Controversy over the whitewash of a century-old mural at Kolkata’s Government Arts College

The 170-year-old Government College of Art and Craft, Kolkata (GCAC), has become the center of controversy over the whitewashing of century-old Rajasthani murals on the college premises.

In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Ernest Binfield Havell and Abanindranath Tagore are believed to be leading the institution and actively advocating the revitalization of India. Art styles in art education.

However, the whitewashing of the murals has led to widespread protests in West Bengal’s artist community, including prominent names of GCAC alumni.

“The GCAC building is over 120 years old and is being renovated. Cracks have appeared in the three main arches of the building where the mural was painted. We should prioritize the maintenance of the college building,” said GCAC principal Chhatrapati Dutt. Hindu.

He said, “The Public Works Department (PWD) claimed that the mural was whitewashed during the maintenance of the arch due to a misunderstanding, but the paint used in the whitewash is now in the process of being removed.”

According to the principal, the mural is a wall painting of Rajasthani motifs and not a fresco, as many people have claimed. “There is no documentation as to when the mural was painted but it is believed to have been done during Havel and Abanindranath’s time,” he said.

“A part of the mural was already damaged over time, and some of it was damaged by whitewashing. However, we are now in the process of reversing the whitewash,” he said. Mr Dutt said the administration would try to do justice to the restoration of the whitewashed mural.

Meanwhile, members of the Alumni Association have expressed concern that part of the institution’s history has been erased.

“The alumni were kept in the dark about this decision despite the college principal being the president of the alumni association. Their white-washed frescoes are part of the institution’s legacy and have been here since before we were born,” said noted artist and president of the GCAC Alumni Association, Hiran Mitra. He was a student of the institution in the 1960s.

“The college administration is claiming that PWD has whitewashed it as a renovation work but it has done more damage than good to the walls. They have torn it apart,” he added.

Meanwhile, a protest has erupted among the current students of GCAC who are demanding to fill the vacancies for teachers and librarians for specialization titled “Painting Indian Style”.

There has been a problem of recruitment for these posts for a long time. Students’ concerns are valid,” said the GCAC principal. He added that faculty member appointments involve approvals at various levels, so it takes time.

“Annual restrictions on visiting faculty should be renewed. We are working to fill vacant faculty posts. Talking about the post of librarian, we are trying to appoint a librarian from another institution on additional duty on an interim basis,’ said Mr. Dutt. Soon, a retired librarian will be appointed for the long term, he said.