Her love and ongoing efforts for animals is legion. And now, social activist-politician, Maneka Gandhi, is showcasing a unique exhibition of lithographs in the capital from August 10-14 at the Hotel Intercontinental The Grand, in Delhi to further her cause. The exhibition will include 3,000 engravings, etchings, woodcuts, lithographs, mezzotints, aquatints and many other techniques from the great artists of that time.

What is the inspiration behind Vintage India – Building On The Past?
Every year, for 15 years, we have done an exhibition around a form of art that then goes on to become very valuable. We were the first people to have a composite art exhibition in 1991 showcasing work of all the artists who are famous today. We were the first to have a ceramicist in a 180-potter exhibition, the first to use designers for a 12,000 T-shirt design show, the first to have Raja Ravi Varma oleographs, the first to have a photography exhibition of 2,500 photographs of the top photographers in India. All the 26 hospitals set up by People For Animals, have come out of these exhibitions.

And now you are doing historical lithographs...
These are the very first recorded drawings of India, so they are extremely valuable. I have been collecting maps and lithographs for many years so I always believed that India should see its colonial heritage. And what better time than during our 60th year of Independence! Imagine being transported 300 years in the past to a different India; an India comprising myriad cultures, an India which has fascinated the world for centuries. Imagine the Taj Mahal on a moonlit night surrounded by lush greenery of a different age, the age of rajas, sultans and begums, the age of beautiful architecture and virgin landscapes.

You have been having a series of exhibitions for your cause.... In what way has the response grown?
We have seen everything that we have sold become 50 times its price almost within a year of doing each exhibition! One of our USPs is that we always sell everything very cheap because I love seeing people being able to collect for the first time. Even in this exhibition, we are selling lithographs with a price range that starts from a mere Rs 1,000.

A few artists have shown lithographs earlier…. What is so unique about this exhibition?
These are ancient colonial lithographs, from the British period dating from 1785. The interest in Indian lithographs took off as an East India Company directive to the artists to map India and its people. The British have left us many images that bring alive an era that did not have the benefit of photography. Before the British, Indian history was mainly illustrated only by royalty.

How did you zoom in on a historical perspective of India as the unifying theme of the exhibition?
Each picture is not just beautiful but important historically. Most of these places exist but have changed beyond belief. Solvyn has done a serious of musical instruments which should be bought by a collector for a museum because many of those instruments don’t exist any more. The images also show festivals that are now totally different.

Do you have a personal preference for lithographs?
I like all forms of art. My first exposure to lithographs was when I bought a map at the age of 21.

Is the appreciation for lithographs slowly growing in India?
They have always been bought by collectors especially those from the royal families but most of them have been sourced from abroad because there are few available in India.

How is your plan for setting up hospitals taking shape?
The proceeds from this exhibition will be used to upgrade many of the hospitals by buying essential equipment and perhaps to build a new one in Uttaranchal.