Ananda Coomaraswamy Memorial Lecture Held at IGNCA
New Delhi: Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA) Conservation and Cultural Archives Division organised the third ‘Ananda Kentish Coomaraswamy Memorial Lecture’. This event featured a lecture titled ‘Coomaraswamy’s the modern school of Indian painting’ from the collection of essays “Art & Swadeshi”, and murals as a mode of visual articulation in Santiniketan – exploring possibilities of reading between the two’. The lecture was delivered by Dr. Sanjoy Kumar Mallik, a senior professor and Principal at Kala-Bhavana, Visva-Bharati Santiniketan. The event also saw the release of the monograph of the Second Ananda Kentish Coomaraswamy Memorial Lecture titled ‘Towards Decolonizing Indian Art History via Problems of Mimesis in the Citrasūtra of the Vişņudharmottara Purāņa’ authored by Prof. Parul Dave Mukherji.
Dr. Sanjoy Mallik’s presentation focused on the interplay between Coomaraswamy’s writings and the visual articulation found in the murals of Santiniketan, offering deep insights into Indian art’s early modern period. He discussed in detail the interconnections between Ananda Coomaraswamy and Santiniketan, referencing various books. Dr. Mallik also highlighted that Nandalal Bose’s work, including his study of Ajanta murals, was a deliberate effort to develop a pedagogy that linked modern Indian art with its ancient roots. This approach reflected a conscious effort to preserve cultural identity while adapting to contemporary artistic transformations, connecting directly to the broader theme of bridging tradition and modernity in Indian art.
The other prominent guests present on the occasion were Prof. Parul Dave Mukherji from the School of Arts & Aesthetics, Jawaharlal Nehru University; Prof. Achal Pandya, Head of the Conservation and Archives Division; Prof. K. Anil Kumar, Head of the Janapada Sampada Division; and Dr. Kumar Sanjay Jha, Archivist at IGNCA. During the introductory remarks, Dr. Sanjay Jha highlighted Ananda Coomaraswamy’s seminal lecture, ‘Art and Swadeshi’, delivered at the Madras Industrial Exhibition in 1910. He emphasized that this lecture accentuated the critical role of Indian art and culture in the struggle for independence and aimed to promote Indian industries, arts, and crafts. Coomaraswamy’s insights on art’s role in shaping national identity continue to resonate today, highlighting the enduring relevance of his thoughts in the context of Indian art and cultural heritage.
The Memorial Lecture series honours scholars who have made ingenious contributions in various academic fields, directly influencing the IGNCA’s conceptual framework. The lecture was held at the UMANG Conference Hall, IGNCA, New Delhi, and was well-attended by members of the art and academic community. The program was moderated and the vote of thanks was delivered by Raghuram S.K. Ananda Coomaraswamy is one of the pioneers of Indian art writing and was a prominent Indian art historian. He played a crucial role in the revival of Indian art. Coomaraswamy introduced the Western world to the significance and beauty of Indian art, particularly sculpture, painting, and crafts. He wrote extensively on Indian art and crafts, highlighting their religious and philosophical backgrounds. His works provide a deep analysis of Indian craft traditions, and he endeavored to understand and present the traditional techniques and ideas of Indian artists. The IGNCA has acquired paintings, photographs, sculptures, and correspondence from A.K. Coomaraswamy’s family.