Artist-photographer Cop Shiva’s acclaimed series Being Gandhi (2012) is drawing attention at the ongoing Kochi-Muziris Biennale, reviving conversations around Mahatma Gandhi’s ideals in a rapidly transforming India. Presented at the KM Building, Fort Kochi, as part of the exhibition Like Gold curated by Murtaza Vali for the Rizq Art Initiative, the series reintroduces Gandhi’s moral philosophy through remarkable contemporary storytelling.
A digital inkjet photographic project, Being Gandhi chronicles the life of Bagadehalli Basavaraj, a former schoolteacher from Karnataka who has spent over a decade portraying Gandhi across the country. Travelling to towns and villages, Basavaraj stages performances during national festivals and educational gatherings, using his role to engage new generations with Gandhi’s teachings of peace, simplicity, and moral integrity.
The project began in 2011, when Cop Shiva, then a police officer first spotted Basavaraj performing as Gandhi at a cultural event in Bengaluru. His fascination led to months of searching through newspaper archives and contacts until he finally found Basavaraj, sparking a 16-year visual and emotional journey.
Curator Murtaza Vali describes Being Gandhi as “a compelling character study of Basavaraj, whose long-standing act of role play transforms Gandhi from historical icon to living myth.” The photographs trace not only Basavaraj’s ritual of dressing in Gandhi’s trademark attire — chappals, dhoti, round glasses, and walking stick but also his striking act of covering his body in silver paint, embodying Gandhi as both a man and a life-sized statue.
The series has been praised internationally for its layered exploration of identity, devotion, and memory in public life. For Cop Shiva, the Biennale offers more than visibility — it is a bridge between art and social consciousness. “This platform has allowed me to share Gandhi’s message with a global audience,” he said. “I hope the work inspires young people to rediscover the spirit of empathy and nonviolence.”
Athmaja Biju is the Editor at Abir Pothi. She is a Translator and Writer working on Visual Culture.
