Indian Art and Letters

Author(s): India Society
Publisher: India Society

Page 33

Modern Art in Western India MR. S. FYZEE RAHAMIN: I only want to say one thing.
One thing that might cause a little misunderstanding was the reference to the Bengal School. The Bengal School never reached its zenith. They tried, just as Mr. Solomon tried, under the Western method. The Bengal School tried in the same way their own method. They have not failed; they have not given it up. But when you see the good works produced in Mr. Solomon's school, they do resemble the same work which Bengal has done, and Bengal has done no crime.
Mr. Solomon has done very fine work in his own way. He is doing it. It is appreciated by the people of that section. But I do not believe that Bengal, in taking up the attitude of trying to work on the basis of the Eastern mind, has failed. I certainly thank Mr Solomon for the good he has done to the Bombay Presidency.
MR. YUSUF ALI I did not intend to speak to-day because I am afraid my contact with Bombay in recent times has been very slight. But as I saw these slides, and as I heard the comments on them of Mr. Solomon, and afterwards the splendid stirring speech of Lord Lloyd, who did so much for Bombay art, I could not help thinking that some things are being done in Bombay which might well be emulated elsewhere. There are different art movements in various parts of India which are not sufficiently brought to focus. I think it would be a great service if some central authority, stimulated by the India Society, were to take up seriously the question of art as apparently the Bombay Government has done.
I have seen the decorations in Delhi and admired them, but I did not realize that so many of them came from Bombay.
I am very glad indeed to see this feather in the cap of Bombay, because I myself spent my youth in Bombay, and I have the happiest memories of that great city of commerce, and also, it appears, of art.
There is only one further remark I should like to make. Lord Lloyd has very kindly made an appeal for the encouragement of Indian art both in this country and in India. Would it be possible, when this Exhibition closes, for the India Society to embody the results of that Exhibition in a wellillustrated report or pamphlet and send it out broadcast all over India?
I visit India every year, and as far as lies in my power I shall help that movement if the India Society wishes me to do so.
DR. K. N. SITARAM: After so many eloquent speakers have spoken about the subject I will not take up much of your time, but fortunately it so happens that I have been in charge of art exhibitions not at Bombay, but at Lahore. There we find there is no quarrel between the schools from Bengal or Bombay.
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