Work of Raja Ravi Varma, a part of one of many world’s largest non-public collections of authentic works of Raja Ravi Varma, can be despatched for exhibitions nationally and internationally sooner or later, Radhikaraje Gaekwad, custodian of the gathering and holder of the title of Maharani of Baroda, mentioned on the sidelines of the two-day Aikyam Competition, which concluded right here on Sunday (October 11, 2026). The gathering is housed inside Laxmi Vilas Palace and the Maharaja Fatehsingh Museum in Vadodara.
The final time the artist’s work travelled exterior Vadodara was a couple of decade in the past, when the work have been exhibited in London’s Victoria and Albert Museum. In India, they have been despatched on exhibition to the Nationwide Gallery of Fashionable Artwork in Mumbai 20 years in the past, Ms. Gaekwad mentioned.
The renewed give attention to the work comes at a time when the Maharaja Fatehsingh Museum is present process a significant renovation. Raja Ravi Varma (1848-1906) was commissioned by the Gaekwad royal household within the 1888, earlier than he got here to be often called an acclaimed painter.
Now, a state-of-the-art, local weather managed and safe 20,000 sq. ft. storage facility is being constructed by the Maharaja Fatesingh Museum Belief to accommodate over 40,000 objects within the Gaekwad household assortment, together with work, sculptures, ornamental arts, armoury, royal regalia, textiles, and photographic archives. A more moderen, bigger museum can also be deliberate to showcase the household’s assortment.
“That is the gathering of Maharaja Sayajirao. Ravi Varma wasn’t Ravi Varma (the well-known painter) when he was commissioned to work right here. He turned Ravi Varma after securing the Gaekwad fee. Maharaja Sayajirao gave him good cash for his work, and gave him a present. After that, Ravi Varma established a press in Lonavala. That’s how his artwork turned fashionable and out there to widespread individuals (as reasonably priced lithographs). Ravi Varma is the artist who created the faces of our gods and goddesses,” Manda Hingurao, curator and secretary, Maharaja Fatehsingh Museum, advised The Hindu.
Cultural capital
Vadodara is well-known because the cultural capital of Gujarat. Home vacationers throughout Gujarat’s high 10 locations reached 12.4 crore in 2025, up by 36.9% when put next with the earlier 12 months, whereas overseas vacationers have been solely a fraction of those numbers, at 16 lakh.
“For this version of Aikyam, the theme is ‘rasa (essence) and realism’. We selected Vadodara as we wished to select a spot which is much less visited, off the crushed observe. its cultural significance, the confluence of Indian and European artwork, together with Indo-Saracenic structure, there are a number of hidden gems right here. We couldn’t consider a extra excellent location. We’ve 10 European embassies as our cultural companions,” Siddhaant Mohta, director, Sopaan, a start-up curating cultural occasions.
The concept was to focus on Vadodara’s potential as a number one vacation spot for cultural and heritage tourism, former Indian diplomat and Sopaan co-founder Monica Mohta mentioned.
Worldwide delegates from 15 nations, together with the Ambassadors of 10 European nations, participated in Aikyam 2026, with the two-day occasion exploring cross-cultural dialogues by means of artwork, structure, efficiency, and dwelling traditions.
‘Logistic hurdles’
Such occasions put Vadodara on the worldwide tourism map, Ms. Gaekwad mentioned, including that town’s infrastructure and presentation wanted higher alignment with its historic significance as a century-old hub of artwork. She flagged considerations over logistics, permits, and infrastructure.
“There are a number of obstacles, and to organise occasions like these logistically, even easy issues like getting a licence may be extraordinarily difficult. There are little challenges, issues which one takes without any consideration exterior of Gujarat. We’ve an extended option to go, however I believe the intent is to to open up Gujarat for vacationers, and I do hope we see that,” she mentioned.
Aikyam 2026 was supported by Gujarat Tourism; Maharani Radhikaraje Gaekwad; Unimaginable India; Vadodara Municipal Company; the Baroda Heritage Belief; and the Federation of Gujarat Industries. The European Union Delegation to India was a associate.
(The correspondent was in Vadodara on an invite from Sopaan.)
Printed – October 11, 2026 09:34 pm IST
