held at UN Headquarters on 24 September 2019 which was graced by the presence of Prime Minister H.E. Sheikh Hasina.
The Gandhi @ 150 Camp was earlier, inaugurated by High Commissioner Smt. Riva Ganguly Das at High Commission of India, Dhaka on 11 December 2019. Deputy High Commissioner, Shri. Bishwadip Dey visited the art camp on 14 December 2019 and interacted with the artists. The artists, working on themes based on Gandhian philosophy such as Truth & Non-violence (Ahimsa), 'Universal brotherhood- Vasudeiva Kutumbakam', etc have brought out artwork in the nature of sculpture, paintings, batik work, etc. The artwork produced in the Gandhi @ 150 Art Camp would be exhibited at Shilpakala Academy in early January 2020.
Remarks on Gandhi @ 150 Art Camp
"I am pleased to see the enthusiastic participation by the young artists in the Gandhi @ 150 Art Camp. Their work is indeed reflective of their understanding of the Gandhian way of thought. Gandhi's principles are timeless and I am encouraged to see that it has found resonance in the minds of these young participating artists"- High Commissioner Smt. Riva Ganguly Das
"Today's youth is Bangladesh's future. I firmly believe that the Gandhi @ 150 Art Camp organized by High Commission of India will guide them. This generation will understand Gandhi's ideology and aim of building a compassionate world. They will become better citizens of the world and engage themselves in maintaining peace." - Ms. Rokeya Sultana, Mentor of the Gandhi @ 150 Art Camp
"I have tried to depict on canvas, Mahatma Gandhi's lifelong work for peace. He showed us the path of peace and proved with his life that one can achieve one's goal without resorting to violence" - Tahia Hossain, participating artist
"Gandhi dedicated his life for the greater purpose of searching for the truth. I have tried to present through my work his pursuit of the truth and how he made the cotton yarn the medium through which India fought for freedom and self-reliance" - Rahul Rahat, participating artist
"Satya in Satyagraha means truth. Therefore satyagraha is the force borne out of truth, love and non-violence. It is this understanding of Satyagraha that I am trying to depict through my work" - Md. Ashraful Alam, participating artist
