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Title:
Volume 04 - Issue 4
Date:
1951
Table of contents:
- p. 2-7: Bajpai, Durga Shankar, Co-operative Housing [Editorial] | A critique of cooperative housing schemes in India is followed by a call to emulate the Scandinavian experience of housing societies. Stockholm's so-called "self-help housing" scheme and its functioning as an economically sound and advantageous cooperative society project is a workable proposition for India. The HSB in Sweden (Tenant's Savings Bank and Building Society) also shows the value of a sound organizational structure and a clearly defined functioning providing for means of arranging finance for building. In the face of a lack of building materials and new techniques, scarcity of easy credit, restrictive municipal regulations, and an apathetic public, concerted action is now required to organize and use the latent financial and physical resources to meet the housing shortage.
- p. 8-27: Khandalavala, Karl, Masterpieces in South Indian and Nepalese Bronzes in the Collection of Mr. S.K. Bhedwar of Bombay | Images of Chandrasekhara, Shiva, Buddha, Padmapani, Sita, Kodanda Rama, Vinadharamurti, Parvati, Nataraja, Boddhisattvas, Chandikesvara, Aiyanar and consorts, Somaskanda, six-armed Vasudhara, and a Vaishnava saint are illustrated and described. They are ascribed to the Chola (early and late), Pallava, and Vijayanagar periods, to the Gupta age, and to 14th-18th century Nepal.
- p. 28-29: Khandalavala, Karl, Two Rare Pallava Metal Images in the Prince of Wales Museum | Both the images are of Vishnu, and exhibit characteristic Pallava features. One is dated to the time of Nandivarman Pallavamalla (circa 717-782), while a mid-9th century date is postulated for the other on account of the round face and squatness of the figure, and its affinity with the style of the Aparajita period.
- p. 30-33: Mookerjee, Ajit, Indian Dolls & Toys | The varied forms, meaning, and function of handmade and cast folk toys of India are illustrated. Certain figurines were meant to be cult objects. The "primitive types" continue since Mohenjodaro. In order to survive in the face of mass-produced foreign goods, this tradition needs to be absorbed in contemporary design.
- p. 34-39: Gangoly, O.C., The Problem of Molaram | The contribution of Molaram to the last phase of the Garhwal branch of the Pahari school is appraised on the basis of his autobiographical poem and miniature paintings obtained from his great-grandson Balak Ram. There is a wide divergence and discrepancy in treatment between the works carrying Molaram's signature and those attributed to him but without his name. The former show a general lack of refinement and grace characterizing the decadence of the Pahari style then at the extreme end of its brilliant span, whereas the latter are superior, examples being "Shiva and Parvati", "Varsa-Vihara" and "Kaliya Damana". It is suggested that Molaram possessed working drawings from recognized masterpieces for duplication. The original "Varsa-Vihara" in Boston is compared with its copy, and it is concluded that ascription of the former to Molaram is doubtful.
- p. 40-43: Jayakar, Pupul, Cotton Prints of Gujarat & Kathiawar | Cotton printing in Gujarat, with its centres around bitter-water areas, is traced to the first century CE. Today, chemical dyes have replaced vegetable dyes, and imported copies of Indian chites from Lancashire mills have flooded the market. Father Coerdoux's 18th century description of dyeing and printing methods is discussed, of which a modified version still persists. Some block printing designs from Gujarat are reproduced to show the motifs and patterns. The similarity of Gujarat designs with those of Oudh suggests that the designs were at one time in common use all over India.
- p. 45-47: Pathy, P.V., Puppets on the Screen | Puppet films have immense potential as a medium of visual education. The art of puppetry having survived in India through 15 centuries, in spite of lack of official support, it is now imperative for movie-makers to experiment with puppet films featuring legendary stories and present-day life.