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at the gates. The result is reported to have been In his inaugural speech Gandhiji said, 'This extraordinary; Nandalal had really fiddled into people's exhibition is not a fun show. Nor has it been put up hearts, even roused the admiration of cognoscenti." with an intention to dazzle or delude people. This is
A conference of Congress was to be organised in purely an educational effort. The only purpose is to let December 1936 in the village Faijpur of Maharashtra. the rural folks know that if they properly use their hands Gandhiji also thought of an exhibition at the same place. and feet, and the material and resources available He requested Nandababu to meet him at Wardha, two around them they can double their income.' Gandhiji months prior to the Conference. He apprised him of convinced all those present there that if lakhs of his vision. Gandhiji did not want Nandababu to bring unemployed Indians get engaged in cottage-industry precious paintings from Kala Bhavan of Shantiniketan and Khadi they can earn their living honestly. Dust because untimely rain could spoil them. Gandhiji knew can turn into gold if people use their hands for positive that Nandababu would do justice to his vision. In his and constructive work. letter to Kashinath Trivedi on 18 Decernber, 1930 from Gandhiji was trying to connect people with art, was Yervada jail, Gandhiji wrote that Nandababu was a drawing their attention to local resources and was also creative artist. Whereas he himself was not. God had showing them the way to earn honestly and live with gifted him artistic sensitivity, but had not bestowed dignity. upon him creative faculty that could give it a form. In Young India, 13.11.1924, Gandhiji wrote, "My Nandababu was gifted with both.
room may have blank walls; and I may even dispense Nandababu had reached Faijpur weeks before the with the roof, so that I may gaze out upon the starry inauguration of the exhibition. He visited farmers' heavens overhead that stretch in an unending expanse homes in nearby villages, selected various objects that of beauty. What conscious art of man can give me the they used in their day to day life but had never observed panoramic scenes that open out before me, when I anything artistic in them. The selection of objects was look up to the sky above with all its shining stars?" made by Nandababu's keen eyes. When he displayed When I read that I was reminded of famous Dutch them in the exhibition, they all looked so different! As if artist Vincent Van Gogh's (1853-1890) one of the most they had adorned a new form. Not only the place of stunning painting Starry Night. It is an oil painting he the Congress-Conference, the whole Tilaknagar, right painted in 1889, and is displayed at the Museum of from its entry gate had become an exhibition. The gate Modern Art in New York. It is nature, but also it has was a beautiful example of rural art. Nandababu had awesome imagination of the artist. engaged local labour and artisans, and had used all Going back to Gandhiji, another Congress the material that was available locally.
Conference was organised at Haripura in Gujarat in The exhibition was formally inaugurated on 25 February 1938. Responsibility for decoration was again December, 1936. Gandhiji wanted common public and given to Nandababu. Once again an exhibition of Khadi also freedom fighters to see the exhibition and and cottage industry was organised. This time experience confluence of patriotism, local resources Nandababu gave an additional attraction. There were and aesthetics. The artisans from Andhra had made 88 panels of paintings in Patua style of Bengal small purses, cases to keep spectacles etc. from the depicting ordinary events of daily life, like Shehnaiwala, grass that grew at the riverbank. Some artisans had Dugdugiwala, mother bathing her child, goddesses made paper from bamboo, skin of bananas and also etc. All these were painted with natural colours. from munja grass. The purpose of this exhibition was Gandhiji has also addressed the subject of not to give the message of 'art for art's sake', but it obscenity. It does influence one's sense of aesthetics. was aimed at well being of all, which included those Gandhiji gave equal importance to physical and mental involved in cottage industry and also those who health, as that creates a healthy society. This can be purchased those items for their use. 'Well being of seen in the episode mentioned below. the masses' has been the prime objective of all the Once, during the Congress Session at activities Gandhiji himself conducted and encouraged Jagannathpuri in Odisha, some leaders drew others to do the same.
Gandhiji's attention to the erotic sculptures of Puri and
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