On Gandhi Jayanti, Kulgam-based artist and eco-art activist Mudasir Rehman Dar created a giant portrait of Mahatma Gandhi from discarded polythene bags and plastic waste. The work turns everyday refuse into a visual statement on plastic pollution, cleanliness and environmental responsibility.
Art with a Message
The large-scale portrait is made entirely of materials that would otherwise end up in landfills, drains or water bodies. By choosing the very thing that harms the environment as his medium, the artist shows that waste can be reimagined and given a new purpose.
Single-use plastic remains one of the most persistent environmental problems in India. Polythene bags clog drains, contaminate soil and harm animals, and they take generations to break down. By assembling them into the face of a national icon, the artwork makes people look at the waste they usually ignore.
A Fitting Occasion
Gandhi Jayanti, observed every year on October 2, marks the birth anniversary of the Father of the Nation. Gandhi’s ideals of simplicity, self-discipline and cleanliness remain closely tied to the country’s sanitation and environmental efforts, including the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, which draws on his belief that a clean environment is a shared duty.
Releasing the portrait on this day links Gandhi’s legacy to a present-day challenge. The message is that cleanliness is not just a government campaign but a responsibility that begins with each citizen’s daily habits.
Eco-Art as Activism
Dar is known for combining creativity with social awareness. Through eco-art, he aims to start conversations in communities about waste management, sustainable living and climate-conscious choices. His approach is that art can do more than decorate a space: it can provoke thought and prompt action.
Working with waste also demonstrates the principles of reduce, reuse and recycle in practice. Materials most people throw away without a second thought become, in his hands, a durable piece of public art. This kind of upcycled art is gaining ground among artists who see creative practice as a way to engage the public on ecological issues.
Why It Matters for Kashmir
The message carries particular weight in Jammu and Kashmir, where rivers, lakes, forests and meadows are central to both the region’s identity and its livelihoods. Plastic waste left in scenic spots, along waterways and in public places threatens these fragile ecosystems, and it also affects tourism and public health. Awareness drives and community participation are widely seen as essential to protecting the Himalayan environment, and artworks like this one can help carry the message to people who might not respond to conventional campaigns.
A Call to Citizens
Through the portrait, Dar urged people to:
- Avoid single-use plastic and polythene bags
- Dispose of waste responsibly and not litter public spaces
- Adopt reusable alternatives such as cloth and jute bags
- Take collective responsibility for keeping their surroundings clean
The initiative has drawn appreciation for its originality and for turning an environmental concern into a striking public statement. Observers say that works like this show how individual creativity can contribute to larger social goals, especially when they speak in a language people immediately understand.
Beyond a Single Artwork
While the portrait is a one-time tribute, its message is meant to last. The artist hopes viewers will take the idea home and make small changes, such as carrying a cloth bag, segregating household waste or joining local cleanliness drives. Such everyday habits, repeated across communities, are what ultimately reduce plastic pollution.
As the country remembers Gandhi’s principles, the portrait offers a reminder that environmental care and respect for the community go hand in hand, and that even discarded plastic can be made into something meaningful.
