LAVISH artwork and sensational gardens all with an Indian hue will help to make it a very Indian summer in Britain this year.
HSBC bank has turned to the country for inspiration and has sponsored Indian Summer with an eye on the Asian economy’s growing strength and its traditional cultural appeal.
The aim is to create a little India in the heart of London with an India landscape at the British Museum, complete with marigolds and lotuses. The celebration also includes a wide array of exhibitions, installations, talks and seminars that will travel across Manchester, Birmingham and Leicester to bring India alive in the UK.
Naina Lal Kidwai, country head of HSBC India, said: “We can’t say that this did not come up for review as the economy took a turn, but there was unanimous agreement that we must go ahead with Indian Summer. I am glad we stayed on course and didn’t succumb to the problems. It is about keeping the faith and shows that we are there for the long haul.
“In fact, the timing could not have been better so somewhere there was a banking soothsayer who knew better. India has always been the centre of the world, and even more so now. The new Indian government has received thumping support of the markets and the mood is very confident. For us, as the ninth largest contributor to the group, it means more continued growth.”
The centrepiece of the Indian Summer season, now open, is the ‘Garden and Cosmos: The Royal Paintings of Jodhpur’ exhibition that offers a rare glimpse of never-before-seen prints. They include 54 paintings on loan from the royal collection at the Mehrangarh Museum Trust in Jodhpur that were produced between 1725 and 1843.
Prince Charles, who was given a preview of the exhibition last week, said: “This remarkable exhibition provides a way to see India’s great artistic heritage. India holds a great fascination for many of us including myself.”
For more information about Indian Summer
