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Wall graffiti to beautify Dehradun
Chandan, a city-based artist, who goes by one name, has been commissioned by the Dehradun Municipal Corporation (DMC) for a drive to beautify the city’s urbanscape
Thirty-four-year old Chandan is busy painting a wall near the Lansdowne Chowk in the heart of Dehradun.
The wall that he is painting is neither a known city landmark nor a centre of art, but a defaced wall.
Chandan, a city-based artist, who goes by one name, has been commissioned by the Dehradun Municipal Corporation (DMC) for a drive to beautify the city’s urbanscape.
“It’s good to be part of the drive,” he says.
Taking cue from other cities where wall graffiti have started replacing defaced walls that people used as spit spools and urinals, the DMC decided replicate it in the city too.
Municipal commissioner Vijay Kumar Jogdande says the drive is aimed at spreading awareness about cleanliness and sanitation. “We have roped in many local artists and organisations and hope that it communicates the message of Swachh Bharat mission,” he says and adds that the civic body plans to commission 32 such graffiti across the city.
Dehradun-based student group--Making a Difference by Being the Difference (MAD)--is one such organization that has been roped in. MAD founder-chairperson Abhijay Negi says they have painted more than 40 graffiti across the city.
“All our graffiti have been painted by students and from our pocket money. We are happy that the DMC has involved us in the project,” he says.
The group has been painting graffiti with messages on conserving environment and themes celebrating Dehradun’s unique identity, even before the drive was started by the DMC, says Negi.
“I am sure this will make the city more beautiful and also educate people about cleanliness.”
Maintaining the artwork, however, is a concern as at some places the graffiti have been defaced by posters and tobacco stains.
“Some of our graffiti have been spoilt. We try to inspect them once in a week but at some places people have again started urinating and spitting on the graffiti,” says Negi.
“The overall response from city residents, however, has been encouraging. We try to make these graffiti in locations where people living around take care of them.”
Asked about DMC’s plans to maintain the artworks, Jogdande says the civic body will strictly enforce the law governing defacement of public property in the city.
