Assam's Traditional Art Gains National Spotlight at 65th National Exhibition
Celebrating Assam's Artistic Heritage
Sanchipat Puthi Chitra
NAGAON, Aug 31: The centuries-old tradition of illustrated manuscript painting from Assam has received notable national recognition with the selection of artist Sujit Das’s Dashavatar for the 65th National Exhibition of Art, 2026, hosted by the Lalit Kala Akademi in New Delhi.
This marks a significant milestone as Assam’s traditional Sanchipat Puthi Chitra is featured in this esteemed national exhibition for the first time, highlighting its cultural and artistic significance.
The artwork is crafted on Sanchipat, a traditional medium derived from the bark of the Agar tree, utilizing natural pigments like Hengul, Haital, Dholmati, and Neel. It illustrates the ten avatars of Lord Vishnu, showcasing the unique visual language inherent to Assam’s Puthi Chitra tradition. The artwork’s distinctive lines, compositions, and decorative motifs reflect the rich artistic heritage of Assam.
The exhibition's opening ceremony took place on August 21 at the Lalit Kala Art Galleries, Rabindra Bhavan, New Delhi, with Vivek Agarwal, secretary of the Ministry of Culture, serving as the chief guest. KK Mishra, joint secretary of the Ministry of Culture, was honored as the guest of honour, alongside renowned artist PR Daroz.
The evolution of Assam’s Puthi Chitra from its traditional roots to a prominent position in one of India’s leading national art exhibitions is particularly noteworthy. The cultural movement initiated by Srimanta Sankardeva fostered an environment where literature, manuscript culture, and various forms of visual and performing arts thrived. Thus, the preservation and continuation of these traditions in contemporary times hold immense cultural value.
Artist Sujit Das has dedicated over 25 years to the preservation, documentation, practice, and teaching of Assam’s traditional Puthi Chitra. His relentless efforts have played a crucial role in introducing this lesser-known art form to broader national and international audiences.