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Time of India

50 years on, creativity crowns Basoli canvas

1 2 Nagpur: Fifty summers ago, a quiet revolution in children's art education took root in Nagpur. What began as a modest idea by a young, Shantiniketan-trained artist has now become a cultural legacy of the city. As Basoli Bal Abhivyakti , the beloved children's art group, celebrates its golden jubilee this year, founder Chandrakant Channe reflects on a journey that touched more than two lakh young lives with strokes of colour and freedom. Founded on May 15, 1975, Basoli is no ordinary art group. It's a movement that flourished for five decades, building a bridge of creativity between generations. Its upcoming grand finale on Sunday at Bal Jagat's open-air stage in Laxmi Nagar promises to be a heartfelt celebration of everything Basoli stands for — innocence, imagination and community. Fittingly, the event will host celebrated sculptor Bhagwan Rampure as chief guest and Dr Vedprakash Mishra as the presiding dignitary. Speaking to TOI ahead of the concluding event, 75-year-old Channe gets visibly emotional. "This journey made me believe even more that children are the most amazing painters. Over these years, I made friends with more than 1.5 lakh children — some of them are grandparents now and are sending their grandchildren to Basoli," he says with a smile that carries both pride and nostalgia. The theme of this golden jubilee year was 'Nilai', a Marathi word encompassing values passed between children, parents and grandparents. The group has stayed true to its ethos of emotional learning through art. "We don't just teach painting — we let children feel through colours," says Channe. A hallmark of Basoli has always been its inclusiveness. From students in elite schools to those in slum pockets, from art prodigies to timid first-timers with a crayon, Channe welcomed all with the same warmth. "In the beginning, it was hard to raise resources. But now, money is no longer a constraint. What we lack is manpower," he admits and adds, "My students are successful now, some are abroad, many are working professionals. But sparing time for a community effort like Basoli has become rare." This year's closing celebration will also honour individuals from across fields — screen printing, theatre, sculpture, education, applied arts, and even food and science — who contributed to Basoli's journey. A commemorative edition titled "Rangarangile Chhail Chhabile" will be released, capturing memories, creativity, and stories of those who shaped and were shaped by Basoli. As someone who once could tell a child's age and mood just by his/her painting, Channe now marvels at how blurred the lines between boys' and girls' creative expressions have become. "Earlier, I could tell from the strokes if the artist was a girl or a boy. But Generation Z children are proving me wrong — and it's a good thing. Their emotional palettes are merging beautifully." On today's parenting, he gently warns, "Parents today are over-involved. I always tell them — leave the child with me and just step back. They need your time, not your pressure." As the stage at Bal Jagat lights up on May 18, it won't just be a celebration of art, it will be a tribute to a rare kind of teacher who gave children not only brushes and colours but the courage to dream without lines. For Nagpur, Basoli is not just an art group; it's an emotion that continues to shape generations, with a little paint and a lot of love.