"Portrait of Rahul, the highlight of the show"
This is not the first time that one of the family members the Gandhi’s / Nehru’s have been painted a portrait of. The famous artist Sanjay Bhattacharya’s portrait of Rahul Gandhi was the highlight at an art show in the capital last week. The art show was called ‘India Imagined in the Present’. The oil painting of the AICC General Secretary titled ‘Let the Flowers Grow’ measured 6/4 feet. In 1994 the same artist Sanjay Bhattacharya had painted a portrait of the former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi titled ‘Landscape of a Man’. The background of both the Gandhi’s is of ‘Kashmir’. Kashmir it is a well known fact is specially a soft spot with the first family. In Rajiv’s painting the flower’s symbolized his children Rahul and Priyanka, but in Rahul’s painting the flower symbolizes youth. The canvas was picked up at the very beginning even as Sheila Dikshit inaugurated this exhibition, for 25 Lacs by an unknown buyer. There were many other pieces which had other Indian heroes from Gautam Buddha to Guru Nanak to film star Amitabh Bachan. It was clearly a successful exhibition as within just an hour twenty four art pieces were sold. The Delhi Chief Minister was her graceful self and praised all the artists at the show.
"Walls become a canvas for artists"
Not discouraged by the mess in Delhi thanks to the Common Wealth Committee officials the citizens quietly are doing what they can for the games. Delhi walls have become a canvas for six artists. They are going to make the walls more “alive and interactive”. This is to show the visitors for the Commonwealth Games a more positive and young side of Delhi. This initiative has been taken by six young artists – two designers, a photographer, a PR professional and a restaurant owner. They meet every Sunday at a spot to paint the wall, working 10 – 14 hours at a stretch. Their work has nothing political about it and they don’t want to hurt anyone’s religious sentiments. In the beginning the authorities were a bit apprehensive but now have allowed this group to paint some walls in Hauz Khas Village and Khan Market. Delhites will now have artistic and colorful walls rather than political sloganeering, film, posters and communal graffiti. The response has been great and they always have the general public gathering to encourage them onto their self-appointed efforts.
"Sonia set to make record"
Sonia Gandhi is all set to create a record in the Congress party’s history for being its longest-serving Chief. Her re-election as the Congress President – which has been postponed is just a formality. Sonia is the only Congress Chief who has been in office for 15 years so breaking the party record in general and the existing Gandhi family record in passing.
Sonia was elected party President on December 9, 1998 at the party’s Kolkatta conference. Now after re-election for another three-year term, she would at that time have had an uninterrupted 15 years. The rest of the organizational elections are now likely to be completed by December after the Bihar polls. Sonia’s re-election need not wait till December and any 10 Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) delegates can propose her name. Rahul Gandhi’s desire to bring in transparency in the organizational elections has resulted in delay on his turf. Rahul is trying hard to bring internal democracy in the Indian National Youth Congress and the National Students’ Union of India by holding the organizational elections. But unfortunately the bid to democratize the party has not fructified as complaints of bogus voters clog some States and low enrolment is a problem in others.
Rahul made, photo identity a must for enrolment of new members. There was resistance and as photographers were not available in some villages and women were camera shy in others. Several bogus members were enrolled too, to impress the High Command but the mandatory photo ID resulted in a dip in the enrolment. But at least available members seem to be genuine now. Rahul is interested in going to the grass root and create this new cadre base. He wants to ensure transparency in organizational elections. So enrollment of new members may be less but he insists it should be genuine. We will see the results of these unique moves in the next few weeks and months. Hopefuls are expecting a rejuvenation for a Party that currently looks inexplicably under siege with no real enemies in sight.
No comments:
Post a Comment