By TBI Team

October 2, 2014

There have been numerous works - both text and visual - on Gandhi. In this post, we present to you a rare collection of sketches on Gandhi and his teachings - by the famous artist Mickey Patel. Each of these rare sketches is a masterpiece in its own right and beautifully presents the thoughts of one of the greatest men of all times.

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There have been numerous works – both text and visual – on Gandhi. In this post, we present to you a rare collection of sketches on Gandhi and his teachings – by the famous artist Mickey Patel. Each of these is a masterpiece in its own right, and if you are interested in having printed copies of these, please see the details mentioned at the end of this post.

Presenting Gandhi by Mickey Patel

On violence and the British guns

"We must not, in our impatient anger resort to stupid violence. We freely admit that we must take our due share of blame for the existing state. It is not so much British guns that are responsible for our subjection as our voluntary co-operation." — “We must not, in our impatient anger resort to stupid violence. We freely admit that we must take our due share of blame for the existing state. It is not so much British guns that are responsible for our subjection as our voluntary co-operation.”

On leaving a legacy

"No man can be said to be good before his death. After I am gone, no single person will be able completely to represent me. But a little bit of me will live in many of you." — “No man can be said to be good before his death. After I am gone, no single person will be able completely to represent me. But a little bit of me will live in many of you.”

On the pursuit of truth

"Anyone who pursues Truth must bid goodbye to fear. Truth can never be vanquished. Our struggle is in human liberty, human dignity. Are you prepared to face bullets if need be?" — “Anyone who pursues Truth must bid goodbye to fear. Truth can never be vanquished. Our struggle is in human liberty, human dignity. Are you prepared to face bullets if need be?”

On divided India

"Truth and non-violence are more important to me than political freedom. In divided India there is no place for me." — “Truth and non-violence are more important to me than political freedom. In divided India there is no place for me.”

On the status of fellowmen

"How can men feel themselves honoured by the humiliation of their fellowmen?" — “How can men feel themselves honoured by the humiliation of their fellowmen?”

On the importance of non-violence

"I know that the drastic reversal of practically the whole of the aggressive programme may be politically unsound and unwise, but there is no doubt that it is religiously sound. The country will have gained by my humiliation and confession of error. The only virtue I want to claim is truth and non-violence. I lay no claim to superhuman powers. I want none." — “I know that the drastic reversal of practically the whole of the aggressive programme may be politically unsound and unwise, but there is no doubt that it is religiously sound. The country will have gained by my humiliation and confession of error. The only virtue I want to claim is truth and non-violence. I lay no claim to superhuman powers. I want none.”

On a life of sacrifice

"A life of sacrifice is a pinnacle of art, and is full of true joy which ever renews itself. A man is never surfeited with it, and the spring of interest is inexhaustible. Indulgences lead to destruction. Renunciation leads to immortality" — “A life of sacrifice is a pinnacle of art, and is full of true joy which ever renews itself. A man is never surfeited with it, and the spring of interest is inexhaustible. Indulgences lead to destruction. Renunciation leads to immortality”

About Mickey Patel

Mickey was a cartoonist and illustrator of books and magazines, as well as a painter and designer. He was born in 1941 in Lahore, Pakistan and went on to study economics at St. Stephen’s College in Delhi. His work has been featured in almost all of India’s leading newspapers and magazines. He also published several children’s books, illustrated the books of other prominent writers including Ruskin Bond, provided the still sketches in some famous television serials including Nukkad – and much more!

Starting his career in advertising, he gave that up when he thought he had enough of it and started illustrating children’s books thus playing a hugely important role in the lives of the young. The above series that you see is a result of his long-term focus on Gandhi and his teachings. Mickey has sketched and painted the great man many times in his work.

Mickey Patel unfortunately passed away on 17th August 1994. In a foreword to his last exhibition, Sunita Paul says that Mickey Patel always lived on the edge and the law in his own words was, “unplug all safety valves.. And somewhere within you, find that grenade, unpin it and let it explode.”