‘My friend, mentor, hero BNG’

Parbina Rashid

Chandigarh, January 23

Two different art forms; two diverse personae. Petite Malavika Sarukkai and burly William Dalrymple. One is a celebrated Bharatanatyam exponent and the other a towering personality in the fields of history, literature, broadcasting, and also a curator and critic. Both grace the same stage for their love for the same man — Prof BN Goswamy. “My friend, mentor, hero BNG,” as Dalrymple puts in.

The mood is sombre to begin with. Time is yet to heal the loss after Goswamy passed away in November 2023. The occasion is a commemorative meet at Panjab University. The auditorium is packed with people who knew Goswamy personally and those who knew him through his numerous books (26 to be precise).

But then art takes over as Sarukkai presents two choreographies based on two miniature paintings Prof Goswamy had shown her. “I am glad our paths crossed,” says a visibly emotional Sarukkai, whose association with Goswamy and his family started when she came to Chandigarh to perform on his 70th birthday. “Wonderment is the word that comes to mind when I think of Dr Goswamy. He was one of those rare artists who could pull his listener to his world, even if one didn’t understand it. He made the ordinary transcend into the magical,” she says.

Dalrymple’s talk is based on ‘Taking Forward BNG’s Legacy — Forgotten Masters: Indian Painting for the East India Company’. With a slide show he goes on to capture the essence of the artists like Mazhar Ali Khan, Yellaiah of Vellore, Sheikh Zayn ud-Din among others who were from the last years of the Raj. Acknowledging Prof Goswamy’s patience, passion and knowledge in finding out about those artists and thus lifting the cloak of anonymity off Indian miniature painters, Dalrymple says, “Earlier art scholars associated Indian paintings (read miniature paintings) with the patrons. Artists who were from humble backgrounds remained anonymous. But BNG changed that. He put all his efforts in finding out about the artists behind those paintings.”

For Dalrymple, Prof Goswamy is undoubtedly India’s greatest art historian and yes, also the most immaculately dressed man too. There is a picture which was taken when they both visited the Maldives. “Even with 90 per cent humidity, he was properly dressed.” That’s the BNG we all know and admire!