Chief Minister Shri Vishnu Dev Sai congratulated and wished
Raipur 25 January 2025: Chief Minister Vishnu Dev Sai has congratulated and wished tribal artist Pandi Ram Mandavi of Narayanpur district on his name being selected for the Padma award. This prestigious award will be given to him for his remarkable contribution in the field of traditional musical instrument making and wood craftsmanship. Pandi Ram Mandavi, who is 68 years old, belongs to the Gond Muria tribe. He has been not only preserving the cultural heritage of Bastar for the last five decades, but is also giving it a new identity. His special identity is in the manufacture of bamboo Bastar flute, called ‘Sulur’. Apart from this, he has taken his art to the global level through embossed paintings, sculptures and other artifacts on wooden panels. Pandi Ram Mandavi learned this art from his ancestors at the age of just 12 and took the art and culture of Chhattisgarh to new heights with his dedication and skill. As a cultural ambassador, he has exhibited his art in more than 8 countries. Also, through his workshop, he has worked to pass on this tradition to the new generations by training more than a thousand artisans.
