Exhibition traces India’s political evolution through archives

An exhibition titled 'Swaraj: India's Political History' has opened at the India Habitat Centre in New Delhi, displaying archival material from the Tuli Research Centre for Indian Studies. The show traces the country's journey from colonial rule through the freedom struggle to nation-building, using images, objects and film posters.

Curator Neville Tuli described the idea of swaraj as a lifelong thought and called India an 'eternal sponge' that absorbs and transforms influences. The exhibition includes a cinema section featuring films such as Chetan Anand's 'Haqeeqat' on the Indo-China war and patriotic films by Manoj Kumar.

Archives also capture student protests from the 1960s, 70s and 80s. Sukhpreet Kahlon from the research centre noted that while the fights and protagonists have changed, these historical moments reflect contemporary times. The exhibition continues at the Visual Arts Gallery.