New Delhi, 26th May 2022: The book, “A Moment in Time with the Legends of Indian Arts” by Dr. Alka Raghuvanshi the programme was presented by her sister Manisha Gawade at Stein Auditorium, India Habitat Centre. The book was published by Mr. Sanjay Arya. The launch was done by ICCR Director General Mr. kumar Tuhin, Sunit Tandon- Director of the Habitat Centre and senior members of the art fraternity including Padma Bhushan and Padma Shree Guru Raja Radha Reddy, Padma Vibhushan Ustad Amjad Ali Khan, Padma Shree Guru Shovana Narayan, Aritst and Curator Manisha Gawade, Publisher Sanjay Arya, National Awardee Mr. Ranbir Kaleka, Bollywood actor Rajesh Tailang, Celebrated Orissi Guru Sharon Lowen, Padma Shree Ustad Wasifuddin Dagar, Radhika Chopra, Suhasini Shah and Kumud Sharma. The book is an amalgamation of interviews of numerous legends from the world of art including Indian classical dance, Hindustani and Karnatak classical music, paintings, sculpture and theatre. Dr. Alka’s sister Manisha Gawade, Artist, Curator and Journalist, is carrying forward her legacy.
The launch marked the presence of prestigious members of art fraternity including Padma Bhushan and Padma Shree Gurus Raja Radha Reddy, Padma Vibhushan Ustad Amjad Ali Khan, Padma Shree Guru Shovana Narayan, National Awardee Mr. Ranbir Kaleka, famous Orissi Guru Sharon Lowen, Padma Shri Ustad Wasifuddin Dagar to name a few.
On this occasion eminent guests from different walks of life have attended the event Director General ICCR Kumar Tuhin, Actor Rajesh Tailang,Ustad Wasifuddin Dagar,Sunit Tandon Director India Habitat Center,Artist Ranbir Kaleka, Deepak Maharaj (Son of Pt Birju Maharaj, Artist Niladri Paul,Classical Singer Meeta Pandit Odissi dancer Ranjana Gauhar,Gallerist Saurabh Singhvi, Artist Vilas Kulkarnai, Artist Kanchan Chander, Rohit Suri, Kumud Sharma Entrepreneur, Anand Moy Bannerji, Kanchan Chander, Priyendra Shukla Suhasini Shah Entrepreneur,Blossom Kochhar Samantha Kochhar,Sharon Lowen,Guru Radha Reddy and Kaushalaya Reddy,Entrepreneur Sonal Jindal,Radhika Chopra Ghazal Singer, Avinash and Santosh Pasricha to name a few…….
On the occasion Manisha Gawade said, this book is an important historic documentation of forty years of Alka’s work and it talks about an important art era. Out of the 26 art legends in the book, most of them have left us for the heavenly abode but we are fortunate to have three legends from the book still with us including Ustad Amjad Ali Khan, Shri Balamurali Krishna and Krishen Khanna ji.
Alka has tirelessly worked on this book for years and after her demise I did the page layout and cover design and gave it final touches for it to come out in the public domain. It is rare to have so many legends covered in interviews covered in a single book which are available to the readers. These legends of the art, music, dance and Painting world share their treasures with the author which is priceless. Alka was a fearless writer and was known to speak her heart and mind out and state things in her writings just the way they existed. She has done complete justice to art writing through this book.
