Gandhi in Raza

Throughout his life, Raza continued to feel deeply interested in the Gandhian ideals, inspired by the concepts of truth and peace. The image of the Mahatma remained etched in his mind since when he was 8 years old and he first saw Gandhiji. Towards the end of his life, in 2013, Raza did a set of paintings by way of his tribute to the Mahatma and this book Gandhi in Raza is an attempt to put together these artistic works in perspective and context. Thinker Gopalkrishna Gandhi, also Gandhiji’s grandson, and Raza’s close poet-critic friend Ashok Vajpeyi have contributed to the volume with an essay each. This book also carries an essay written by the master artist Nandalal Bose to provide a historical perspective and to recall the deep interest the Mahatma had in arts.

Raza almost musically, certainly rhythmically, creates a Gandhi saptak through this set of works exploring the conceptual universe which the Mahatma created: Characteristically Raza inscribes on one of his works the last words the Mahatma uttered before he dropped dead to the bullets of his assassin and on the other a favourite hymn of the Mahatma, a verse by the medieval poet Narsi Mehta. Raza, following the footsteps of the Mahatma, had been coming back to the theme of ‘peace’ in many of his works over the years. So here is the great master artist, Sayed Haider Raza, exploring some key concepts of the Mahatma in his own idiom, a rare series relating both to the subject—Mahatma, and the creator—Raza.