Kanu's Gandhi: Rare photos of Mahatma by his nephew shed light on final decade of his life

An exhibition of rare and intimate photographs of Mahatma Gandhi by his grandnephew and personal chronicler, Kanu Gandhi, is currently on display at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya, until 26 February 2017. Titled Kanu’s Gandhi, the exhibition has been curated by Prashant Panjiar and Sanjeev Saith. Kanu Gandhi, Mahatma Gandhi’s grandnephew came to live with him in the Sevagram Ashram and became his lifelong follower. Gandhi allowed Kanu to photograph him on the condition that no flash would be used and he would never be asked to pose. Though some of Kanu Gandhi’s images are well known to us, he was never credited for them. And even though some of his images have been reproduced in books on Gandhi, his work has not yet been published as one body of work nor has his work been acknowledged for its historical and artistic importance. This exhibition (following the publication of Nazar Photography Monographs 03 – Kanu’s Gandhi), corrects this anomaly and gives a forgotten great photographer his due credit. Culled from a long forgotten archive, these are rare and intimate photographs of the Mahatma during the last ten years of his life. [caption id=“attachment_3274360” align=“alignnone” width=“825”] ![Mahatma Gandhi with Rabindranath Tagore, at Shantiniketan, February 1940. (Double exposed negative). Photograph by Kanu Gandhi / © The Estate of Kanu Gandhi [A photograph from the exhibition 'KANU'S GANDHI' which follows the publication of Nazar Photography Monographs 03 – 'KANU'S GANDHI'.]](https://images.firstpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/KG_PRESS_051.jpg) Mahatma Gandhi with Rabindranath Tagore, at Shantiniketan, February 1940. (Double exposed negative). Photograph by Kanu Gandhi/© The Estate of Kanu Gandhi

[/caption] [caption id=“attachment_3274402” align=“alignnone” width=“825”]  Bardoli: Kasturba Gandhi washing Mahatma Gandhi’s feet, 1939. Sardar Patel is seen behind. From Nazar Photography Monographs 03 – KANU’S GANDHI. Photograph by Kanu Gandhi/© Gita Mehta, heir of Abha and Kanu Gandhi.[/caption] [caption id=“attachment_3274364” align=“alignnone” width=“825”] ![Mahatma Gandhi telephoning from the office hut in Sevagram Ashram, 1938. Photograph by Kanu Gandhi / © The Estate of Kanu Gandhi [A photograph from the exhibition 'KANU'S GANDHI' which follows the publication of Nazar Photography Monographs 03 – 'KANU'S GANDHI'.]](https://images.firstpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/KG_PRESS_031.jpg) Mahatma Gandhi telephoning from the office hut in Sevagram Ashram, 1938. Photograph by Kanu Gandhi/© The Estate of Kanu Gandhi

[/caption] [caption id=“attachment_3274370” align=“alignnone” width=“825”]  North West Frontier Provinces: Dr Sushila Nayar, Mahatma Gandhi, Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan, Amtus Salam (from right to left) and others walking in the countryside, October 1938. Photograph by Kanu Gandhi/© Gita Mehta, heir of Abha and Kanu Gandhi.[/caption] [caption id=“attachment_3274372” align=“alignnone” width=“825”] ![Mahatma Gandhi spinning on Dhanush Takli spinning instrument in his hut at Satyagraha Ashram, Sevagram, August 1940. Photograph by Kanu Gandhi / © The Estate of Kanu Gandhi [A photograph from the exhibition 'KANU'S GANDHI' which follows the publication of Nazar Photography Monographs 03 – 'KANU'S GANDHI'.]](https://images.firstpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/KG_PRESS_011.jpg) Mahatma Gandhi spinning on the Dhanush Takli instrument in his hut at Satyagraha Ashram, Sevagram, August 1940. Photograph by Kanu Gandhi/© The Estate of Kanu Gandhi

[/caption] [caption id=“attachment_3274378” align=“alignnone” width=“825”]  From Nazar photography Monographs o3 – Kanu’s Gandhi. Photograph by Kanu Gandhi[/caption]