A civil servant and a social reformer from 1905 onwards under British rule never separated Art from the dignity of labour. Self employment, dignity, empowerment and most importantly womens rights were what he stood for. Making women self relient, recognising dignity of labour he often worked manually ( even as a District Magistrate ) with common people removing silt to re excavate irrigation canals. His understanding of the people behind the creations lead him to liberate the helpless underprivileged. A HUMANITARIAN history unfold in the foundational roots of the Gurusaday Museum.
The Museum is one of the rarest example of a non feudal institution. The humanist concept of the Museum compel us to re-look at the art works with an unusual perspective. It guides us to examine the sensitive layers of creators and creations not just the finesse and esthetics of the surface but also from the beyond and the within. The ideology behind the collection helps us to take into serious consideration into the state of affairs and the present day situation of our Folk Artists. Has anything changed today after the fierce initiatives taken by Gurusaday Dutta? Our crafts industries thrive on exploitation. Hundreds of craftsmen all over the country are now forced to work as manual labourers as there are no support, no protection and no takers of their products. Abuse of human rights are rampant in our cultural industries. A huge number of our young contemporary artists face regular exploitation from art dealers, gallerists and art collectors. Art History as well as the history of the makers of art coexist, both need to be documented. Never do museums featuring folk art and ( a substantial amount of ) classical art highlight or mention the artists. Museums were symbols of might, power and accumulation, the artists never deserved any mention. This has led to a paramount loss of history and the trend continues.
This is why the Gurusaday Museum must be considered as a Museum of Social History. A nationalist and social activist collected Art with unaccountable love and respect. Over the years our Folk Artists have shown us the way to our diversified expressions. We have admired and adopted their styles and esthetics. No African ART no Picasso, no cubism, no Bengal Folk Art no Jamini Roy, we can continue endlessly. Can we address these issues? Can we translate and relate them in our artistic manifestations Let us then imbibe these basics and primary values to pay hommage to our TRUE MASTERS.
