We encounter many historical figures as we navigate the history of our nation, and some of those figures have become iconic for the roles they have played in shaping the course of our national history. Their lives and actions become exemplary, forming a matter of collective pride and memory. The national icons we are considering here are those who have resisted the colonial rule at different junctures and laid the foundations for the nation we have today. However, the visual depictions we have collected here are slightly different from the commonplace representations you might come across in textbooks. We want students to question these representations themselves and think about how a national icon is portrayed visually.
LOOKING CLOSELY
Browse through a curated collection of images and artworks which depict many of our national icons.
SUGGESTED AUDIENCE
Learners in middle and high school
SUGGESTED USE
Bringing into question the usage of the term ‘icon’ for many of the national figures that the students read about, and how such an ‘icon’ might be represented by visual artists. Looking at posters that were used for political propaganda, the depiction in turn becomes a way to heighten certain aspects of their personality, raise questions of artistic freedom, and bring into view figures who do not get included in popular narratives.
The Gaekwar (Maharaja Sir Sayajirao III of Gaekwad of Baroda) 1901
Chromolithograph on paper
Sir Jacob Epstein
Untitled (Jawaharlal Nehru) c. 1947
Bronze
Asit Kumar Haldar
Rabindranath Tagore c. 1945
Terracotta
Unidentified artist
Swami Vivekananda c. 1900
Watercolour and charcoal on handmade paper
Unidentified photographer
Bal Gangadhar Tilak c. 1900
Silver gelatin print on paper
Gandhi for the Post-Truth Age
The New Yorker
Pankaj Mishra outlines some of the popular criticisms of Gandhi and examines how both his image as an icon and his work were brought into question. Using nuanced arguments, Mishra reflects on how many of the ideas and thoughts introduced by Gandhi during a period of heightened imperialism continue to resonate in the 21st century- such as ideas of renunciation in the light of over consumption and those of self-agency through Satyagraha. For those of us wondering how the values of a bygone time can remain valid today, this essay reframes them for a contemporary context.
Gandhi Heritage Portal
A repository of documents and incidents related to Mohandas Gandhi- from personal letters and family history to texts written by him. An interesting read if you are looking to write a project or gain more insight into the Father of the Nation.
Bina Das, the Freedom Fighter Who Shot at the Bengal Governor
Sahapedia
Are there any leaders or national figures who you think deserve a place in the cast of national icons but perhaps are not part of the popular imagination? Bina Das was a student activist who shot at the Bengal Governer as an act of decolonial defiance.
Learn more about her story through excerpts from her memoir.
Remembering Forgotten Histories
India Foundation
A similar article that brings to the fore more figures who contributed to the independence struggle. It mentions important historical moments like the formation of the Ghadar party and the role of places outside India, such as Myanmar, where many soldiers of the INA fought.
While this is an interesting article, you must also apply the same method to it as mentioned in the article itself- don’t just read history; understand the positioning of the person interpreting that history.
An integral part of the Indian independence movement, Chittaranjan Das founded the Swaraj (Self-rule) party in Bengal. A political mentor to figures like Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, Chittaranjan was given the title of ‘Deshbandhu’ or Friend of the Nation for his acts of service, especially for fighting to free political prisoners like Aurobindo Ghosh. In 1922, he was also the president of the Congress Party and joined Gandhi’s Non-Cooperation Movement. Here we see the poster of a film made about him, where his selfless acts of service towards the nation are celebrated, and the colours of the national flag are used in the background to establish him as an icon of the nation.
YEAR
1970
MEDIUM
Chromolithograph on paper
1 / 10
Two film booklets on the martyr Bhagat Singh serve to dramatise the life of a national hero. Executed at a young age, he became a household name symbolising selfless service in opposing the rule of the British government. His martyrdom propelled people to agitate further and fight the British. His life is celebrated with nostalgia for a young man, as we can see in the film posters. He is shown as an individual and a revolutionary, with a quote that serves to invoke the collective memory of his story. It is interesting that his name is always taken with the tag ‘Shaheed’ or ‘martyr’, yet the booklet tries to establish him as an individual by portraying him against a peaceful waterfall. However, the font with blood dripping from it brings us back to the act that made him an icon.
YEAR
1963
MEDIUM
Offset print on paper
2 / 10
We have another promotional booklet on the life of an individual who you must be quite familiar with. It is interesting how these icons are always depicted in a set manner, almost like a character in a costume. We rarely see depictions of Netaji without his cap, and here too his patriotic nature and acts for the nation are highlighted through the gesture of a salute and the national flag. He is shown both in a shawl, perhaps indicating the time he had to disguise himself to escape the country, as well as in a military uniform.
YEAR
1966
3 / 10
A very interesting poster printed purely for propaganda. We see two of the icons we read about, Gandhiji and Rabindranath Tagore. The poster series narrates the various political virtues that Gandhi displayed; this one talks about how, by participating in the Khilafat Movement, Gandhi managed to unite different sects of people- primarily Hindus and Muslims in India. The bright colours and vivid patterns are meant to grab attention.
YEAR
c. 1960
MEDIUM
Offset print and serigraph on paper
4 / 10
Drawn almost like cartoons, this collection of icons was perhaps made for children’s education or knowledge. Quite an unlikely group, they have all, through their sacrifices, spurred the movement for freedom. The figures above are Chatrapati Shivaji, Bhagat Singh, Rani Laxmibai, Chandrasekhar Azad. They are depicted in their popular or iconic manner so that people can identify them. These kinds of educational posters are still quite commonly shown in schools as a beginner course to the historical figures of the nation.
MEDIUM
Offset print on paper
5 / 10
Vanity Fair published a series of illustrations highlighting the rulers of princely states under British rule. These figures are primarily spoken about for their opulent and extravagant lifestyles, yet it was this Maharaja who provided the money for B. R. Ambedkar to study in London. The artist has shown the Maharaja in his royal attire, complete with jewels to signal his royal position. We included this figure for you to reflect on the people whose names are missing from your textbooks but who have still contributed in some form to the national movement.
YEAR
1901
MEDIUM
Chromolithograph on paper
6 / 10
The first Prime Minister of free India, Jawaharlal Nehru’s image with his signature cap and coat is a popular one. The sculptor however deviates from that icon to create a gaunt, almost skeletal face of Nehru. He is almost unrecognisable. What might be the intent of the artist in sculpting such a face? What is the gaze of a foreign artist towards one of our national icons? Is it a mockery, or a portrayal of the human behind the myth?
YEAR
c. 1947
MEDIUM
Bronze
7 / 10
The composer of our National anthem, Rabindranath Tagore, made his place in the nation’s heart with his writings and revolutionary thoughts. He opposed the British in many ways, joining hands with other nationalists to resist British rule. The sculpture here depicts him as a meditative, wizened old figure. What attribute of this figure does the artist intend to draw your attention to? Is it different from the pictures of Tagore that you have seen? Would you recognise him without the caption?
YEAR
c. 1945
MEDIUM
Terracotta
8 / 10
Known for his religious nationalism, Vivekananda chose the life of a monk to carry forward the teachings of his guru, Sri Ramakrishna. Through these teachings he worked to inspire feelings of universal peace and unity among the people of our nation. While we are used to seeing him in his saffron garb, the artist here paints him as the young man Narendra, wearing the clothes of a 19th century Bengali gentleman (bhadralok). Look closely at the way the artist paints his eyes, looking away from the spectator, hinting at the deeply philosophical thoughts he harboured even as a young man. Would you recognise him without his saffron robes? What do the features tell you about this young man?
YEAR
c. 1900
MEDIUM
Watercolour and charcoal on handmade paper
9 / 10
One of the earliest men to lead a call for Swaraj (self-rule), he firmly believed that a radical direction would not aid in achieving independence. He is also known for his efforts to further education; he founded the New English School for secondary education to help the youth. He taught at Fergusson College and wrote for the Marathi newspaper Kesari. However, his adoption of pro-religious methods like the Ganesh Utsav and the incorporation of holy scriptures within the political movement alienated the Muslim population. Do you think we should support all the actions and ideas promoted by these icons? What do you think this photograph establishes him as?
