By Rama Gaind
You don’t need to check out reports and delve into facts and figures to realise that more Indians are now travelling abroad than ever before. Compared to a decade ago, it’s not uncommon these days to see, bump into or even talk to Indians on the streets of a foreign land!
It’s not unusual then to build up acquaintances, and to feel an instant comraderie, with someone you’ve never met before – even if it is for a short time.
While popular destinations for Indians have always been the US, UK or Europe, now Singapore, Australia, the Middle East and China are proving to be the favoured spots.
Even meeting one Indian on my visits overseas I have found to be a bonus in the past, but on my recent visit to China, it was heart-warming to meet a few of them during my short stay.
At the airport in Shanghai, I spoke briefly with Sanjay Jaitly who had come to investigate business options from Kanpur; another man from Chennai, who was working there, said a fleeting hello; I saw three separate family groups at my hotel, in the street and at the Shanghai Museum, all supporting cameras, eagerly checking out the sights.
Colonel Rajwant Singh, of Jalandhar, and Brigadier Raza, of Pakistan, were taking in the sights of the museum along with a group of defence personnel and mingling with another contingent from Bangladesh.
After having spoken to my fellow countrymen, the few hours I spent at this large museum of ancient Chinese art was further made memorable.
Boasting 120,000 Chinese art pieces and archaeological findings, the Shanghai Museum is an architectural showpiece. Seen sideways, it resembles an ancient tripod, with a glassed rooftop dome which is modelled on a Han Dynasty mirror.
Permanent exhibits feature an amazing array of paintings, ceramics and bronzes, among other artefacts
Divided into 11 galleries and three exhibition halls, the galleries cover most of the major categories of Chinese art: Ancient Bronze, Ancient Ceramics, Paintings, Calligraphy, Ancient Sculpture, Ancient Jade, Coins, Ming and Qing Furniture, Seals, and Minority Nationalities.
Exquisite bronze ware of the Shang and Zhou dynasties contribute to an understanding of ancient civilization with more than 400 pieces.
Among the more than 500 pieces in the ceramics collection are artwork from various dynasties, such as painted and grey pottery from the Neolithic age, the well-known tri-colored glazed pottery from the Tang Dynasty, blue, white and black glazed as well as painted porcelain from the Song, Jin and Liao, and the brilliant works from Jingdezhen, Jiangxi, the centre of the industry during the Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties.
The Gallery of Chinese Ancient Sculpture focuses mainly on Buddhist sculptures, while
Chinese paintings and calligraphy provide an insight into the overwhelming traditions and exclusive national styles.
In 8000-year history of jade carving, China has produced countless great artists and highly skilled artisans. Jade in ancient China was both decoration and the symbol of wealth and power.
Over the years, minority nationalities have contributed some of their own colourful cultures which can also be viewed from clothes to textiles, artwork, sculptures, pottery and metal, lacquer and bamboo wares.
Enlightenment comes in many ways, but to appreciate the educational aspects, a visit to the museum is essential. In line with a Chinese saying: “It is better to see for oneself than to hear many times”.
Rama Gaind was a guest of Helen Wong’s Tours
