August 9, 2026

KC Venugopal (right) urges Congress leaders to be careful while speaking amid row over Shashi Tharoor’s CJP remarks (File photo) NEW DELHI: Congress general secretary KC Venugopal on Sunday urged party leaders to “exercise caution” and avoid making remarks that could “please the BJP.”Venugopal was responding to questions about Congress leader Shashi Tharoor’s comments suggesting that Rahul Gandhi’s “Chhatron Ki Goonj” student outreach programme had failed to resonate with Gen Z as much as the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP)-led protests. Watch ‘Did We Fail To Listen’: Tharoor Admits CJP Protest Resonated More Than Congress ‘Chhatron Ki Goonj’“Even if Congress members do not always strictly abide by party frameworks or discipline, we must be careful to avoid making statements that merely appease the BJP. The BJP will be delighted if someone finds fault with Rahul Gandhi or says two negative things about him—it would be the happiest thing for them,” PTI quoted the Alappuzha MP as saying.However, Venugopal clarified that he did not believe Tharoor had made the remarks deliberately.“I have only seen his (Tharoor’s) statement reported by some media channels, as far as I know. I haven’t been able to hear exactly what he said. All of us should take care, whether knowingly or unknowingly—and I don’t believe he said it knowingly, nor is he likely to have said it intentionally—to refrain from making such remarks,” the senior Congress leader added.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesTharoor, while speaking at an event in Maharashtra on Friday, had replied in the affirmative when asked whether the “Chhatron Ki Goonj” programme had failed to resonate with young people as much as the CJP agitation, despite both raising similar issues.“Correct. And that’s why we need to ask ourselves what we failed to do,” the Thiruvananthapuram MP replied. “Did we fail to listen? Did we fail to tap into the old cliché of having our finger on the pulse of the people? Was our finger missing from the pulse of Gen Z? That’s something we really need to interrogate.”A day later, however, Tharoor criticised the media for allegedly interpreting his remarks as “an attack on my own party or its leadership.”He maintained that his comments were meant to stress the need for political parties to open their doors and create pathways for the next generation to play a greater role in shaping politics.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.About the AuthorKaran ManralKaran Manral is a journalist at the Times of India. He covers politics, social issues, and international affairs, exploring stories that affect people’s everyday lives. He also writes explainers to make these stories easier for readers to follow.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosBaramati Airfield Runway Excursion: Training Aircraft Veers Off Runway, No Injuries ReportedIN-SPACe Moves To Privatise Operations Of Rs 986-Crore Kulasekarapattinam SpaceportAir India Phuket-Delhi Flight Captain Reportedly Fails Dope Test After Turbulence IncidentSavarkar Quiz Question Sparks Political Row In Kerala; Education Department Orders InquiryWATCH: Uttarakhand Innovator’s Electric Flying Vehicle Takes Maiden Test FlightUPI To Remain Free For Users, But Some Merchants May Face Nominal Fees In Future: GovtArunachal CM Rejects Chinese Encroachment As India Assigns Official Names To 27 Places‘If You Don’t Kill My Husband, I Will’: Telangana Man Uncovers Wife’s Shocking Chats With Lover‘Brahmins Joining BSP’: Mayawati SLAMS Akhilesh Yadav Over PDA’s ‘P Change’ From Pichhde To Pandit‘I Am Proud Of All Of You’: PM Modi’s Big Msg To Students At First Public Speech After CJP Protests123PhotostoriesWeekly Tarot Horoscope From August 9 to August 15, 2026 For Your Birth DateInside Kiku Sharda’s luxurious Mumbai home: Spacious balcony, elegant living room, and moreForget momo: Try these traditional steamed regional delicacies from Indian statesWant your child to actually tell you about school? 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KC Venugopal (right) urges Congress leaders to be careful while speaking amid row over Shashi Tharoor’s CJP remarks (File photo) NEW DELHI: Congress general secretary KC Venugopal on Sunday urged party leaders to “exercise caution” and avoid making remarks that could “please the BJP.”Venugopal was responding to questions about Congress leader Shashi Tharoor’s comments suggesting that Rahul Gandhi’s “Chhatron Ki Goonj” student outreach programme had failed to resonate with Gen Z as much as the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP)-led protests. Watch ‘Did We Fail To Listen’: Tharoor Admits CJP Protest Resonated More Than Congress ‘Chhatron Ki Goonj’“Even if Congress members do not always strictly abide by party frameworks or discipline, we must be careful to avoid making statements that merely appease the BJP. The BJP will be delighted if someone finds fault with Rahul Gandhi or says two negative things about him—it would be the happiest thing for them,” PTI quoted the Alappuzha MP as saying.However, Venugopal clarified that he did not believe Tharoor had made the remarks deliberately.“I have only seen his (Tharoor’s) statement reported by some media channels, as far as I know. I haven’t been able to hear exactly what he said. All of us should take care, whether knowingly or unknowingly—and I don’t believe he said it knowingly, nor is he likely to have said it intentionally—to refrain from making such remarks,” the senior Congress leader added.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesTharoor, while speaking at an event in Maharashtra on Friday, had replied in the affirmative when asked whether the “Chhatron Ki Goonj” programme had failed to resonate with young people as much as the CJP agitation, despite both raising similar issues.“Correct. And that’s why we need to ask ourselves what we failed to do,” the Thiruvananthapuram MP replied. “Did we fail to listen? Did we fail to tap into the old cliché of having our finger on the pulse of the people? Was our finger missing from the pulse of Gen Z? That’s something we really need to interrogate.”A day later, however, Tharoor criticised the media for allegedly interpreting his remarks as “an attack on my own party or its leadership.”He maintained that his comments were meant to stress the need for political parties to open their doors and create pathways for the next generation to play a greater role in shaping politics.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.About the AuthorKaran ManralKaran Manral is a journalist at the Times of India. He covers politics, social issues, and international affairs, exploring stories that affect people’s everyday lives. He also writes explainers to make these stories easier for readers to follow.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosBaramati Airfield Runway Excursion: Training Aircraft Veers Off Runway, No Injuries ReportedIN-SPACe Moves To Privatise Operations Of Rs 986-Crore Kulasekarapattinam SpaceportAir India Phuket-Delhi Flight Captain Reportedly Fails Dope Test After Turbulence IncidentSavarkar Quiz Question Sparks Political Row In Kerala; Education Department Orders InquiryWATCH: Uttarakhand Innovator’s Electric Flying Vehicle Takes Maiden Test FlightUPI To Remain Free For Users, But Some Merchants May Face Nominal Fees In Future: GovtArunachal CM Rejects Chinese Encroachment As India Assigns Official Names To 27 Places‘If You Don’t Kill My Husband, I Will’: Telangana Man Uncovers Wife’s Shocking Chats With Lover‘Brahmins Joining BSP’: Mayawati SLAMS Akhilesh Yadav Over PDA’s ‘P Change’ From Pichhde To Pandit‘I Am Proud Of All Of You’: PM Modi’s Big Msg To Students At First Public Speech After CJP Protests123PhotostoriesWeekly Tarot Horoscope From August 9 to August 15, 2026 For Your Birth DateInside Kiku Sharda’s luxurious Mumbai home: Spacious balcony, elegant living room, and moreForget momo: Try these traditional steamed regional delicacies from Indian statesWant your child to actually tell you about school? 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'Did We Fail To Listen': Tharoor Admits CJP Protest Resonated More Than Congress ‘Chhatron Ki Goonj’

KC Venugopal (right) urges Congress leaders to be careful while speaking amid row over Shashi Tharoor’s CJP remarks (File photo)

NEW DELHI: Congress general secretary KC Venugopal on Sunday urged party leaders to “exercise caution” and avoid making remarks that could “please the BJP.”Venugopal was responding to questions about Congress leader Shashi Tharoor’s comments suggesting that Rahul Gandhi’s “Chhatron Ki Goonj” student outreach programme had failed to resonate with Gen Z as much as the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP)-led protests.“Even if Congress members do not always strictly abide by party frameworks or discipline, we must be careful to avoid making statements that merely appease the BJP. The BJP will be delighted if someone finds fault with Rahul Gandhi or says two negative things about him—it would be the happiest thing for them,” PTI quoted the Alappuzha MP as saying.However, Venugopal clarified that he did not believe Tharoor had made the remarks deliberately.“I have only seen his (Tharoor’s) statement reported by some media channels, as far as I know. I haven’t been able to hear exactly what he said. All of us should take care, whether knowingly or unknowingly—and I don’t believe he said it knowingly, nor is he likely to have said it intentionally—to refrain from making such remarks,” the senior Congress leader added.

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Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami Uttarakhand chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Sunday praised the people of Devbhoomi for their overwhelming response to the ongoing ‘Tiranga Yatras’ across the state, stating that the citizens of the state have always stood firm when it comes to national duty.Speaking to the reporters, the chief minister said that the resolve to serve and protect the country remains deeply embedded in the hearts of the common people.”This serves as proof that the common people of Devbhoomi Uttarakhand have never lagged behind when it comes to the nation, and this resolve remains strong in everyone’s hearts today. We will always remain committed to the country’s security, unity, and integrity, and this campaign will continue across the entire state right up to August 15th. Tiranga Yatras will be organised in various places, further strengthening our collective resolve of patriotism,” he said.Earlier, CM Dhami participated in the ‘Har Ghar Tiranga Yatra’ organised in Dehradun ahead of the 80th Independence Day on August 15.Speaking at the event, he emphasised that the nation is currently traversing through the pivotal phase of ‘Amrit Kaal’, establishing a robust and distinct identity on the global stage as a superpower.”Today our country is passing through the Amrit Kaal. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the nation is establishing a new identity for itself on the global stage as a superpower. The India of today does not bow down to anyone; instead, it looks the world in the eye and speaks its mind. While India’s economy is growing rapidly, the country is also scripting a new narrative of a self-reliant India, be it in the digital revolution, infrastructure development, or indigenous technology through the ‘Make in India’ initiative. Today, we are not merely keeping pace with the world; we are leading it in numerous sectors and guiding the global community,” Dhami said.The Tiranga Yatra is a component of the government’s ‘Har Ghar Tiranga’ campaign, launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2022 as part of the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav celebrations.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesThis year’s Independence Day celebration will have a special focus on the commemoration of 150 years of ‘Vande Mataram’. Various activities will be organised across districts, blocks and panchayats as part of the campaign.The major components of Har Ghar Tiranga 2026 will include Tiranga rallies and processions, exhibitions, Tiranga concerts, bike and cycle rallies, tricolour lighting of important locations, decorations and Rangoli programmes. Special activities will also be organised under the theme “Tiranga Salute to the Spirit of Vande Mataram”, along with the popular “Selfie with Tiranga” initiative.The National Flag will be hoisted at households and government offices during the campaign period.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosWATCH: Mamata Banerjee’s Car Hit By ‘Large Stones, Shoes’; Bengal BJP Chief Condemns Attack‘Shivling Beneath Darul Uloom Deoband’: Hindu Outfit Plans Ganga Water Offering At Islamic SeminaryBaramati Airfield Runway Excursion: Training Aircraft Veers Off Runway, No Injuries ReportedIN-SPACe Moves To Privatise Operations Of Rs 986-Crore Kulasekarapattinam SpaceportAir India Phuket-Delhi Flight Captain Reportedly Fails Dope Test After Turbulence IncidentSavarkar Quiz Question Sparks Political Row In Kerala; Education Department Orders InquiryWATCH: Uttarakhand Innovator’s Electric Flying Vehicle Takes Maiden Test FlightUPI To Remain Free For Users, But Some Merchants May Face Nominal Fees In Future: GovtArunachal CM Rejects Chinese Encroachment As India Assigns Official Names To 27 Places‘If You Don’t Kill My Husband, I Will’: Telangana Man Uncovers Wife’s Shocking Chats With Lover123PhotostoriesWeekly Tarot Horoscope From August 9 to August 15, 2026 For Your Birth DateInside Kiku Sharda’s luxurious Mumbai home: Spacious balcony, elegant living room, and moreForget momo: Try these traditional steamed regional delicacies from Indian statesWant your child to actually tell you about school? 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Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami Uttarakhand chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Sunday praised the people of Devbhoomi for their overwhelming response to the ongoing ‘Tiranga Yatras’ across the state, stating that the citizens of the state have always stood firm when it comes to national duty.Speaking to the reporters, the chief minister said that the resolve to serve and protect the country remains deeply embedded in the hearts of the common people.”This serves as proof that the common people of Devbhoomi Uttarakhand have never lagged behind when it comes to the nation, and this resolve remains strong in everyone’s hearts today. We will always remain committed to the country’s security, unity, and integrity, and this campaign will continue across the entire state right up to August 15th. Tiranga Yatras will be organised in various places, further strengthening our collective resolve of patriotism,” he said.Earlier, CM Dhami participated in the ‘Har Ghar Tiranga Yatra’ organised in Dehradun ahead of the 80th Independence Day on August 15.Speaking at the event, he emphasised that the nation is currently traversing through the pivotal phase of ‘Amrit Kaal’, establishing a robust and distinct identity on the global stage as a superpower.”Today our country is passing through the Amrit Kaal. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the nation is establishing a new identity for itself on the global stage as a superpower. The India of today does not bow down to anyone; instead, it looks the world in the eye and speaks its mind. While India’s economy is growing rapidly, the country is also scripting a new narrative of a self-reliant India, be it in the digital revolution, infrastructure development, or indigenous technology through the ‘Make in India’ initiative. Today, we are not merely keeping pace with the world; we are leading it in numerous sectors and guiding the global community,” Dhami said.The Tiranga Yatra is a component of the government’s ‘Har Ghar Tiranga’ campaign, launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2022 as part of the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav celebrations.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesThis year’s Independence Day celebration will have a special focus on the commemoration of 150 years of ‘Vande Mataram’. Various activities will be organised across districts, blocks and panchayats as part of the campaign.The major components of Har Ghar Tiranga 2026 will include Tiranga rallies and processions, exhibitions, Tiranga concerts, bike and cycle rallies, tricolour lighting of important locations, decorations and Rangoli programmes. Special activities will also be organised under the theme “Tiranga Salute to the Spirit of Vande Mataram”, along with the popular “Selfie with Tiranga” initiative.The National Flag will be hoisted at households and government offices during the campaign period.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosWATCH: Mamata Banerjee’s Car Hit By ‘Large Stones, Shoes’; Bengal BJP Chief Condemns Attack‘Shivling Beneath Darul Uloom Deoband’: Hindu Outfit Plans Ganga Water Offering At Islamic SeminaryBaramati Airfield Runway Excursion: Training Aircraft Veers Off Runway, No Injuries ReportedIN-SPACe Moves To Privatise Operations Of Rs 986-Crore Kulasekarapattinam SpaceportAir India Phuket-Delhi Flight Captain Reportedly Fails Dope Test After Turbulence IncidentSavarkar Quiz Question Sparks Political Row In Kerala; Education Department Orders InquiryWATCH: Uttarakhand Innovator’s Electric Flying Vehicle Takes Maiden Test FlightUPI To Remain Free For Users, But Some Merchants May Face Nominal Fees In Future: GovtArunachal CM Rejects Chinese Encroachment As India Assigns Official Names To 27 Places‘If You Don’t Kill My Husband, I Will’: Telangana Man Uncovers Wife’s Shocking Chats With Lover123PhotostoriesWeekly Tarot Horoscope From August 9 to August 15, 2026 For Your Birth DateInside Kiku Sharda’s luxurious Mumbai home: Spacious balcony, elegant living room, and moreForget momo: Try these traditional steamed regional delicacies from Indian statesWant your child to actually tell you about school? 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AAP marathon in Mohali The youth wing of the Punjab AAP on Sunday held the ‘Punjab Youth Run 2026’ marathon under the state government’s anti-drug campaign, with party leaders urging participants to make fitness a regular part of their lives.AAP’s youth wing president and MLA Manjinder Singh Lalpura said that the marathon started from Gurdwara Sri Amb Sahib and witnessed enthusiastic participation from youngsters, sportspersons, women, senior citizens and people from different parts of Punjab.Thanking the participants for turning up in large numbers, Lalpura said, “The response showed that the people of Punjab wanted to see a healthy, vibrant and drug-free Punjab. The event was not merely a political programme but an initiative for Punjab and its people.”The youth wing will organise similar marathon events under its ‘Yudh Nashian Virudh,’ campaign in other parts of Punjab, including Amritsar, Patiala, Bathinda and Ludhiana, so that the message of fitness, sports and a drug-free Punjab can reach every corner of the state, Lalpura further said.Highlighting the AAP government’s focus on sports, AAP MP Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer said, “The state’s sports budget has increased from around Rs 150 crore when I took charge of the sports department to approximately Rs 1,800 crore now.”This major increase reflects the government’s commitment to ensuring that Punjab’s youth have greater opportunities to participate in sports, he said.Urging the participants to make fitness a regular part of their lives, Hayer said Do not treat the marathon as a one-day activity.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesMake walking, running and exercise a regular part of your daily lives. A healthy society is essential for building a stronger Punjab and a healthier India, said the Sangrur MP.Anandpur Sahib Malvinder Singh Kang said fitness and physical activity should become an integral part of everyone’s life.”Initiatives that bring young people towards sports and healthy living are particularly important in building a strong and drug-free Punjab,” he said.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosWATCH: Mamata Banerjee’s Car Hit By ‘Large Stones, Shoes’; Bengal BJP Chief Condemns Attack‘Shivling Beneath Darul Uloom Deoband’: Hindu Outfit Plans Ganga Water Offering At Islamic SeminaryBaramati Airfield Runway Excursion: Training Aircraft Veers Off Runway, No Injuries ReportedIN-SPACe Moves To Privatise Operations Of Rs 986-Crore Kulasekarapattinam SpaceportAir India Phuket-Delhi Flight Captain Reportedly Fails Dope Test After Turbulence IncidentSavarkar Quiz Question Sparks Political Row In Kerala; Education Department Orders InquiryWATCH: Uttarakhand Innovator’s Electric Flying Vehicle Takes Maiden Test FlightUPI To Remain Free For Users, But Some Merchants May Face Nominal Fees In Future: GovtArunachal CM Rejects Chinese Encroachment As India Assigns Official Names To 27 Places‘If You Don’t Kill My Husband, I Will’: Telangana Man Uncovers Wife’s Shocking Chats With Lover123PhotostoriesOptical illusion personality test: What you see first in the image reveals what you are currently seeking in lifeWeekly Tarot Horoscope From August 9 to August 15, 2026 For Your Birth DateInside Kiku Sharda’s luxurious Mumbai home: Spacious balcony, elegant living room, and moreForget momo: Try these traditional steamed regional delicacies from Indian statesWant your child to actually tell you about school? Try these 5 simple parenting shiftsVitamin C from food vs supplements: Which gives you more and when taking extra may not help10 Indian states ranked highest for civic sense and responsible public behaviour; check if your state made it to the listHiccups that keep coming back? Doctor explains when they could signal a neurological problem5 foods packed with magnesium that can help support muscles, nerves and heart healthWhy you should add salt, not oil to pasta water: 6 common mistakes to avoid with pasta123Hot PicksThailand School ShootingUPI TransactionsAsk Me AnythingJharkhand protestGurgaon rainNICL Assistant RecruitmentAnkur WarikooIndia Labour CodesGold rate todayTop TrendingNashik EarthquakeUddhav ThackerayRaja RaghuvanshiBJP MLA Fake MarriagesDevendra FadnavisSiddhivinayak Temple donation theftDelhi Wife MurderAbhijeet DipkeTarun TejpalPraveen Nettaru Murder Case

AAP marathon in Mohali The youth wing of the Punjab AAP on Sunday held the ‘Punjab Youth Run 2026’ marathon under the state government’s anti-drug campaign, with party leaders urging participants to make fitness a regular part of their lives.AAP’s youth wing president and MLA Manjinder Singh Lalpura said that the marathon started from Gurdwara Sri Amb Sahib and witnessed enthusiastic participation from youngsters, sportspersons, women, senior citizens and people from different parts of Punjab.Thanking the participants for turning up in large numbers, Lalpura said, “The response showed that the people of Punjab wanted to see a healthy, vibrant and drug-free Punjab. The event was not merely a political programme but an initiative for Punjab and its people.”The youth wing will organise similar marathon events under its ‘Yudh Nashian Virudh,’ campaign in other parts of Punjab, including Amritsar, Patiala, Bathinda and Ludhiana, so that the message of fitness, sports and a drug-free Punjab can reach every corner of the state, Lalpura further said.Highlighting the AAP government’s focus on sports, AAP MP Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer said, “The state’s sports budget has increased from around Rs 150 crore when I took charge of the sports department to approximately Rs 1,800 crore now.”This major increase reflects the government’s commitment to ensuring that Punjab’s youth have greater opportunities to participate in sports, he said.Urging the participants to make fitness a regular part of their lives, Hayer said Do not treat the marathon as a one-day activity.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesMake walking, running and exercise a regular part of your daily lives. A healthy society is essential for building a stronger Punjab and a healthier India, said the Sangrur MP.Anandpur Sahib Malvinder Singh Kang said fitness and physical activity should become an integral part of everyone’s life.”Initiatives that bring young people towards sports and healthy living are particularly important in building a strong and drug-free Punjab,” he said.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosWATCH: Mamata Banerjee’s Car Hit By ‘Large Stones, Shoes’; Bengal BJP Chief Condemns Attack‘Shivling Beneath Darul Uloom Deoband’: Hindu Outfit Plans Ganga Water Offering At Islamic SeminaryBaramati Airfield Runway Excursion: Training Aircraft Veers Off Runway, No Injuries ReportedIN-SPACe Moves To Privatise Operations Of Rs 986-Crore Kulasekarapattinam SpaceportAir India Phuket-Delhi Flight Captain Reportedly Fails Dope Test After Turbulence IncidentSavarkar Quiz Question Sparks Political Row In Kerala; Education Department Orders InquiryWATCH: Uttarakhand Innovator’s Electric Flying Vehicle Takes Maiden Test FlightUPI To Remain Free For Users, But Some Merchants May Face Nominal Fees In Future: GovtArunachal CM Rejects Chinese Encroachment As India Assigns Official Names To 27 Places‘If You Don’t Kill My Husband, I Will’: Telangana Man Uncovers Wife’s Shocking Chats With Lover123PhotostoriesOptical illusion personality test: What you see first in the image reveals what you are currently seeking in lifeWeekly Tarot Horoscope From August 9 to August 15, 2026 For Your Birth DateInside Kiku Sharda’s luxurious Mumbai home: Spacious balcony, elegant living room, and moreForget momo: Try these traditional steamed regional delicacies from Indian statesWant your child to actually tell you about school? Try these 5 simple parenting shiftsVitamin C from food vs supplements: Which gives you more and when taking extra may not help10 Indian states ranked highest for civic sense and responsible public behaviour; check if your state made it to the listHiccups that keep coming back? Doctor explains when they could signal a neurological problem5 foods packed with magnesium that can help support muscles, nerves and heart healthWhy you should add salt, not oil to pasta water: 6 common mistakes to avoid with pasta123Hot PicksThailand School ShootingUPI TransactionsAsk Me AnythingJharkhand protestGurgaon rainNICL Assistant RecruitmentAnkur WarikooIndia Labour CodesGold rate todayTop TrendingNashik EarthquakeUddhav ThackerayRaja RaghuvanshiBJP MLA Fake MarriagesDevendra FadnavisSiddhivinayak Temple donation theftDelhi Wife MurderAbhijeet DipkeTarun TejpalPraveen Nettaru Murder Case

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NEW DELHI: After holding a meeting with a delegation of protesting students, the Jharkhand government on Sunday agreed to cancel the 14th JPSC, JPSC Backlog 2023, and JPSC Backlog 2025 exams but rejected the demand to scrap the CGL examination, saying it was conducted under court orders and selected candidates are already employed.Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Jharkhand minister Sudivya Kumar Sonu said the government had agreed to “98 percent” of the points raised by the protesting students and decided to address the alleged irregularities through a “two-pronged approach”.He said the criminal aspects associated with the 14th JPSC examination would be investigated by the CID and the Enforcement Directorate would be requested to probe alleged illicit financial transactions.”Following three days of talks and extensive consultations, and acting on the instructions of CM Hemant Soren, the government decided to address the irregularities associated with the 14th JPSC and the 2023-25 backlog recruitments through a two-pronged approach. Criminal aspects will be investigated by the CID; furthermore, given the financial implications and evidence of illicit financial transactions, a request will be made for an ED investigation,” the minister said.”Following these discussions, student representatives demanded the cancellation of the CGL examination. The government clearly stated that, as the examination was conducted in accordance with the directives of the High Court and the Supreme Court, and is currently under their monitoring, it lacks the authority to cancel it. The government offered to oversee the investigation by constituting a monitoring committee headed by a retired judge; however, the students refused to accept this proposal. We believe the government agreed to 98 percent of the points raised,” he added.”The remaining two percent, specifically the demand to cancel the CGL exam, could not be met because the government cannot unilaterally cancel an exam conducted under court orders, where results have been published and successful candidates are already employed. To instill confidence among the students, the government was willing to form a committee headed by a retired judge to oversee the CID’s work, thereby providing a channel for students to voice their concerns if they felt the CID was not listening to them. Overall, after these processes and efforts, we believe the government demonstrated genuine goodwill and sensitivity toward the students in its attempt to bring the agitation to a close,” he further said.Meanwhile, the protesters maintained that their agitation would continue and that a march to the Vidhan Sabha would be held on August 10 until the case is transferred to the CBI.”Let me clarify that our Vidhan Sabha gherao will continue peacefully. Our demand is for a CBI inquiry; we will not compromise on that,” Kunal, a student leader, said.”This was the second round of talks with the government delegation. Regarding the specifics, particularly the 14th JPSC, JPSC Backlog 2023 and JPSC Backlog 2025 exams, the government has decided to consider cancelling all three. Furthermore, the government has proposed CID and ED investigations into all exams conducted by the TDPL agency. Additionally, the government has accepted almost all of our demands concerning reforms, with the exception of one or two issues, such as age relaxation, on which no consensus could be reached.”Regarding the CGL exam, the students demanded a CBI inquiry; however, the government did not agree to this. Instead, the government stated that a judicial inquiry would be conducted under the chairmanship of a retired judge, and if financial irregularities are detected, the ED would also be involved. Nevertheless, we students continue to demand a CBI inquiry,” Ravindra Paswan, another student leader, said.”The agitation will continue; the agitation is still ongoing,” he added.The protesting students are seeking reforms in the recruitment examination system and action over alleged irregularities in various JPSC and JSSC examinations.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesThe JCM submitted five demands, including cancellation of the 14th JPSC Civil Services Examination.The NSUI submitted six demands, including a CID investigation into all JPSC and JSSC examinations under suspicion within 90 days. It also demanded the establishment of a Jharkhand Testing Agency on the lines of the National Testing Agency.The ACS demanded that tribal and regional languages be included as qualifying papers in recruitment examinations. It also sought cancellation of examinations in which irregularities were found.Meanwhile, 19 people have so far been arrested in connection with the case, while former JPSC panel chairperson L Khiangte has been questioned four times since July 28.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.About the AuthorTOI News DeskThe TOI News Desk comprises a dedicated and tireless team of journalists who operate around the clock to deliver the most current and comprehensive news and updates to the readers of The Times of India worldwide. With an unwavering commitment to excellence in journalism, our team is at the forefront of gathering, verifying, and presenting breaking news, in-depth analysis, and insightful reports on a wide range of topics. The TOI News Desk is your trusted source for staying informed and connected to the ever-evolving global landscape, ensuring that our readers are equipped with the latest developments that matter most.”Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosWATCH: Mamata Banerjee’s Car Hit By ‘Large Stones, Shoes’; Bengal BJP Chief Condemns Attack‘Shivling Beneath Darul Uloom Deoband’: Hindu Outfit Plans Ganga Water Offering At Islamic SeminaryBaramati Airfield Runway Excursion: Training Aircraft Veers Off Runway, No Injuries ReportedIN-SPACe Moves To Privatise Operations Of Rs 986-Crore Kulasekarapattinam SpaceportAir India Phuket-Delhi Flight Captain Reportedly Fails Dope Test After Turbulence IncidentSavarkar Quiz Question Sparks Political Row In Kerala; Education Department Orders InquiryWATCH: Uttarakhand Innovator’s Electric Flying Vehicle Takes Maiden Test FlightUPI To Remain Free For Users, But Some Merchants May Face Nominal Fees In Future: GovtArunachal CM Rejects Chinese Encroachment As India Assigns Official Names To 27 Places‘If You Don’t Kill My Husband, I Will’: Telangana Man Uncovers Wife’s Shocking Chats With Lover123PhotostoriesWeekly Tarot Horoscope From August 9 to August 15, 2026 For Your Birth DateInside Kiku Sharda’s luxurious Mumbai home: Spacious balcony, elegant living room, and moreForget momo: Try these traditional steamed regional delicacies from Indian statesWant your child to actually tell you about school? Try these 5 simple parenting shiftsVitamin C from food vs supplements: Which gives you more and when taking extra may not help10 Indian states ranked highest for civic sense and responsible public behaviour; check if your state made it to the listHiccups that keep coming back? Doctor explains when they could signal a neurological problem5 foods packed with magnesium that can help support muscles, nerves and heart healthWhy you should add salt, not oil to pasta water: 6 common mistakes to avoid with pastaTaking vitamin D every day but still running low? Doctors explain what may be stopping your levels from rising123Hot PicksThailand School ShootingUPI TransactionsAsk Me AnythingJharkhand protestGurgaon rainNICL Assistant RecruitmentAnkur WarikooIndia Labour CodesGold rate todayTop TrendingNashik EarthquakeUddhav ThackerayRaja RaghuvanshiBJP MLA Fake MarriagesDevendra FadnavisSiddhivinayak Temple donation theftDelhi Wife MurderAbhijeet DipkeTarun TejpalPraveen Nettaru Murder Case

NEW DELHI: After holding a meeting with a delegation of protesting students, the Jharkhand government on Sunday agreed to cancel the 14th JPSC, JPSC Backlog 2023, and JPSC Backlog 2025 exams but rejected the demand to scrap the CGL examination, saying it was conducted under court orders and selected candidates are already employed.Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Jharkhand minister Sudivya Kumar Sonu said the government had agreed to “98 percent” of the points raised by the protesting students and decided to address the alleged irregularities through a “two-pronged approach”.He said the criminal aspects associated with the 14th JPSC examination would be investigated by the CID and the Enforcement Directorate would be requested to probe alleged illicit financial transactions.”Following three days of talks and extensive consultations, and acting on the instructions of CM Hemant Soren, the government decided to address the irregularities associated with the 14th JPSC and the 2023-25 backlog recruitments through a two-pronged approach. Criminal aspects will be investigated by the CID; furthermore, given the financial implications and evidence of illicit financial transactions, a request will be made for an ED investigation,” the minister said.”Following these discussions, student representatives demanded the cancellation of the CGL examination. The government clearly stated that, as the examination was conducted in accordance with the directives of the High Court and the Supreme Court, and is currently under their monitoring, it lacks the authority to cancel it. The government offered to oversee the investigation by constituting a monitoring committee headed by a retired judge; however, the students refused to accept this proposal. We believe the government agreed to 98 percent of the points raised,” he added.”The remaining two percent, specifically the demand to cancel the CGL exam, could not be met because the government cannot unilaterally cancel an exam conducted under court orders, where results have been published and successful candidates are already employed. To instill confidence among the students, the government was willing to form a committee headed by a retired judge to oversee the CID’s work, thereby providing a channel for students to voice their concerns if they felt the CID was not listening to them. Overall, after these processes and efforts, we believe the government demonstrated genuine goodwill and sensitivity toward the students in its attempt to bring the agitation to a close,” he further said.Meanwhile, the protesters maintained that their agitation would continue and that a march to the Vidhan Sabha would be held on August 10 until the case is transferred to the CBI.”Let me clarify that our Vidhan Sabha gherao will continue peacefully. Our demand is for a CBI inquiry; we will not compromise on that,” Kunal, a student leader, said.”This was the second round of talks with the government delegation. Regarding the specifics, particularly the 14th JPSC, JPSC Backlog 2023 and JPSC Backlog 2025 exams, the government has decided to consider cancelling all three. Furthermore, the government has proposed CID and ED investigations into all exams conducted by the TDPL agency. Additionally, the government has accepted almost all of our demands concerning reforms, with the exception of one or two issues, such as age relaxation, on which no consensus could be reached.”Regarding the CGL exam, the students demanded a CBI inquiry; however, the government did not agree to this. Instead, the government stated that a judicial inquiry would be conducted under the chairmanship of a retired judge, and if financial irregularities are detected, the ED would also be involved. Nevertheless, we students continue to demand a CBI inquiry,” Ravindra Paswan, another student leader, said.”The agitation will continue; the agitation is still ongoing,” he added.The protesting students are seeking reforms in the recruitment examination system and action over alleged irregularities in various JPSC and JSSC examinations.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesThe JCM submitted five demands, including cancellation of the 14th JPSC Civil Services Examination.The NSUI submitted six demands, including a CID investigation into all JPSC and JSSC examinations under suspicion within 90 days. It also demanded the establishment of a Jharkhand Testing Agency on the lines of the National Testing Agency.The ACS demanded that tribal and regional languages be included as qualifying papers in recruitment examinations. It also sought cancellation of examinations in which irregularities were found.Meanwhile, 19 people have so far been arrested in connection with the case, while former JPSC panel chairperson L Khiangte has been questioned four times since July 28.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.About the AuthorTOI News DeskThe TOI News Desk comprises a dedicated and tireless team of journalists who operate around the clock to deliver the most current and comprehensive news and updates to the readers of The Times of India worldwide. With an unwavering commitment to excellence in journalism, our team is at the forefront of gathering, verifying, and presenting breaking news, in-depth analysis, and insightful reports on a wide range of topics. The TOI News Desk is your trusted source for staying informed and connected to the ever-evolving global landscape, ensuring that our readers are equipped with the latest developments that matter most.”Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosWATCH: Mamata Banerjee’s Car Hit By ‘Large Stones, Shoes’; Bengal BJP Chief Condemns Attack‘Shivling Beneath Darul Uloom Deoband’: Hindu Outfit Plans Ganga Water Offering At Islamic SeminaryBaramati Airfield Runway Excursion: Training Aircraft Veers Off Runway, No Injuries ReportedIN-SPACe Moves To Privatise Operations Of Rs 986-Crore Kulasekarapattinam SpaceportAir India Phuket-Delhi Flight Captain Reportedly Fails Dope Test After Turbulence IncidentSavarkar Quiz Question Sparks Political Row In Kerala; Education Department Orders InquiryWATCH: Uttarakhand Innovator’s Electric Flying Vehicle Takes Maiden Test FlightUPI To Remain Free For Users, But Some Merchants May Face Nominal Fees In Future: GovtArunachal CM Rejects Chinese Encroachment As India Assigns Official Names To 27 Places‘If You Don’t Kill My Husband, I Will’: Telangana Man Uncovers Wife’s Shocking Chats With Lover123PhotostoriesWeekly Tarot Horoscope From August 9 to August 15, 2026 For Your Birth DateInside Kiku Sharda’s luxurious Mumbai home: Spacious balcony, elegant living room, and moreForget momo: Try these traditional steamed regional delicacies from Indian statesWant your child to actually tell you about school? Try these 5 simple parenting shiftsVitamin C from food vs supplements: Which gives you more and when taking extra may not help10 Indian states ranked highest for civic sense and responsible public behaviour; check if your state made it to the listHiccups that keep coming back? Doctor explains when they could signal a neurological problem5 foods packed with magnesium that can help support muscles, nerves and heart healthWhy you should add salt, not oil to pasta water: 6 common mistakes to avoid with pastaTaking vitamin D every day but still running low? Doctors explain what may be stopping your levels from rising123Hot PicksThailand School ShootingUPI TransactionsAsk Me AnythingJharkhand protestGurgaon rainNICL Assistant RecruitmentAnkur WarikooIndia Labour CodesGold rate todayTop TrendingNashik EarthquakeUddhav ThackerayRaja RaghuvanshiBJP MLA Fake MarriagesDevendra FadnavisSiddhivinayak Temple donation theftDelhi Wife MurderAbhijeet DipkeTarun TejpalPraveen Nettaru Murder Case

Vamsikrishna 0
Sohrai-Khovar, an ancient women-led art tradition from Jharkhand (Image: TWAC) A local artisan crouches by her doorstep, her hands stained with mud and colour drawn straight from the earth around her. The warmth of rust red, the hush of chalky white, the depth of a black gone nearly charcoal. With nothing more than a broken comb and a steady hand, she draws a peacock on a wall still damp from its coating of clay. In a few hours, this wall, like thousands of others across Hazaribagh, will carry the story of the land of Jharkhand, a mural to its beauty.Sohrai and Khovar paintings are a unique and tribal style of art originating from caves of Jharkhand. In 1991, celebrated and renowned environmentalist Bulu Imam documented rock shelters in the Isco hills of Hazaribagh district and noticed that the motifs on the ancient cave walls closely resembled the paintings still being made on village homes nearbyImam was able to sketch out a connection between the 21st century walls of a home to the Mesolithic and Chalcolithic caves of 10,000 to 5,000 BCE. Other researchers, citing the Archaeological Survey of India, place the rock art closer to 7,000-4,000 BCE, in the Paleolithic period.The dates might be contested but what remains true is that Sohrai and Khovar painting represent one of the longest continuously practiced visual art traditions on the subcontinent, a line running from cave wall to mud wall across several thousand years.What is Sohrai-Khovar?Ganju Sohrai painted house (Source: TWAC)Sohrai was originally a season specific craft style painted around the harvest festival of the same name, celebrated after Diwali in the month of Kartik, when households give thanks to their cattle and to the land.Inside of a Khovar room (Source: TWAC)Khovar, the word draws from “kho,” meaning cave, and “var,” meaning groom, is painted for weddings, decorating the room where a newly married couple will spend their first nights together.Both styles of art are made almost exclusively by women. Even its heritage tracing follows matrilineal succession, passed down from mothers to daughters. Traditionally it is classified as a Ma-Beti Parampara, with techniques passed down orally rather than written down.From mud walls to airport terminalsSanjeev Kumar (IFS), principal chief conservator of forests and head of forest force for Jharkhand, has spent much of his career working alongside these villages. He offers a structural explanation for why this art form became a livelihood tool in the first place, rather than staying purely ceremonial.Jharkhand’s rural economy runs largely on two crop cycles a year, he points out, which leaves long stretches when women in farming households have little steady work. Between the sowing and the harvest, there is a kind of enforced pause — and in that pause, an entire category of household income simply goes quiet.Painting, once confined strictly to festival and wedding seasons, has increasingly moved to fill exactly that gap, giving women a way to keep earning in the months the land itself has nothing to offer.It isn’t only about income, in Kumar’s telling. Starting in 2007, as Divisional Forest Officer in Dhanbad, he began organising folk art camps to give Sohrai a wider audience, drawing participants from across India and as far as Australia and Bangladesh. The camps followed him through later postings — Jamshedpur, Hazaribagh, and beyond — running until the pandemic forced them online, then resuming after. The same women who might once have sat out the off-season are now, through this ecosystem, training relatives, negotiating with buyers, and travelling to exhibitions. Kumar also frames the work as central to the state’s eco-tourism ambitions.Sohrai-Khovar finally received Geographical Indication status in May 2020, reportedly approved in under nine months, unusually fast for a process that typically takes two to three years. The tag, granted by the Geographical Indication Registry in Chennai, formally recognises the art as unique to the Hazaribagh region, and gave it a marketing foothold it hadn’t had before.The state took the recognition further. Hazaribagh became the first district in Jharkhand to commit to painting all its government buildings with Sohrai motifs — the chief minister’s residence, the state secretariat, Ranchi’s Birsa Munda Airport, railway stations across Ranchi, Dhanbad, Bokaro, and Tata Nagar all now carry the same red-black-white language once found only on village walls. The art has travelled further still: Prime Minister Modi is reported to have gifted a Sohrai painting to President Putin, a livelihood project turned, however briefly, into an instrument of diplomacy.Painting gifted to Russian President Putin by PM ModiThat visibility has translated into real, traceable livelihoods, in at least some cases. Local organisers connecting artists to buyers report dozens of women directly employed through their networks, hundreds more earning supplemental income in season. Cooperatives built specifically to give village women an alternative to farm labour have carried this work to dozens of international exhibitions across Europe and the US, and increasingly Canada, South Africa, and Japan. Trusts have gone further still — training programmes, small museums, free pigment, and the paperwork that eventually secured the GI tag itself.Tensions surrounding the craftNot everyone close to this history agrees the shift toward livelihood has been a clean win. Gustav Imam draws a distinction between his father’s original vision and the state’s current one. Bulu Imam treated Sohrai as fine art from the start — building an exhibition circuit that ran shows in Australia and Europe. The government’s livelihood framing, Gustav argues, risks something narrower: pay an artist per piece for a product and you’ve quietly converted her into daily-wage labour rather than treating her as an artist. He isn’t against commercialisation itself; he simply thinks dignity has to come first, and that dignity requires recognition at the very top of the field, not just income at the bottom. Traditions like Madhubani, Warli, and Gond painting have each produced nationally awarded artists, Padma Shri recipients among them; Sohrai-Khovar has not, despite women keeping the tradition alive through real struggle and real limitation. Until a handful of individual artists receive that kind of recognition, he argues, younger painters have no one concrete to aspire to become.Gangwa’s Lotus – archival art (Source: TWAC)He also offers a blunt estimate on the schemes meant to help: of the artisans meant to benefit from government portals and initiatives like Mudra loans, perhaps 5 to 10 percent actually do, largely because many are semi-literate and simply can’t navigate the registration process. The rest, in his account, remain outside the system entirely, not excluded by design, but by a bureaucracy that was never built with them in mind.Coal mining is often folded into this story as a single, simple threat, but the picture splits in two once you look closely. The Isco rock art site itself, the discovery that started everything, has not been destroyed. Dust from nearby mines has crept close and settled on it, but the site was declared a national monument around 2023. Other rock art caves in the region, more than a dozen now identified, remain safe largely because, in his words, no one knows about them, obscurity standing in for conservation.Pashupati by Kunti Devi (Source: TWAC)The villages are a different story. The North Karanpura coalfield sits beneath a large number of tribal villages across Hazaribagh, Ramgarh, and Chatra, and coal projects in the area have displaced multiple villages over the years, acquiring significant stretches of agricultural land in the process. Residents who’ve lost land describe rebuilding elsewhere, often some distance from where their families had always lived; local activists warn that further mining could displace still more. Bulu Imam’s decades of opposition — intellectual rather than confrontational, built on letters to officials rather than protest, work that earned him the Gandhi International Peace Award in 2012 — was never really about the rock art surviving. It was about whether the people who kept painting around it would get to stay.There is another complication that has nothing to do with mining. Since 2018–19, a central housing scheme, the Pradhan Mantri Gramin Awas Yojana, has replaced mud-and-thatch homes across rural India with brick and cement — a genuine welfare improvement. But Sohrai and Khovar are painted on mud, and the same pigments don’t take to cement the same way. One arm of government is quietly removing the canvas that another arm is simultaneously celebrating, not through malice, but through two policies that were never built with each other in mind.A seat at the table for indigenous art The most important complication was hinted at earlier. The market for Sohrai-Khovar remains thin, prices stay low relative to the labour involved, and no fixed floor price exists to stop buyers from talking artists down. Imam suggests that the district administration consider setting a standard pricing for the art to battle some aspects of the issue.The proposed fix, in Gustav’s telling, isn’t more schemes. It’s status. He points to what happens when a piece lands somewhere with real institutional weight — a Sohrai painting, sold to the American ambassador during a visit to Kolkata, now hangs in a prominent hall at the US consulate.Contemporary Indian art by named painters routinely sells for crores; indigenous art too deserves a seat at that table. A tradition this old survives not just on income, but on being taken seriously by the people who could otherwise walk past it without a second look.Exhibition in Rome, 2008 (TWAC)The artisan finishes her peacock as the light starts to fade. Somewhere else in Hazaribagh, another woman is doing the same. Her red may no longer come from soil gathered by hand, but from a tube of paint bought at the market. The image on the wall is still recognisably Sohrai.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesFor thousands of years, the art has adapted to changing walls, changing materials and changing lives. But preserving it may require more than putting its motifs on government buildings or selling its paintings to new markets. It may mean preserving the women who make it, the homes they paint and the communities that taught them how.The paintings began on cave walls, moved to mud homes and have now travelled to airports, exhibitions and diplomatic gifts. What happens next will depend on whether Sohrai-Khovar is treated simply as a product to be sold — or as a living tradition whose value lies in the people who keep painting it.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideos‘Shivling Beneath Darul Uloom Deoband’: Hindu Outfit Plans Ganga Water Offering At Islamic SeminaryBaramati Airfield Runway Excursion: Training Aircraft Veers Off Runway, No Injuries ReportedIN-SPACe Moves To Privatise Operations Of Rs 986-Crore Kulasekarapattinam SpaceportAir India Phuket-Delhi Flight Captain Reportedly Fails Dope Test After Turbulence IncidentSavarkar Quiz Question Sparks Political Row In Kerala; Education Department Orders InquiryWATCH: Uttarakhand Innovator’s Electric Flying Vehicle Takes Maiden Test FlightUPI To Remain Free For Users, But Some Merchants May Face Nominal Fees In Future: GovtArunachal CM Rejects Chinese Encroachment As India Assigns Official Names To 27 Places‘If You Don’t Kill My Husband, I Will’: Telangana Man Uncovers Wife’s Shocking Chats With Lover‘Brahmins Joining BSP’: Mayawati SLAMS Akhilesh Yadav Over PDA’s ‘P Change’ From Pichhde To Pandit123PhotostoriesWeekly Tarot Horoscope From August 9 to August 15, 2026 For Your Birth DateInside Kiku Sharda’s luxurious Mumbai home: Spacious balcony, elegant living room, and moreForget momo: Try these traditional steamed regional delicacies from Indian statesWant your child to actually tell you about school? Try these 5 simple parenting shiftsVitamin C from food vs supplements: Which gives you more and when taking extra may not help10 Indian states ranked highest for civic sense and responsible public behaviour; check if your state made it to the listHiccups that keep coming back? Doctor explains when they could signal a neurological problem5 foods packed with magnesium that can help support muscles, nerves and heart healthWhy you should add salt, not oil to pasta water: 6 common mistakes to avoid with pastaTaking vitamin D every day but still running low? Doctors explain what may be stopping your levels from rising123Hot PicksThailand School ShootingUPI TransactionsAsk Me AnythingJharkhand protestGurgaon rainNICL Assistant RecruitmentAnkur WarikooIndia Labour CodesGold rate todayTop TrendingNashik EarthquakeUddhav ThackerayRaja RaghuvanshiBJP MLA Fake MarriagesDevendra FadnavisSiddhivinayak Temple donation theftDelhi Wife MurderAbhijeet DipkeTarun TejpalPraveen Nettaru Murder Case

Sohrai-Khovar, an ancient women-led art tradition from Jharkhand (Image: TWAC) A local artisan crouches by her doorstep, her hands stained with mud and colour drawn straight from the earth around her. The warmth of rust red, the hush of chalky white, the depth of a black gone nearly charcoal. With nothing more than a broken comb and a steady hand, she draws a peacock on a wall still damp from its coating of clay. In a few hours, this wall, like thousands of others across Hazaribagh, will carry the story of the land of Jharkhand, a mural to its beauty.Sohrai and Khovar paintings are a unique and tribal style of art originating from caves of Jharkhand. In 1991, celebrated and renowned environmentalist Bulu Imam documented rock shelters in the Isco hills of Hazaribagh district and noticed that the motifs on the ancient cave walls closely resembled the paintings still being made on village homes nearbyImam was able to sketch out a connection between the 21st century walls of a home to the Mesolithic and Chalcolithic caves of 10,000 to 5,000 BCE. Other researchers, citing the Archaeological Survey of India, place the rock art closer to 7,000-4,000 BCE, in the Paleolithic period.The dates might be contested but what remains true is that Sohrai and Khovar painting represent one of the longest continuously practiced visual art traditions on the subcontinent, a line running from cave wall to mud wall across several thousand years.What is Sohrai-Khovar?Ganju Sohrai painted house (Source: TWAC)Sohrai was originally a season specific craft style painted around the harvest festival of the same name, celebrated after Diwali in the month of Kartik, when households give thanks to their cattle and to the land.Inside of a Khovar room (Source: TWAC)Khovar, the word draws from “kho,” meaning cave, and “var,” meaning groom, is painted for weddings, decorating the room where a newly married couple will spend their first nights together.Both styles of art are made almost exclusively by women. Even its heritage tracing follows matrilineal succession, passed down from mothers to daughters. Traditionally it is classified as a Ma-Beti Parampara, with techniques passed down orally rather than written down.From mud walls to airport terminalsSanjeev Kumar (IFS), principal chief conservator of forests and head of forest force for Jharkhand, has spent much of his career working alongside these villages. He offers a structural explanation for why this art form became a livelihood tool in the first place, rather than staying purely ceremonial.Jharkhand’s rural economy runs largely on two crop cycles a year, he points out, which leaves long stretches when women in farming households have little steady work. Between the sowing and the harvest, there is a kind of enforced pause — and in that pause, an entire category of household income simply goes quiet.Painting, once confined strictly to festival and wedding seasons, has increasingly moved to fill exactly that gap, giving women a way to keep earning in the months the land itself has nothing to offer.It isn’t only about income, in Kumar’s telling. Starting in 2007, as Divisional Forest Officer in Dhanbad, he began organising folk art camps to give Sohrai a wider audience, drawing participants from across India and as far as Australia and Bangladesh. The camps followed him through later postings — Jamshedpur, Hazaribagh, and beyond — running until the pandemic forced them online, then resuming after. The same women who might once have sat out the off-season are now, through this ecosystem, training relatives, negotiating with buyers, and travelling to exhibitions. Kumar also frames the work as central to the state’s eco-tourism ambitions.Sohrai-Khovar finally received Geographical Indication status in May 2020, reportedly approved in under nine months, unusually fast for a process that typically takes two to three years. The tag, granted by the Geographical Indication Registry in Chennai, formally recognises the art as unique to the Hazaribagh region, and gave it a marketing foothold it hadn’t had before.The state took the recognition further. Hazaribagh became the first district in Jharkhand to commit to painting all its government buildings with Sohrai motifs — the chief minister’s residence, the state secretariat, Ranchi’s Birsa Munda Airport, railway stations across Ranchi, Dhanbad, Bokaro, and Tata Nagar all now carry the same red-black-white language once found only on village walls. The art has travelled further still: Prime Minister Modi is reported to have gifted a Sohrai painting to President Putin, a livelihood project turned, however briefly, into an instrument of diplomacy.Painting gifted to Russian President Putin by PM ModiThat visibility has translated into real, traceable livelihoods, in at least some cases. Local organisers connecting artists to buyers report dozens of women directly employed through their networks, hundreds more earning supplemental income in season. Cooperatives built specifically to give village women an alternative to farm labour have carried this work to dozens of international exhibitions across Europe and the US, and increasingly Canada, South Africa, and Japan. Trusts have gone further still — training programmes, small museums, free pigment, and the paperwork that eventually secured the GI tag itself.Tensions surrounding the craftNot everyone close to this history agrees the shift toward livelihood has been a clean win. Gustav Imam draws a distinction between his father’s original vision and the state’s current one. Bulu Imam treated Sohrai as fine art from the start — building an exhibition circuit that ran shows in Australia and Europe. The government’s livelihood framing, Gustav argues, risks something narrower: pay an artist per piece for a product and you’ve quietly converted her into daily-wage labour rather than treating her as an artist. He isn’t against commercialisation itself; he simply thinks dignity has to come first, and that dignity requires recognition at the very top of the field, not just income at the bottom. Traditions like Madhubani, Warli, and Gond painting have each produced nationally awarded artists, Padma Shri recipients among them; Sohrai-Khovar has not, despite women keeping the tradition alive through real struggle and real limitation. Until a handful of individual artists receive that kind of recognition, he argues, younger painters have no one concrete to aspire to become.Gangwa’s Lotus – archival art (Source: TWAC)He also offers a blunt estimate on the schemes meant to help: of the artisans meant to benefit from government portals and initiatives like Mudra loans, perhaps 5 to 10 percent actually do, largely because many are semi-literate and simply can’t navigate the registration process. The rest, in his account, remain outside the system entirely, not excluded by design, but by a bureaucracy that was never built with them in mind.Coal mining is often folded into this story as a single, simple threat, but the picture splits in two once you look closely. The Isco rock art site itself, the discovery that started everything, has not been destroyed. Dust from nearby mines has crept close and settled on it, but the site was declared a national monument around 2023. Other rock art caves in the region, more than a dozen now identified, remain safe largely because, in his words, no one knows about them, obscurity standing in for conservation.Pashupati by Kunti Devi (Source: TWAC)The villages are a different story. The North Karanpura coalfield sits beneath a large number of tribal villages across Hazaribagh, Ramgarh, and Chatra, and coal projects in the area have displaced multiple villages over the years, acquiring significant stretches of agricultural land in the process. Residents who’ve lost land describe rebuilding elsewhere, often some distance from where their families had always lived; local activists warn that further mining could displace still more. Bulu Imam’s decades of opposition — intellectual rather than confrontational, built on letters to officials rather than protest, work that earned him the Gandhi International Peace Award in 2012 — was never really about the rock art surviving. It was about whether the people who kept painting around it would get to stay.There is another complication that has nothing to do with mining. Since 2018–19, a central housing scheme, the Pradhan Mantri Gramin Awas Yojana, has replaced mud-and-thatch homes across rural India with brick and cement — a genuine welfare improvement. But Sohrai and Khovar are painted on mud, and the same pigments don’t take to cement the same way. One arm of government is quietly removing the canvas that another arm is simultaneously celebrating, not through malice, but through two policies that were never built with each other in mind.A seat at the table for indigenous art The most important complication was hinted at earlier. The market for Sohrai-Khovar remains thin, prices stay low relative to the labour involved, and no fixed floor price exists to stop buyers from talking artists down. Imam suggests that the district administration consider setting a standard pricing for the art to battle some aspects of the issue.The proposed fix, in Gustav’s telling, isn’t more schemes. It’s status. He points to what happens when a piece lands somewhere with real institutional weight — a Sohrai painting, sold to the American ambassador during a visit to Kolkata, now hangs in a prominent hall at the US consulate.Contemporary Indian art by named painters routinely sells for crores; indigenous art too deserves a seat at that table. A tradition this old survives not just on income, but on being taken seriously by the people who could otherwise walk past it without a second look.Exhibition in Rome, 2008 (TWAC)The artisan finishes her peacock as the light starts to fade. Somewhere else in Hazaribagh, another woman is doing the same. Her red may no longer come from soil gathered by hand, but from a tube of paint bought at the market. The image on the wall is still recognisably Sohrai.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesFor thousands of years, the art has adapted to changing walls, changing materials and changing lives. But preserving it may require more than putting its motifs on government buildings or selling its paintings to new markets. It may mean preserving the women who make it, the homes they paint and the communities that taught them how.The paintings began on cave walls, moved to mud homes and have now travelled to airports, exhibitions and diplomatic gifts. What happens next will depend on whether Sohrai-Khovar is treated simply as a product to be sold — or as a living tradition whose value lies in the people who keep painting it.Get the latest India News and Live updates. 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