Raipur: The government of India on Saturday, January 25 announced the prestigious ‘Padma Awards 2025’. The list this year include the name of Pandi Ram Mandavi, a tribal artist from Narayanpur district of Chhattisgarh who is all set to be conferred upon the Padma Shri award, the fourth highest civilian honour.
“The honour recognises his exceptional contributions to traditional musical instrument making and wooden craftsmanship,” read an official statement issued by the Chhattisgarh government.
“He is particularly renowned for crafting the ‘Sulur’, a bamboo flute unique to the Bastar region. Additionally, he has gained global recognition through his intricate wood panel paintings, sculptures, and other artistic creations,” added the statement further.
Pandi Ram Mandavi from Bastar has been announced as a recipient of the Padma Shri for his exceptional work in traditional wood craftsmanship and musical instruments, showcasing the region’s rich cultural heritage on a national stage. pic.twitter.com/87FMcEKwEA
— CMO Chhattisgarh (@ChhattisgarhCMO) January 27, 2025
Hailing from the Gond Muriya tribes, a community renowned for keeping its traditional practices intact, Mandavi (68) has been preserving and elevating Bastar’s cultural heritage for five decades.
Mandavi learned the unique craft from his ancestors at the tender age of 15 as the traditional craftsmanship passed from one generation to the next at Gandbengal village of Narayanpur district. He also has showcased his mastership in the field in over 8 countries across the world. This includes countries like Russia, Holland, Germany, Italy etc.
The Muriya artist has reportedly trained over 1,000 artisans through his workshops, ensuring the smooth transmission of traditional craftsmanship to the future generation. Mandavi believes that his selection for the fourth highest civilian honour by the government will inspire others to take up the unique craftsmanship.
Terming it a proud moment for the State, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai in a post on social media platform X said “The entire Chhattisgarh is feeling proud of your commendable work.”
“The prestigious honour will be given to him (Mandavi) for his outstanding contribution in the field of traditional music instrument making and wood craftsmanship. He has preserved the cultural heritage of Bastar and given it a unique identity with his unique skills”, he added.
नारायणपुर के गोंड मुरिया जनजातीय के सुप्रसिद्ध कलाकार श्री पंडी राम मंडावी जी को पद्मश्री सम्मान के लिए चुना जाना छत्तीसगढ़ के लिए गर्व का क्षण है।
यह प्रतिष्ठित सम्मान उन्हें पारंपरिक वाद्ययंत्र निर्माण और लकड़ी की शिल्पकला के क्षेत्र में उनके उल्लेखनीय योगदान के लिए दिया…
— Vishnu Deo Sai (@vishnudsai) January 25, 2025
Notably, a total of 139 personalities belonging to various disciplines/fields of activities were selected for the prestigious ‘Padma Awards 2025’ announced on the eve of Republic Day.
