We need to unshackle modern art from the highly complex law that is required to protect antiquities...The promotion of contemporary art works abroad and in India, however, call for a different set of regulations that need to concentrate on facilitation, not bureaucratic control.
Do you know that the Indian Art Market will expand to $1.1 billion by 2030 -- ₹10,000 CRORE ?
We are competing with the best in the world and the fantastic output of modern India art is being seen with new respect, internationally.
Did you know that a 1971 painting by VS Gaitonde headlined a record-breaking recent Saffronart auction in Delhi, by selling for $7.57 million, an incredible 68 crore rupees? It is the highest-ever total for South Asian art and another work of Amrita Sher Gill went for ₹66 crore, an almost same value.
Before this, a MF Hussain painting was auctioned by Christie’s in March 2025 for $ 13.8 million or ₹ 124 crores. Unbelievable.
BBC published a news on 11th October 2025, saying that Indian art market is booming and estimate that it is now worth $338 million, ₹3,400 CRORES.
What an exponential rise!
It was only from $2 million in 2000 and just $40-$50 million when I was Culture Secretary of India in 2008-2012.
All this is not only creatively, economic betterment of artists and art galleries but employment for a large class of experts and others engaged in modern India art, beside the artists themselves.
It was thus my privilege to address the 59th Annual Exhibition of the prestigious Birla Academy with Chairperson Smt Jayashree Mohta and Curator, Smt Ina Puri.
The list of selected and participating artistes represents a galaxy of creative personalities who are both innovative and expressive. A photo is with the award winners.
We must enhance India's huge opportunity strengthen out International breakthrough to showcase our cultural achievement and excellence before the rest of the world. And economic growth translates into .
But to realise this boom, we need to unshackle modern art from the highly complex law that is required to protect antiquities. The achievements of the present and the future of Indian culture cannot be tied to our civilisation's past antiquities and treasures. The latter have been regularly smuggled out or India and surely need greater attention.
The promotion of contemporary art works abroad and in India, however, call for a different set of regulations that are focused on art and its requirements -- to grow and bring greater glory to India. These regulations need to concentrate on facilitation, not bureaucratic control. So, I placed suggestions for the betterment of modern Indian art.
After being an integral part of state power for four decades and from my limited personal exposure to the world of politics as an MP, I can say with confidence that history remembers the contribution of a people not for their wars and conquests.
History remembers their contribution to human race in visual art, literature, the performing arts, architecture and the sciences. It is for this reason that those organisations that encourage culture and civilisational values actually matter more than those that dominate through temporary power.