Prime Minister Narendra Modi has received a lot of gifts from many quarters since he assumed the office in May 2014, and a collection of all his presents and collectibles, including his painted and wood-carved depictions, are on exhibition from Tuesday.
The gifts, reflecting a vast geographic diversity, include presents from almost all the Indian states as well as those received during overseas tours.
The entire collection will be e-auctioned soon at the National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA) in Delhi.
The exhibits, reflecting the diverse cultural fabric of the nation, include ‘pagadis’ (turbans), ‘angavastrams’, traditional jackets, canvases, prints and photographs on historical and political figures, and an array of sculptural media crafted from metal, stone, and wood.
Some of the noteworthy painted portraits on view include one in which PM Modi is seen walking on an Indian Railways platform along with other passengers.
Another one shows a smiling PM Modi offering water to a ‘shivaling’. Two more gifted paintings show him meditating and with the statuette of Mahatma Gandhi.
Also on view are ‘Iktara Sitars’, flutes, ‘dholaks’, bows and arrows, ‘Gadas’, mementos, and masks. One can also find prints and paintings of key Indian shrines like Somnath Temple, Ajmer Sharif, and Golden Temple.
Apart from those depicting Indian deities, works commemorating figures like Sardar Vallabhai Patel, Swami Vivekananda, and Narayana Guru; and events like the 100th anniversary of the Komagata Maru incident also find space in the exhibition.
The show is curated by the NGMA and supplied with the collection by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) and his residence, an NGMA spokesperson told IANS, adding that the collectibles will be up for grabs in an e-auction, dates for which haven’t been finalised.
As per the curatorial team, the auction proceeds will go to charity, however, the specific cause and donees are yet to be decided.
The base price for each of the nearly 2,000 gifts on rotational view in the exhibition space has been fixed by the PMO. Starting from Rs 500, the prices run up to a few thousand.
The exhibition is open for viewing till October 31.
(With IANS inputs)