Craft. Design. Lives
Of Roots and Rest
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A Tribute in Colour – Homage to S.H. Raza
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Goonj & Jugalbandi – A Dialogue in Art
Queens of Mandla – Murals of Valor & Legacy
Where trains meet tradition: Mandla Station Gets a Makeover with Help from Local Artisans
Rhythms of the Land – Raza Meets Gond
Ceiling of Craft – Wooden Legacy from Mandla
Mandla district in Madhya Pradesh, near Jabalpur and bordered by the Narmada River, is known for its tribal heritage and proximity to Kanha National Park. In a tribute to local culture, Mandla Railway Station has been transformed with traditional art by Gond, Baiga, and Oraon artisans, blending heritage with modern design to create a vibrant cultural landmark.
Queens of Mandla – Murals of Valor & Legacy
Concourse Area, Mandla Fort Railway Station
Mandla Railway Station now echoes the grandeur of its historic fort, with murals honoring queens Rani Durgavati and Rani Avanti Bai. Depicting scenes of Mandla Fort, ancient temples, and Sahastradhara waterfall, the artworks blend Gond patterns with rich visuals celebrating the queens' bravery and legacy. Created in two phases, composed by contemporary artist Reena Naik and detailed by Gond artisan Sukhiram Maravi, the murals beautifully merge history with tribal art.
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A Tribute in Colour – Homage to S.H. Raza
Compound Wall Leading to the Railway Station Gate and Wall Overlooking the Platform
Leading to the station gate, a vibrant ceramic tile mural inspired by S.H. Raza brings the compound wall to life. Created by over 10 skilled karigars, the mosaic captures Raza’s iconic geometric style and symbolism, offering a bold, contemporary welcome that enriches Mandla’s cultural landscape.
Of Roots and Rest – Lantana Craft
Front Lawn, Mandla Fort Railway Station
At the fort-inspired Mandla Railway Station, the front lawn offers a peaceful first impression, blending nature and craftsmanship. Honouring Mandla’s green legacy and Asia’s largest living Eucalyptus tree, the space features eight handcrafted lantana chairs made by local artisans. A striking banyan tree installation, also crafted from lantana, stands at the centre with a traditional seating platform beneath. Created over 15 days by 15 artisans and designers, this sculptural canopy symbolizes shelter, community, and the creative potential of natural materials.
Artwork Title: A Tribute in Colour – Homage to S.H. Raza
Location: Compound Wall Leading to the Railway Station Gate, And the walls in the platform, Mandla Fort Railway Station
As visitors approach the Mandla Railway Station, they are greeted by a vibrant burst of colour—the compound wall now adorned with striking ceramic tile mosaics inspired by the iconic works of master artist S.H. Raza. This bold mural pays tribute to Raza’s signature style, celebrated for its geometric precision, rhythmic repetition, and profound symbolism rooted in Indian philosophy and nature.
Over ten skilled karigars collaborated to meticulously handcraft the mosaics, translating Raza’s abstract visual language into a tactile, enduring form. The result is a contemporary masterpiece that bridges fine art with public space—offering not just a gateway to the station, but a gateway into Mandla’s evolving cultural narrative.
Handcrafted by acclaimed Gond artist Sukhiram Maravi, the walls overlooking the platform stands as a testament to artistic fusion—where modern abstraction meets tribal storytelling. Drawing inspiration from Raza’s signature motifs—repetitive grids, bindus, and vibrant blocks of colour—the composition is enriched with fine Gond detailing: birds in motion, flowing foliage, and sinuous natural forms that breathe rhythm into structure. The contrast between the stark geometry and the organic detailing creates a mural that feels at once meditative and alive.
This tribute adds both grandeur and a modern artistic dimension to the station, complementing the traditional Gond murals and reinforcing Mandla’s identity as a place where heritage and creativity converge.
Artwork Title: Of Roots and Rest – Lantana Craft in the Lawn
Location: Front Lawn, Mandla Fort Railway Station
As visitors step into the majestic, fort-inspired Mandla Railway Station, they are first met by the station’s front lawn—a serene open-air space that serves as both a resting spot and a quiet tribute to Mandla’s deep bond with nature and craftsmanship.
Fittingly, Mandla is home to Asia’s largest living Eucalyptus tree, and this green legacy finds thoughtful expression in the design of the lawn. Eight lantana chairs, entirely handcrafted by artisans from nearby forest villages, offer seating to travelers. Each morning, these craftsmen gather fresh lantana bark from the surrounding forests, weaving it into strong, functional forms—a practice born of both tradition and ecological necessity, as lantana is an invasive species creatively repurposed through artisan skill.
Extending this dialogue between forest and form, a scaled banyan tree installation crafted entirely from lantana wood stands as a sculptural centerpiece. At its base rests a traditional paar (seating platform), inviting visitors to pause, reflect, and connect. The ‘chatri’ canopy design above was developed on-site through a 15-day co-creation process between the design team and over 15 local artisans, who worked in harmony to push the boundaries of lantana’s flexibility and structural potential.
This living installation, shaped by many hands and shared vision, embodies themes of shelter, community, and continuity—echoing the very spirit of Mandla itself.
Artwork Detail: Ceiling of Craft – Wooden Legacy from Mandla
Location: Concourse Area & Ticket Counter, Mandla Fort Railway Station
Artwork Detail: Framing Heritage – Teak Wood Window Borders
Location: Platform Side, Mandla Fort Railway Station
Drawing from Mandla’s rich tradition of wood carving, the station’s concourse area has been transformed into a space that radiates warmth, depth, and artisanal elegance. Influenced by the region’s intricate craftsmanship—seen historically in carved doors, partitions, and temple details—the ceiling now features a stunning array of suspended square-grid wooden panels, inspired by local geometric, floral, and nature-based motifs.
Clad entirely in hand-carved teakwood, the ceiling wraps the space in a luxurious, tactile texture, turning everyday travel into an experience of heritage and artistry. The detailed carving enhances the visual prominence of the ticketing zone, creating a welcoming atmosphere rooted in cultural depth.
All windows along the platform side are adorned with intricately carved teak wood borders, drawing from the region’s rich tradition of wood craftsmanship. These elegant frames not only add warmth and detail to the station’s architecture but also serve as a tribute to the skilled artisans of Mandla, echoing the grace of historic forts and temples in every carved curve.
Each panel carries the legacy of Mandla’s woodworking tradition—echoing the time-honed skills passed down through generations of local artisans. The result is more than architectural ornamentation; it is a living homage to craft, memory, and the soulful touch of human hands.
Artwork Title: Goonj Jugalbandi – A Dialogue in Art
Location: VIP Room, Mandla Fort Railway Station
Among the station’s most evocative installations are two collaborative artworks that beautifully blend tribal tradition with contemporary sensibility. These pieces are the result of a creative partnership between Farhat Datta, a Mumbai-based fine artist and environmentalist, and Choti Tekam, a skilled Gond artisan from Patangarh near Amarkantak, Madhya Pradesh.
Goonj, captures the vitality of a lush, bird-filled tree—a classic Gond motif rendered by Choti with organic rhythm and detail. Farhat reimagines this work through a contemporary lens, zooming in on the textures of leaves, birds, and branches. The result is an intimate close-up that invites viewers into the heart of nature’s quiet music and movement.
The Jugalbandi lives up to its name—a duet, a conversation. It takes the core elements of Gond art—its symbols, mythic forms, and visual language—and fuses them with modern artistic interpretation. This piece doesn’t dilute tradition; it amplifies it, allowing new narratives to emerge while honouring the original spirit.
Together, these works form a creative bridge between tribal and urban art forms, offering artisans like Choti a platform to reach broader audiences while preserving the authenticity and depth of her heritage. In these pieces, art becomes both preservation and evolution—rooted in tradition, yet open to reinterpretation.
This is an EkiBeki project
Who are we
EkiBeki is a Not for profit focused on identification of dying crafts and undertaking initiatives for their development and sustenance
