Osian's Auction Catalogue The Masterpieces and Museum Quality Series | October 2004

THE MASTERPIECES & MUSEUM-QUALITY SERIES 47 22 Somnath KHOSA [1912-1973/ b . Srinagar, Kashmir] Let a Hundred Like Me Perish But Let Truth Prevail Signed in English l.r. Oil on board, c.1964 135.5 x 73.5 cm (53.3 x 28.9 in) Rs. 250,000 – 325,000 $ 5,400 – 7,000 £ 2,950 – 3,850 ‘Rather paradoxically, the Gandhi theme came into Pandit Khosa’s paintings in 1948, just after Gandhiji was no more. It was a critical time in the Kashmir history… After peace returned to the Kashmir front, Pandit Khosa came to Delhi to head the art department in a leading national daily. For the next eight years, he collected factual material going down to the minutest details regarding Gandhiji’s life moods, manners, costumes and expressions at different moments in an eventful lifetime… For the next thirteen years his day began late in the night and lasted till the early hours of the morning..’ – M.K.Tikku, rpt. in The Evening News, 10 October 1972. ‘Many a distinguished leader of the country had described Pandit Khosa’s paintings as “rare and more eloquent than spoken or written words about Gandhi’s life and mission.” Pandit Khosa says that photographs of great men and events have an undoubted value. But such objects are a poor apology for permanent memorials… He said that a sudden urge came to him to immortalise the Mahatma in visuals of his own conception and design and the result was the creation of the Gandhi gallery for the nation.’ – P.A. Rama Rao, rpt. in The Deccan Chronicle, 5 February 1972.