A Gift or a Theft

Description

This work considers the lingering echoes of colonial power, exploring how museums continue to shape narratives about India through the display of artefacts acquired during the era of imperial conquest. Questioning whether museums perpetuate “residual colonial legacies,” it examines the complex relationship between cultural representation, historical interpretation, and the enduring impact of colonial practices. It focuses on objects imbued with a history of both violence and appropriation, as presented in such spaces. It questions whether the narratives surrounding these artefacts glorify colonial pasts and reinforce prejudicial views of India, effectively “holding the pen” to control the story.