The extensive art collection of Dr Prakash Kothari, the well-known sexologist and Padma Shri winner, was covered in an article that appeared in leading business daily The Economic Times, as part of a commemoration of the 50th death anniversary of famed artist Pablo Picasso.
In addition to the three Picasso paintings that he has, Dr Kothari’s collection also includes works by artists such as Francisco Goya, George Keyt, MF Husain, Satish Gujral, Laxma Goud, Sunil Das, Manu Parekh, and Shiavax Chavda and others.
Palanpur Online reproduces the article for the benefit of our readers:
Renowned sexologist and art collector Dr Prakash Kothari owns a Picasso, reveals it was a gift
By Glynda Alves, ET Bureau Jun 05, 2023
In 2023, the year commemorating the 50th death anniversary of Pablo Picasso, Dr Prakash Kothari, a sexologist, recounts his experience of being gifted three drawings of the artist.
Dr. Prakash Kothari, a sexologist and art collector, was gifted three sketches by Pablo Picasso in 1999 by his friend Mulk Raj Anand. One of the sketches features a dove holding an olive twig, a symbol of peace, which is now kept securely in a vault after a journalist friend joked about stealing it.
“My favourite Pablo Picasso sketch is the one with the dove holding the olive twig in its beak,” says Dr. Prakash Kothari, sexologist. The dove was one of three sketches gifted to him in 1999 by late Padmabhushan Mulk Raj Anand, a close friend and confidant. Mulk had in turn received these drawings from Picasso as a gift- a marker of their friendship and shared interests. Both winners of the International Peace Prize and socialist in leaning, they were both fond of art in their respective ways - one as artist and another as writer.
“Why me?” Dr. Kothari recollects asking Mulk, to which he sharply responded, “Why not you?” He also added that just as Picasso was a great friend of his, I was too. Dr. Kothari shares that he went on to tell his friend that these gifts were rare and invaluable. That however, didn’t change Mulk’s mind.
Safe & Sound
Initially displayed in the waiting room of Dr. Kothari’s clinic, alongside numerous other artworks, several of his artist friends such as MF Husain, Sunil Das, K K Hebbar, B Vithal, Naren Panchal and others would visit his clinic to admire Picasso's work. “They would often mention in admiration, ‘I can't believe, I'm holding a Picasso in my hands,’” Dr. Kothari says.
However, the sketches are no longer available to view. Dr. Kothari says that after a journalist friend once playfully remarked that if, during his next visit, the Picassos happened to disappear, they could likely be found in his home, he decided it was time to safeguard the art.
“Paying heed to his suggestion, I took extra measures to safeguard and preserve the sketches. I carefully wrapped them in acid-free papers and relocated them to a vault. As a result, we do not see the sketches as frequently as before, when previously, they were openly displayed for every visitor to my clinic,” he said.
A self- confessed art collector, Dr. Kothari’s art collection houses the works of artists such as Francisco Goya, George Keyt, MF Husain, Satish Gujral, Laxma Goud, Sunil Das, Manu Parekh, and Shiavax Chavda. Though his collection journey did not begin with gifted sketches of Picasso, these sketches bear both personal and historical meaning for him.
“I believe that these drawings by Picasso are of significant historical and cultural value. The world is commemorating Picasso's 50th death anniversary through the various exhibitions and displays of his art. I feel privileged that I have in my possession, one of the original doves of Picasso, a symbol of peace across the world. It makes me feel proud that one of the original doves of Picasso, the universal symbol of peace, is in India,” he says.
Click here to view the article in The Economic Times
Members can now request for a soft copy of the names and addresses of all those listed in the Directory in Excel format. The copy will contain the list with all the updates that have been informed by members till the last day of the previous month. This service is strictly for the use of Members Only.
Palanpur Online Helpline
Tel: +91 - 22 - 40203620 / 21 Email: info@palanpuronline.com Time: 10am - 6pm (IST) (Mon to Fri)