Mumbai, July 16, 2013: Udaipur’s City Palace Museum has now added another legendary piece to its vast collection – the classic spectacles worn by actor Ben Kingsley in the film ‘Gandhi’. Released on 30 November 1982, ‘Gandhi’ is an epic biographical film directed by Richard Attenborough which dramatises the life of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi. It was nominated for Academy Awards in 11 categories, winning eight, including ‘Best Picture’.
Oscar award-winning producer, Lord David Puttnam presented the legendry glasses to Shriji Arvind Singh Mewar, the managing trustee of Maharana of Mewar Charitable Foundation at a Celebratory Charity Gala event hosted in the honour of Lord Attenborough in London.
At the gala event, Lord Puttnam was extremely appreciative of the generous support provided to Lord Richard Attenborough during the making of ’Gandhi’ and as a mark of gratitude, he presented the glasses to MMCF. Speaking on the occasion, Lord Richard Attenborough, director of the movie – Gandhi said, “I was in Udaipur during 1980’s for shooting a sequence for my film Gandhi. My wife, my family and colleagues were given such a warm welcome by the royal highness, I don’t think I have seen anywhere on earth as beautiful as this. The time we spent in Udaipur was simply miraculous. In my heart, my second home is India and I don’t think it will ever change. I know the famed Gandhi’s glasses have found a good home where they are likely to be appreciated by many over the coming decades.”
The Maharana of Mewar Charitable Foundation in its quest for preserving and protecting the rich living heritage of India has added these glasses as a classic Indian memorabilia which is scattered around the world and brought it back to the country with whose history it is closely associated.
“This exclusive piece is one of the biggest splashes of any legendry things that we’ve had before. Gandhi is one of the best movies that represent the epic leader and we are delighted to have the famous glasses worn by Sir Ben Kingsley in our collection. It makes the collection even more unique and adds another shining example of keeping the art, craft and music of Mewar alive on a global platform,” said Shriji Arvind Singh Mewar.
In its continuing endeavor to develop the palace into a world class museum, the City Palace had recently unveiled a royal gallery of musical instruments – Symphony of Mewar at The Zenana Mahal and – a photo exhibition titled Long Exposure: The Camera at Udaipur, 1857–1957 at The Bhagwat Prakash Photo Gallery.
Maintained by the Maharana of Mewar Charitable Foundation, The City Palace Museum’s exquisite exhibits ranges from photographic and painted materials to the architectural heritage of the Royal Mewar family. The museum is a heritage glory which is admired and appreciated by a wide variety of tourists across the world.
The iconic Gandhi’s glasses will be kept on public display from July 20 onwards in the City Palace Museum.
About Maharana of Mewar Charitable Foundation (MMCF), Udaipur:
Established in 1969, the Maharana of Mewar Charitable Foundation (MMCF) is an initiative of the Custodian of the House of Mewar, Udaipur, for the perpetuation of its core value of service to humanity. In the true Vedic tradition of ancient India, the MMCF has become a temple of inspiration for future generations as envisaged by its Founder-Chairman and Managing Trustee, HlH Maharana Bhagwat Singh Mewar of Udaipur.
The MMCF continues to embody the spirit of trusteeship which permeates every activity undertaken by the Foundation towards sustaining, consolidating and enhancing the traditions and heritage enshrined in Udaipur. These traditions include works of permanent value rendered to society and activities in pursuit of excellence.
In the 21st century, the MMCF continues to voluntarily discharge the duties and responsibilities of the Maharana in democratic India. The Foundation has remained committed to supporting the goals and objectives held sacred in the 1400-year old history of the family tradition of Custodianship. This is the ‘living heritage’ of the House of Mewar which encompasses a wide range of activities: environmental protection through water resource management, extensive medical and healthcare aid, providing pension to ex employees, promoting self-reliance among women and encouraging financial support to education and cultural endeavors. These have cumulatively transformed the ethos of Udaipur, the capital-city of Mewar, to emerge as a centre of excellence in every aspect of present-day life.