Visitors at the Kerala Lalitkala Academy’s state level visual arts exhibition at Durbar Hall Art Gallery in Kochi on Monday. , Photo Credit: H Vibhu
Industries Minister P. Rajeev has said that artistes need to resist the new specter of a monarchy based on colonial mindset to save democracy in the country.
In his inaugural address at the presentation of fellowship and annual state awards organized by Kerala Lalitkala Akademi at Durbar Hall, he said, “Artists need to introspect whether they are able to speak up against the challenges of the times we live in ” grounds here on Monday.
Shri Rajiv said that the inauguration of the new Parliament House by the Prime Minister instead of the President reflects the change in the nature of the House from a place of democracy to an appendage of the executive. “Let us not forget the fact that the Constituent Assembly had decided to include ‘we the people’ in the Preamble instead of ‘the name of God’. Sixty-eight members voted for ‘We the People’ against forty-one members, Those who wanted to include ‘in the name of God’ were canceled the way the new Parliament House was inaugurated on Sunday.
Artist Namboodiri was felicitated on the occasion for his overall contribution. In his absence, his son Devan Namboodiri received this honour. State awards and fellowships instituted by the Akademi were awarded to various artists. An exhibition of works of 271 artists organized by the Akademi has begun at the Durbar Hall Art Gallery.