Rock-ing adventures

Dr Meenakshi Dubey Pathak has played a vital role in strengthening the country’s cave and rock art scene through times of scarce funding and a general lack of awareness about the art form in India. This eminent Indian rock art historian was recently bestowed with the Knight of the Order of Art and Letters by the French government for her commendable work and documentation of ancient rock art in central India. Meenakshi has become the first Indian rock art historian to receive the honour.

“Rock art is my life,” says Meenakshi. “I know it sounds crazy but I deeply love seeing and observing rock art, and it’s been so ever since I was a child. I have always been keen to visit and explore new and even dangerous sites to see this art form.” Her work on rock art officially started when she was 21 and doing her doctoral research, during which she discovered and explored 25 painted rock shelters in Pachmarhi and soon became instrumental in gaining protection for 10 rock art sites at Satpura National Park in collaboration with the government of Madhya Pradesh.

“It is unfortunate that most people in our country think of only monuments and forts as our national heritage whereas rock art is the oldest heritage in the history of mankind. And we are lucky to find them in each and every region — from the northern part of India to deep down south.”

Along with pride in the old art form, Meenakshi is deeply concerned about its future. She says, “All of our rock art is under great threat. It is a fact that the art form is constantly weathering away but today it faces new forces that pose a threat — industrial development, housing development, vandalism, graffiti and the effects of climate change. I’m furthermore concerned because a majority of our population is still clueless about rock art.

I come across so many people in India who have very funny perceptions about rock art. Some will tell you that it is God’s creation, some will comment that it is a miracle or the work of aliens, or believe there is some weird legend behind it. Well, the truth is many of these spaces are very special for contemporary tribal people today, not only because they are spiritual places but also because they record their history.”

The thrill of adventure is the fuel that drives her passion for rock art, and Meenakshi has many a story and anecdote to narrate about her trips inside deep forests and far-flung areas. “I am very adventurous by nature. Ever since I was a child I used to explore forests and interact with tribal communities. I came to know that these tribals love sugar or gur so I used to carry these for them. They used to help me to a great extent with my research and take me to distinct locations inside the forest to show me rock art. I love exploring the Satpura range in Madhya Pradesh but it is a very dangerous territory full of wild animals including tigers and lions.”

In the early 2000s Meenakshi’s husband who is an Army officer got posted in the Leh district. “I was thrilled at this fascinating opportunity to explore the northernmost region of our country. Within six months of our stay, I discovered several different rock art sites and covered the borders of Pakistan till China,” shares Meenakshi, who discovered the first petroglyphy site situated near the banks of Indus.

“In 2002, I stumbled upon these rare engravings that are called petroglyphy,” she says. “After identifying and recording them closely as petroglyph sites in Karu, with the help of the Indian Army I was able to establish a petroglyph park that is now called Trishul Petroglyphs Park.”