Mahatma Gandhi once described Nandalal Bose, the esteemed artist from West Bengal, as “a man who could make art out of anything.” The National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA) in Delhi showcases 6,800 of Bose’s paintings, including the 22 hand-drawn illustrations for the original Indian Constitution manuscript. Gandhi personally commissioned Bose to create the famous Haripura panels for the 1938 Haripura Congress, highlighting art’s power to unite people. Of the 400 panels created, 77 are now displayed at NGMA Bengaluru.
Bose played a crucial role in the 1936 Faizpur Congress session, which saw unprecedented peasant participation, inspiring Gandhi to commission Bose for the Haripura Congress. Bose, with the help of his associates, crafted 400 painted inserts depicting rural Indian life to connect with the masses.
Trained under Abanindranath Tagore and later a principal at Kala Bhavan in Shanti Niketan, Bose aimed to revive Indian artistic traditions. His work for the Haripura panels incorporated elements from Ajanta, Mughal, and Rajasthani paintings, fused with contemporary interpretations.
Art historian Dr. Deepak Kannal notes that Bose’s Haripura panels reflect a pan-Indian and retrospective understanding of visual arts. Diverse influences, from Jain manuscripts to European styles, are evident in Bose’s work, unified by a common decorative arch, making the amalgamation both subtle and beautiful.
Though some of Bose’s more calculated works, like those for the Constitution, appeared somewhat static, his Haripura panels exuded spontaneity and liveliness. Kannal clarifies that Bose’s style for the Haripura posters transcends mere folk art, integrating complex idioms from classical and Company School traditions.
In sum, Nandalal Bose’s ability to meld various artistic traditions into a cohesive and vibrant new idiom made his work unique, capturing the essence of Indian art in all its diversity.
Original Story https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/bangalore/revisiting-haripura-panels-and-the-vivid-brush-strokes-of-indian-history/article68604664.ece
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