Hungarian Cultural Centre launched the book “Amrita and Victor” in Delhi

Gopalan Rajamani, Guest Author

On June 9, 2023, the Liszt Institute, Hungarian Cultural Centre, Delhi, India in collaboration with Fingerprint Publishing, commemorated the 110th birth anniversary of the extraordinary artist Amrita Shergil by a book launch. The event was curated by Dr. Marianne Erdő, Director of the Liszt Institute, Hungarian Cultural Centre, Delhi. The event took place at the Embassy of Hungary in New Delhi.

H.E. Mr. István Szabó, Ambassador of Hungary in India briefly spoke about Amrita Shergil and her contribution to the world of art. Thereafter, he officially released the book “Amrita & Victor” in the presence of Mr. Ashwini Bhatnagar, Author, Dr. Marianne Erdő, Director of the Liszt Institute and Dr. Alka Pande, Art Historian.

The book “Amrita & Victor” explores the passion and intimacy between the noted Modern Art Painter, Amrita Shergil and Victor Egan, their conflict with social mores, and the way their unconventional relationship shaped Amrita’s art, both directly and indirectly. It is a love story rather than a history of her art. It is a novel about an unconventional woman and her cousin, Victor Egan. Author, Mr. Ashwini Bhatnagar, has till now written 18 books, both fiction and nonfiction. He is a journalist with several decades of experience with major newspapers.

After the book launch, there was an interesting conversation between the author and Dr. Alka Pande, noted art historian. The author said that the book is about the relationship between Amrita Shergil and Victor Egan. He stated that the book is about the couple’s search for identity and living with the personal choices they made along the way. It reveals how a woman experiments between western and Indian lifestyles to find her own centre as a person, and as a professional painter. The book seeks to depict the dilemmas and conflicts that the couple faced to have a life together.

Amrita struggled to carve out a personal and artistic identity for herself and Victor stood solidly behind her with his unconditional support. Author said Victor’s unconditional support made him a prime example of what a modern liberal man ought to be. Amrita Shergil was extraordinarily talented, incredibly beautiful and free-spirited. She created iconic artwork on common folk to emerge as India’s most celebrated painter. She was art rolled into life, and also a life spread out as art. Her premature death was tragic.