Politician Vijay Goel now an artist

New Delhi, Mar 30: As a member of the Opposition Bharatiya Janata party, he has many a time come across as a fiery crusador during his agitations against the establishment on varied issues like price rise, the blueline menace and the issue of regularisation of unauthorised colonies. However, it was a soft side of senior BJP leader and former Union minister that one came across as an exhibition of photographs by Mr Goel showcasing India's cultural heritage was unveiled by Vice President Hamid Ansari in the capital yesterday.

Titled 'The Images of Ancestral Village', the photo exhibition, inaugurated by the Vice President at the constitutional club, brings out the passionate artist in the BJP leader where he reflects exploration of his roots - the traditions of his ancestral village and its old world charm. Speaking at the inauguration, the Vice President appreciated the painstaking efforts undertaken by Mr Goel to explore the beaury and charm of village art and culture.
The exhibition, a collection of snapshots capturing beautiful images of traditional rural life, stems from the BJP leader's fascination for India's rich cultural and architectural heritage, especially its traditional havelis and forts, Mr Goel said.

It was this undying passion for India's traditional art and architecture that has led Mr Goel to take up from time to time projects like the restoration of Ghalib's house in Ballimaran, a coffee table book on the havelis' of Chandni Chowk and, now, the conservation of his 300 year old ancestral house (Haveli) at his village Anandpur.

For his latest project of restoration of his Haveli, he sought help from students of Delhi Heritage Institute, who took it upon as a challenge.''As the Heritage students were busy with their job, I decided to utilise this break to explore his village and its old world charm. I sauntered out with my camera in hand and began clicking images of the rural life,''Mr Goel said.

What emerges was a fine collection of photographs, distinctive and refreshing in their subject matter and aesthetic appeal. ''This exhibition is just a modest attempt to showcase my amateur efforts - call it a hobby or passion. I feel photography is the best way to express one's feelings. I am continuing this hobby as much as I can spare time from the hectic political life,''he said.

UNI