Eye of the Beholder

REVISITING 2500 YEARS OF INDIAN ART HISTORY

В Ba asel, in Switzerland, known globally as a scientific and pharmaceutical hub, is an unlikely destination for an Indian art collection to be located. Yet, the collection featured in the poignantly named book "Eye of the Beholder" is based in Basel. The book is a compilation of a part of the private collection of two Doctors Dr. Anirban

and Dr. Rejina Sadhu, based in Basel, Switzerland. A substantial portion of the collection comprises paintings and sculptures- most of which are featured there. In addition, the Sadhu collection contains other objects of historic and cultural importance like rare books, manuscripts, historically important coins, natural history curiosities like Taxidermy etc.

It is a narrative of 2500 years of Indian art history told through the objects in the private collection of Dr. Anirban and Rejina Sadhu. The book appeals to a diverse audience. In its approach, it is partly scholastic, partly informative, but wholly entertaining. It is designed to arouse interest from a reader with an itinerant fascination for Indian art, as much as from the one with a dedicated and sustained interest. A common theme underlies the apparent diversity of focus of the collection. All the objects have strong resonance with the history of India.

Dr. Anirban and Rejina have been calling Switzerland their home for the last 23 years, though India resides in their heart, thought and lifestyle. Originally from India, both are alumni of the prestigious Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, and neurobiologists by academic training. Today, they hold senior positions in the international pharmaceutical industry in the field of drug development. For Anirban, vocation and passion have been twin pillars providing sustenance, succor and fulfillment to life. And the passion in their lives has always been India.