Gandhi and India’s freedom movement: Special exhibition

Rare, archival images and documents capturing Gandhi’s contribution to India’s freedom movement and his views on diverse issues from caste to religion are part of a special exhibition

As the country’s 70th independence day comes closer, a special exhibition has been organized at the India International Centre, Gandhi’s Vision: Freedom and Beyond, which focuses on the Mahatma’s dream of a free India. Along with it is another exhibition that – through photographs and documents – presents the country’s freedom movement. The exhibitions have been curated by former History professor Dr Aparna Basu, who is now the chairperson of the National Gandhi Museum.

Mahatma Gandhi and Sarojini Naidu during salt satyagraha. Non-violence was the cornerstone of Gandhi’s philosophy in the fight against British colonial rule.(National Gandhi Museum/picture credit)

The exhibition showing Gandhi’s leadership of the freedom struggle sweeps from his arrival in India right up to 1947, covering all the mass movements, from the Non-Cooperation movement of 1920 to the Dandi March of 1930 and the Quit India movement of 1942. There is a prelude which revolves around India before Gandhi – the 19th century social reforms, the formation of the Congress in 1885 and the Swadeshi movement.

Do you know these facts about the National Anthem?

• The Song Jana Gana Mana was first published in January, 1912, in ‘Tattvabohini Patrika’ edited by Gurudev Tagore. The poet himself translated it into English in 1919 under the title The Morning Song of India.
• The Jana Gana Mana tune slightly varied, had been adopted as a National Anthem by the INA (Indian National Army) of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose.
• The first time this National Anthem was played with full orchestra accompaniment during the opening ceremony of Indo-German Cultural Society in Hamburg on 11th September, 1942.
• The tape recorded on the occasion was available with N G Ganpuly, a close associate of Netaji in Germany and it was brought to the public by Chitra Narain, then Chief Producer of AIR.
• All India Radio broadcast a forty minute documentary feature titled ‘A National Anthem Born in Exile’ on Netaji’s birthday on 3rd January, 1980.
• The National Gandhi Museum is going to play this historic National Anthem during the exhibition.

The India of My Dreams exhibition depicts Gandhi’s views on myriad issues, from caste to the environment. All the panels have evocative black-and-white archival photographs along with selected quotes of Gandhi’s and other relevant text. In the panel Religious Harmony: All Men Are Brothers, there is a quote, which could well apply to the times we live in: “Let us respect other religions even as we respect our own. Mere tolerance thereof is not enough.”

Before the exhibition goes up at the India International Centre, you can also catch it at the National Gandhi Museum at Rajghat.

Mahatma Gandhi’s wife Kasturba Gandhi with freedom fighter Kamla Devi Chattopadhyay. (Photo credit/National Gandhi Museum. )

Mass protest during salt satyagraha. (Photo credit/National Gandhi Museum. )

Mahatma Gandhi during a discussion with Jawaharlal Nehru at an All India Congress Committee meet in Bombay. (Photo credit/National Gandhi Museum)

Women demonstration during Quit India movement. The movement was launched on 8 August at the Bombay session of the All India Congress Committee by Gandhi, who gave the famous call of ‘Do or Die.’ Almost the entire leadership of the Congress was imprisoned immediately afterwards. (Photo credit/National Gandhi Museum)

Human wall by the satyagrahi. . Non-violence was the cornerstone of Gandhi’s philosophy in the fight against British colonial rule. (Photo credit/National Gandhi Museum)

What: Gandhi’s Vision: Freedom and Beyond

Where: Art Gallery, Kamaladevi Complex, India International Centre, 40 Max Mueller Marg

Timings: 11am to 7pm

(Inauguration on 10 August at 5pm with Mahatma Gandhi’s favourite bhajans and hymns)

Nearest metro station: Jor Bagh

Before that, you can see the exhibition at:

National Gandhi Museum, Rajghat

Timings: 10am to 5.30pm

Closed on: Monday

Nearest metro station: ITO