Gandhiji in Bangalore

On Gandhi Jayanti, an exhibition of photographs that brings out the connect the Father Of The Nation had with our city

One of the photos at the exhibition -- of Gandhiji holding a prayer meet at Yeshwantpur Railway Station

An exhibition of photographs ‘Gandhi in Bangalore’ will be on show at the Rangoli Metro Art Centre, starting on Gandhi Jayanti.

These black-and-white photos, along with excerpts of text are all drawn from the book Bengalurinalli Mahatma Gandhi written by Vemagal Somashekar, a Bangalore historian.

The exhibition captures the events surrounding Gandhiji’s five visits to the city before Independence. Shot by various anonymous photographers, the photographs are mainly from various collections from NDRI (National Dairy Research Institute), Mahila Seva Samaj, Deenaseva Sangha and Vishwa Karnataka newspaper.

Gandhiji is seen getting down at Yeshwanthpur Railway Station, visiting and staying in various places such as Nandi Hills, Kumara Krupa guest house, visiting Indian Institute of Science and Imperial Dairy (the present NDRI). He signed in the visitor’s book as ‘A farmer from Sabarmathi’.

All these and many more incidents have become precious photographic images, for us to get an idea of our city and its times.

Gandhiji visited the city to promote khadi (Swadeshi movement), to collect fund for the Harijan Fund, and to address people on the Indian independence movement. In the due course, he visited several important and renowned institutions, which were already set up in the city, as well as met personalities.

Author-historian Vemagal Somashekar will be available in Rangoli Metro Art Center to interact with viewers all through the exhibition between October 2 and October 13 at the Chaya Gallery in the art centre, M.G.Road Boulevad, 11 a.m. to 7.30 p.m.