A grain of salt - Influences of Gandhi
Charcoal and Acrylic on paper 20x28 inches each This section is on Gandhi’s legacy with portraits of Gandhi’s eminent and extremely varied followers across the world. These include leaders of some of the most significant movements of social and political reform in the last decades, pioneering thought leaders, artists and scientists. Gandhi lives on through the eyes of Nelson Mandela, the voice of Martin Luther King, the guitar of John Lennon, the genius of Einstein, His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama and so many more.
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Martin Luther King (1929 - 1968)
“To other countries I may go as a tourist, but to India I come as a pilgrim” said Martin Luther King Jr. when he visited India in 1959. Impressed by Gandhi’s path, King himself espoused the principles of non-violence. In the words of the King Centre- “The 13 years, December 1955 to April 1968 achieved more genuine progress towards racial equality in America than the previous 350 years had achieved.” Dalai Lama (1935-) The 14th Dalai Lama believes in peace and non- violence. Speaking at a memorial for Gandhi in December 2017 he said “It is important to combine modern education and technological prowess with the ancient knowledge of the workings of the mind and emotion that shaped Buddha and Mahatma Gandhi. Nelson Mandela(1918 - 2013) Gandhi’s image was imprinted in the eyes of Nelson Mandela. Mandela never met Gandhi, but his long walk to freedom was a continuation of the work begun by Gandhi in the 21 years he lived in South Africa. Albert Einstein (1879 - 1955) "Future generations would wonder if such a person really walked this earth in flesh and blood" Although the above is a comment from Einstein on Gandhi, Gandhi was an equal admirer of Einstein and had a similar view of him. The two men exchanged letters frequently. Einstein called Gandhi “a role model for the generations to come” and wrote “I believe that Gandhi's views were the most enlightened of all the political men in our time.” John Lennon (1940 - 1980) British musician and member of the revolutionary band “The Beatles”, John Lennon referred to Gandhi as an influence on his music. John and his wife Yoko Ono protested for non-violence in the world, and in particular for the end of the Vietnam War. |