Welcome to a journey through the life of a man who needs no introduction, yet whose profound legacy continues to inspire generations. Our exhibition presents the extraordinary life of Mahatma Gandhi through a unique medium - charcoal paintings. Each stroke of charcoal on Gandhi's envisioned Kalamkhush handmade paper brings forth a different facet of this iconic figure, capturing his moments of struggle, wisdom, and transcendence. Join us as we delve into the visual storytelling of Gandhi's remarkable life, where the grayscale hues unveil the vibrant shades of his unwavering commitment to truth, nonviolence, and justice.
This exhibition invites you to connect with the Mahatma on a deeper level, one stroke at a time. Under the skilful leadership of Prof. Dr. Sameer Sood, Campus Director NIFT Gandhinagar this exhibition was curated by Mr. Asit Bhat and Mr. Gaurav Sharma.
In a peer development workshop conducted by Darpan Hans, a fourth year student, foundation program students masterfully brought this exhibition to life with their understanding of the Mahatma.
अभय में सब प्रकार के डर का आभाव होना चाहिये । मोत का डर, मारपीट का डर, भूख का डर, अपमान का डर, लोकलाज का डर, भूत प्रेट का डर, किसी के क्रोध का डर ー इन और ऐसे सब डरों से मुक्ति, अभय है ।
२६ नवम्बर, १९४४, सम्पूर्ण गांधी वाङ्मय खण्ड ७८, पृ. ४१७
અભયમાં બધી જાતના ડરનો અભાવ હોવો જોઈએ. મોતનો ડર, મારપીટનો ડર, ભૂખનો ડર, અપમાનનો ડર, ભૂતપ્રેતનો ડર, કોઈના ક્રોધનો ડર, આ અને એવા બધા ડરોથી મુક્તિ તે અભય.
There should be absence of all kinds of fear in Abhayam. Fear of death, fear of being beaten, fear of hunger, fear of insult, fear of public shame, fear of ghosts, fear of someone's anger - freedom from these and all such fears is fearlessness.
Ishita
Charcoal as an art medium has been widely used for sketching and drawing due to its versatility in creating bold, expressive lines and subtle delicate shading. Charcoal is often used to create powerful and evocative portraits which is why this medium could best represent Mahatma Gandhi as a painting. According to me, charcoal captures Gandhi's wisdom, his simplicity of his lifestyle and the strength of his conviction. Just as charcoal's bold strokes emphasise the determination and reflect his years of struggle and unwavering commitment to nonviolence and social change. Gandhiji advocated for inner transformation and self realisation. For me, the connection between Mahatma Gandhi and charcoal represents more than just a medium, it symbolises the power of his philosophy.
આપણે સાચું જીવન ગુજારવા માગતા હોઈએ તો માનસિક આળસ છોડીને આપણે મૌલિક વિચાર કરવો જોઈએ. પરિણામ એ આવશે કે આપણું જીવન બહુ સરળ થઇ જશે.
જાન્યુઆરી ૧૪, ૧૯૪૫, ગાંધીજીનો અક્ષરદેહ ગ્રંથ ૭૯, પા. ૪૪૧
If we want to live a true life, we should leave mental laziness and think originally. The result will be that our life will become much easier.
यदी हमें सच्चा जीवन व्यतीत करना हो तो हमें अपना मानसिक आलस्य का त्याग करके मौलिक विचार करना चाइये जिसके परिणाम स्वरूप अपना जीवन सरल हो जाए ।
Aditya
Choosing charcoal as the medium is deliberate. It echoes Gandhi’s own way of life - simple, unpretentious, yet powerful. Like the man himself, charcoal bears the weight of history and leaves an indelible mark. As I delved into the process, I found myself drawn into the subtle nuances of his expressions, the lines on his face, and the intensity in his eyes. It was as if I was uncovering layers of history, peeling back the years to reveal the essence of a man who left an indelible mark on the world.
મિથ્યા જ્ઞાનથી હંમેશા ડરતા રહેવું. મિથ્યા જ્ઞાન એ છે જે આપણને સત્યથી દૂર રાખે છે અથવા કરે છે.
ડિસેમ્બર ૨, ૧૯૪૪, ગાંધીજીનો અક્ષરદેહ ગ્રંથ ૭૮, પા. ૪૦૭
Always be afraid of false knowledge. False knowledge is that which keeps us away from the truth.
मिथ्या ज्ञान से हमेशा डरना चाइये। मिथ्या ज्ञान वह है जो हमे सत्ये से दूर रखता ।
Krishna
It was a great pleasure to participate in the charcoal workshop, got to learn a lot about charcoal drawing here, saw a lot of improvements in the new work as compared to the earlier work, got to know about Gandhi's life, when more I used to find it a bit boring to work late, but after refreshing, I felt like doing it again. If such workshops are held again in the future, I will be very happy to participate. Thank you so much sir, darpan bhai and my all friend.
योगश्चित्तवृतिनिरोध: I આ પાતંજલ યોગદર્શનનું પહેલું સૂત્ર છે. યોગ ચિત્તવૃત્તિનો નિરોધ છે, એટલે કે આપણા મનમાં ઉઠતા તરંગો પર અંકુશ રાખવો, તેને દબાવી દેવા એનું નામ યોગ.
નવેમ્બર ૨૯, ૧૯૪૪, ગાંધીજીનો અક્ષરદેહ ગ્રંથ ૭૮, પા. ૪૦૬
योगश्चित्तवृतिनिरोध: is the first sutra of Patanjal Yogadarshan; which is to control and suppress the (negative) mental tendencies rising in our mind.
योगश्चित्तवृतिनिरोध: यह पातंजल योगदर्शन का प्रताम सुत्रे है। योग चितवर्तती का निरोड है यानिकी हमारे मान में उठते तरंगो पर अंकुश रखना एवम उहने काबू में रखना का नाम योग है।
Mugdha
It was such an incredible experience! As I carefully sketched each line and shaded it with charcoal, I could feel his spirit coming to life on the paper. It was like capturing his wisdom and compassion in every stroke. I poured my heart into it, striving for perfection. I'm really proud of how it turned out!
He who is truly clean within, cannot remain unclean without.
January 22, 1945, CWMG, vol. LXXIX, p. 427.
જે અંતરમાં ખરેખર સ્વચ્છ છે તે બહાર અસ્વચ્છ હોઈ જ ન શકે.
वह जो सही में भीतर से स्वच्छ है, वह बहार से मालिम रहे सकता।
Mugdha
It was such an incredible experience! As I carefully sketched each line and shaded it with charcoal, I could feel his spirit coming to life on the paper. It was like capturing his wisdom and compassion in every stroke. I poured my heart into it, striving for perfection. I'm really proud of how it turned out!
Man is the image of his thoughts.
મનુષ્ય પોતાના વિચારોનું પૂતળું છે.
मनुष्य अपने विचारों की प्रतिमूर्ति है
December 30, 1945, CWMG, vol. LXXXII, p. 449.
Ridhima
I would like to share my experience of working for charcoal drawing. It was my first time using charcoal. The techniques and tools are just amazing. I could feel myself connected to the drawing, since we were drawing Gandhiji, whom we owe so much honour and respect throughout our life for his sacrifice for our country, his teachings, his values and his revolutionary steps. There are so many ways to be grateful to him for what he has done for the country, from his political presence to independence. My favourite quote, by him, is 'If you want to change the world, start with yourself.' Which I follow and practice in my daily life. Charcoal drawing has sent me to another world where I have felt the pain and struggles of that time( 1947), where so many people were killed. I couldn't be sad and proud at the same time. It took my patience and dedication to the painting.
He who explores the branch and forgets the root, strays.
July 8, 1946, CWMG, vol. LXXXIV, p. 460.
जो शाखा की खोज करता है और जड़ को भूल जाता है, वह भटक जाता है
જે શાખાની શોધ કરે છે અને મૂળ ને ભૂલી જાય છે, તે ભટકી જાય છે
Sneha Sau
In the distinctly calm, meditative atmosphere of the studio, I picked up my brush and ever so gently blended the charcoal into the crevices of the shadows, be it the folds of the white khadi cloth or the wrinkles of wisdom on Gandhi's ageing face. Days were spent, hours at a stretch just to understand his principles, his way of life and reflect it on our drawings. This is not just works of art, but a meaningful experience and a deeper understanding of Gandhi’s teachings and reflection on our drawings. This resulted in not just works of art, but a meaningful experience and a deeper understanding of Gandhi's teachings.
दुःख के समय जो भगवानका दर्शन करता है, उसे कोई भय नहीं लगता है
सोदपुर, जनवरी ६, १९४६, सम्पूर्ण गांधी वाङ्मय खण्ड ८२, पृ. ४८१
One who sees God in times of sorrow feels no fear
જે દુ:ખના સમયે ભગવાનનું દર્શન કરે છે તેને કોઈ ડર લાગતો નથી
Tanushree Ranglani
I had a phenomenal time being a part of this exhibition. Apart from the things I learnt about the materials I was working with, I gained a lot of knowledge about Mahatma Gandhi and the different phases of his life - how he became The Father of Our Nation. His contributions remain invaluable and his teachings are still relevant today, even after decades. It was indeed an enriching experience that I’m extremely grateful for.
When the ego dies, the soul awakes.
March 29, 1946, CWMG, vol. LXXXIII, p. 414.
જ્યારે અહંકાર મરી જાય છે, ત્યારે આત્મા જાગે છે.
जब अहंकार मिट जाता है, आत्मा जागृत होती है |
Harshita Singh
Drawing Gandhiji was a totally new experience for us. Not only did I learn about his life in depth during the process but also about the extent I could push myself to. Since I don't have much experience in working with charcoal, I learnt so much about it from new techniques to new styles and endless possibilities. And the fact that we have to trust the process, to focus and to create without worrying too much.
સાચું સુખ બહારથી નથી મળતું, અંતરમાંથી જ મળે છે.
ડિસેમ્બર ૯, ૧૯૪૪, ગાંધીજીનો અક્ષરદેહ ગ્રંથ ૭૮, પા. ૪૦૭.
True happiness does not come from without, it comes from within.
सच्ची खुशी बाहर से नहीं, भीतर से आती है।
Aditya
Choosing charcoal as the medium is deliberate. It echoes Gandhi’s own way of life - simple, unpretentious, yet powerful. Like the man himself, charcoal bears the weight of history and leaves an indelible mark. As I delved into the process, I found myself drawn into the subtle nuances of his expressions, the lines on his face, and the intensity in his eyes. It was as if I was uncovering layers of history, peeling back the years to reveal the essence of a man who left an indelible mark on the world.
જીવવું એટલે મોજ કરાવી - ખાવું, પીવું, કૂદવું - નહીં, પણ ઈશ્વરની સ્તુતિ કરવી અર્થાત્ માનવજાતિની સાચી સેવા કરવી.
ફેબ્રુઆરી ૧૭, ૧૯૪૫, ગાંધીજીનો અક્ષરદેહ ગ્રંથ ૭૯, પા. ૪૪૫
जीने का मतलब मौज-मस्ती करना, खाना, पीना, कूदना नहीं है, बल्कि भगवान की स्तुति करना है, यानी मानव जाति की सच्ची सेवा करना है।
To live is not to merely enjoy life i.e. eat, drink, jump - but to praise God, that is, to serve mankind truly.
Jay
Being faced to a new medium was a challenge in itself for sure, I had some previous experience with portrait making but the medium and the paper was a first timer for me and the whole brush powdering method was a time taking process but the end results were so satisfying. In the end this whole process of portrait making with charcoal has not only grabbed my interest in exploring this medium even further but also into the stories and learning from the life of Mahatma Gandhi. Thanks to Darpan Hans and my fellow classmates who helped me build more confidence in charcoal as well as portrait making more than ever.
A man without an ideal is like a ship without a rudder.
આદર્શ વગરનો માણસ સુકાન વગરના વહાણ જેવો છે.
April 13, 1945, CWMG, vol. LXXIX, p. 436.
आदर्श के बिना मनुष्य बिना पतवार के जहाज के समान है।
Hansika Jha
"This workshop did not only help us get comfortable with the medium of charcoal but it also taught us a lot about Mahatma Gandhi. From his life as the son of a merchant family to his realisation of what he actually wants to be and how he came to be known as the father of our nation, we learnt all about his journey as a human being and as an important icon in our freedom struggle. I was also introduced to his ideologies, his humble lifestyle and his teachings which surely struck a chord with my own ideals. This workshop helped me learn more about his life and our country's past."
શરીરને બચાવવા માટે ઘણો ઉદ્યમ કરું છું, આત્માને ઓળખાવા એટલો કરું છું ખરો ?
માર્ચ ૭, ૧૯૪૫, ગાંધીજીનો અક્ષરદેહ ગ્રંથ ૮૧, પા. ૪૪૯
I take a lot of effort to save the body, but do I do that much to recognize the soul?
शरीर को बचाने के लिए तो मैं बहुत प्रयास करता हूं, लेकिन आत्मा को पहचानने के लिए क्या मैं इतना भी करता हूं?
Hansika Jha
"This workshop did not only help us get comfortable with the medium of charcoal but it also taught us a lot about Mahatma Gandhi. From his life as the son of a merchant family to his realisation of what he actually wants to be and how he came to be known as the father of our nation, we learnt all about his journey as a human being and as an important icon in our freedom struggle. I was also introduced to his ideologies, his humble lifestyle and his teachings which surely struck a chord with my own ideals. This workshop helped me learn more about his life and our country's past."
He who thinks of the suffering humanity, will not think of himself. Where has he the time?
February 7, 1945, CWMG, vol. LXXIX, p. 429.
जो पीड़ित-मानवता के बारे में सोचता है, वह अपने बारे में नहीं सोचेगा। उसके पास समय कहां है?
જેણે પીડિત-માનવતા વિશે વિચાર્યું છે તે પોતાના વિશે વિચારશે નહીં. તેનો સમય ક્યાં છે?
Abhijeet
Creating a charcoal portrait was an exciting journey of choosing materials, outlining, and delicately shading to bring the subject to life. The interplay of light and shadow on the paper was mesmerizing, and blending techniques added depth. The end result was a satisfying representation of the subject's essence and emotions, making the process a rewarding blend of technique and creativity. The special texture of handmade paper made work more challenging but also fun. Now i will try not only different materials but also different bases for it. thank you Darpan Hans for the best guidance.
Purity asks for no external protection.
December 26, 1945, CWMG, vol. LXXXII, p. 448.
पवित्रता किसी बाहरी सुरक्षा की मांग नहीं करती।
પવિત્રતા કોઈ બાહ્ય રક્ષણની માંગ કરતી નથી.
ISHETA
This workshop gave me a really good experience and exposure to charcoal. Working on such a large scale wasn't an easy task but when each step boosted my confidence, I learnt how to trust the process. It wasn't only about charcoal but also Gandhiji, the father of our nation. Being introduced to his ideologies helped me enhance the lights and shades I was drawing. With every stroke of charcoal I learnt about him as a person. His lifestyle, his journey towards freedom. I was really happy to be a part of this workshop.
Intuition is lame if it is not supported by reason.
June 25, 1946, CWMG, vol. LXXXIV, p. 458.
यदि तर्क द्वारा समर्थित न हो तो अंतर्ज्ञान व्यर्थ है।
જો તર્ક દ્વારા સમર્થન ન હોય તો અંતર્જ્ઞાન નકામું છે.
Jay
Being faced to a new medium was a challenge in itself for sure, I had some previous experience with portrait making but the medium and the paper was a first timer for me and the whole brush powdering method was a time taking process but the end results were so satisfying. In the end this whole process of portrait making with charcoal has not only grabbed my interest in exploring this medium even further but also into the stories and learning from the life of Mahatma Gandhi. Thanks to Darpan Hans and my fellow classmates who helped me build more confidence in charcoal as well as portrait making more than ever.
जो अर्थशास्त्र नीतिसे भिन्न या विरोधी है वह निषिद्ध है, त्याज्य है
सरानी या गोहती जनवरी १२, १९४६, सम्पूर्ण गांधी वाङ्मय खण्ड ८२, पृ. ४८२
જે અર્થશાસ્ત્ર નીતિથી ભિન્ન અથવા વિપરીત છે તેને પ્રતિબંધિત અને નકારવામાં આવે.
That economics which is valueless, is to be prohibited and rejected.
ISHETA
This workshop gave me a really good experience and exposure to charcoal. Working on such a large scale wasn't an easy task but when each step boosted my confidence, I learnt how to trust the process. It wasn't only about charcoal but also Gandhiji, the father of our nation. Being introduced to his ideologies helped me enhance the lights and shades I was drawing. With every stroke of charcoal I learnt about him as a person. His lifestyle, his journey towards freedom. I was really happy to be a part of this workshop.
