Resume Profile of Bulu Imam
Background:
Great-grandfather, Nawab Imdad Imam, Shamsh-ul-Ulema Persian and Urdu Poet-Laureate. Grandfather,
eminent lawyer and jurist Mr. Syed Hasan Imam, Judge of Calcutta High Court, 1912-16, President, Special
Session, Indian National Congress, Sept.1918; President, All-India Home Rule League; Delegate to London
Conference on Turkish Peace Treaty, 1921; India’s representative to the League of Nations, Geneva, 1923.
Grand Uncle Sir. Ali Imam, President, 1st Session, All-India Muslim League Depn. to England 1909; Law
Member of Governor General’s Council, 1910-16; Member, Executive Council of Bihar and Orissa, 1918;
President, Executive Council of the Government of the Nizam of Hyderabad, 1919; First Indian
Representative to sit at the first meeting of the League of Nations, Geneva, Nov.,1920. Father,
S.A.H.A.A.Tootoo Imam, well-known international wildlife & equestrian authority.
Life and Work:
Professional Painter, Wildlifer, Writer and Poet (1960-1986):
 One man exhibition at Academy of Fine Arts, Calcutta, 1961, All India of Fine Arts and Crafts Society,
New Delhi 1962 and 1982, and Museum of Fine Arts Punjab University , and Chandigarh State art
Museum. Paintings acquired by Chandigarh State Art Museum and Punjab Arts Council. First book of
poetry New Accents 1962.
 Two decades (1960-80) Professional painting, wildlife, and writing widely published in Indian and
foreign journals.
 Head of Fine Arts Department, Vocational Training Institute, Hazaribagh 1979-1985.
 Major murals- Khalari Church 30’x100’(oils), Hazaribagh Church 12’x18’(oils), 1981.
 Writes the Post Graduate Arts Course Manual for Beginners, 1982.
 Writes A Short History of Indian Art with Dr.M.S.Randhawa, 1982.
 Represents Hazaribagh Old Xavarian Association (HOXA) at the International Jesuit Alumni World
Congress, Versailles (France) 1986.
Wildlife researches
 Identification of Tertiary Albinism in the Jungle Crow (Corvus Macrorhincos), BNHS, 1998-99
 Identification of a miniature bison sub-species in Rairakhol, Orissa, BNHS, 1998
 Identification of a sub-species of the Gaur/Gayal in Northeast, BNHS, 1988
 Identification of the indigenous Indian dog (Santal Hound), National Geographic, 2004
 Identification of Wildlife Corridors in India with particular regard to Tigers and Elephant confronted by
transit habitat loss.
Environmentalist, Author and Art Researcher (1987-2004):
1987:
 He becomes Regional Convener, Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH)
Hazaribagh Chapter, and starts environmental work to protect the upper watershed of Damodar
Valley (North Karanpura Valley) in Hazaribagh.
 Inaugurates the bi-annual MAYUR Newsletter of the INTACH, Hazaribagh Chapter.
1988-1990:
 He becomes CHIPKO-Chotanagpur Coordinator. Shri. Sunderlal Bahuguna visits him. He conducts
padyatras in jungles to save forests. Launching of Chipko Jharkhand on 22 October, 1989.
 INTACH Seminar on Problems Facing Tribals held October 22 and 23, 1989 at Sanskriti, Hazaribagh
 Two day workshop on the Socio-ecological impact on conservation of natural resources in the eastern
region with special reference to primitive ethnic groups (supported by INTACH and the Friedrich
Neumann Foundation held at Sanskriti 22-23 April, 1990
 He organizes seminars and workshops and study tours and protests activism against environment
destruction.
1991:
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Brings to light the Isco rockart site in Hazaribagh district.
Over the next six years brings to light another dozen rockart sites in Upper Damodar Valley. In 1992:
Thethangi, Satpahar I, Satpahar II, Satpahar III, Raham, Khandhar; 1993: Sariya; 1996: Sidpa,
Gonda; 2000: Nautangwa Pahar I (Salga), Nautangwa Pahar II (Salga).
Connections between Isco rockart and Indus script drawn attention to.
1992:
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1993:
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1994:
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1995:
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He brings to light palaeolithic habitation sites connected with rockart and ancient megalithic sites, and
outlines the basis of the Damodar Valley Civilization archaeologically.
Builds up the Sanskriti- INTACH Museum collection of palaeo-archaeology of Hazaribagh certified by
the Pre-history branch of Archaeological Survey of India (Nagpur) from 250,000 B.P to contemporary.
Paper presented in IFRAO Conference, Cairns (Australia).
Publishes the research brought to light in Man in India Journal (73 Vol. II) and Indica, St. Xaviers
College, Bombay (30 Vol. I & II).
He fights to save forest wildlife corridors of Upper Damodar river against destructive mining and
establishes the ecological niche of the villages.
Discovers the connection between the Meso-chalcolithic rockart and the continuing village mural
painting tradition in Hazaribagh. Discovers Meso-chalcolithic rockart sites at Thethangi, Satpahar I,
Satpahar II, Satpahar III, Raham, Khandhar.
Brings to light Khovar marriage art of villages in Hazaribagh, connected with the rockart in the region.
With the assistance of Erwin Neumayer of Vienna brings the sgraffito Khovar art to paper in natural
earth medium and later also brings the Sohrai art to paper through indigenous medium.
He meets Dr.Federico Mayor, Director General, and appeals to UNESCO to declare the North
Karanpura Valley a World Heritage Site and presents an appeal with 54 sites listed through the Indian
National Commission to UNESCO.
Writes book (Bridal Caves) on the art published in 1995 by INTACH.
He organizes with INTACH, an international seminar at India International Centre, New Delhi on
“Crisis of the Upper Damodar Valley”.
Discovers the Sariya rockart, North Karanpura Valley.
He brings to light several Buddhist archaeological sites in Hazaribagh.
He brings to light Sohrai harvest art of villages of Hazaribagh connected with rockart. He is granted a
project for making Khovar art on paper by village women artists sponsored by the Australian High
Commission, New Delhi. The project is designed to become a self –funding venture to generate
income for displaced people, highlight their art and culture and threat to it from mining, as well as give
a medium to publicize the issues.
Begins work to establish Indigenous Rights with the Working Group on Indigenous Peoples, Geneva
He founds the Tribal Women Artists Cooperative (TWAC) and the Sanskriti Centre at Hazaribagh.
He is granted a project for making Sohrai art on paper by village women artists sponsored by the
Australian High Commission, New Delhi. Published Bridal Caves: A Search for the Adivasi Khovar
Tradition), INTACH, New Delhi.
He shows connection between Hazaribagh Rockart and continuing tradition of village paintings with
Indo-Baluchistan Complex, Mehergarh Culture (5000 B.C.) and La-pita pottery of Papua New.Guinea
and Aboriginal art of Australia.
Brings to light nomadic Birhor Tribal Art of Hazaribagh and compares it with Bushman-oid (San) and
Aboriginal (Australian) paintings. and same source in the Hazaribagh rock paintings .
Visited by well known curator of Aboriginal art, Anthony Bourke of Hogarth Gallery, Sydney.
First exhibition of the new art organized by Mrs. Khorsed Gandhy, at Gallery Chemould, Bombay.
First exhibition abroad organized by A. Bourke at Hogarth Galley, Sydney.
He Chairs the session of the 1st World Mining Environment Congress, New Delhi on Socio-economic
impact due to mining on Khovar-Sohrai villages and presents the threat to wildlife corridors, and tribal
art and culture.
Gets archaeological clearance made mandatory by Ministry of Environment & Forest to save the
threatened archaeological sites in Upper Damodar Valley from destructive mining.
Surabhi Telefilms documentary on the rockart and tribal art of Hazaribagh.
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1996:
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1997:
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1998:
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1999:
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He gets Wildlife Corridor status recognized by Ministry of Environment & Forests and made
mandatory in Environment Impact Assessment (EIA).
Shikar writing ‘The Banka Leopards’ included in The Greatest Outdoor Writing of the Twentieth
Century, the Hearst Corporation USA, 1996.
Began writing the definitive critique of Khovar-Sohrai iconography- Harvest Icons: the Sohrai Art.
Discovers the Sidpa and Gonda rockart, North Karanpura Valley.
Tribal Women Artists Cooperative exhibitions of Khovar and Sohrai art on paper:
National Gallery Of Australia Vision of Kings(shoppe), Canberra ,Jan.
Casula Powerhouse Arts Centre, Casula, Sydney, May-June
Footscray Community Centre, Melbourne, Nov.-Dec.
Sakshi Gallery, Bangalore, Sept-Oct.
He designs the 1997 Float Tableau of Bihar for the National Republic Day Parade, New Delhi,
depicting the pre-historic rockart of Isco, evolution into tribal paintings of Hazaribagh and MithilaMadhubani painting of North Bihar, supervised by Mr. Justin Imam, who is presently compiling the
Indigenous Thesauri at the Documentation Centre for Indigenous Peoples (doCip), Geneva.
Becomes Advisor to the Primitive and Aboriginal Dog Society, America.
Tribal Women Artists Cooperative exhibitions of Khovar and Sohrai art on paper:
Morree Plains Gallery, Morree, NSW, February
Freemantle Arts Centre, Perth, March
Casula Powerhouse Arts Centre, Casula, Sydney, July-Aug
He visits Australia with second son Jason, to attend the Happy Birthday Mother India Programme
organized by Casula Powerhouse Arts Centre, Casula, Sydney, Australia.
He lectures in Australia on Khovar and Sohrai art at University of Western Sydney, Neapan;
Woolongong University; Art Gallery of New South Wales; University of Western Sydney, Macarthur;
and Theosophical Society, Sydney and is interviewed by Australian Broadcasting Corporation and
SBS Television.
First exhibition of embroidered Khovar and Sohrai quilts (ledras) and Toas (sacred crafts objects) in
Australia. First exhibition of Sohrai wood sculpture (new development) by Jason Imam in Hogarth
Gallery, Sydney.
One year project to popularize Khovar and Sohrai art by Deptt. Of Culture, Ministry of HRD & C.
Mid-Tech (Star Plus) tele-film on the art.
An exhibition was organizedon the Hazaribagh Trial art at the basement Gallery of the India
International Centre which was inaugurated by Smt. Dr. Kapalia Vatsyayanan.
Tribal Women Artists Cooperative exhibitions of Khovar and Sohrai art on paper:
Bathurst Art Gallery, Bathurst, NSW, Mar-May,
Tamworth Art Centre, Tamworth, NSW, Dec-Feb
Gallery 482, Brisbane, Qld., Feb-April
Nexus Gallery, Adelaide, SA, Jun-July,
Hogarth Gallery, Paddington, Sydney Aug-Sept.
India International Centre, New Delhi, Aug.
Films Division (Govt. of India), Bombay makes a 35mm Kodak color documentary on the ‘Tribal art
and rockart of Hazaribagh titled Tribal Women Artists which received the prestigious Rajat Kamal
(National) Award for the best documentary of 1999-2000. The award was given by the president on
12th Dec 2001 in New Delhi.
Advisor to the World Bank, Delhi on Indigenous Affairs, Operational Directive (OD 4.20, 1998-99).
Advisor to the Sacred Sites International, Berkley, California, USA.
Tribal Women Artists Cooperative exhibitions of Khovar and Sohrai art on paper:
Gallery Chemould, Calcutta, April,
Gallery Chemould, Bombay, July-Aug,
Paramparik Karigar (National Gallery of Modern Art), Bombay, December
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2000:
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2001:
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2002:
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Australian Museum Djamu Art Gallery ‘Back o the Walls’ Project:
He takes four tribal women artists along with his wife and daughter Yvonne June to Sydney for one
month on a mural painting project in djamu Gallery, Customs House, Circular Quay (Australian
Museum), Sydney. His son Jason creates wooden sculptures during the project. The tribal women
artists group are led by his wife Philomina Tirkey, the renowned tribal artist.
The women artists of TWAC create fourteen 6’X12’ Murals in earth pigments on specially prepared
boards in a one month working show open to public.
The Australian Museum displays a special exhibition of the Margaret Tuckson and Patracia May
collection of Papua New Guinea La-pita pottery from the Australian Museum collection to show the
connection with Khovar art.
17 Khovar and Sohrai classes are given to art students of Sydney art departments and colleges
including TAFE. Wide print media, radio, and TV publicity.
Works including murals, hand embroidered quilts (ledra), etc. are placed in Queensland Art Gallery,
Brisbane; Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney; Australian Museum, Sydney; Power House
Museum, Sydney; Casula Art Centre, Sydney.
Tribal Women Artist Cooperative was part of the exhibition ‘Mapping Our Countries’, curated by Judy
Watson & Paul Tacon Oct.-Feb. 2000.
Discover Nautangwa I & II (Salga) rockart in the North Karanpura Valley.
Tribal Women Artists Cooperative exhibitions of Khovar and Sohrai art on paper:
Djamu Gallery, Customs House (Australian Museum)
Sydney, March-June,
Rebecca Hossack Gallery
London, May-June,
Cymroza Gallery
Bombay, March,
Publication of books Painted Houses of Hazaribagh, identifying one dozen art styles and Damodar
Valley Civilization, identifying the archaeo-cultural heritage of Hazaribagh and Chatra published by
Sanskriti Publishing
Tribal Women Artists Cooperative members Mrs.Philomina Tirkey Imam and Ms.Juliet Fatima Imam
attended the 19th Session of Working Group on Indigenous Peoples at Geneva in July. Thereafter
attending an exhibition of the tribal art of Hazaribagh at the Bellevue Gallery, Berlin where they gave
a demonstration on making of the art.
Cancellation of Indian Coal Sector Rehabilitation loan of $480m by World Bank to Coal India.
Launch of Sanskriti Website built and designed by Gustav Imam (www.sanskritihazaribagh.com)
Tribal Women Artists Cooperative exhibitions of Khovar and Sohrai art on paper:
Crafts Victoria, Melbourne, June
Bellevue Gallery, Berlin, Aug-Sept.
Therese Dion Gallery of Contemp. Art, Montreal, Sept.
Shri. Bulu Imam was given the Vijay Rattna award on 29th May in New Delhi for his work in promoting
tribal art of Jharkhand, by India International Friendship Society. The award and Certificate of
Excellence was presented by Shri. Bhisham Narain Singh, Former Governor of Tamil Nadu..
On 31st July Shri Imam received the Rashtriya Gaurav award in New Delhi for his work in
environment protection “As Environmentalist of the Millennium” by India Institute of Success
Awareness. The award was presented by Dr. C.P. Thakur, Former Union Health Minister.
The British High Commission New Delhi, approved for support under their Small Grants Scheme, a
one year TWAC project titled “Strengthening rural arts and crafts of Jharkhand”.
An exhibition of Khovar and Sohrai painting was held at the Max Muller Bhavan, New Delhi which
was curated by Shri. Imam and Ms.Susanne Gupta of Berlin. Shri.Imam gave a slide lecture on the
tribal art and threats to it, to a well attended audience. The exhibition was inaugurated on 15 th July, by
Shri.S.K.Mishra, Chaiman of INTACH
Tribal Women Artists Cooperative exhibitions of Khovar and Sohrai art:
Max Mueller Bhavan, New Delhi, July
Cymroza Art Gallery, Bombay, August
Eppelheim Gallery, Germany, March-April
Kassel Gallery, Germany, July-August
Stuttgart Gallery, Germany, October
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2003 :
 In February he constructed in Hazaribagh a Shilpgram, a Crafts Village of 75 mud buildings
decorated with Khovar and Sohrai paintings and on his project design the administration obtained the
Govt. support to build a Kalagram, a permanent Crafts Village.
 In the same month he became member of Handicrafts Board, Govt. of India.
 His film on the indigenous dog made by National Geographic (In Search for the First Dog) was
premiered in March in the USA.
 His report on the threat to the rockart of the Upper Damodar valley was published in the International
Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS), Paris, World Report (2001/2002).
 In May, at the UNESCO conference on Cultural Heritage, in Amdsterdam, his report on the ‘Living
Cultural Heritage of the Upper Damodar Valley’ was well received by UNESCO.
 In June he made films on the art and rockart of Hazaribagh with famous photographer Padmashri
Benoy Behl for the ‘Paintings of India’ series of Doordarshan No.10 & 11.
 In July, he began his study of the Vernacular Architecture of Hazaribagh with IIT, Roorkee.
 In September he arranged an exhibition at the Boras Kunst Museum, Boras, Sweden. This was an
extended project of an earlier working exhibition with the Madras Crafts Foundation at Madras.
 Asia Pacific Weeks, Berlin:
Accompanied by his wife Philomina Tirkey, a renowned tribal artist, and the well known tribal artist
Putli Ganju, Shri.Imam delivered a lecture on 17th September at the Heinrich Boll Foundation in Berlin
where the art was being exhibited for a fortnight.
 The Panel discussion moderated by Ms.Susanne Gupta was comprised of the select panel of Bulu
Imam, INTACH; Dr.Lydia Icke-Schwalbe, Director, State Museum for Ethnography, Dresden; Dr.
Angelika Koester-Lossak, Director Asian Office Lahore, Heinrich Böll-Stiftung; Dr.Johannes Laping,
Adivasi-Coordination, Germany; Dr.Cornelia Mallebrein, Indologist, Universität Tübingen; Dr.Theodor
Rathgeber, Society for Threatened Peoples; Philomina Tirkey (Imam), INTACH.
 Opened an exhibition of the art at the Volkerkunde Museum, Heidelberg.
 In October he made a television film (French & German T.V.) of the Khovar and Shohrai art
sponsored by HIVOS Netherlands (Director, Susanne Gupta, Berlin).
 Delivered a lecture on ‘Art, Culture, & Ethnicity’ the India Story sponsored by the India Foundation at
the Rusi Modi Centre for Excellence in Jamshedpur.
 Tribal Women Artists Cooperative exhibitions of Khovar and Sohrai art:
Boras Kunst Museum, Boras, Sweden, September
Heinrich Böll Foundation, Berlin, September
Volkerkunde Museum, Heidelberg, Sept.-Oct
Madras Crafts Council, Madras, January
2004:
January:
 An exhibition of the work of Shri Bulu Imam and Sanskriti under the heading “Renascence of Adivasi
Traditional Art, Culture & Dying Folk Expressions by Bulu Imam through “Sanskriti”, Hazaribagh,
Jharkhand” was presented at the Ninety-First Session of The Indian Science Congress, Chandigarh.
 The International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS), Paris, World Report (2002/2003) on
Heritage at Risk published his report on ‘Threat to Living Cultural Heritage of the Upper Damodar
Valley’.
February:
 Books published: Life and Art of Birhor (India), The Santal Hound (USA), Forests of the Buddha
(Japan), and Threatened Jain Heritage Route (India).
 Exhibition of Khovar and Sohrai paintings at the Catholic Information Centre, Ludwigsberg, Germany.
March-April:
 His film ‘In Search for the First Dog’ was premiered in India on National Geographic Channel on 9
&11 March. It recently won an award in the prestigious Explorer’s Club Film Festival, New York.
 H.E.Philip McDonagh Ambassador of Ireland visited his Sanskriti Centre & Museum. Discover India
feature on Jharkhand with-in-depth photo presentation of Sanskriti.
May-June:
 Exhibition, State Museum for Ethnography (Volkerkunde) Dresden, Germany.
 CD presentation ‘Indigenous Architecture of Hazaribagh’ won an award during the Annual Technical
Festival of Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee.
 Books published: Hazaribagh School of Painting, The Bridge (A collection of poems).
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July-September
 Collaborated in the making of the Crafts Map of Jharkhand, with Dastkaari Haat Samiti, New Delhi.
 Completed Jaina and Buddhist Heritage Route study in Jharkhand for ICOMOS, Paris.
Tribal Women Artists Cooperative (TWAC) Exhibitions:
 Catholic Information Centre, Ludwigsberg, Feb.-March
 State Museum of Ethnography (Volkerkunde), Dresden, May-September
 Rebecca Hossack Gallery, London, April
Bulu Imam’s experience of specialization is the understanding of the palaeolithic vision in tribal and child art which is descended from
and connected with the prehistoric rock paintings. For this he has researched and traveled widely in India and abroad producing
significant research monographs and papers in elite symposia including Rock Art Society of India, and the Indian Science Congress.
He has brought to light over one dozen rockart sites in the Hazaribagh region and shown it to be the source of contemporary village
paintings. He is working on the evolution of these art forms in a changing contemporary scene. Over a dozen stylistic modes of
different tribes of the region have been presented in his publication ‘The Painted Houses of Hazaribagh’.
2005:
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Completion of the film “The One Eared Elephant from Hazaribagh” on the tribal art of Hazaribagh,
editing by Thomas Balkenhol at Dept. of Film, Ankara University, Turkey. Entered in Liepzig Film
Festival, July, 2005.
Hosting delegates of International Conference on Art and Architecture of Eastern India and
Bangladesh at Sanskriti, 10th Feb., 2005
Publication of “Forest of the Buddha” (Trafford Publishing) with Canadian journalist Philip Carter
Publication of report on threatened Jain heritage of Lower Damodar Valley in ICOMOS World Report
2004/05.
Recognition of major threatened archaeological Sites of Hazaribagh and Chatra districts in Sacred
Sites International Foundation, Berkley (USA) Most Endangered Sacred Sites List include, i.
Sitagarha Hill, RLF & Buddhist Sites, Banadag megaliths, Bawanbai Hill, Isco Rockart, Barwadi
Punkhri Megaliths, and North Karanpura Valley- Sacred Groves, Burial and dance grounds,
Vernacular Architecture, Khovar and Sohrai painting, and village and artisnal crafts. Website:
www.sacred-sites.org
Documentary Film (TV) with Shri Virag on Tribal Art of Hazaribagh”.
Completion of monograph “Rockart of North Jharkhand” for Dept. of Culture, Govt. of Jharkhand
Completion of monograph “Hazaribagh School of Painting”.
Launch of Adikala Web Gallery www.adikala-art-gallery.com.
2006
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Exhibition of Paintings and screening of film The One-Eared Elephant from Hazaribagh at the Indian
Embassy, Berlin from 1st December 2005 to 15th January 2006.
The Painted Houses of Hazaribagh, Jharkhand/India on Khovar and Sohrai painting was
published in Journal no.52, 2005 of the State Volkerkunde Museum, Dresden.
Monograph Publications:
i. The Nomadic Birhors of Hazaribagh-Their Life, Art, Songs, and Ethnobotany (170 pages, 7
Chapters, illustrated with colour photographs)
ii. The Manjhi Santals of Hazaribagh- Their Hunt Rules, Songs, Lifestyle and Folklore (271 pages, 9
Chapters, illustrated with colour photographs)
iii. Ground Survey of the current status of Jain Temple Statuary and Sites in North and South
Jharkhand and relevant Sites in Purulia dist., West Bengal (74 temple sites).
"Rajkiya Sanskritik Samman: 2006" (State Award for Culture) for contribution to culture in
Jharkhand. The award was given by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth Affairs, Govt.of
Jharkhand
Nominated for the Goldman Award, 2006 (USA) by Mr.Edward Goldsmith, The Ecologist, UK
Nominated for Padmashri, 2006 by Dept. of Culture, Govt. of Jharkhand
Exhibitions of Khovar and Sohrai Paintings - The first exhibition of paintings of the Tribal Women Artists
Cooperative was held in Milan, Italy at the Tarshito Gallery (Spazio With/ 108 Welcome) from 5-19 June, 2006.
Subsequent exhibitions are planned at Turin and Rome. The exhibitions are organized by Daniela Bezzi. Another
exhibition will be held in (Konigsten) Bon for four weeks in Sept.-October. The exhibition will be organized by
Johannes Laping of SARINI, Germany. In October there will be an exhibition at the Therese Dion Gallery in
Montreal.
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2007:
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CRATerre, Paris- INTACH collaboration project for woodless Earthen Construction at Hazaribagh- To face
the challenge of house-less people we have pioneered a major initiative with CRATerre, the world leaders and
UNESCO Award for Excellence winners in Earthen Construction, to prepare a project proposal to possible
donors. CRATerre expert Peeyush Sekhsaria recently spent a week in the field with us and prepared the
proposal via CRATerre, Paris.
Old British Cemetry, Hazaribagh The British Association for Cemeteries for South Asia (BACSA) supported
INTACH Hazaribagh Chapter project for repairing and renovating the Old British Cemetery of 1790 in Hazaribagh
which work was completed between Nov., 2006-Nov., 2007.
Research Proposal marking the Indian War of Independence 1857-58- Research on the Old Benares Road,
the old arm of the Grand Trunk Road through Jharkhand. This developed into a research proposal with the
Department of History, University of Sussex, with the active support of its head, Dr.Daniel Rycroft, titled: AntiImperial Resistance, Collective Memory, and Cultural Policy in Postcolonial India. The first phase will involve
archival, anthropological, and historical research with special reference to memorial sites and traditions. It will
have in the second phase conferences to be held at University of Sussex, INTACH, and a University in India. It
will give us the opportunity of a visiting fellowship at the Centre for Culture, Development and Environment at he
University of Sussex. The project also involves making a film on the ground situation in tribal areas with relation
to the topic.
The Road- The booklet “The Road” has been completed in approximately 8000 words, and it details the Old
Benares Road through Jharkhand from the point where Jharkhand begins in the West (Dobhi) to Chas in the
east. It also covers the Gaya Tamralipti pilgrim route via the Damodar and Suvarnarekha valley used by the
Buddha and other travellers to Orissa and also Mahavira ‘s route south to Seraikela and Singhbhum.
The Independent, UK 11th March 2005- An article on Jharkhand coal mining and the work of Imam, by Daniela
Bezzi & Peter Popham, Photos: Robert Wallis.
Tribal Art Programme with Italian artist Tarshito- Mr.Tarshito Nicola Strippoli the famous Italian artist based in
Milan, Rome, and Bari ,with studios in all three places has arrived to work in collaboration with the Tribal Women
Artist’s Cooperative at Bulu Imam’s Sanskriti Centre in Hazaribagh, from 10 to 14 October to paint Khovar and
Sohrai art on ten large size cloths of 8.5’x 8.5’ feet. He worked with well known artists Ms. Philomina Tirkey, Ms.
Putli Ganju, Ms. Chamni Ganju, Mrs.Elizabeth Imam, Ms.Juliet , Ms. Jacinta, Ms. Alka, Ms. Sushma, Sugya Devi,
Parvati Devi and other women artists representing Ganju, Oraon, Turi, Kurmi and Prajapati groups. Tarshito’s
programme was covered by Television Channels- Doordarshan, ETV, etc. and newspapers including Hindustan
Times, Hindustan, etc. A painting from the workshop (Tarshito with Juliet, “Birds and Flowers”) was exhibited in
the Nature Morte Galley, New Delhi.
Film Shooting- Visit to Sanskriti by award-winning environmental film-maker Vinod Raja of Bangalore, and
Vishwanathan for filming opencast coal mine displacement and threat to rockart in North Karanpura Valley. The
film was completed in 2008 under the title “The Mahua Memoirs” and won the Silver Conch award in the Mumbai
Film Festival.
Rockart Survey of North Jharkhand- A comprehensive survey was undertaken under the
coordinatin of Bulu Imam (INTACH, Hazaribagh Chapter) and the team led by Dr.B.K.Malla of the
Indira Gandhi National Centre for Arts, New Delhi for the study and documentation of over one dozen
meso-chalcolithic rockart sites in Hazaribagh and the Chatra districts. The multi-disciplinary team
comprised of scholars and video graphic experts documented the sites. Two new painted shelters
were brought to light. First photo documentation of communal worship by Tana Bhagats ws recorded
at Thethangi during January- February, 2007.
Tribal Women Artists Cooperative held an exhibition of paintings at Merka Lutyens garden, 4
Bhagwandas Road, New Delhi where large Sohrai murals painted on cloth were displayed for the first
time in March, 2007.
German Online Exhibition was arranged in coordination with German organization
Wirtschaftswetter from 1st April to 30th June, 2007.
Publication- The Antiquarian Remains in North Jharkhand, and Relevant Associated Sites is a
massive new report on the archaeological heritage of the region in two volumes by Bulu Imam. It lists
a total of 519 sites, Volume One containing 97 pages and 76 photographs, Volume Two containing
106 pages and 101 photographs in colour. It lists in detail 74 Jain sites, 59 Megalithic sites, 19
Rockart sites, 22 Buddhist sites, 150 palaeolithic to neochalcolithic and iron-age sites, 55 Nomadic
sites, 44 17th Cent. Temple sites, 27 Forts, 5 Semaphore towers, 7 man-made Mounds and other
sites. The work documents the proto-historic and historic remains though archaeology from pre-Indus
to early Jain and Buddhist archaeology, through Gupta and Pala periods to the 17 th Century, and the
first British Colonial archaeological records from the 18 th Century. Bulu Imam has brought many new
archaeological sites which are in this list.
Campaigns- Successful campaign to protect over seventy 17th Century terracotta temples in Maluty,
Dist., Pakur, North Jharkhand.
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2008
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Completed 20 years as INTACH Regional Convener, Hazaribagh Chapter and Editorship of 35
issues of MAYUR Newsletter published from Sanskriti Centre, Hazaribagh detailing the activities of
INTACH in Hazaribagh and the Tribal Women Artists Cooperative with an international readership.
South Jharkhand Researches- Conducted a survey of South Jharkhand and brought to light new
important megalithic sites at Khetley, Jairagey, Kurund, Sohar, Amaliya, Tengariya, Doisa Fort,
Patatangar Hill Rock-Art (Palkote), and Khukhra the old Capital of Jharkhand.
Recent Books- POETRY- Leaves, Blossoms, Flowers, APHORISMS- Autumn and Spring
Nominated for Indira Gandhi National Integration Award 2007, by INTACH, New Delhi
New Publications:
Manjhi Songs from Hazaribagh- 182 new songs with commentary (illustrated)
Oraon Songs and others from Hazaribagh with commentary (illustrated)
Tribal Tales and Folklore
Tribal Songs from Hazaribagh
Blossoms (a book of poems)
Flowers (a book of poems)
The Quest ( a book of an epic poem)
EXHIBITIONS
Exhibition of paintings at Bonn
The exhibition was organized by the Federal Agency for Nature Conservation Germany (BfN). The
exhibition of Khovar and Sohrai paintings was introduced by lectures from Ms Susanne Gupta and
Johannes Laping on the art and its background. The film One Eared Elephant of Hazaribagh on the
Hazaribagh tribal art directed by Ms Gupta was also screened. The exhibition lasted from April to
May, 2008. It was inaugurated by Prof.Beate Jessel and organized by Dr.Daniel Wolf (BfN)
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VICINO LONTANO Cultural Festival and Premio Terzani Literary award Ceremony and debate
on - Identity and difference in a time of conflict, Udine, Italy 15th-18th may, 2008 and presentation
of paper “Continuity of Indigenous Traditions in Contemporary India- The Painted Walls of
Hazaribagh” in conjunction with three murals to be painted on site by artists of the Tribal Women
Artists Cooperative (Philomina Imam, Juliet Imam, Putli Ganju).
The Johar! Project The full program of art events, talks and seminar in Italy took place:
In Udine, from May 13th till 18th for the Event Vicino/Lontano – Premio Terzani 2008
Piazza Libertà, under the Loggia - Johar! The mural Live performance in the Sohrai wall painting
tradition starring the artists Putli Ganju, Philomina Tirkey Imam e Juliet Fatima Imam from the Tribal
Women Artists’ Cooperative of HazaribaghFrom May 13th till 18th, Girasole Gallery, Riva Castello 1/A - Johar! The bridal room
Collective art show by the Tribal Women Artists’ Cooperative of Hazaribagh-India Screening of the
video The one-eared elephant from Hazaribagh by german film-maker Susanne Gupta
May 16th, Main Conference Hall - Johar! Voices from vanishing India
Scholar Bulu Imam in conversation with film-makerSusanne Gupta and archeologist Erwin Neumayer
May 17th, Small Conference Hall - Parampara: learning from my mother…
Tribal artists Putli Ganju, Philomina Tirkey Imam and Juliet Fatima Imam talking about their art
In Rome, from May 20th till 14th September 2008, various Venues:
May 20th, Lelio Basso Foundation for Indigenous Right, Via della Dogana Vecchia 5
- India and its indigeneous people: a history of denial Scholar Bulu Imam in conversation with
Prof. Umberto Mondini and Prof. Scaria Thurutyril (Università Pontificia Salesiana in Rome) and Dott.
Elisabetta Salvatorelli (FILB).
May 21st, International Women House, Via della Lungara 19 - Parampara: learning from my
mother… Tribal artists Putli Ganju, Philomina Tirkey Imam and Juliet Fatima Imam talking about their
art, followed by Screening of the video The one-eared elephant from Hazaribagh by german filmmaker Susanne Gupta
From May 22nd till 14th September, 2008, Ethno-Prehistoric L. Pigorini Museum, Piazza Marconi 14
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– Johar! Territories of the Sacred: Continuity and Tradition of the Indigenous Cultures in
Jharkhand Follow up of the Action Painting started in Udine and Exhibition and loop screening of
the video The one-eared elephant from Hazaribagh by Susanne Gupta
May 23rd, same Venue - Seminar: Rock art painting and prehistory in Jharkhand
Scholar Bulu Imam in discussion with Italian archeologist Massimo Vidale.
Two further exhibitions by Gossner Mission at the cities of Norden and Emden in northern Germany
between July-Aug, 2008.
Confluence Gallery, Twisp, Washington State, USA organized by Joseph Reid of Methow in
Sept.2008
2009
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Exhibitions
Exhibition at Aachen (Northern Germany), Feb.-April 2009 organized by Johannes Laping, SARINI.
An exhibition titled “Tarshito and the Sacred Cultures of Art” is taking
place in Milan at Facoltà Teologica, Chiostri di S. Simpliciano, via dei
Cavalieri del Santo Sepolcro, 3, Milan (Italy) from 17th February until
20th of March, 2009. In September 2006 artists of the Tribal Women
Artists Cooperative had painted a dozen large murals on cloth with
Tarshito at the Sanskriti Centre in Hazaribagh. These paintings are
being displayed at the above exhibition.
Projected Exhibition at the Brunei Gallery (School of Oriental and African Studies, London)
The exhibition at the Brunei Gallery in London has been confirmed from March to May 2011. Three
women artists of the TWAC will accompany Bulu Imam for painting murals. Additionally a seminar will
be held to discuss the various issues surrounding the art project such as indigenity, continuity of
cultural traditions and threats. We are thankful to Mr.Robert Wallis and Mr.John Hollingworth of SOAS
for staring the dialogue.
ICOMOS World Report 2006/2007 on Monuments and Sites in Danger Edited by Michael Petzet
and John Ziesemer - The Report by Bulu Imam carries a detailed note on the cluster of twenty
temples at Telkupi which was submerged by the Panchet Dam in 1962 without attempt at removal.
The temple no.10 of this cluster has avoided complete destruction and is standing still in the silted
dam. The Chapter is trying to draw the attention of UNESCO to excavate the site. This cluster of
temples was considered the oldest and finest record of Jain temples and statuary in India and dated
to the 9th Century.
Awards:
-Rotary Club Silver Jubilee Award: On 30th August Convener Bulu Imam was presented the Rotary
Silver Jubilee Award for Lifetime Achievement “For His Outstanding Contribution to Tribal Art,
Poetry, Literature, & Nature Conservation” .
-Doordarshan Golden Jubilee Award: The award was presented by His Excellency
K.Sankaranarayanan, Governor of Jharkhand on the evening of 15th September at the Doordarshan
in Ranchi for his contribution to Tribal Arts in Jharkhand.
Campaign: Started a new international campaign (www.karanpuracampaign.com and Internet Signon Petition)against the thirty-one new open-cast coal mines including Pakri-Barwadi which are to be
built in the North Karanpura Valley in Hazaribagh and Chatra districts and assured Environmental
Clearance as per the new policy. This campaign is an extension of the Chapter’s campaign against
global warming and climate change to which the coal mines are an added hazard. The Chapter had
written letters to the Governor of Jharkhand in June and has now written to The President of India to
stop the mines as they will further promote global warming and climate change both locally and
globally apart from forced destruction of Indigenous Peoples and destruction of the catchment of the
Upper Damodar river in Karanpura and fertile agricultural land totally covering an area of nearly 3000
sq.km affecting 200 villages and nearly one million people. The petition is supported and signed by
Dr.James E Hansen the world’s foremost climatologist and founder of the concept of “global warming
induced climate change”. Dr.Hansen (Director of NASA’s Goddard Institute for Space Studies) who
signs in his affiliation to Columbia University Earth Institute; the letter is also signed by Dr.Jeff
Goldstein, Director, National Center for Earth and Space Science Education, Maryland, USA; German
affiliate of the World Wide Earth Charter; FIAN organization for Human Rights, Heidelberg; Pacific
Indigenous Peoples Environment Coalition, New Zealand; Adivasi Koordination, Germany; Vandana Shiva,
Navdanya, New Delhi; and other important national and international individuals and organizations, and
several thousand local village people of Karanpura in the Upper Damodar valley.
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Global Warming Awareness Campaign : Started a campaign of awareness of the threat from global
warming and climate change in schools and colleges in Jharkhand which is endorsed by Dr.Hansen
and Dr.Goldstein. INTACH Head Office has agreed to start an awareness campaign on global
warming through all its Chapters across India, and our Chapter has been requested to prepare the
guidelines. Convener, Bulu Imam has been made a Global 350.org Messenger. Other Global 350
Messengers include Al Gore, Dr.James Hansen, Vandana Shiva, and IPCC Chairman, Rajendra
Pachauri.
 350.org is the most recent international campaign which I am supporting. Information literature
available at 35o.org. to celebrate 24 October to mark the urgency to control atmospheric carbon
dioxide levels at 350 parts per million (which to me is impossible since the atmospheric
concentrations have reached 387ppm).
 350 Campaign on 24th October we marked the 350 International Day for Global Action for
combating global warming 350 programme.
On 24th Oct. 2009 organized several 350 activities in Jharkhand. Events 24th Oct., 2009:
1. At Sanskriti the 20th Anniversary of Chipko Choptanagpur was celebrated marking the day when
Sunderlal Bahuguna inaugurated the Chipko in Jharkhand with our family at Sanskriti by hugging the
Pipal tree and lighting a lamp.
2. At Sanskriti 350 Chappatis were made to mark the spirit of rebellion and freedom
3. A Press conference was held by Rotary Club Ranchi South at the Chinar Hotel,
4. At the BIT Mesra the girl and boy students formed a 350 figure
5. At BIT Mesra, Ranchi 350 students gathered with the no.350 in the company of Bulu Imam, Convener
INTACH Hazaribagh, and Gustav Imam, Coordinator 350 programme Jharkhand, and Shree Deo
Singh State Convener, Jharkhand.
6. BIT Mesra 350 students had a cycle rally at the BIT Campus to mark the occasion
7. Discussion and talks on 350 marked the day at BIT Campus
8. Ohm Chanting at Brahmacharini Ashram, Bokaro Steel City organized by Mrs.Sadhna Shrivastava
On 25th October
1. Bulu Imam delivered a lecture on Global Waming at the Rotary Club Hall, Ranchi Club- Intercity Meet
on “Global Warming: The Problem-The Solution-The Role Rotary Can Play” to the members of the six
clubs of Rotary International in Ranchi at 11:00 am organized by Mrs.Sangeeta Sharan, President
and Mr.Amal Pandey, Secretary, RCRS. The other speakers were Dr.Shailendra Kr.Singh, Assistant
General Manager, Environmental Engineering Division, MECON, Ranchi, and Prakhar Goel, Indian
Youth Delegate, Agent Of Change IYCN who is representing India for the Copenhagen Summit in
December, 2009, and Ajoy Chhabra, Governor 1999 RI Dist.3250.
2. Bulu Imam delivered a lecture at Bokaro Steel City 6:00 to 9:00pm Seminar on Global warming
organized by Rotarian Surinder Sahni and attended by Bryan Cook, Governor, Rotary International
(RI Dist 5440) Greeley, Colarado with Rotarians John and Raju Greeley Colarado, and Mahesh
Kejriwal, Bokaro, Dist.Governor nominee RI Dist.3250, (2010-2011)
3. Cycle Rally by the Students of 11 schools with 350 banners and placards organized by Mrs.Sadhna
Shrivastava, Bokaro Steel City
On 26th October
350 Human Figure at Nav Prathmik Vidalaya, DVC
350 Human Figure at Madhyam Prathmik Vidalaya, Dipugarha
DAV events 27th October, 2009
Drawing and painting competition Bokaro ion 350. Card making competition 350, 350 figure formation by
students, releasing of 350 hydrogen balloons, 350 students Cycle Rally with banners and placards.
22nd November, 2009: Talk on global warming at St.Xaviers School, Bokaro Steel City to the students of
various schools of Bokaro steel city.
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Series of lectures on Global Warming to schools in Jharkhand and North India. Video Conference
with Global Summit at Campenhagen under 350.org.
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2010
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Exhibitions in Europe
Two Exhibition in Hanover, Germany, May-June, 2010
Exhibition in Friebourg, April-may, 2010
Experience in the field of specialization:
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Internationally known environmentalist who has popularized the concept of wildlife corridors throughout India and
(a) had MoEF to prepare EIA (Environment Impact Assessment) (b) had MoEF to make archaeological clearance
mandatory in EIA.
Protection of rockart sites and villages through sustained campaigning. He was responsible for discovering and
brining to light 13 prehistoric rockart sites in Upper Damodar Valley.
Request to UNESCO in 1993 to declare the region’s rockart and Khovar Sohrai villages art as World Heritage
site. Successful recognition of the Upper Damodar Valley as a UNESCO Living Cultural Heritage Site
(Amsterdam, May, 2003).
Discovery and tracing/Drawing of complete panels of sixteen painted rock caves in Hazaribagh. Complete photodocumentation of all sites above mentioned. Discovery of prehistoric habitation clusters associated with the
above sites. Setting up of a Museum & Art Gallery at Hazaribagh, and publication of research through books,
journals, etc.
Research in the art forms of the following castes/tribes in the region of the rock-art and establishing their
connection with the rock paintings through detailed analysis of iconography of Munda, Ganju (Bhogta), Oraon,
Santal, Birhor, Prajapati (Kumhar), Rana, Teli, Turi, Kurmi,etc.
Publication of bi-annual newsletter (MAYUR) on developments, now in its 34th Issue. Building the Sanskriti
Centre at Hazaribagh including artists, guests, research, museum facilities.
Forming of Tribal Women Artists Cooperative (TWAC) and drawing the link between Hazaribagh prehistoric
rockart and the living artistic mural painting traditions of Khovar and Sohrai in the villages of Hazaribagh.
Exhibitions and Publications of the art in important journals in India and abroad.
First time study of the vernacular architecture of Hazaribagh with collaboration of Department of Architecture &
Planning, Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee University.
Member and Advisor to the Sacred Sites International (SSI), Berkley, Calif., USA
Member and Advisor to the Primitive and Aboriginal Dogs Society (PADS) of America.
Member, All India Handicrafts Board, Ministry of Textiles, Govt. of India
For 20 years Convener, Hazaribagh Chapter, The Indian National Trust for Art & Cultural Heritage (INTACH)
South Asia Correspondent to the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS, Paris)
Original Work
The background of Bulu Imam as a working poet, artist, and writer since his school days, prepared him for a
deep love of the tribal people of his native Hazaribagh with whom he interacted since an early age, leading to
the following monographs:
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Bridal Caves: A Search for the Adivasi Khovar Tradition (Foreword by Dr.B.K.Thapar).INTACH, New Delhi.1995.
Translation of 182 Santal songs (published by Sahitya Academy, Baroda).Hindi & English.
Translations of 75 Birhor Songs- Hindi & English.
Birhor Ethno-botany .
Oraon Ethno-botany.
Hunt rules of the Manjhi Santals.
The Santal Hound.(establishes the genetic primacy of the Indo-Pacific breed in India)
Pre-Vedic Worship in India.
Tribal Religion (Bonga).( a study of the tribal perspective of worship )
Shiva the Tribal God.
Damodar Valley Civilization.(Sanskriti Publishing, Hazaribagh, 2001)
Territory of the Sacred: Folklore of Hazaribagh.
Child Houses of Hazaribagh: A study of tribal children’s plastic iconography.
Harvest Icons: the Sohrai Art.
Folk Tale of Hazaribagh.
The Painted Houses of Hazaribagh.(Sanskriti Publishing,Hazaribagh,2001).
Songs & Sutras from Hazaribagh. (Sanskriti Publishing, Hazaribagh, 2001).
The Art & Life of the Birhors (Sanskriti Publishing, Hazaribagh)
The Santal Hound (Sanskriti Publishing, Hazaribagh)
Hazaribagh School of Painting (Sanskriti Publishing, Hazaribagh)
Forests of the Buddha, by Philip Carter and Bulu Imam (Sanskriti Publishing with Trafford Publishing, Canada)
Rockart of North Jharkhand (Dept.of Culture, Govt. of Jharkhand)
The Nomadic Birhors of Hazaribagh- Life, Art, Songs, and Ethnobotany of (INTACH, New Delhi)
The Manjhi Santals of Hazaribagh - Hunt Rules, Songs, Lifestyle & Folklore (INTACH, New Delhi)
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25. Ground Survey of the current status of Jain Temple Statuary and Sites in North & South Jharkhand, and Purulia
Dist., West Bengal, (INTACH, New Delhi)
26. Antiquarian Remains of North Jharkhand- A report on 519 archaeological sites in North Jharkhand including new
sites discovered by the Author.
27. LEAVES,(Poems)Sanskriti Publishing, Hazaribagh
28. BLOSSOMS (Poems)
29. FLOWERS (Poems)
30. APHORISMS
31. TRIBAL SONGS
32. MANJHI SANTAL SONGS
33. THE QUEST (Poem)
Research Publications
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Some Thoughts on Rockart – Man In India, 82 (3&4): p.419-426, (July-Dec., 2002)
On Rockart – Man In India, 83 (3&4): 453-461 (July-Dec., 2003)
Some Thoughts on Local Art Forms in Indian Villages- Journal of Social Anthropology, Vol.1,
No.1, p.41-57 (June 2004)
Tribal Civilization in Jharkhand – Man In India, 82 (1&2): p.211-222, (January-June, 2002)
Some Thoughts on the Culture of the Past –Man In India, 79 (1&2): 161-171, (Jan-June, 1999)
Tribal Culture in Jharkhand : An Interface between Ecology and Tradition - Folklore Research
Journal, No.12, Calcutta, Dec., 2003
Cultural Spatial Concepts Implicit in Tribal Art and Identity in Hazaribagh District – Man In
India, 73 (2), p.163-172, (June 1993)
Cultural Spatial Concepts Implicit in Tribal Art and Identity in Hazaribagh District – Indica,
Vol.30 (1993) No.1&2, Heras Institute of Indian History & Culture, St.Xaviers College, Bombay
Significance of Primitive in the Context of Modern Art – Roopa Lekha, Vol.LV, No.1&2, January
1984 (Ed.Dr M.S.Randhawa), New Delhi, p.56-64
Cultural Spatial Concepts Implicit in Tribal Art and Identity in Hazaribagh District - AURANewsletter of the Australian Rockart Association (AURA) Vol.9.No.2, November, 1992, p.15-18
Development and Tribals in Jharkhand, Journal of Social Anthropology, Vol.3, no.2, Dec., 2006,
p.191-196
Communication- Cultural Ecology, Man in India, 1992; 72 (1): 121-122
Story of Kamli: A Birhor Medicine Women, man in India, 1993, 73 (40), 377-385
Ecological Background of Chotanagpur- Its Imbalance and Tribal Communities, Man in India,
Sept. 1990, p.266-277
Hazaribagh and the North Karanpura Valley : Heritage at Risk from coal mining, pre-historic
rockart sites, monuments and archaeological sites including megaliths, Natural and Sacred Sites,
Cultural Landscapes, Burial and dancing grounds, nomadic sites- ICOMOS, Heritage at Risk, World
Report 2001/2002, p.107-112
Hazaribagh and the North Karanpura Valley: Traditional vernacular architecture and cultural
landscapes; indigenous heritage; the living prehistoric mural traditions of Khovar and Sohrai art of the
North Karanpura Valley; cultural lifestyle and the basis for the preservation of cultural heritage
tradition- ICOMOS, Heritage at Risk, World Report 2002/2003, p.109-113
Threatened Jaina Heritage Route in Jharkhand and West Bengal- listing 38 temple Sites,
Updates- The stone/sand mining of rivers, Stone mining of megaliths, Destruction of Adivasi Villagers
religio-cultural landscapes and archaeological sites in the North karanpura Valley, for mines, dams,
and Super Thermal Power Stations. ICOMOS, Heritage at Risk, World report 2004/2005, p.94-103
Painted Houses of Hazaribagh, Context, Vol.2, no.1, Spring/Summer 2005
Maluty Temples, Context, Vol.4, issue 2, Autumn/Winter 2007, p.87-90
Traditional Village Architecture in Hazaribagh Today, Indian Architect & Builder, Vol.20, no.3,
Nov., 2006, p.96-100
The Temple Sites at Telkupi (“Bhairavasthan”) - Jaina Architectural Remains Submerged by
Panchet Dam in Jharkhand and West Bengal- ICOMOS, Heritage at Risk, World report 2006/2007,
p.88-90
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Important Films
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The One-Eared Elephant from Hazaribagh, produced by Sanskriti INTACH with support from
HIVOS, Netherlands, directed by Susanne Gupta, Berlin, T.V. Feature Film, 2005
Tribal Women Artists from Hazaribagh, Feature Film (35mm Kodak Colour), with Films Division,
Govt. of India, Bombay, 1999 wins Rajat Kamal President’s Award in 2001
Early Creative Expressions of Man (Art of India Series, No.10), and The Eternal Dance (Art of
India Series, No.11) produced for Doordarshan by Benoy K Behl, 2004
In Search of the First Dog (filmed by Working Dog productions), produced by National Geographic,
and shown on Television in USA and India, 2004. Wins Explorer Clubs award NY in 2006.
The Birhor- Study of a Nomadic Tribe in Hazaribagh, produced by Zee Telefilms, Bombay, 1999
for Television
The Sohrai Art of Hazaribagh, produced by Zee Telefilms, Bombay, 1999 for Television
Awards and Nominations:
1999:
 Films Division (Govt. of India), Bombay makes a 35mm Kodak color documentary on the ‘Tribal art
and rockart of Hazaribagh titled Tribal Women Artists which received the prestigious Rajat Kamal
(National) Award for the best documentary of 1999-2000. The award was given by the president on
12th Dec 2001 in New Delhi.
2002:
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2004:
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Shri. Bulu Imam was given the Vijay Rattna award on 29th May in New Delhi for his work in
promoting tribal art of Jharkhand, by India International Friendship Society. The award and Certificate
of Excellence was presented by Shri. Bhisham Narain Singh, Former Governor of Tamil Nadu..
On 31st July Shri Imam received the Rashtriya Gaurav award in New Delhi for his work in
environment protection “As Environmentalist of the Millennium” by India Institute of Success
Awareness. The award was presented by Dr. C.P. Thakur, Former Union Health Minister.
His film ‘In Search for the First Dog’ was premiered in India on National Geographic Channel on 9
&11 March. It recently won an award in the prestigious Explorer’s Club Film Festival, New York.
2006: "Rajkiya Sanskritik Samman: 2006" (State Award for Culture) for contribution to culture in
Jharkhand. The award was given by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth Affairs, Govt.of
Jharkhand
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Nominated for the Goldman Award, 2006 (USA) by Mr.Edward Goldsmith, The Ecologist, UK
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Nominated for Padmashri, 2006 by Dept. of Culture, Govt. of Jharkhand
2007: Nominated for Indira Gandhi National Integration Award 2007, by INTACH, New Delhi
2009:  Rotary Club Silver Jubilee Award: On 30th August Convener Bulu Imam was presented the Rotary
Silver Jubilee Award for Lifetime Achievement “For His Outstanding Contribution to Tribal Art,
Poetry, Literature, & Nature Conservation” .
 Doordarshan Golden Jubilee Award: The award was presented by His Excellency
K.Sankaranarayanan, Governor of Jharkhand on the evening of 15th September at the Doordarshan
in Ranchi for his contribution to Tribal Arts in Jharkhand.
2010: Nominated for Gandhi Peace Prize, 2011 by Gandhi Foundation, London
Bulu Imam
“Sanskriti”, Dipugarha
Hazaribagh 825 301
Jharkhand
Tel: 06546-263278/ 264820; Fax: 06546- 270815
Email: rch_buluimam@bsnl.in
Website: www.sanskritihazaribagh.com
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