The curious case of Gandhi’s bust

Like all cultural institutions Chhatrapati Shivaji Vastu Sangrahalaya CSMVS is shut right now but a bust of Mahatma Gandhi that is displayed in front of the Textile Gallery makes us wish it was open for a quick revisit This exhibit that lay forgotten in the museumrsquos collection for decades had an interesting trajectory from fame to obscurity and is now back in the public eyeClare Sheridan Pic CourtesyWikimedia CommonsPieces of the puzzleldquoIt is common with curators and directors to look for new discoveries In 2012 while on such a trail I noticed a wrapped up exhibit in the storage room When our staff removed its packaging the bust of Mahatma Gandhi was unveiled A closer inspection of this metal bust disclosed that it was loaned to the museum by the Viceroy of India its sculptor was Clare Sheridan and its accession museum registration number was 404rdquo shares Sabyasachi Mukherjee director general CSMVS Today he will be conducting a virtual talk to explain how it arrived at the nearly 100yearold museum and its famous English sculptor ldquoThe accession number revealed that it arrived at the museum in 1940 After I began reading up on the minutes of meetings in our archives I learned that it was presented by the Maharajah of Darbhanga who gave it to the Viceroy and Governor General of India at the time Lord Linlithgow The bust had arrived in Bombay and the then Governor had taken charge until the Viceroy decided that it would finally be placed at Prince of Wales Museum todayrsquos CSMVSrdquo shares Mukherjee adding that the terms and conditions of the Maharajahrsquos letter indicated a strong desire for it to be displayed in the Viceroyrsquos residence ldquoAnd yet it arrived hererdquo says Mukherjee stoking our curiositySculpting historyClare Sheridan a cousin of Winston Churchill was one of the most soughtafter sculptors in the early 20th century ldquoShe and her cousin had ideological differences She was also a journalist and a travel writer Her lifestyle was bohemian and her artistic exploits took her to Russia where she sculpted Vladimir Lenin and Leon Trotsky She had also created busts of leading personalities like HG Wells and Charlie Chaplinrdquo Sheridan was keen to sculpt Gandhi who was in London for the First Round Table Conference in 1931Sabyasachi MukherjeeThe Maharajah also happened to be a part of the delegation Sheridan reached out to Sarojini Naidu who was able to schedule a few hours from Gandhi for her to sculpt this bust ldquoDespite Churchill refusing to meet Gandhi in London on that visit his cousin struck a chord even his son Randolph met Gandhi Such was his influence he was the toast among English circles Famous American sculptor Lowe Davidson flew down from the US to make his bust at the same timerdquo Gandhi called Sheridan a good friend and cordially invited her to India ldquoWhen you arrive you will be a guest to all of Indiardquo he told her On her part Sheridan in her autobiography referred to Gandhi as ldquoa saintlike personalityrdquoOur curiosity is put to rest about its final home at CSMVS ldquoDespite the prevalent mood of the time the Viceroy held several meetings with Gandhi and developed an admiration for him Itrsquos probably why he felt that the bust should be displayed in this museum alongside other prominent personalities like Napoleon and the Duke of Wellingtonrdquo Mukherjee signs offTime 530 pmLog on to csmvsmumbai on Instagram for more detailsAlso check outMuseum and You Dr Bhau Daji Lad Museum is inviting enthusiasts to share their favourite memories of visiting this historic landmark Be it a fascinating object a striking art display or a workshop it can all be part of this memory These will be reposted on the museumrsquos social media handles Responses can be written in any language of your choiceTill May 18Email educationbdlmuseumorgTelling a story Museums and Exhibitions Advocate and solicitor Rajan Jayakar one of Indiarsquos most celebrated collectors of antiquities will share his experiences of curating exhibitions and setting up museums organised by V Talks part of Vidyalankar Institute of Technology Time 6 pmLog on to ZoomA New Beginning Reimagining the Raja Ravi Varma Museum TAP Talks and Sree Chitra Art Gallery will hold a talk where Ganesh Shivaswamy curator Sree Chitra Art Gallery Zeba Maria architect and design head Quern Design and S Girikumar art conservator discuss the history conservation and architecture of the Sree Chitra Art Gallery ThiruvananthapuramTime 8 pmLog on to Facebook Live