Exhibit of lithographs with glimpses of British India opens Friday

New Delhi, Aug 7 (UNI) An exhibition of antique lithographs providing glimpses of life in colonial India will open in the Capital on August 10 on the occasion of 60th anniversary of India's Independence, which also marks the 150th anniversary of the 1857 uprising against the British rule, it was announced today.

Organised by the People For Animals, "Vintage India", the first ever display of 3000 antique lithographs of colonial India by the leading British artists of that time, will be launched by Bollywood actor Bipasha Basu in the capital on August 10, PFA chairperson Maneka Gandhi told reporters here today.

Addressing a press conference here, Ms Gandhi said,''it is our way of displaying the "wonderousness of India" to the Indians, who seem to be increasingly forgetting their rich cultural heritage.'' ''Vintage india, to be organised at the Intercontinental Hotel till August 12, is an endeavour to remind people in India of the rich heritage that existed in the country during the British period. For example, the lithographs on display at the exhibition will provide people glimpses of the crystal clear Yamuna river during that period, as well as the beautiful lakes in various parts of the country,''said Ms Gandhi, who has been a moving force behind the event, being organised as an annual fundraising effort by the PFA.

''A year that marks significant anniversaries of the 1857 uprising as well as India's Independence, is an apt occasion to recall the British Raj and the way we were. In this context, 'Vintage India' provides a unique historical perspective of the common cultural heritage forged by two centuries of interaction between India and England,''she said.

These British lithographs dated 1770 onwards, are the earliest visual depiction of the places and people of India. From the koi-hai bungalow and club style, garden parties and hill stations to the Sepoy mutiny and Afghan wars, the British vividly detailed various facets of local life - focussing on 'exotic' native practices like sati, shikar and the caste system as well as the pomp and pagentry of Indian royalty.

According to Ms Gandhi, the rare and antique lithographs on display and sale at the exhibition, be it those of the royals or nautch girls, the seige of Lucknow or the surrender of Delhi or tombs and temples from around India, was a way of bringing alive our rich cultural legacy at a time when it is fast fading into obsolescence.

Ms Gandhi said the collection of the rare lithographs involved a lot of research work over the last one year.

''It's been a real labour of love for us,''she said.

Aiding PFA in the endeavour are corporates like Tata Steel, Torrent Pharmaceuticals, BSNL, Brittania, Eigen, Indian cements and many others.

Ms Gandhi said she would like the Government to acquire the huge collection of lithographs on show at the event.

''It is high time that the Government started ensuring preservation of our rich heritage before it fades into oblivion,''she said.

Ms Gandhi said the proceeds of the sales of lithographs would go towards setting up animal shelters and ambulances around the country.

''At present, we have 26 hospitals and 60 ambulances. our goal is 600 each - one for every district in India,''she said.

UNI