The artworks of late Ravi Paranjape were handed over to the Maharashtra government formally by his family on Wednesday.
A total of 139 artworks, including 72 original paintings and 67 framed art pieces created by Paranjape, were handed over to the government.
Cultural Affairs Minister Ashish Shelar visited the residence of the artist in Pune and signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) under which the artworks will be preserved by the government.
Earlier, the artist’s wife Smita Paranjape had expressed her wish to hand over these works to the state. Accordingly, the collection was entrusted to the Department of Archaeology.
However, the official process of entering into an MoU with the government was pending.
The artworks have since been shifted to the Shri Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Museum in Satara.
The government, through its resolution dated June 17, granted approval for formally accepting the artworks and executing the agreement.
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“Over 4.5 crore priceless artefacts are currently on temporary display at the Satara Museum. Soon, these treasures will be showcased across the state in government-run museums for the public to experience,” Shelar said.
The initiative, the minister said, will inspire students “to draw lessons from these masterpieces and shape a brighter future while honing their artistic and professional pursuits.”
A significant part of this collection is also proposed to be housed in the upcoming Maharashtra State Museum in Mumbai, making it a landmark repository of the state’s cultural legacy, he said.
