Himachal Artists Allege Neglect of Senior Painters at National Art Camp

Lalit Kala Akademi accused of bias

The Lalit Kala Akademi has come under fire for alleged favoritism following the recently concluded National Miniature Painting Camp held in Basohli, Jammu and Kashmir.

Senior artists from Himachal Pradesh—particularly from the Kangra and Chamba districts—have claimed they were sidelined during the prestigious event, which ended on September 30.

Bhuvneshwar Sharma, General Secretary of the Shilp Parishad, along with several veteran painters, expressed deep disappointment over what they called the Akademi’s continued disregard for accomplished Pahari artists. “Despite receiving Padma Shri, Kalidas Samman, and other national honors, many senior artists were neither invited nor given representation,” Sharma said, calling the omission “absurd and unacceptable.”

According to the Shilp Parishad, this pattern of neglect has persisted for more than a decade. A senior artist accused the Akademi of favoritism, saying, “Talented local artists are consistently overshadowed by lesser-known names who exploit the system for personal gain.”

The Shilp Parishad has lodged a formal complaint with the Union Culture Minister, demanding an inquiry into the selection process. Senior artists warned that such ongoing marginalization not only demoralizes regional talent but also threatens the preservation of traditional Pahari miniature art.

The Lalit Kala Akademi has yet to respond to these allegations.