A meeting was arranged, quick calls were made, and messages were sent out with a simple instruction to reach the location near Palam airport “in large numbers” by 3 am — this is how the Delhi BJP mobilised party functionaries and supporters to welcome Prime Minister Narendra Modi as he landed at Palam airport after concluding his three-nation visit Thursday morning.
Speaking at the gathering, Modi encouraged conversations with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar with regard to “a new” diplomatic side to India which had emerged the world over. This comes on the heels of Jaishankar being placed at the helm of the BJP’s outreach, aimed at spreading awareness regarding the Modi-led central government’s achievements over the last nine years, at four of Delhi’s seven Parliamentary constituencies.
At the National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA) in Delhi, in a room with checkered floor, two massive legs carved in wood overarch an assemblage that spans centuries to bring together Mahatma Gandhi with BR Ambedkar, saints such as Sree Narayana Guru and Guru Nanak and sculpture of the dancing girl from the Indus Valley civilization to urge for a cleaner India, with artist Riyas Komu also emphasising on the need for each to be their own scavenger. Gandhi’s metal glasses are enclosed in a glass vitrine in one corner, and another has a diya lit over an Ashoka pillar.
With its numerous elements, this installation titled A Art is one of the works that comprise “Jana Shakti: A Collective Power”, an exhibition that celebrates 100 episodes of ‘Mann Ki Baat’, a monthly radio address by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Organised by the Ministry of Culture with one of India’s foremost art collectors Kiran Nadar as advisor, and curated by art historian Alka Pande, the showcase sees 13 of India’s prominent artists respond to 12 specific themes from the radio show.
