This work seeks to explain the reasons behind an Indian art renaissance, in a country where traditions are strong despite two centuries of foreign rule. It is arranged thematically to show every aspect of the Indian art scene and places the art in its social, cultural and political context. The contemporary Indian art scene is one of the most vibrant in the world, characterized by a delightful exuberance that has not been seen since the time of the great Mughals in the 16th and 17th centuries. The coming of independence created an uninhibited context for Indian creative genius to flower once again. In the 1950s, Indian artists embarked on a quest for an identity that was new, and yet would reflect their country's heritage. Since then, Indian artists have quietly brought about what may be described as a charmed revolution in Indian art. The glorious result of this "revolution", as yet little known in the West and seen here in colour reproductions, connect India's timeless tribal and folk art traditions with developments in 20th-century Western art, in ways which are as Indian in spirit as they are universal in appeal.
