History Paintings & Portraits of Indian Leaders

Swearing-in ceremony of Shri C. Rajagopalachari, 1960, Shri Thakur Singh, Oil on Canvas

Location: North Drawing Room

A large number of people are seen in the historic Ganatantra Mandap of the Rashtrapati Bhavan. Standing on the semi- circular stairs of the raised platform of Ganatantra Mandap, the central ground is occupied by C. Rajagopalachari who is wearing a white dhoti – kurta. Dignitaries such as Dr. Rajendra Prasad, Maulana Azad, Sardar Baldev Singh and Dr. S Radhakrishnan, all among the others are seen in the painting, carefully executed by Shri Thakur Singh.

Shri Chakravarti Rajagoplalchari was the first Indian to become the Governor- General of India. He was a lawyer, writer and freedom fighter. Born on 10 December, 1878, he studied at the Central College, Bangalore and Presidency College, Madras. He went on to become the Governor of West Bengal, Governor General of India and later Minister of Home Affairs and Chief Minister of Madras. He received the Bharat Ratna in 1953.

S.G. Thakur Singh was born in 1899 in Verka, Punjab. While receiving his early art training from Mohammed Alam in his village, he moved to Mumbai and later to Kolkata to paint backdrop scenes for various theatre companies. He was bestowed with Padma Shri award in 1973.