Journal of Environmental Research And Development Vol. 5 No.

3A, January-March 2011

IMPACT OF ENVIRONMENT ON INDIAN ART,

CULTURE AND SOCIETY
Anjali Pandey

Department of Drawing and Painting, Government M. L. B. College, Bhopal (INDIA)

Received November 29, 2010 Accepted March 14, 2011

ABSTRACT
The role of Indian Art is for existence and transmission of cultural heritage and moral values. It exists
in all culture and Society. The historical overview of art reflects the impact of natural and socio-
cultural environment from Prehistoric age till now. The harmonic relations of man with nature were
depicted throughout in each and every era. Even if from pre-early age, the Indian mind expresses
extra ordinary interest in such problems such as nature of the Universe, of the self and its relations
to Godhead. According to Hindu views, the whole Universe is His form and countless are His
attributes. By means of stories, epics, mythologies and awareness towards the protection of the
nature are depicted in its simplest and easiest way. The concept of animism is emphasized in Indian
Art. The form of Yakshis are frequently depicted with trees, holding the branch or standing with one
leg and entwined around the tree trunk Vrakshika (women-and-tree), Nagas (serpents) are not
merely decorative as but also as dramatis personae in the legend. This emphasize that they are
fertility spirits, in Indian art and inspired by a deep sense of humanism that shows intense awareness
of the unity of all life. Today when the environmental problems are explored, the role of social-
scientists and artists has become more important in exploring the reality and presenting it through
behavioral and artistic presentation.
Key Words : Jatak kathayen, Babar-Nama, Ragmala, Barah-masa, Nayak-nayika series,
Theological Aspects, Behavorial Environment.

INTRODUCTION the help of art a man can glorify his ideas and
Man is in harmony with nature and their emotions, theories and concepts, thoughts and
fellowship is celebrated in an impressive array feelings, facts and deeds, his senses and
of sculptured and painted scenes during consciousness by controlling his emotions and
centuries of Indian art expressions. 1 Thus the reactions. 3
role of Indian art is for existence and for Culture of any society is like a Kalideidoscope
transmission of culture and moral values. A value in which endless aspect of tradition and variety
makes the human life valuable. The nature has of beautiful coloured art forms could be seen. The
facilitated entire living creatures with various types word culture derived from cult which means to
grow. Now-a-days the word culture is also in use
of qualities of self. Man is special than others.
for other aspects like Agriculture, sericulture,
There is no society or culture through out the world
spark culture, PHs culture, and blood culture etc.
where art is not dominant.
In Vedic Sanskrit the word Krashi is originated
Art always provides vitality to human beings. From from krish; means to plough. In this way the
primitive to most cultured society, man has Western and the Indian aspects both are based
retained art as a function of society. As we on Agriculture which aims to produce a seed or a
examine the role of Art throughout the history in cell in uncountable number. So the word culture is
different cultures we learn to respect diversity. It not only used for cultivation of seeds but also the
helps people to come close with one another.2 With ethnicity of the soul From me to ourselves. 4
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The powerful impact of social environment and Traditional folk paintings are pioneer of social and
other changes reflect itself in the development life values. Community life, or joint living, being
and style of art, the episodes, stories, epics more convenient to people the myths of the faith
mythologies are still expressed through art so that could be communicated easily through the
even a large portion of uneducated population paintings. They input these values in very simplest
could understand them.5 It helps to socialize and and easiest way in masses. In folk art the depiction
connect people together. The history and culture of nature is in human and symbolic form.10 The
of many countries says that the various political philosophy of Tagore is circled round a kind of
and social reformers have utilized art as a device nature –mysticism in which ethics and aesthetics
to influence the emotions of masses and derive experiences shaded one into the other. Rabindra
changes when laws speeches and political stances Nath’s social philosophy, his ideas on education is
were found inadequate to express their feelings.6 based on environment. The Shanti Niketan reflects
Indian art in historical perspective these concepts.
Indian art reflects the role of an artist played from
AIMS AND OBJECTIVES
prehistoric age till now. From the birds eye view
on the history of art we find that the awareness  The main objectives of the study are
towards the protection of nature is from the  To project the art’s cultural, social,
beginning. We paid homage to nature and universe psychological, behavioral, and eco-friendly
by rituals in many festivals. We worship the trees, aspect beside its artistic and expressive form.
birds, animals as we feel obliged to them. In many  To study the impact of socio-environmental
primitive paintings we see the worship of trees factor on Productivity of art.
by man 7 (Fig. 1). The pottery painting of  To project the role of art as a media to
Chalcolithic age depicted the harmony of man with conserve the Environment.
 The role of art, in the transmission of
nature. Buddhist art narrates the stories of Jatak
environmental aspects and its importance as
Kathayen in which the social and moral values
a Visual Aids.
of life were illustrated in painting and sculpture
through the figures of animals, birds and nature. METHODOLOGY
Many great monuments such as Bharhut, The function of drawing, graphics, sculpture and
Mathura, Bodhgaya, Sarnath, Nagarjunconda, painting is to provide the views of visual
Amravati and Ajanta, with impact of Buddhism presentation of once attitude and feeling, regarding
arose in different part of India. Hinayana School experience on environment.
depicts Buddha by employing symbol of Bodhi Present study relates with the art, culture and
tree8 (Fig. 2). In Bhagwat Geeta, Lord Krishna environment in historical perspective. It has
says Of trees I am asvattha (Bodhi, or tree of interdisciplinary approach. The source of data is
wisdom).The Bodhi Vraksha is exclusively sacred primary and secondary. The data was collected
symbol for Buddhism. from Books, Journals, Visuals and websites.
In fifteenth and sixteenth century the nature Visuals itself reveals many things. From pre-
scenes of Babarnama reflect views of artist historic era till the modern time, one thing which
(Fig. 6 and Fig. 7). The nature always inspire is seen is that nature still inspires the artists. The
human. Barahmasa, Ragmala and Nayak paintings, sculptures and architectures are the
Nayika series paintings of Rajasthani and Pahadi definite examples. I was always curious to know
School reflect the shades of relations with man about how the men got inspire through nature and
and nature (Fig. 8). In Asia, art conveys I observed this during my educational and
theological aspects in form of symbol and research tour to Rajsthan, Himachal and in
iconography brought from nature. T hese Madhya Pradesh (Hoshangabad, Udaigiri and
scholastic thoughts with formal elements retaining Bhimbaithika). Man took nature as a means of
their edifying values in design and compositions communication. Awareness is being created by
brought from nature9. depicting nature. Messages for conservation of
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nature is also depicted in early paintings. I also
got to know about the views of the artists on
nature personally, during my visits to different art
galleries and exhibitions of different places.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

The relevant material proves that the human being
along with all life has a relation with environment
in which they live, and their daily activities
promotes the changes of Nature’s rhythm.
Problem analysis
The physical and cultural facts are normally
identifiable. Physical facts like climate, flora, and
fauna are constant and long lasting (Fig. 5).
Changes in physical environment takes thousand
of years, while cultural facts such as movements
of population, changes in social structure, modes
of perception and behavior, changes in religious
faith and technology human environment are not
as long standing as physical.12
The environmental problems that we face today
are the result of misuse of science and technology,
uses of chemicals, pesticide and gases raised. Fig. 1 : Pre Historic era
Refrigerators air conditioners and high speed Toran Dwar (Sanchi)
computer also allow the changes in complex Fig. 2 shows relief a group of elephants are
system like weather and atmosphere 12 . Man worshipping the bodhi-Vriksha. Animals, Birds,
trees, Creepers and human figures are carved in
accelerates changes in physical environment by
a designed form.
its interference. Nature always inspired human.
Varah Avatar (Udaigiri)
The roots of our Cultural heritage and paintings
In Varah Avatar Painting, one can see the Lord
are maintaining antiquity through art. They are
Vishnu in Varah Avtar rescuing the Earth Goddess
intimately connected with daily activities, environs,
(Bhoo Devi), as she was dragged down to the
physical surroundings, its various moods and
bottom of the great flood where she lay helpless
seasons. and captive. And then Lord Vishnu assumed the
Figure Description form of a boar(varah) and saved her life. But,
From pre-historic era when man was not civilized, now there is no such power who can rescue the
he knows the importance of the nature and paid Earth again. So its our responsibility to conserve
homage to it. The following cave paintings are and protect our Earth. (Fig. 3).
the evidence of that time. Vriksharopan (N.L.Bose)
Pre-historic era Fig. 4 a lino cut print by N.L.Bose the eminent
Fig. 1 shows a flowered tree is in the centre. On artist from Shantiniketan. He tried to convey the
one side, there is a horse figure and on another message to conserve tree and to save the Earth
side human figure with horse face is depicted and from the verge of destruction and extinction
left side portion of this figure is invisible. through calamities.
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Fig. 2 : Torandwar (Sanchi) I cen B.C. Fig. 3 : Varah Avtar (Udaigir)

Fig. 4 : Vraksharopan (N.L. Bose) Fig. 5 : Chandra Pujan (S. Shinde)

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Fig. 6 : Nature (Babarnama) 15 Century A.D. Fig. 7 : Tree on Wakwak Tapu Golkunda
17 Century A.D.

Fig. 8 : Ragmala paintings mediaval Period

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Chandra Poojan (S.Shinde) way the role of art and the artist has become more
Indian worships not only the god, but the universe significant, who explores and reflects the virtual
also. Chandra poojan state that we give the reality and visual expression for society and
importance to the cosmic also. (Fig. 5) environment.
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