Such simple, yet powerful words, but lost in the cacophony of hate mongering in today’s times. As a country, we revere Mahatma Gandhi, see his face every day on our currency notes, but we have forgotten his words. That’s a rather simplistic way to rue the events taking place in India today. Is there a solution? Can we look to history to find one for us? Let’s not look too far back into history. Let’s revisit or shall we say, reclaim Mahatma Gandhi. Reading or watching the news every day leaves one to wonder what happened to the “ahimsa” the man so effectively and efficiently espoused and enabled the country to gain freedom. Our lives today seem to be anything but “ahimsa”.
There is always a silver lining, not everyone has forgotten Gandhi and the legacy he would have liked us to carry forward. The “Reclaiming Gandhi” project by Dr Subodh Kerkar of the Museum of Goa is a step forward in that direction. The project intends to use a blend of art and technology to facilitate social change. The “Carpet of Joy” in Saligao was one of the first initiatives in this project. Referring to littering an act of violence, Kerkar wanted to evoke Mahatma Gandhi’s principles of non-violence. While it attracted many people with the spectacular vision it created, the carpet demonstrated how littering is the most visible and yet avoidable act of violence.
The “Reclaiming Gandhi” project seeks to further bring the ideals of Mahatma Gandhi to the masses, thus reclaiming them! The key goal of the project is to ensure relevance of his ideas and principles in today’s times. Hence, the use of art and technology, two popular and well appreciated means to convey the message.
The approach to the project is unique. Kerkar admits that it’s a tough task in today’s times to talk about Gandhi to the younger generation and make him relevant. One of the first activities of this project included “Virtual Gandhi” – documenting Gandhi sculptures from Goa and Maharashtra by 3-D programs. The process included taking about 2,000 photographs per object and converting them into 3D sculptures of Gandhiji. This can be viewed on a smart phone through an app which allows one to view the sculpture in 3D along with a quote of Gandhiji in several languages. One has to aim the phone with this app at a currency note and the virtual sculpture will appear along with a quote from Gandhi. Developed in collaboration with a Ukrainian computer engineer, Kerkar aims to basically put Gandhiji’s face on every currency in the world.
In addition, the project also seeks to collaborate with individuals, groups and even corporates to bring about this social change. Another initiative called “Travelling Gandhi” aims to create mobile exhibitions of different art works on Gandhi. Another exhibit along the lines of the Carpet of Joy is also on the anvil, in further continuation of the anti-littering campaign.
The aim of the “Reclaiming Gandhi” project is seemingly simple, but the impact can be enormous and far reaching. How many of us, including myself, have read up on Gandhi other than the history books in school or perhaps watched the movie on Gandhi? In a climate of hate and suspicion in the country, we need to evoke the Mahatma, revisit him and in fact, reclaim him.
