SPREAD | ArtCulture

By Kiša Lala

On a trip to the Thar last month I was struck by the the pared down aesthetics of the inhabitants, which for me was not a sign of the impoverishment of the desert-people, but rather a conscious decision to make economical use of the few resources available in that environment. Some of their uses of colour and design would not be out of place in New York’s Soho, or amongst the highly priced imported artefacts seen at the ABC store.

Placed against a background of insipid desert hues, lacking the verdancy of vegetation, there’s a distinct desire of its people to stand out in vivid shades of carnal reds, indigos and hot pinks. The people throw paint on the walls and decorate them with religious or secular motifs, drape themselves in flashy turbans and vermilion saris. They wear things shiny and bright, nose rings, pendants, bangles that sparkle in the sun. They fill their taste buds with hot sauces and tangy spices as if to relish every available sensual delight in what is one of the world’s harshest environments.

The Thar is one of the hottest, most arid deserts with temperatures that rise to 120F, but nights there can be freezing. From the simple thatched huts to the grand forts built by the old feudal Rajput warriors, the architecture was perfected to make the best use of ventilation, light and shade, and their examples still offer modern city-dwellers excellent guidance on minimizing energy consumption.

Resources being precious, the general norm is vegetarianism (animals are utilized for dairy and labour). I visited a Bisnoi tribe that protects their trees and animals under strict religious and ethical codes. The story told to me was that over 300 villagers, one at a time, sacrificed their lives in order to protect a single Kejri tree from being cut down by the Maharaja’s axeman, and were consequently each beheaded. With such passion and pride in their heritage and environment, these people are not to be messed with…