Mumbai: Mahatma Gandhi’s photographs can be seen in all government offices across the nation but it was only two years after India’s independence on August 15, 1947 that the photographs of the King and Queen of England were withdrawn and replaced with Gandhi’s pictures in 1949 by the Government of Bombay.
Archival records thrown open to the general public by K. Sankaranarayanan, Governor of Maharashtra, at Raj Bhavan, the governor’s official residence, reveal that it was only on June , 1949 that the government of Bombay asked all government offices to remove the photographs of “their majesties the King and Queen” and mount the photographs of Gandhi in the photo frames.
“The photographs of their Majesties the King and Queen should be carried unostentatiously to a remote place where the frame and glasses should be removed,” reads the Government Resolution (GR) issued by the Political and Services Department of Bombay dated June 2, 1949. “The frames and glasses which remain intact and neat and tidy should be used for framing Mahatma Gandhi’s photographs as far as possible.”
It is possible that the government advocated austerity while asking government departments to reuse the old photo frames.
The GR also clarifies, “The actual material on which the photographs or portraits of the King and Queen are photographed or portrayed should be stored in a safe place where there is no inflammable material nearby. The question as to what should be done with the photographs without frames will be decided after three years.”
Interestingly, the GR also states that the government approved the sizes of photos received from three agencies, namely Rex Photo Studio, Bombay, bust size 16-22 inches, Vanguard Studio, Bombay, size 14-17 inches—Dandi Kuch upright position and Associated Photo Service, Delhi bust size with folded hands size 10-12 inches. And the order specifically indicated what photos of Gandhi should be used in the different government offices.
“Photographs of the first type should be displayed in the Government House, the Private Secretary to the Governor’s Office, Secretariat Departments, Commissioners’ and Collectorates’ offices and in the main offices of the Heads of Departments.”
The second category had to be displayed in various departments and offices and the third in small offices, read the circular.
The government issued another GR on October 14 1949 communicating the approved prices for the three types of photos of Gandhi fixing it Rs30 for the bust size without frame per copy, the Dandi Kutch Upright Position was given at Rs18 and the price for the photo with folded hands at Rs 8.
