India n Rajasthan--Beyond ordinary art, culture n philosophy

India after Independence had to fight on many fronts. Besides fighting demeaning poverty imposed by the British and Portuguese Colonists India had to fight to recover and purify its fine arts. Indian music, classical and folk dances, local folk theatre, songs and performances remained largely free from colonial influence. But same could not be said about visual fine arts--sculptures, paintings and drawings. The 'teaching' of Western European rules in creation of art in British created colleges implanted and bastardized Indian art practices into alien beliefs and concepts of aesthetics. The sad part is that British totally destroyed the philosophy and beliefs even in appreciating art. They judged Indian art as good if it fitted the Western rules of aesthetics; thus all local variations of art practiced by Indians were tagged as primitive and inferior to the canon.
The sad story is that this Eurocentrism still decides in terms of aesthetics and 'value'  the worth of art anywhere in the world including India. My travels across India and specially in Rajasthan could help me to study and compare Indian art with the Western art. Using Indian aesthetics and philosophy I carried out detailed analysis the result of which I present in my book Mona Lisa does not smile anymore. 
I have only this to say do not see Indian art with European glasses. The history and culture of our land is different from that of West and understanding of our art has to be with Indian glasses, only then you will appreciate its finer point. The fragrance of fire cooked tikde ( thick chapati made in Rajasthan) can not be compared with factory made bread.

My land and my people have kept our arts and culture alive, but we should not give up under globalization what was created by our forefathers over thousands of years. Go to Ahad Museum 2 km from  Udaipur and you will understand what our forefathers created 5000 years BP.

Indian art more sublime than Europe 'Renaissance' ----the life of time on surya mandir Jhalrapatan

Timeless beauty--Forever Young

the mandap Surya mandir--a place for social gatherings great art in stone and a history of the times

Loving Couple--Premi Yugal

the temples in India from ancient times made God part of shared space with the people. The life of the times comes on the temple walls. The beauty of men and women, their dresses, headgear, ornaments, hairstyles and their social life--the singing, the playing of music, dancing, making love, mother and her child, and loving affectionate couples and worship.

the temples were a great statement of art, beauty, and joy in timeless youthfulness of the gods and of ordinary people. the finely proportioned ideal beauty of goddesses and of ordinary women was

from the blessed domain of akshat yauvan--eternal youth. It gave people visiting the temple greater joy and positive energy to work, relax and worship.