Paintings with Modi portrayed as mythological figures removed in Vadodara
Curated by Bhubaneshwar-based Suvadra Art Gallery and coordinated by Vadodara-based painter Jaydev Biswal, the exhibition has around 40 paintings and some sculptures up for display.
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Two paintings at an exhibition titled ‘Modi@20’, depicting Prime Minister Narendra Modi as ‘Vishwakarma’ and ‘Dashbhuja’ (the one with ten hands), at Maharaja Sayajirao University’s Faculty of Fine Arts have been taken off. The paintings were removed after the exhibition opened Sunday following concerns by the varsity management that the depiction could “hurt sentiments”. While organisers agreed, the artists said they are “surprised” by the move, which has left them “hurt”.
The Faculty of Fine Arts has leased out space for the two-day exhibition based on 20 years of Modi’s life in a public office. Curated by Bhubaneshwar-based Suvadra Art Gallery and coordinated by Vadodara-based painter Jaydev Biswal, the exhibition has around 40 paintings and some sculptures up for display.
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Ambika Patel, Dean of the Faculty of Fine Arts, told The Indian Express, “… When we saw these two paintings, we asked the artists to explain. They told us that the painting of Parliament had PM Modi as Vishwakarma while the other painting was not directly connected to religion… We respectfully conveyed to them that they should refrain from… putting up pictures that could hurt the sentiments of a sect or community,” Patel said. The FFA has faced art-related controversies at least twice in the past.
While Vishvakarma is the Hindu god of craftsmanship, the ‘Dashbhuja’ reference is associated with gods with the divine ability to juggle multiple tasks.
Aditi Raja is an Assistant Editor with The Indian Express, stationed in Vadodara, Gujarat, with over 20 years in the field. She has been reporting from the region of Central Gujarat and Narmada district for this newspaper since 2013, which establishes her as a highly Authoritative and Trustworthy source on regional politics, administration, and critical socio-economic and environmental issues.
Expertise:
Core Authority & Specialization: Her reporting is characterized by a comprehensive grasp of the complex factors shaping Central Gujarat, which comprises a vast tribal population, including:
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Crucial Regional Projects: She consistently reports on the socio-economic and political impact of infrastructure projects in the region, especially the Statue of Unity, the Sardar Sarovar Project on the Narmada River, the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Rail bullet train project as well as the National Highway infrastructure.
Social Justice and Human Rights: Her reporting offers deep coverage of sensitive human-interest topics, including gender, crime, and tribal issues. Her reports cover legal proceedings from various district courts as well as the Gujarat High Court (e.g., the Bilkis Bano case remission, POCSO court orders, Public Interest Litigations), the plight of tribal communities, and broader social conflicts (e.g., Kheda flogging case).
Local Impact & Disaster Reporting: Excels in documenting the immediate impact of events on communities, such as the political and civic fallout of the Vadodara floods, the subsequent public anger, and the long-delayed river redevelopment projects, Harni Boat Tragedy, Air India crash, bringing out a blend of stories from the investigations as well as human emotions.
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