Sukhda Pandey inaugurates the seminar at the art college in Patna on Wednesday. Picture by Nagendra Kumar Singh

Patna, Jan. 5: A three-day workshop on Women Empowerment and Child Education started on the Patna Art and Crafts College campus here today.

Around 50 participants from five states are taking part in the workshop. Art, culture and youth affairs minister Sukhda Pandey inaugurated the workshop.

At the programme, Pandey said: “Art is identified with our state and we have to maintain our rich culture. Bihar is always known for its art and culture and we have gone a long way to uphold its essence. Now, it’s the time for the younger generation to continue the tradition by capturing its charm and beauty in the form of painting, drawing, sculpture and other forms of art so that the future generation can also learn from it.”

She added: “The state government has done many things to help flourish art. On continuous basis we are holding meetings and taking advice from our officials to make this department better than other departments. There are various forms of art but each one has its own value and we must respect them to preserve its essence. As far as the topic of the workshop is concerned, I strongly feel that showing women empowerment and child education through paintings would convey a stronger message than speeches and campaigns.”

Also present at the occasion, director and founder of Zakir Hussain Institute, Uttam Kumar Singh, said: “I feel art is not given the kind of respect it deserves but at least we can support it and can contribute something to this field. Art is being misused and misguided for vested interests. Vulgar dance and song, which has become an integral part of Indian cinema is also a form of art and I strongly condemn it. It is disrespect to art. Art is delicate and clean, it’s pure and full of compassion.”

Principal of Patna Art and Crafts College, Atul Adiya Pandey, present on the occasion said the college will keep organising such workshops.

Apart from Bihar, participants from other states including Uttar Pradesh, Orissa, Jharkhand, Maharashtra and Bengal also took part in the event.

Salil Chauhan, a participant from Bundelkhand University, Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh, said: “It would be a great opportunity to take part in such a workshop. So far, I have been drawing things that were very easy. However, here we will be getting a situation and based on that we will be executing our work, even the topic is very interesting.”