Shri Parshuram Vishram Gangavane has been tenaciously preserving and promoting the traditional art forms of the Adivasi Thakar Tribe since 1975. His contribution to society through the conservation and promotion of his art form is unparalleled and he hopes to empower his community by nurturing the traditional art forms for future generations.
Born on 1 June, 1956, to the tribal family of Gangavanes in Kudal, Shri Gangavane has learnt over ten traditional arts from his father, Shri Vishram Gangavane. These include Chitrakathi, Kalsutri Bahulya, Leather Puppets, Pangul Bael, Powada, Gondhal, Radhanrutya, and six more traditional art forms of the Thakars.
Under Sh. Gangavane’s leadership, the community at Pinguli set up a “Thakar Adivasi Kala Aangan” (TAKA) Museum & Art Gallery (2006) depicting the 500 Years old traditional objects and puppets of the Thakar culture and since has been visited by both local and foreign tourists. The Vishram Thakar Adivasi Kala Aangan Charitable Trust owns a museum and an art gallery at Pinguli, Maharashtra; incidentally this museum was built in Shri Parshuram’s cow shed. Through this trust and the support of other like-minded artisans and his sons Eknath and Chetan, he has hosted many HIV Aids awareness, Beti Bachao, Vyasan Mukti, Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, Health Awarness programs, covid 19 awareness performances through Kalsutri Bahuli (String Puppets) in many villages of Maharashtra. Through the Kala Angan Museum, he also promotes the tribal traditions amongst the Thakar youth who have currently moved to other fields and occupations.
Shri Gangavane was nominated as a Guru under the Guru Shishya Parampara, initiated by the Indian Ministry of Culture and has since conducted 8 Learning programs with over 150 graduates. He has also travelled in various states of India to perform String Puppetry & Chitrakathi in Government Cultural Festivals. He has additionally conducted and participated in more than 100 workshops across the country to promote and share the lessons about his tribal art.
Shri Gangavane is the recipient of numerous awards and honours that acknowledged his efforts in preserving folk traditions for the last four decades. He was honored with State Award for Nasha Bandhi Abhiyan awareness through String Puppetry. He was also honored with Sindhudurg Tourist Friend Award for his work to promote Cultural Tourism in Sindhudurg Tourism District.