Life in a Gond Village

Born into the legacy of Gond art, Gariba Singh Tekam has upheld and advanced this tradition for over 25 years. With each brush stroke, Gariba Singh Tekam reanimates the Gond mythology and highlights the prevalent practice of nature worship. Gariba Singh Tekam was born in 1976 into the Pradhan Gond community, the clan that has produced many talented Gond artists. Being the youngest brother of eminent artists Narmada Singh Tekam and Kala Bai, Gariba inherited the gift of artistry through the family. Moreover, he was fortunate to have received the mentorship of the acclaimed Gond artist Jangarh Singh Shyam, who was marvelled by his artistic excellence and inspired him to take painting as a profession. Glorifying colours and forms, Gariba Singh Tekam has a decorative and joyful style. A distinctive feature of Gariba’s paintings is the recurring three-line pattern, which he explains draws its inspiration from the trishul. Since childhood, Gariba has always been fascinated by the traditions and culture of the community. This is mainly why the artist’s artworks feature figures from the Gond pantheon. His vibrant paintings predominantly feature Baba Devi and Ghurri Dev, the principal deities of the Gond tribes, as well as the sacred Saja tree. Gariba Singh Tekam is committed to carrying forward the legacy of both his family and community, transforming his passion into a profession and ultimately into a mission. The artist carries this mission with the help of his wife, Prem Bai. Today, he teaches the next generation, ensuring the stories don’t fade. His artworks are widely recognised in the Indigenous Art and Living Traditions category, with one of his paintings fetching a record price of ₹3,30,108 at SaffronArt in 2020.