Patriotic fervour marks cultural events on Independence

New Delhi, Aug 19 (UNI) A surge of patriotism marked the cultural scene in the National Capital in the week gone by as India, on August 15, celebrated the 61st anniversary of Independence from British rule and 150th anniversary of the First War of Independence in 1857. Seeking to bring out the patriotic feel among Indians were a series of events held in the Capital city during the week.

The Independence eve saw the launch of an exhibition of photographs and art forms focus on the period between 1880 - 1950s. The rise of the nationalist sentiment in India resulting in the creation of an Independent India, the emergence of heroes such as Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Shaheed Bhagat Singh, Lala Lajpat Rai, Subhash Chandra Bose, Chandrashekhar Azad and visionary leaders like Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, Sardar Patel and others have been depicted through various art forms from the Osian's Archival Collection that form part of 'An Historical Epic III: India in the Making', the third in a series of path-breaking archival exhibitions from the Osian's permanent collection that were held through the year to commemmorate 150 years of the 1857 mutinous war of independence.

'An Historical Epic I and II' held in March and July 2007 respectively, highlighted significant historical events from the advent of the Europeans to the 1880s, this exhibition focuses on the period 1880 - 1950s.

Chairman of the Osian's connoisseurs of Art Neville Tuli said the exhibition was aimed at augmenting understanding of the great visual knowledge base of India's cultural heritage and its mass appeal.

Among highlights of the exhibition, which is on at the India habitat Centre till August 25, are showcasing of the Rise of Imperialism in India through chromolithographic prints of British Royalty in conjunction with fine antiquarian collection of photographs by Bourne and Shepherd.

The rise of revolutionary fervor and heroism is depicted through numerous document types from the Osian's Cinema Archive, song synopsis booklets, posters and lobby cards on Shaheed Bhagat Singh, Chandrashekhar Azad, Subhash Chandra Bose, Jawaharlal Nehru, Mahatma Gandhi and Dr Ambedkar, supported by lithographs of Batukeshwar Dutt, Sukhdev and Jatindra Nath Das. Further, lithographs, chromolithographs of eminent personalities like Lala Lajpat Rai and Bal Gangadhar Tilak, among others highlight the formation and development of the Indian National Congress. The rise of Subhash Chandra Bose and the Indian National Army, various facets of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru along with the nation-building process and images of Bharat Mata have been represented by chromolithographs, hand-coloured photographic prints, lithographs, watercolours, lobby cards, oleographs and mixed media images.

Also showcased at the exhibition are renowoned photo journalist Henri Cartier-Bresson's (1908-2004) photographs of Mahatma Gandhi and the events surrounding his assassination and funeral. The photographer had in fact, spent the afternoon with Gandhiji on January 30, 1948 and left him barely 15 minutes before he was fatally shot. These beautiful, dramatic and very rare images, now in Osian's possession, are shaped by an eye and a mind legendary for intelligent empathy and are on display.

The collection includes the priceless photograph titled 'A somber Jawaharlal Nehru, at night, announcing the death of Mahatma Gandhi to the waiting crowd'. This selection of artworks is a small part of the Osian's permanent collection, which will be made available to the public on a daily basis at the forthcoming arts and film complex The Osianama (formerly Minerva Cinema), a unique Archive - Library-Museum - Debating Chamber -Theatre Complex, which will open by the end of 2008.

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