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Konarka temples, and advised that they should be handicapped baby lamb whose mother was being covered with plaster because they were obscene. taken as an offering to King Bimbisar's sacrificial pit Gandhiji perhaps found that suggestion valid in the of the alter. Gandhiji kept that painting with great care. interest of general public. One wealthy industrialist What had attracted Bapu? Was it his affection for offered to pay for plaster coverings. But Gandhiji Nandababu? Or was it the beauty of the painting? Or decided to take Nandababu's opinion before taking was it the compassion of the Buddha who had held action on this suggestion. Nandababu did not agree the little mute lamb in his embrace? Perhaps all the with it. He said that the most exquisite art works will three are valid. As Gandhiji himself has said, "His life be destroyed. They were precious heritage of Indian is the message". culture. Gandhiji was convinced and he disagreed with Music is also an art. According to Gandhiji 'music the suggestion of covering those sculptures with means rhythm, order. Its effect is electrical. It plaster.
immediately soothes.' (Young India, 8.9.1920). We One may wonder, why was Gandhiji inclined are aware of almost fatal assault on Gandhiji in initially and then declined so quickly? Gandhiji's top Transvaal in the year 1907. He was wounded and was priority has always been welfare of the masses. When in great pain. He requested the Pastor Olive Doke to Nandababu drew his attention to art and aesthetic he sing for him. The Pastor sang, 'Lead kindly light'. changed his opinion. This is the magnanimity of this Gandhiji has recorded that the song relieved him from great man. He had no rigid views or ego hassle. Even the pain. He has also mentioned in Young India, about his writings he had said in Harijan, dated (10.1.1929), 'Music has given me peace, I can 30.9.1939, "My aim is not to be consistent with my remember occasions when music instantly tranquilized previous statements on a given question, but to be my mind when I was greatly agitated over something. consistent with truth as it may present itself to me at a Music has helped me to overcome anger." given moment. The result has been that I have grown Pannalal Ghosh was a famous Indian flautist from from truth to truth."
Bengal. My mother (Labhuben Mehta) had interviewed Gandhiji was exposed to European art as well. Let him. During their conversation he said that when us read his views in his own words, "I do not think that Gandhiji was not well during his stay in Mumbai at Juhu, European Art is superior to Indian Art. Both these arts he had gone to play flute to him. He was given only ten have developed on different lines. Indian art is entirely minutes so he stopped after ten minutes. Gandhiji based on the imagination. European art is an imitation requested him to play more. Then he played for 45 of Nature, it is, therefore, easier to understand, but minutes. Gandhiji was so happy that he wrote on a turns our attention to the earth; while the Indian art, piece of paper, 'Bansari bahut madhur bajai. Mo. Ka. when understood, tends to direct our thoughts to Gandhi', (You played the flute very sweetly). There are Heaven... It may be that my unconscious partiality for many such experiences of musicians and singers. India, or perhaps my ignorance, makes me say so." Development of mind is one of the essential (Mahatma: Vol.III, P. 180.)
characteristics of culture as per the dictionary In Gandhiji's views on art and aesthetic top priority meanings. Gandhiji has also spoken about spirituality is given to public weal. Beauty and utility of the art work, as an essential hall-mark of culture which is basically swadeshi and self-employment come after that. one's inclination, attitude towards various things, Gandhiji's cottage in the Sevagram ashram did not people and incidents in life. What is spirituality have any art work. Nandababu's disciple Amrutlal Vegad according to Gandhiji? He says, "Spirituality is not a has narrated an interesting episode in his book matter of knowing scriptures and engaging in 'Smrutionun Shantiniketan' (Shantiniketan of philosophical discussions. It is a matter of heart, culture Recollection). Nandababu one day carved a spinning of un-measurable strength. Fearlessness is the first wheel on the clay wall of Gandhiji's cottage. Gandhiji requisite of spirituality. Cowards can never be moral." noticed it and was happy. A few days later Nandababu (Young India, 13.10.1921) hung a painting in Bapu's cottage. In this painting was Tulasidas's Ramacharitamanas, written in 16th depicted Gautam Buddha holding close to his chest a century in Avadhi, though broadly based on Valmiki's
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