P. L. Deshpande Maharashtra Kala Academy, Mumbai | October 27 – November 2, 2026 | Jointly organised by IMACC & Rainbow Palette Art Academy, Rajasthan

MUMBAI – In a rare and inspiring convergence of fine arts, judicial wisdom and administrative leadership, the iconic P. L. Deshpande Maharashtra Kala Academy (Ravindra Natya Mandir Complex) in Prabhadevi, Mumbai, hosted the grand inauguration of Art Exhibition 2026: A Celebration of Colours & Creativity on the evening of Tuesday, October 27, 2026. Running through November 2, the week-long showcase is jointly spearheaded by the Indian Music, Art & Culture Council (IMACC) – an ICCAA initiative – and the Rainbow Palette Art Academy, Rajasthan.

Beyond its breathtaking display of around 100 original artworks, the evening evolved into a dynamic intellectual forum, offering a unique opportunity to engage with some of India’s foremost legal minds on the pressing challenges of cybersecurity, cyber law and digital financial literacy.

VISIONARY HOSTING & CURATORIAL EXCELLENCE

The evening was anchored by the vision of Mr. Sunil Zode, Chairman of the Indian Chamber of Commerce for Affirmative Action (ICCAA), Chairman of the Indian Music, Art & Council (IMACC) – an ICCAA Initiative. Working in tandem with IMACC were the creative and academic forces behind the exhibition:

Mr. Sant Kumar, Founder of Rainbow Palette Art Academy, Rajasthan, has built a platform that gives traditional and contemporary artists from Rajasthan the opportunity to showcase their work to a national audience.

Mrs. Indu Gaur, Curator at Rainbow Palette Art Academy, shaped the exhibition through careful curation, bringing together diverse artistic mediums and thematic narratives into one cohesive display.

Prof. (Dr.) Rajeshri Varhadi, Senior Professor and Head of the Department of Law at the University of Mumbai, lent her academic guidance, linking the worlds of legal learning and cultural expression.

A DISTINGUISHED GATHERING OF JUDICIAL & ADMINISTRATIVE LUMINARIES

The inaugural ceremony was graced by an extraordinary assembly of former Chief Justices, High Court Judges and senior IAS officers, underscoring deep institutional respect for both the arts and public awareness:

– Hon’ble Justice Akil Qureshi – Former Chief Justice of the Rajasthan High Court and the Tripura High Court.
– Hon’ble Justice S. S. Shinde – Former Chief Justice of the Rajasthan High Court and former senior Judge of the Bombay High Court.
– Hon’ble Justice Ramesh D. Dhanuka – Former Chief Justice of the Bombay High Court.
– Hon’ble Justice Sadhana S. Jadhav – Former Judge of the Bombay High Court.
– Hon’ble Justice Ashok Kumar Gaur – Former Judge of the Rajasthan High Court.
– Ms. Nidhi Choudhari, IAS – Director, National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA), Mumbai.
– Dr. Manju Lodha – Founder, Lodha Foundation
– Smt. Meenal Joglekar – Director, P. L. Deshpande Maharashtra Kala Academy.

ANCHORING THE EVENING

The ceremony was hosted by Mrs. Ashwini Patil Ohol, who opened the programme, followed by Adv. Vedant Vaishali Jayant Mainkar. While anchoring, he recalled Hon’ble Justice Akil Qureshi’s observation in Kirankumar Rameshbhai Devmani vs State of Gujarat (28 February 2014):

«“Drawing, painting, film making, drama, theatre, music, cartoon, demonstration and sometimes silence are all media of expression which would be covered and therefore guarded under Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution guaranteeing freedom of speech and expression to every citizen of the country.”»

WORDS FROM THE CHIEF GUESTS

Hon’ble Justice Akil Qureshi | Former Chief Justice, Rajasthan & Tripura High Courts

Reflecting on society’s attitudes towards individual choices and preferences, Justice Qureshi called for empathy and understanding, illustrating the point with a family anecdote. He noted that law and courts have always given wide liberty to artistic expression, urged artists to let their imagination flow freely, and blessed the exhibition.

Hon’ble Justice S. S. Shinde | Former Chief Justice, Rajasthan High Court

Showing his lighter side, Justice Shinde remarked with a smile that while a judge’s judgments can be set aside, these paintings can never be set aside – a witty tribute to the enduring power of art. He extended his blessings to the art exhibition, adding to the warmth of the evening.

Hon’ble Justice Ramesh D. Dhanuka | Former Judge, Bombay High Court

Justice Dhanuka graced the inauguration as a chief guest, lending his presence and encouragement to the artists and organisers. His presence added to the dignity of an occasion that brought the worlds of law and art together.

Hon’ble Justice Sadhana S. Jadhav | Former Judge, Bombay High Court

Justice Jadhav observed that artists show us there is something beyond the law, opening our eyes to the beauty of nature and creation – “where the sun’s rays do not reach, artists do.” With gentle humour, she added that the artworks seem to say enough of law, now come and enjoy art, and blessed all.

Ms. Nidhi Choudhari, IAS | Director, NGMA Mumbai

Ms. Choudhari said law and art are not separate, where there is dharma, there is victory, pointing to the Indian ethos in the Shiva, Krishna, Nataraja and Ganesha works. A Rajasthani herself, she felt as if a piece of Rajasthan had come to Mumbai, congratulated Mrs. Indu Gaur and Rainbow Palette Art Academy.

Dr. Manju Lodha | Chairman, Lodha Foundation

Opening with verses in praise of Rajasthan’s resilient spirit, Dr. Lodha described art as the symbol of life’s creative energy and an eternal part of Indian tradition, without which life cannot find harmony. When the heart connects with a painting, she said, life’s complexities begin to unravel; she blessed all the artists.

INSIDE THE GALLERY: 100 MASTERPIECES ACROSS MEDIUMS

Spanning realism, contemporary, oil, acrylic, mixed media, charcoal and watercolour, the exhibition features around 100 original paintings by 8 accomplished artists.

– The Flagship Cosmic Shiva: a towering, radiant portrayal of Lord Shiva in cosmic dance, rendered in luminous emerald greens against a deep indigo universe encircled by a sacred ring of light. The six-armed Nataraja is flanked by the Trishul, Damaru, sacred Agni, Rudraksha mala, Vasuki serpent and crescent moon, with the Abhaya Mudra symbolising fearlessness and protection.
– Hyper-Realistic Charcoal Mastery: ‘Wrath of the Divine’ – an intense 20 × 15-inch charcoal portrait of Goddess Kali by traditional Rajasthan artist Shrikant Goswami, whose command of tonal values, shadow and raw emotion captivated the dignitaries.
– Spiritual, Cultural & Rural Realism: traditional portraits of Lord Ganesha and Shrinathji, Lord Krishna playing the flute, a warm oil painting of a classical Indian dancer, and striking white-line portraiture depicting a rural Rajasthani elder.

On her flagship work, artist Shivani Bhadauria shared: “I wanted to show Lord Shiva in a calm and peaceful pose, radiating a deep sense of grace. Painted in soothing shades of blue and green, the multi-armed figure blends quiet serenity with flowing movement.”

SIDELINE DIALOGUE: CYBER SECURITY, FINANCIAL LITERACY & CYBER LAW

While the canvases celebrated India’s timeless heritage, sideline interactions with the distinguished legal luminaries, academics and administrators focused squarely on India’s digital future – the critical intersection of Cyber Security, Financial Literacy and Cyber Law.

Financial literacy as the first line of cyber defence

A recurring consensus emerged among the guests: technological security is incomplete without financial literacy. As digital payments, UPI ecosystems and retail participation in financial markets scale new heights, citizens – particularly senior citizens and first-time digital adopters – are increasingly targeted by sophisticated social engineering, phishing and fraudulent investment schemes. The dignitaries emphasised that financial literacy today must go beyond basic savings and compounding; it must educate citizens on digital hygiene, verifying financial intermediaries and recognising the red flags of cyber-enabled financial fraud.

The changing contours of cyber law & judicial preparedness

– Bridging the evidentiary gap: while statutory frameworks – from the Information Technology Act to the Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) regime and updated criminal codes – have evolved, the critical challenge lies in digital forensics, cross-border jurisdiction and the rapid preservation of electronic evidence.
– Algorithmic accountability & emerging threats: discussions touched upon the legal complexities posed by deepfakes, voice-cloning scams and automated financial fraud, with experts noting that cyber law must move from a reactive penalty mechanism to a proactive compliance and consumer-protection shield.
– Institutional & academic synergy: with leaders from both the bar and academia present, strong emphasis was placed on integrating cyber law awareness and digital financial safety into legal awareness camps, university curricula and corporate affirmative action programmes.

ON CYBER LAW & FINANCIAL LITERACY

“As financial transactions and personal identities migrate entirely into the digital realm, cyber law can no longer be viewed as a niche legal vertical. Empowering citizens with financial literacy is the strongest preventive shield, while modernizing digital evidence and cyber jurisprudence remains key to delivering timely justice.”

— Key consensus from sideline dialogues with the eminent legal luminaries

EXHIBITION QUICK FACTS & VISITOR INFORMATION

Event
Art Exhibition 2026: A Celebration of Colours & Creativity

Organisers
Indian Music, Art & Culture Council IMACC – an ICCAA initiative and Rainbow Palette Art Academy, Rajasthan

Key Leadership
Mr. Sunil Zode (Chairman, ICCAA); Mr. Sant Kumar (Founder, Rainbow Palette Art Academy); Mrs. Indu Gaur (Curator); Prof. (Dr.) Rajeshri Varhadi (Head, Department of Law, University of Mumbai)

Venue
P. L. Deshpande Maharashtra Kala Academy (Ravindra Natya Mandir Complex), Prabhadevi, Mumbai

Dates
Tuesday, 27 October 2026 – Monday, 2 November 2026

Inauguration
6:00 PM, 27 October 2026

Collection
Around 100 original paintings by 8 accomplished artists

Mediums
Realism, contemporary art, oil, acrylic, charcoal, mixed media and watercolour

The exhibition is open to the public until 2 November 2026.