| Story Text | [{"record_id":"0","storytext":"Gaganendranath Tagore\u2019s caricatures serve as a landmark in the history of Indian art. Armed with eclectic sensibilities, razor sharp wit, and a flair for self-critique and reflection, Gaganendranath takes to the medium with extraordinary passion and dexterity. Between 1915 and 1921 he published three folios of caricatures, Realm of the Absurd (Adbhut Lok)<\/I>, Virup Vajra<\/I>, and Reform Screams (Nabo Hullod)<\/I>. Copies of these folios have become exceedingly rare. From exaggerated facial features to exaggerated situations, Gaganendranath cleverly highlights the absurdities and contradictions present in society, inviting viewers to question the status quo and consider the possibilities of reform. \r\n\r\n Reform Screams<\/I> was published by Thacker, Spink & Co. in 1921 with the subtitle \u2018a Pictorial Review at the close of the year 1921\u2019 on the cover page. Zoom into one of the images from its pages to get a unique glimpse into the era\u2019s socio-political conditions through the lens of Gaganendranath\u2019s humour.","initialize":"true","storytextauthor":"Shreeja Sen"},{"record_id":"1","storytext":"Reform Screams<\/I> contains many references to the implementation and the subsequent effects of the Montagu-Chelmsford reforms, officialised as the Government of India Act (1919). The Bengali inscription at the top has also been translated in the English caption beneath the image: 'First appearance of a Bengali governor. Where is he?' ","initialize":"true","storytextauthor":""},{"record_id":"2","storytext":"The Montagu-Chelmsford reforms promised greater opportunities for self-governance to the Indians and came under much scrutiny as many Indians, especially those who had fought in the first World War, had expected greater concessions than what was delivered. Gaganendranath takes a not-so-subtle jab at the \u2018Montford\u2019 reforms\u2019 bark being worse than the bite through this Mark Twain quote.","initialize":"true","storytextauthor":""},{"record_id":"3","storytext":"Mass criticism aside, the Government of India Act of 1919 did eventually result in the appointment of Lord Satyendra Prasanna Sinha as the first governor of the newly created Province of Bihar and Orissa\u2014becoming the first Indian and \u2018Bengali\u2019 to hold such a rank.","initialize":"true","storytextauthor":""},{"record_id":"4","storytext":"However, the choice of candidate, namely the personality of Lord Satyendra Prasanna Sinha, becomes the prime matter of ridicule in this caricature. Humongous telescopes are pointed towards E-A-R-T-H trying to find the \u2018first Bengali Governor\u2019 amongst an array of men.","initialize":"true","storytextauthor":""},{"record_id":"5","storytext":"The telescopes fail at such a discernment since they are all dressed similarly in trousers, coat and tie with a top hat covering their faces, armed with what appears to be a cane. How can one tell which one of them is the first Bengali<\/I> governor?","initialize":"true","storytextauthor":""},{"record_id":"6","storytext":"All the possible candidates are accompanied by identical looking bodyguards or batmen dressed in full regalia, drawn ridiculously small in proportion to the gentlemen they stand beside\u2014as if they were less human and more of an accessory to the gentleman.","initialize":"true","storytextauthor":""},{"record_id":"7","storytext":"This ridicule of the \u2018montage man\u2019 as the novelist and art critic, Mulk Raj Anand, has termed it\u2014an \u2018Indian\u2019 subject determined to emulate Britishness to the point of hypocrisy and making a mockery out of themselves\u2014underpins many of Gaganendranath\u2019s caricatures. Usually projecting a general derision towards such men, this image uniquely singles out Lord Satyendra Prasanna Sinha as the subject. Possibly because he was also the first Indian member of the British House of Lords and instrumental in passing the Government of India Act which was the cause of widespread dismay and protest amongst nationalists.","initialize":"true","storytextauthor":""},{"record_id":"8","storytext":"While the composition of the image reveals his dexterity as a draughtsman, the employment of the visual pun which makes these telescope lenses look like peering cartoon eyes, is a glimpse of his mischevious humour.","initialize":"true","storytextauthor":""},{"record_id":"9","storytext":"Gaganendranath was also a fan of word-play. The mockery in \u2018Where is H.E?<\/I>\u2019 is two-fold\u2014the question pokes fun at the lack of identifying features of the first \u2018Bengali<\/I>\u2019 governor while also taking a jibe at the honorary title that would prefix the Governer\u2019s name: His Excellency<\/I>.","initialize":"true","storytextauthor":""},{"record_id":"10","storytext":"This caricature is an excellent illustration of the observation by artist Amina Kar that \u2018Behind [Gaganendranath\u2019s] cartoons was all the irreverence and the irony of the revolutionary\u2019.","initialize":"true","storytextauthor":""}] |
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| Art Artist Names Single | Gaganendranath Tagore |
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