Overview

Participating Artists: Amshu Chukki, Gagan Singh, Sahej Rahal, and more.

Curated by: Gitanjali Dang

The series is inspired by Jagdish Chandra Bose, a polymath known for his groundbreaking work in various fields. In 1895, Bose conducted the first public demonstration of radio waves by using microwave frequencies to remotely ring a bell and ignite gunpowder from a distance of 75 feet. He believed in the transmission of messages through invisible light without the need for wires. Bose’s wireless experiments preceded Guglielmo Marconi’s demonstrations of radio wave wireless telegraphy. Unlike Marconi, Bose chose not to patent his invention, valuing the sharing of ideas and free imagination. The curatorial series titled “Invisible Light” explores different themes, starting with “Jagte Raho.”

The recent nationwide arrests of civil rights activists, poets, and lawyers by the Pune Police, supposedly connected to the Bhima Koregaon riots, had drawn comparisons to the 1975 Emergency declared by Indira Gandhi. The arrests occurred in two waves, with the second crackdown on August 28, 2018, reminiscent of the midnight raids during the Emergency. These actions against dissenting voices, targeting moments of rest and vulnerability, highlight the importance of staying awake and vigilant as a form of resistance.

“Jagte Raho,” which evokes the Indian People’s Theatre Association (IPTA) and the notion of “staying woke” from the Black Lives Matter movement, represents a call to awareness, alertness, and political action. However, staying woke is a demanding and continuous practice, as contemporary surveillance systems, algorithms, and technologies seek to exhaust and undermine those who resist, denying them crucial moments of rest, humor, and dreams.

Nevertheless, there is hope. Just as India gained independence at midnight on August 15, 1947, possibilities can also arise at unexpected hours. In this series, part of “Invisible Light,” we explore the meaning of Jagte Raho in the current political landscape and its relevance to various aspects of life, such as train schedules, histories, street parties, and dinner conversations. The exhibit also examined the toll this process takes on committed individuals and consider how solidarities can help alleviate this toll by enabling moments of rest and retreat.

“Invisible Light-Jagte Raho”, Firstpost.

https://stgrevamp.firstpost.com/long-reads/a-note-from-the-curator-5870671.html

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