Historical past in pictures at Bengaluru’s Indian Institute of World Tradition

India’s struggle for freedom triggered a ripple impact amongst different nations buckling beneath colonial oppression; and amongst these was the African nation of Congo. Patrice Lumumba was a Congolese politician who lead his nation to independence and had shut ties to Indian leaders of the time. A photograph exhibition titled The Timeless Flame of Patrice Lumumba, is at present on show in Bengaluru.

Organised by the Intercivilizational Dialogue Challenge and the Indian Institute of World Tradition (IIWC) the present not solely shines a highlight on African freedom struggles, but additionally celebrates Patrice’s beginning centenary. Curated by Archishman Raju and Nandita Chaturvedi, and organised by Arakali Venkatesh at IIWC, the present is a historical past lesson in footage.

In response to Nandita, the aim of this present is two-fold: to discover India’s connection to the world and perceive the alternate of concepts between completely different civilizations.

“At one time limit, Patrice Lumumba was recognized all over the place on this planet and when he was assassinated in 1961, there have been protests in all the foremost Indian cities. We felt it was necessary to carry this era in historical past again in to public consciousness.”

Throughout that instances misplaced to current historical past, the Indian authorities was concerned within the disaster within the Congo and Nehru wrote many letters to the UN Secretary Common. Massive scale protests had been additionally organised by Aruna Asaf Ali in Delhi.

“Following the assassination of Patrice, Nehru despatched the Indian Military to assist with the scenario there. This was additionally a part of the peace motion to let individuals everywhere in the world know in regards to the struggles in opposition to colonialism occurring in several nations,” she says, including that the Indian freedom motion turned a case research for nearly all of Africa that was beneath colonialism in 1947.

Ghana was one of many first sub Saharan African nation to realize independence, largely via the efforts of Kwame Nkrumah, who employed strategies of civil disobedience in their very own wrestle.

A photograph of Oliver Tambo and Nelson Mandela from the exhibition The Timeless Flame of Patrice Lumumba
| Picture Credit score:
Particular Association

Although there are various examples of African leaders taking a web page or two out of India’s struggle for freedom, the exhibition focuses on Patrice Lumumba, Kwame Nkrumah, Oliver Tambo of South Africa and Amilcar Cabral of Guinea Bissau, in addition to WEB Du Bois, the daddy of the Pan African Motion. 

Although leaders of the African motion studied India’s method, in lots of areas it took on a special character because of various circumstances. As an example, the Belgians didn’t prepare native Congolese in administration, whereas we had a 100-year-long wrestle, which gave us time to organize in contrast to many African nations which had been left in chaos, says Nandita.

“The exhibition can be devoted to ES Reddy, an Indian diplomat, who was once chief of the UN Particular Committee In opposition to Apartheid from 1963 to 1965. Although he lived most of his life in the US, he was deeply concerned within the anti-apartheid wrestle and could also be higher recognized in South Africa than in India immediately,” she provides.

As a pupil, Reddy participated within the Stop India motion, and whereas in the US for larger research, he met activist Paul Robeson, who obtained him concerned within the African motion. Reddy additionally developed a detailed friendship with Oliver Tambo, one of many central figures within the South African motion.

A photograph of South Africa’s Oliver Tambo addressing the UN with ES Reddy from the exhibition The Timeless Flame of Patrice Lumumba
| Picture Credit score:
Particular Association

“In a means, Reddy is a bridge between the 2 nations and the present is devoted to him too because it was his beginning centenary final yr,” she provides.

The completely different rooms of the IIWC not solely highlights the collection of occasions that stand out through the freedom wrestle of those nations, but additionally paperwork the alliances and mutual help between world leaders. For sure, the 65 pictures on show are largely in black and white, interspersed with quotes from nation heads and a replica African Nationwide Congress Freedom Constitution.

In response to Nandita, loads of the pictures on show have been made accessible by the United Nations and lots of the photographers who believed their work served a broader goal. These pictures might be accessed at www.media.un.org and www.archive.org.

“We live in a time when the world is shifting and political relationships are being remade — each between the West and different nations in addition to between nations that had been as soon as often called Third World. We really feel helpful relationships can carry individuals out of poverty and promote peace,” says Nandita speaking in regards to the goal of behind such occasions by the Intercivilizational Dialogue Challenge.

The Timeless Flame of Patrice Lumumba is on show on the Indian Institute of World Tradition until July 25 (will probably be prolonged / relocated). Entry free.

A photograph of Patrice Lumumba in Brussels (1960) holding up his arms to point out his wounds from jail, from the exhibition The Timeless Flame of Patrice Lumumba
| Picture Credit score:
Particular Association

A photograph of Patrice Lumumba at a press convention on the UN in 1960 asking for assist to stabilise the Congo from the exhibition The Timeless Flame of Patrice Lumumba
| Picture Credit score:
Particular Association

Printed – July 21, 2025 08:28 pm IST