Kalamandira is gloating in the glory of an exhibition of rare photographs highlighting the various facets of the architect of modern India and the first Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru.
And for a generation fast losing connect with the past, the exhibition is a trip back in time to the era of black-and-white photographs and the early days of pre- and post-Independent India.
Organised by the Department of Information and Publicity, Government of Karnataka, to mark the 125th birth anniversary of Nehru, the rare images are a print of the original photographs culled out of archives.
Reliving the past
Images on display include that of Nehru in his early years with his father Motilal Nehru at Anand Bhavan, Allahabad, with Sarojini Naidu, a group photo with various leaders at the 1919 Congress convention, among others.
The now-familiar photograph of Mahatma Gandhi flanked by Nehru and Sardar Vallabhai Patel, interaction with Dr. Rajendra Prasad, Acharya Vinobha Bhave, his participation at various events to mark the launch of new development projects after Independence, participation in the celebrations to mark 100 years of railways in India, interaction with nuclear scientists are a few other photographs displayed at the exhibition.
Nehru’s visit to Bengaluru to lay the foundation stone for the Vidhana Soudha, a guided tour around the structure after its completion, visit to Mysuru and photographs with the delegates attending the World Food Conference with Lalitha Mahal Palace in the backdrop, his visit to Shravanabelagola to play obeisance at the statue of Gomateshwara, are a few other rare images on display.
A haunting picture credited to legendary photographer Henri Cartier-Bresson is that of Jawaharlal Nehru addressing the nation on January 30, 1948, after the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi and delivering his classic extempore “the light has gone out of our lives…”.
Given the vast repertoire of photographs of the first Prime Minister in archives, the exhibition could have been bigger and better with importance given to chronology, which was completely lacking. The exhibition will conclude on Friday (October 2).
