Lain Singh Bangdel

The Psychology & Politics of Bangdel’s Art

The first posthumous exhibition of Bangdel in London titled ‘Lain Singh Bangdel: Mountains and Migration’ was organised by Bonhams from 11th to 21st November 2023, which gave me a rare opportunity to look at a wide range of his works from different periods. In this essay, I discuss the psychology and politics of Bangdel’s art.


The Moon, He Created Muluk Bahira

“sympathy for the poor emerges from the hearts of the poor. One beggar knows the pain of another.” The dog, he says, is “a creature similar to me, who begs to eat.” – Bangdel wrote in his most famous short novel The Cripple’s Friend.