The prestigious National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA), Mumbai, presents Colours of Swades: From Haripura to the Constitution, a landmark exhibition celebrating the legacy of Nandalal Bose (1882 – 1966) – one of the most influential figures in the history of Indian art. The exhibition was recently inaugurated by Aditi Tatkare, Minister for Women and Child Development, Government of Maharashtra, and will remain till 9th June 2026.
The exhibition is presented solely for public viewing and posterity, and none of the works are for sale. Besides Aditi Tatkare, present at the inauguration were Nidhi Choudhari – Director, NGMA Mumbai; Shruti Das – Curator, NGMA Mumbai, art historian Dr. Saryu Doshi; philanthropist Dr. Aneel Kashi Murarka; Kaneko Toshihiro; Aliaksandr Matsukou; Him Chatterjee – Vice Chancellor, Sir JJ Schol of Arts; Rajiv Mishra – Principal, Sir JJ School of Arts; art collector Kishor Jhunjhunwala; and artists Prakash Bal Joshi, Varsha Karale, Nayanaa Kanodia, and Sanjukta Barik, among many others.
A pioneering force in the shaping of modern Indian aesthetics, Bose played a defining role in forging a distinctly Indian visual language in the twentieth century. A disciple of Abanindranath Tagore and later the revered principal of Kala Bhavana at Santiniketan, Bose who believed that Indian art must grow from its own soil, inspired generations of artists. Over the course of his remarkable career, he developed a visual language that drew from India’s classical traditions, folk practices and lived realities, while simultaneously shaping the foundations of modern Indian art. In recognition of his extraordinary contribution to Indian art, he was honoured with the Padma Vibhushan – the nation’s second-highest civilian award. His work not only transformed the course of Indian modernism but also entered the very fabric of the nation’s identity, most notably through the illustrations and decorative borders he designed for the original manuscript of the Constitution of India.
The exhibition prominently features the celebrated Haripura Panels of 1938, created for the Indian National Congress session at Haripura (Gujarat) under the guidance of Mahatma Gandhi. Rendered in bold lines and luminous colours inspired by folk traditions, these remarkable works celebrate the vitality of rural India. Farmers, potters, artisans, musicians, women at work, animals and scenes of village life are depicted with warmth and dignity, reflecting Bose’s belief that the true spirit of the nation lay in the everyday lives of its people.
The exhibition also explores another extraordinary chapter of Bose’s legacy – his role in shaping the visual aesthetics of the original manuscript of the Constitution of India. Working alongside his students at Kala Bhavana, Santiniketan, Bose designed the borders and illustrations that accompany the constitutional text. These images trace India’s long civilisational journey through visual references ranging from the Indus Valley civilisation and episodes from the Ramayana to historical moments from the Mughal period and the freedom movement. Together, they transform the Constitution into a rare national document where art, history and law intersect.
Notably, this is the first time that NGMA Mumbai is presenting a dedicated exhibition on Nandalal Bose. Speaking about the exhibition, IAS Nidhi Choudhari, Director – NGMA Mumbai, shared, “The 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 Bose’s 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 nation.” Reflecting on the significance of Bose’s place in Indian art, she added,
“Nandalal Bose occupies a foundational place in the story of Indian modern art. Instead of borrowing from Western academic traditions, he turned inward, drawing inspiration from Ajanta murals, folk traditions, temple sculpture and the rhythms of everyday rural life. In doing so, he created a visual language that was so rooted in Indian civilisation yet profoundly modern in its expression.”
The exhibition has been carefully curated to highlight the relationship between art, culture and nation-building. Shruti Das, Deputy Curator at NGMA Mumbai, explained, “The curatorial approach was conceived as a bridge between two important moments in India’s cultural and political history. By bringing these two bodies of work together, the exhibition highlights Bose not only as a master artist but also as a cultural visionary who translated the spirit of India into a powerful visual language.” From a curatorial perspective, the Haripura Panels remain a defining moment in Indian art history. Das further noted, “The Haripura Panels represent a landmark moment in modern Indian art. Created at the request of Mahatma Gandhi for the 1938 Congress session, Bose produced seventy-seven panels depicting everyday village life – potters, weavers, farmers, musicians and wrestlers. These works celebrated the dignity and rhythm of rural India and brought art directly into a public space. Artistically, they are significant because they rejected colonial academic naturalism and instead drew inspiration from indigenous traditions such as Kalighat painting, Patachitra and the murals of Ajanta.”
One of the most engaging aspects of the exhibition is the integration of contemporary digital interpretation alongside the historic works. Through AI-assisted formats, created with the assistance of Mumbai-based filmmaker Ebyug Akhil, the scenes depicted in the panels are brought to life as moving narratives, offering audiences, especially younger viewers, a more experiential way to engage with the artworks and discover the stories and histories that shaped them.
Colours of Swades: From Haripura to the Constitution will be on display at NGMA Mumbai, Sir Cowasji Jahangir Public Hall, Fort till 9th June 2026, daily 11 am to 7 pm. Mondays closed. Entry free.
××××××××××××××
Telegram Link :
For latest news, first Hand written articles & trending news join Saachibaat telegram group
https://t.me/joinchat/llGA9DGZF9xmMDc1
