It was in November 2023 when Gieve Patel re-entered this writer’s memory. A calm day in the newsroom was thrown into fast forward when news of his passing came through. Till then, the name had crossed this writer’s mind in passing during poetry sessions with friends and discussions on Post-Colonial literature in graduation class. Yet, as we speak with curator Ranjit Hoskote, it feels like diving into a very interesting book that one has missed reading. “He was a personal friend for over 40 years. For him, and especially to him, there was an investment and energy to friendship. It was its own goal,” he tells us. No surprise then that all of Patel’s friends, colleagues, peers and mentees signed up for a show that celebrates the artist’s legacy and life.

Marine Drive by Sudhir Patwardhan, oil on canvas, 2024