New Delhi: An exhibition of charcoal sketches of Nehru, Tolstoy, Tagore and Putin in New Delhi in 2023 in the midst of the Russia-Ukraine war may sound anachronistic to some. But chief guest Amitabh Kant, former CEO of NITI Aayog and G20 Sherpa, placed artist Dalbir Singh’s exhibition at the center of India’s current internationalism.
“This is a unique exhibition of Indian and Russian leaders, showcasing the great bond between the two countries. This bond will be especially seen in the upcoming G20 summit in India, where Russia will play an important role,” said Kant while inaugurating the exhibition organized by the Center of Russian Science and Culture in New Delhi on Saturday.
Dalbir Singh, former national secretary of the All India Congress Committee, the artist of the exhibition, said that it underlines the strength of the partnership of seven decades.
“What India and Russia share today is a very valuable strategic bilateral partnership that we do not share with many other countries, notwithstanding the situation in Ukraine,” Singh said at the launch of his collection of paintings. “Russia has given us enormous support at the political, diplomatic level, economically and strategically,” he said.
Singh said he was encouraged to exhibit his paintings by Fedor Rozovsky, a former director of the centre. “He was the one who helped me decide which icons to sketch. This selection of icons has no political agenda, they are only driven by the needs of art and culture,” Singh said.
Sketches on a charcoal medium featuring India’s first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru, Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore, Indian scientist CV Raman, Russian writer Leo Tolstoy, Russian revolutionary Vladimir Lenin and Russian President Vladimir Putin, among others, the exhibition has been in the works for four for over a year.
Yuri Belov, Russia’s deputy trade commissioner in India, said, “This exhibition shows that art is away from politics.” “It brings together a collection of leaders, all of whom are united by the medium used by Dr Singh. He was able to bring together a collection of people who made a significant mark on history, each contributing to their country in a unique way.
art of drawing politics
Speaking to ThePrint at the launch of his collection of paintings, Singh said Russia never got its due for defeating Hitler and ending World War II. “It was Marshal Georgy Zhukov who defeated Hitler with heavy artillery strikes, the heaviest in the world at that time. Everyone remembers Eisenhower, Monroe and others, but no one talks about him or Doesn’t give him credit,” he said.
In 2013, Singh was awarded the Order of Friendship, the highest award given to a foreign national by the Russian President, for promoting international peace, goodwill and cooperation. He was also awarded the Pushkin Medal in 2015.
Such exhibitions play an important role in harnessing soft power to strengthen bilateral relations between the two countries. It is through the growing Russian ties with people like Dalbir Singh that the ties between Russia and India grow stronger. Oleg Osipov, Director of the Russian Center in Delhi said, “Apart from being an extraordinary artist and distinguished social figure, first and foremost, Singh is one of our closest friends.
“Our goal at the center is to share Russian culture, science, art and other things with India and to promote the good side of Russia in the country,” he said.
Singh, who has been sketching all his life, first started at the age of nine when he fell ill with typhoid, and drew a picture of his doctor as a way of thanking him. Growing up, even after joining the armed forces, he never left the artist behind, making his first sketch of Nehru during his time at the National Health Academy. Throughout his career, especially during his four-year posting fighting insurgent forces in Mizoram, Singh continued to sketch.
The exhibition, which was attended by distinguished Russian and Indian diplomats as well as members of the Indian Armed Forces, friends and family, was inaugurated by Russian Ambassador to India Denis Alipov and Chief of Defense Staff General Anil Chauhan.
Through his charcoal, Singh managed to capture the aura as well as the circumstances of each of the prominent personalities on the walls. From a burly Nehru to a smiling Putin, each picture had its own story waiting to be whispered by the curious observer.
Discussing which portrait caught his eye the most, Belov said, “The portrait of Nehru gave me goosebumps. Singh beautifully portrays how the leader was burdened with the responsibility of rebuilding the nation as the first Prime Minister of India.
Throughout the evening, guests emphasized the apolitical nature of the event. Interestingly, Putin was featured three times during the exhibition next to Nehru and Dr. Manmohan Singh.
(Edited by Prashant)