India’s battle for freedom triggered a ripple impact amongst different nations buckling underneath 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 Mission and the Indian Institute of World Tradition (IIWC) the present not solely shines a highlight on African freedom struggles, but in addition celebrates Patrice’s start centenary. Curated by Archishman Raju and Nandita Chaturvedi, and organised by Arakali Venkatesh at IIWC, the present is a historical past lesson in footage.
Based on Nandita, the aim of this present is two-fold: to discover India’s connection to the world and perceive the trade of concepts between completely different civilizations.
A photograph of Patrice Lumumba after he was captured by Belgian and American forces from the exhibition The Timeless Flame of Patrice Lumumba
| Photograph Credit score:
Particular Association
“At one time limit, Patrice Lumumba was identified in all places on the planet and when he was assassinated in 1961, there have been protests in all the main Indian cities. We felt it was vital to deliver 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 Basic. Massive scale protests have been additionally organised by Aruna Asaf Ali in Delhi.
“Following the assassination of Patrice, Nehru despatched the Indian Military to assist with the state of affairs there. This was additionally a part of the peace motion to let individuals all around the world know concerning the struggles towards colonialism occurring in numerous nations,” she says, including that the Indian freedom motion turned a case research for nearly all of Africa that was underneath colonialism in 1947.
Ghana was one of many first sub Saharan African nation to realize independence, largely by means of 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
| Photograph Credit score:
Particular Association
Although there are various examples of African leaders taking a web page or two out of India’s battle 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 strategy, in lots of areas it took on a special character attributable to various circumstances. For example, the Belgians didn’t practice native Congolese in administration, whereas we had a 100-year-long wrestle, which gave us time to arrange in contrast to many African nations which have 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 Towards Apartheid from 1963 to 1965. Although he lived most of his life in america, he was deeply concerned within the anti-apartheid wrestle and could also be higher identified in South Africa than in India right this moment,” she provides.
As a scholar, Reddy participated within the Give up India motion, and whereas in america for greater research, he met activist Paul Robeson, who acquired 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
| Photograph Credit score:
Particular Association
“In a approach, Reddy is a bridge between the 2 nations and the present is devoted to him too because it was his start centenary final 12 months,” 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 in addition paperwork the alliances and mutual assist between world leaders. Evidently, the 65 pictures on show are principally in black and white, interspersed with quotes from nation heads and a duplicate African Nationwide Congress Freedom Constitution.
Based on Nandita, lots of the photographs on show have been made out there by the United Nations and most of the photographers who believed their work served a broader objective. These photos could 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 have been as soon as referred to as Third World. We really feel helpful relationships can raise individuals out of poverty and promote peace,” says Nandita speaking concerning the objective of behind such occasions by the Intercivilizational Dialogue Mission.
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 indicate his wounds from jail, from the exhibition The Timeless Flame of Patrice Lumumba
| Photograph 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
| Photograph Credit score:
Particular Association
Revealed – July 21, 2025 08:28 pm IST
