‘Colours of Swades’: Experience India through the eyes of Nandalal Bose at NGMA

The NGMA Mumbai has opened ldquoColours of Swades From Haripura to the Constitutionrdquo a special exhibition dedicated to Nandalal Bose 1882ndash1966 marking the first time the gallery is presenting a dedicated show on the artist The exhibition was inaugurated by Aditi Tatkare Maharashtrarsquos Minister for Women and Child DevelopmentColours of SwadesVenue NGMA Mumbai Sir Cowasji Jahangir Public Hall FortTime 11 am to 7 pm closed on Mondays daily until 9th June 2026Fee Entry is free and all artworks are displayed for public viewing only none are for saleCelebrating Nandalal BoseNandalal Bose is widely regarded as a pioneer of Indian modern art A student of Abanindranath Tagore and later principal of Kala Bhavana Santiniketan Bose believed that Indian art should grow from its own soil rather than imitate Western styles Over his career he developed a unique visual language drawing from classical traditions folk practices and daily life influencing generations of artists In recognition of his contribution he was awarded the Padma Vibhushan Indiarsquos secondhighest civilian honourSpeaking about the exhibition and its cynosure Nandalal Bose IAS Nidhi Choudhari Director NGMA Mumbai shared ldquoThe show traces the artistic and intellectual journey of Nandalal Bose one of the foremost pioneers of Indian modern art It is particularly special for us at NGMA Mumbai because the Haripura Panels of 1938 are being displayed here for the first time The exhibition brings together two defining moments in Bosersquos practice the Haripura Panels that celebrate the vitality of rural India and his work on the illustrations and visual design of the Constitution of India Together these works remind us that during the freedom movement art was not merely decorative it played a profound role in shaping the imagination and identity of the nationrdquoShe further added that Bose shaped Indian modern art by drawing on Ajanta murals folk traditions temple sculpture and rural life creating a visual language deeply rooted in Indian culture yet strikingly modernThe Haripura Panels Life in rural IndiaOne highlight of the exhibition is the Haripura Panels 1938 created for the Indian National Congress session at Haripura Gujarat created under Mahatma Gandhirsquos request and guidance The seventyseven panels created by Bose depict farmers artisans musicians women at work and village life rendered in bold lines and vivid colours inspired by folk traditions reflecting Bosersquos belief that the true spirit of the nation lay in the everyday lives of its peopleThese works celebrate the dignity and rhythm of rural India while marking a landmark moment in modern Indian art highlighted Shruti Das Deputy Curator at NGMA MumbaiBose and the Constitution of IndiaAnother key aspect of the exhibition is Bosersquos role in designing the illustrations and decorative borders for the original Constitution of India Collaborating with his students at Santiniketan he created images tracing Indiarsquos civilisational history from the Indus Valley Civilisation and the Ramayana to the Mughal period and the freedom movement These illustrations make the Constitution not just a legal document but a work of art history and national identityCuratorial perspective and digital interpretationThe exhibition is curated to show the connection between art culture and nationbuilding Shruti Das explains that the show links two critical moments in Indian history the Haripura Panels and the Constitution illustrations highlighting Bose as both a master artist and cultural visionaryThe exhibition also includes digital interpretations of the Haripura Panels created with AI assistance by filmmaker Ebyug Akhil bringing the rural scenes to life and providing an interactive experience for younger audiencesKey people who inaugurated the Exhibition The exhibition was inaugurated by Aditi Tatkare Maharashtrarsquos Minister for Women and Child Development Also present were Nidhi Choudhari Director of NGMA Mumbai Shruti Das Curator of NGMA Mumbai renowned art historian Dr Saryu Doshi philanthropist Dr Aneel Kashi Murarka international guests Kaneko Toshihiro and Aliaksandr Matsukou Him Chatterjee Vice Chancellor of Sir JJ School of Arts Rajiv Mishra Principal of Sir JJ School of Arts prominent art collector Kishor Jhunjhunwala and artists Prakash Bal Joshi Varsha Karale Nayanaa Kanodia and Sanjukta Barik among many others