[Reader-list] Kashmiri roots of art unravelled

[Aditya Raj Kaul]

* Kashmiri roots of art unravelled

The Hindu - http://www.hindu.com/2009/02/13/stories/2009021350510200.htm

** ASI-Benoy Behl come together to put up an exhibition at Qutub Minar *

A two-month-long exhibition on "The Monasteries of Rinchen Zangpo" by noted
art historian and filmmaker Benoy K. Behl has been mounted at the Qutub
Minar in the Capital.

"It is a new initiative between the Delhi Circle of Archaeological Survey of
India and me to put up the exhibition at the landmark place. It becomes an
educational visit for people who visit the monument every day. They get
acquainted with a d ifferent aspect of Indian culture. India has a most
remarkable history of art and culture, very little of the truth is known,"
says Mr. Behl.

Presenting for the first time an overview of the art historian's extensive
documentation of the original chain of monasteries of Ladakh, Spiti, Kinnaur
and Tibet, the collection contains 76 pictures taken by Mr. Behl during the
past 15 years.

To capture these fascinating pictures, Mr. Behl travelled on horseback and
climbed uphill for long distances where no road existed. He is said to be
the only person to have taken photographs of the art inside some of the
monasteries. The exhibition is significant as it presents the deep Kashmiri
roots of the legacy of art of Ladakh, Spiti, Kinnaur and Tibet.

"Scholar Rinchen Zangpo, who survived the journey to Kashmir and came back
after 17 years, became famous as Lohtsawa, 'The Great Translator'. He
supervised the construction of many monasteries and temples that became
exquisite and brilliant jewels of faith. The legendary 108 temples made at
that time became the backbone of revival of Buddhism. The art of Kashmir in
these monasteries continues the pan-Indian classical artistic traditions,
especially from the Gupta period onwards," says Mr. Behl, whose exhibitions
have received an overwhelming response in 24 countries.

Madhur Tankha