Indian Ambassador Ranjit Rae inaugurated an exhibition "Inter-linkage between Art and Environment" at Nepal Art Council, Babarmahal on Thursday, June 5, 2014.

Organised jointly by Nepal Art Council and B.P. Koirala India-Nepal Foundation, "Inter-linkage between Art and Environment" exhibits intriguing paintings of Mithila art and the traditional Pauva art.

Chief guest at the inaugural ceremony, Indian Ambassador Ranjit Rae shared, "Art survives through time and space. Art recognizes centuries and reflects upon diverse culture, traditions and lifestyle. I have been repeatedly saying this that India and Nepal share much more beyond political relations. We share people-to-people relation. We are closely linked through our social, cultural, linguistic and traditional similarities. One example is the Mithila, which is widely practiced and recognized in Janakpur in Nepal and Bihar in India. I am glad that noted Indian artists of Mithila art from Madhubani in Bihar are participating in this exhibition. I am sure that this event will provide them a platform to exchange their expertise with their fellow artists of Nepal."

Sushil Ghimire, Secretary, Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, Government of Nepal, was the guest of honor at the event. He said, "I extend my deepest gratitude to Indian Embassy and B.P. Koirala India-Nepal Foundation for supporting this endeavor and thus strengthening the artistic linkages between India and Nepal. I also applaud the effort put by Nepal Art Council."

Eminent cultural historian of Nepal and also the chairman of Nepal Art Council, Satya Mohan Joshi highlighted how art plays major role in explaining history and cultures across class, gender, ethnicity and geography.

While the exhibition will open for general public from Friday, June 6 2014 and will run through Sunday, June 15, 2014, there will also be series of seminars on June 10, 12 and 14. Noted art academician Dr. Dina Bangdel, cultural historian Professor Mukunda Raj Aryal and expert on Mithila Art Dr. Ram Dayal Rakesh will conduct these seminars respectively. 

In a separate programme on Wednesday, June 5, 2014 Embassy of India in Kathmandu organized an event to observe the World Environment Day, at Indian Embassy premises in Lainchaur.

Chief Secretary of Government of Nepal, Lila Mani Poudel along with other government officials of Nepal attended the event and planted saplings along with Indian Ambassador Ranjit Rae and other officials of Indian Embassy.

Ambassador Ranjit Rae thanked the Chief Secretary Lila Mani Poudel for participating in the plantation programme and also for providing 700 saplings of seven different species. He further reiterated the need of awareness required in people across the world to protect the environment from degradation. "I am also glad to hear about the initiatives the government of Nepal is taking to clean the holy river Bagmati and we hope that the officials of Indian Embassy will also contribute a day to be part of the campaign."