Discovering Each Other: And Other Essays

A fascinating discussion of Gandhi’s moral values and art stance, providing contemporary ethical reflections.

In Discovering Each Other and Other Essays, K. G. Subramanyan reflects on Gandhi’s political and cultural role in India and what lessons can be learned and applied more broadly. He explores how Gandhi’s moral values compared with his stance on art, while also investigating how traditional crafts can survive in an industrial world. He asks what role policymakers can play in the sustainability of manual crafts and investigates how the perception of tribal communities and their art changed in India over time. Subramanyan brings his trademark candor, lucidity, and wisdom to these reflections and responses.

K. G. Subramanyan (1924-2016) was one of India’s most respected artists. He worked with diverse media and materials, exhibiting extensively both within and outside the country. He was part of the arts faculty at M. S. University, Baroda, and was professor emeritus at the Kala Bhavan Center at Visva-Bharati University in Santiniketan, India. In 2012, he received the Padma Vibhushan, India’s second-highest civilian award, for his outstanding contribution to the arts. His other books include Moving Focus: Essays on Indian Art and Living Tradition: Perspectives on Modern Indian Art, both also published by Seagull Books.