8 Indian crafts and imperial policy: hybridity, purification, and imperial subjectivities (original) (raw)

In his remarks at the opening of the exhibition of Indian art at the Delhi Coronation Durbar in 1903, Viceroy George Curzon articulated a vision of collection and display that promised to identify and shape British and Indian national and imperial subjectivities. The exhibition was a feature of Delhi coronation durbars held to celebrate the British monarch's reign as empress or emperor of India. These were held in 1877 for Queen Victoria, 1903 for Edward VII, and 1911 for George V (the only monarch to attend). These celebrations lasted for about two weeks and included formal homage ceremonies, investitures of Indians and Britons, banquets and sporting events. Durbar exhibitions highlighted Indian art and crafts in the context of demonstrating the efficiency and cultural concerns of the British administration in India. Curzon made clear his mission (Codell, 2004): We shall get together at Delhi such a collection as has never before been seen in India and with the enormous crowd that will be there assembled and from whom purchases and orders may be expected, I hope that I may give a real stimulus to the perishing industries of India. A single exhibition like this … will do more towards that end than a score of Government resolutions or sporadic efforts in this or that locality. 1