Monuments, Objects, Histories: Institutions of Art in Colonial and Postcolonial India

Cultures of History

by Tapati Guha-Thakurta

New book

Genres: Art, Art History

224 pages, Paperback

First published December 1, 2003

Reviews

[Revanth Ukkalam · Rating 3 out of 5]

George Basalla, a Historian of Science mapped all histories of science into four phases; the first phase involving a foreign, European traveler who implants in the region, seeds of scientific thinking. The other three phases give spaces for these seeds to be hosted and bloom. This book is roughly that very story. From the coming of James Fergusson and Alexander Cunningham to the self-reflective look at erotica by contemporary India - it charts the genealogy of ideas around objects and monuments and what to do with them in the present, in spheres of research, observation, and conservation. However while taking Basalla's diffusionist route, Guha-Thakurta's book is saved by her self-conscious characterisation of the work as a History of Colonial and Post-colonial India alone.

The book, I must say is not buzzing with new ideas or facts but yet it was an entertaining read. However to those who have not yet been initiated into the world of studies of rediscovery and 'heritage'. This is an amazing academic and rigorous start. Its entertainment value comes from the colourful characters that make it their arena. James Fergusson, Cunningham, Buchanan and Colin Mackenzie. RD Banerjee, Rajendralal Mitra, and Bhagawanlal Indraji. To me who has very recently visited Bodh Gaya and been agonised by the events at Ayodhya, and commented on them ad nauseum the chapter on the too was a befitting closing point.