A new exhibition on Gandhiji
juxtaposes cutting-edge technology with traditional
handicrafts.
PLONK in the centre of the
National Gallery of Modern Art, Kala Ghoda, sits
a green and blue steam engine. Step inside the E-Train
and you’ll see an interactive screen that
traces Mahatma Gandhi’s journey through India.
And however musically challenged you are, you won’t
go wrong with the intricately painted Raghupati
Xylophone. It’s pre-tuned to play the devotional
song, Raghupati Raghav Raja Ram. There are also
two giant installations titled Kaleidoscope, which
tell the story of Gandhiji, as seen by underprivileged
kids.
These are just some of the works at Eternal Gandhi,
an interactive technology exhibition on the life
of the Mahatma. The project was spearheaded by 46-year-old
Ranjit Makkuni, a multimedia visionary and president
of The Sacred World Foundation, a research and design
think-tank. ‘‘This exhibition uses Gandhi
as a symbol to inspire modern art,’’
he explained. This show is the portable version
of New Delhi’s Eternal Gandhi Multimedia Museum,
which was also visualised and executed by Makkuni.
‘‘Gandhi’s relevant in more ways
than one today. Not only to heal divides, but also
to boost village creativity, which is in jeopardy,’’
he said. So Makkuni and his team use village handicrafts
fused with modern technology to produce a show that
has the best of both worlds.
At the inauguration on Saturday afternoon, film-maker
Shyam Benegal, industrialist Kumar Mangalam Birla
with mother Rajashree were present, as well as the
Mahatma’s great-grandson Tushar Gandhi. ‘‘This
interactive show will help children understand Bapu
in their own language. Hopefully they’ll learn
some values after interacting with the exhibits,
rather than watching WWE wrestlers,’’
said Gandhi.
Eternal Gandhi is showing at the NGMA till March
12.
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