IIM Jammu launches workshop on centuries-old Basohli art

The Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Jammu on Monday inaugurated a unique week-long workshop on the centuries-old Basohli painting art form, providing students and participants an exclusive opportunity to learn the intricate craft directly from women artists who are officially certified under its Geographical Indication (GI) tag.

Considered one of the most vibrant and distinctive schools of Pahari miniature painting, Basohli painting originated in the erstwhile princely state of Basohli around the 17th–18th centuries. Known for its bold colours, dramatic facial features, rich borders and liberal use of beetle-wing cases for embellishment, the art form received the prestigious GI tag in March 2023, recognising its unique geographical and cultural origin.

The workshop, described by IIM Jammu as the “first-of-its-kind” initiative on its campus, brings together nationally recognised women artisans from the Basohli region who have played a pivotal role in reviving and preserving this 300-year-old tradition.

Over the seven-day programme, participants will receive hands-on training under the guidance of award-winning senior artist Sohan Singh Billowaria, state awardees Rajni Bala and Sonam Jamwal, and several others in traditional techniques, including natural pigment preparation, brushwork, gold embellishment and thematic storytelling drawn from Hindu mythology, court life and Ragamala series, which are hallmarks of authentic Basohli paintings.

Speaking at the inauguration, Professor BS Sahay, Director, IIM Jammu, said he welcomes the living heritage of Basohli Art to its Jagti campus, as it hosts the master practitioners “whose devotion, skill, and cultural memory preserve the aesthetic soul of Jammu and uphold India’s artistic heritage”.

“By facilitating direct interaction between our students and these extraordinary women artisans, we aim to foster appreciation for indigenous art forms while promoting entrepreneurship and sustainable livelihoods in the artisan community,” he said.

The participating women artists, many of whom belong to families that have been practising the craft for generations, have gained national acclaim in recent years. Several have received state and national awards, and their works have been exhibited at prestigious platforms, including the National Museum in New Delhi.

The workshop, scheduled to end on December 14, has been organised under Anandam: The Centre for Happiness and the Painting Club, IIM Jammu, in association with the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA), Regional Centre Jammu.