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HomeIndiaGovernanceAir India's decision on moving art collection to national gallery draws protest

Air India’s decision on moving art collection to national gallery draws protest

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The Maharaja collection has more than 4,000 works including paintings by M.F. Husain, V.S. Gaitonde, Jatin Das and Anjolie Ela Menon.

New Delhi: Amid protests over reports that iconic art and artefact collection at the soon-to-be sold Air India building in south Mumbai will be moved to the National Gallery of Modern Art, the Culture Ministry today clarified it has been requested to conserve and maintain around 4,000 such items.

Secretary, Ministry of Culture, Raghvendra Singh said, “The civil aviation ministry had approached us in the matter and since NGMA (National Gallery of Modern Art) has a mandate to conserve and maintain such art collections and artefacts, they will do so. In the next two months all these artefacts will be brought to Delhi.”

Reacting to criticism of acquiring the items for free, he said upon restoration, the items will be exhibited for public viewing and that was better than selling them to private parties who will only display those in their drawing rooms.

Singh said that he had visited the Air India building at Nariman Point in South Mumbai along with representatives of NGMA to see the collection.

Recently, Prime Minister Narendra Modi approved a proposal to sell the Air India building at Nariman Point to the Shipping Ministry and the fate of the priceless art collection at the iconic 23-storey building is now under focus.

It collection comprises sculptures, paintings, posters and menu cards for former presidents and prime ministers on their travels. The collection include paintings by legendary artists such as M F Husain, V S Gaitonde, Jatin Das, Anjolie Ela Menon and even an ashtray designed by famed Spanish surrealist artist Salvador Dali.

“The entire collection is a memorabilia of historic value for India. Why should they be sold? They should be there for the people,” Singh said.

He said the ministry has constituted a committee along with the aviation ministry and the experts from NGMA who will inventorise the entire collection and then bring it to Delhi within the next two months.

Voices of protest rose amid reports that the iconic collection will be moved to NGMA.

While the worth of the total collection is not known, sources in the Ministry of Culture told PTI that the artworks were in dilapidated condition and needed to be restored immediately.

A group of Air India unions has also opposed the move.

– PTI

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