In The Shadow of Mann Ki Baat

Artists of global acclaim put together an exhibition to celebrate 100 episodes of a government-run radio show

- Abhik Bhattacharya

BETWEEN 1933 and 1944, when the US was in the throes of the Great Depression, the then president, Franklin D Roosevelt, anchored the Fireside Chats, a series of remarkably popular, informal radio addresses broadcast during evening-time. Deliberately written in simple, colloquial English, each episode was meant to break down concepts such as the economic crisis, banking reforms, the New Deal and the war against fascism, to name a few, to the general American public. In his 4422-day presidency, Roosevelt delivered just 31 addresses but is remembered as one of "the most effective communicators in radio history."

Perhaps picking a leaf out of FDR's book, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in October 2014, began addressing the nation on Mann ki Baat-a monthly radio address with the stated aim of establishing "a dialogue with the citizens on issues of day-to-day governance." The programme recently celebrated 100 episodes, to commemorate which 13 artists of international repute put together the 'Jan Shakti Art Exhibition' at the National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA), showcasing artworks created around the pet themes of the Mann ki Baat programme such as Nari Shakti' (women power), yoga, sanitation, water conservation, Ayurveda, space science and India's relations with the world.