‘Becoming’ traces 130 years of Indian children’s book illustrations in Mumbai

An illustration from the book, Sarayu’s Museum Adventures by Anusha Ramanathan. Illustration Courtesy/Chandrima Chatterjee

If you ask yourself, ‘What is your idea of becoming?' The answer might seem subjective or ever evolving. For curator Richa Jha, "Becoming is not simply about growing up - it is about the constant transformation of the self and the world around us." This idea forms the core of Becoming, an exhibition tracing 130 years of illustrations in children's books in India, curated by Jha and designed by Ayesha Goel.

The journey begins with an 1896 illustration of Abanindranath Tagore's Kheerer Putul, one of the earliest Indian children's books created specifically for recreational reading. "Before this, illustrated books for children in India, particularly in Bengal, were largely educational, including primers and language textbooks produced by missionaries and Bengali writers as an inspiration to inculcate nationalism," explains Jha. The exhibition also touches upon the influential Ray family by talking about the magazine Sandesh by Upendrakishore Ray, paternal grandfather of the legendary filmmaker, Satyajit Ray alongside other illustrations.

‘Goopy Gyne Bagha Byne,' first appeared in Sandesh, a childrens magazine by Upendrakishore Ray in 1915. Illustration Courtesy/Sandesh

Divided into two broad sections - the becoming of self and the becoming of spaces - the exhibition explores stories, dreams, identity, self-doubt, loss and young voices questioning established norms, alongside the universe, the planet, cities, villages, social divisions and, ultimately, hope. Adding to which Jha says, "All of us in our lives in some way are all at different stages of some form of becoming."

Alongside more than 100 illustrations, the exhibition presents their original textual contexts as picture-book spreads, allowing visitors to experience the relationship between image and story. A walk-in, seven-foot-by-four-foot book installation, a reading corner with nearly 300 books, workshops and a puppet show by author-illustrator Lavanya Karthik for visitors to step into the world of children's literature and choose their own journey of Becoming.

Richa Jha

Till October 11; 11 am to 8 pm
At PL Deshpande Maharashtra Kala Academy, Prabhadevi.
Entry FREE