Product Description
The mural unfolds a rich tapestry of Indo-colonial history, capturing the turgid, passive aggression of the serving khitmadars (caretakers) and the pompous, grandiose bureaucrats in red coats who delude themselves into quasi-nawab status.
At the center of this narrative, Sir Haveitall, a red-coated bureaucrat, has established a makeshift court in the middle of a maidaan, or open field. Reclining on refined Persian carpets, he pulls on his hookah and listens to angrezi music on his HMV gramophone, with his faithful (or perhaps not so faithful) dog by his side. His telephone, ever ready, awaits orders from higher authorities.
A grandee approaches for an audience, arriving in a carriage whimsically drawn by ducks. Bridges in the distance, symbolic of past challenges, have been crossed. A party of nobles arrives on elephants, eager to ensure their pleas are heard.
In the background, a leopard strides, the rebel, ever vigilant and awaiting an opportunity. The khidmatgaars grudgingly serve tea, biding their time with quiet resentment. Above, ducks swim in the air, oblivious to the unfolding drama below.
This scene, layered with irony and subtle tension, paints a vivid picture of a bygone era, where the illusion of power and the undercurrents of rebellion coexist in a delicate balance.