The prominent Lalbhai family of Ahmedabad has thrown open their personal art collection for the general public at a new museum. The brand new exhibition is situated in two different bungalows, including their 112-year old ancestral bungalow located in Shahibaug.
"We have put up the contemporary art collection, but we want to keep changing it at least twice a year. Architect Rahul Mehrotra is working on the new space housing history of Lalbhai family spanning 17 generations," said Sanjay Lalbhai. His wife Jayshree said the museum will be open for the public from February 16. "It will be a guided tour - one in the morning and another in the evening, on prior registration basis. The purpose is to take them through various sections as a planned member," she said. A unique glass gallery has been created as an extra display- not altering the existing aesthetics of the historical building. Up for display is Indian art and antiquities, reflecting a range perfectly balancing art with historical merit and personal favourites.
The building adjacent to the ancestral home, the Claude Batley House built in the 1930s, will house temporary exhibitions, retrospectives of artists and work by young artists. "While the main building will house old antiquities from the family collection, the building at the back will be earmarked for shows," said Jayshree. There is also a small amphitheatre with a seating capacity of 250 for small cultural activities. Just about 150-200 articles are on display in the first building, not a large number, but they have a "history spanning more than a thousand years." Paintings from different styles, including Persian, Mughal, Deccan, Pahari, Rajasthani, to Tibetan Thangkas will be put up for visitors.
Several Lasting Legacies
One of the distinguished families of Gujarat, the Lalbhais are the direct descendants of Shantidas Jhaveri, a royal jeweller of Mughal emperors. A reputed businessman, Kasturbhai Lalbhai, Sanjay's grandfather, was mostly known for his works of philanthropy. He was closely associated with Mahatma Gandhi and helped him in the Swadeshi movement. Kasturbhai was also actively involved in negotiating with the British during the economic depression in the 1930s. He was president of the Federation of Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industries in 1934, and the president of Ahmedabad Mill Owners Association in 1935. Kasturbhai established the Ahmedabad Education Society, now the Gujarat University, in 1936, along with Sheth Amrutlal Hargovindas and Ganesh Mavlankar. It was this society that donated the land where the Indian Institute of Management-Ahmedabad was built in 1961 and still stands today. He has remained one of the driving forces behind instituting the IIM-A, working along with Vikram Sarabhai.
In a unique form of cause, Kasturbhai came in the forefront of building associations and organisations, founding them to sponsor different sectors. The Lalbhai Dalpatbhai College of Engineering was established in 1948, an institution that is still deemed in the top Engineering colleges of Ahmedabad. His only aim was to promote technology and engineering. The Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industries was built in 1949, and the Lalbhai Dalpatbhai Institute of Indology, in 1962. The Sankat Nivaran Society was jointly set up by GCCI and the Ahmedabad Mills Owners' Association in 1972.
Generosity par Excellence
Talk about extraordinary beneficence. Why donate money or property, when you can create something for the welfare of the people instead? Kasturbhai was conferred with the Padma Bhushan award in 1968 for his unshakeable contribution to the society. His youngest son Shrenik Lalbhai received his father's generous gene and is still considered a pilot of contemporary Ahmedabad, to this day. The third generation businessman from a family that were among the first business houses in the city, Shrenik held an MBA from Harvard University. Apart from steering their multiple businesses, he also furthered his father's legacy of philanthropy in the education, industry, culture, and religion. He managed several trusts run by the Lalbhais and held key positions in almost all of them.
He was an acknowledged expert on Jain history and also led one of the largest and oldest Jain trusts namely Anandji Kalyanji Pedhi, that looks at renovation and upkeep of more than 1,200 Jain temples. Historian Dr Rizwan Kadri has intently known Shrenik's contribution in different organisations during his research on Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. Kasturbhai was a dear associate of Sardar and both him, and Shrenik helped Dr Rizwan in his work.
A prime example of the charitable nature of Gujaratis, the Lalbhais have for years, forwarded their legacy of giving back to the society. Padma Shri awardee, reputed journalist and historian Vishnu Pandya believes it is in the blood of the Gujaratis. "Gujarat has an unparalleled mind when it comes to charity. Not just today, but since 1,000 years - right from Sri Krishna to Lalbhai. I can give you umpteen examples, like Nanji Kalidas from Porbandar, Meghji Pethraj Shah from East Africa who has made lot of donations in Saurashtra. There is a village called Satadhar, where Saint Devidas began treating patients of leprosy from a time before Mother Teresa. He still does the same today. The world knows Abdul Sattar Edhi, born in Bantva village, as Pakistan's 'Angel of Mercy'. There are over 100 organisations across Kutch and Saurashtra that solely work for the purpose of charity. Gujarat practices 'Sadavrat'- feeding centres where the needy can have food," he said.
