Studies in Indian Art c7.s2.51

c7.s2.51

The study and interpretation of Indian art is pregnant with great possibilities for our coming cultural renaissance. As a nation the Indians were once the citizens of a beautiful world of forms. The last two centuries disenfranchised us from that heritage and tradition. An inroad of exotic forms affected all spheres of Indian life and our own motifs and forms of painting, sculpture, decorative designs, architecture, furniture, dress, even our flowers, perfumes, household utensils, music, dance and drama, etc., suffered heavily, retreating under the fire of aggressive European vogues and fashions. India's struggle for *Sva-rājya* can only be interpreted as a struggle of her soul to rehabilitate herself in her own forms of life and culture. *Svarājya* must mean a cultural rebirth. With the dawn of Independence the destiny of Indian culture must be fulfilled once again and the national soul must reassert itself. In the words of the Rigveda, the old and the new generations have to enkindle the flame of knowledge and culture. Potent signs of the coming revival are visible on all sides. Much depends on the people's will to attain their cultural rehabilitation. The *Dharmachakra* has become our natural symbol through a prophetic decision of rare wisdom. The *Dharmachakra* must be understood by a modern mind as the wheel of culture. This *Dharmachakra* must revolve steadily both in space and time, imparting a new tone, quality and richness to life's manifold manifestations under the Indian sky. May the Goddess of Beauty lead to this fulfilment.