‘If London’s Thames River can be resurrected, why not our Yamuna?’
Over the years, social media has become the primary quasi agent of change. However, this was not always the case. A quick glance at history will show that art, once upon a time, was the catalyst for society’s evolution. This is where Bhushan Kalap comes in. The 37-year-old Mumbai-based artist is using his art to showcase the slow and the tragic decline of the mighty Yamuna.
In a conversation with HT, Bhushan explains how art can once again become the leading agent of change and what Delhi needs to do to revive Yamuna.
ON WHY HE DECIDED TO USE ART TO EXPRESS YAMUNA’S DEGRADATION
When the batch of 2003 from Sir JJ school of Art [in Mumbai] decided to showcase their work under the theme of Lost and Found, I found it apt to use one of India’s holiest river Yamuna, in a hope that it can be brought back to life from its current state of oblivion. Since Yamuna does not directly flow to the sea, it can just swallow your sins but can’t really get rid of it. That’s exactly what Yamuna is doing now — she is giving us what we deserve.
ON RISE OF SOCIAL MEDIA AS AN AGENT OF CHANGE
Despite the importance of art and culture in society for centuries, social media has
thrived over the past few years as a tool to drive change. For me, it’s not an either/or situation; both social media and art can have a collaborative approach. We need cultural centres, artists, and art organisations across social media platforms to really contribute in generating enough interest.
ON REVIVING THE MIGHTY YAMUNA
More than 50 years after being declared biologically dead, the Thames river in the UK has been hailed as an environmental success story. If Thames can be brought back to life then why not Yamuna? Delhiites need to be aware of how they pollute the river; it’s their responsibility. They must not throw anything in the Yamuna. Then the next step is to be taken by the authorities. No sewage should flow into Yamuna, and then the cleaning should commence. Penalising citizens won’t help; rather creating awareness is the solution. There should be enough toilets in slums to discourage open defecation near the river.
ON REENERGISING DELHI’S ART SCENE
Artists, globally, are known to challenge the status quo. I don’t see why Delhi should be an exception. Artists in the Capital need to imagine a better city and inspire others to join in building it. Within India, Delhi is a prime example of having multilingual communities, all claiming to be part of it but always in dilemma as to who it belongs to. Artists need to own it through their canvas, to bring hope, compassion, resolve, and ultimately, action. It can be led through an organised entity that has the wherewithal to scale it up. It doesn’t matter if it’s through a government body or through an art connoisseur.
YAMUNA CAN SWALLOW YOUR SINS BUT CAN’T GET RID OF IT. SHE IS GIVING US WHAT WE DESERVE, SAYS KALAP