Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi (1869 – 1948)
a Lawyer, leader of Indian Independence Movement

Artist Haku Shah (1934 – 2019)

dated 2006, Oil on canvas
24 x 20 in. (61 x 50.8 cm.)

Mahatma Gandhi’s Salt March of 1930 was a pivotal act of civil disobedience against British colonial rule. By marching 240 miles from Sabarmati Ashram to Dandi, Gandhi symbolically broke the unjust salt law imposed by the British, inspiring millions to join the freedom struggle. After collecting natural salt, he was arrested and imprisoned. But his nonviolent defiance became a turning point in India’s Independence movement.

In this evocative painting, renowned artist Haku Shah captures Gandhi’s spirit at the moment of resistance. Gandhi is depicted holding a pinch of salt—simple yet revolutionary—while a heavy lock and prison bars, loom in the background, symbolizing colonial oppression. Haku Shah, deeply influenced by Gandhian ideals and folk traditions. He has used a soft, almost ethereal palette with minimal lines to convey deep emotional resonance. His distinctive style merges tribal, rural, and spiritual elements, often with a dream-like, textured quality. Here, the translucent colors and tender forms reflect Gandhi’s inner strength and humility. While the bold black bars and glowing lock starkly contrast the fragility of the human figure, enhancing the painting’s poignancy. Through this work, Haku Shah pays homage to Gandhi’s enduring legacy of truth, resistance, and peaceful rebellion.