Archive

In a "rare exploration into the life and work of one of Indian literature’s most remarkable voices” an exhibition on the archives of Adil Jussawalla was on show at The Guild Art Gallery in Alibaug from May 4 to June 29, 2025. Titled "Enlightenment from an Unlikely Envelope: Archives of Adil Jussawalla,” it was described as "a thoughtfully curated selection of Jussawalla’s manuscripts, writings, drawings, photographs and scrapbooks. It’s a rich, layered narrative that offers insights not just into his creative mind, but also into the larger literary and artistic context of his time,” noted a write-up received from Shalini Sawhney, founder director of The Guild. The exhibition was curated by Deeptha Achar, professor of English at Maharaja Sayajirao University in Baroda with archivist and art historian Chithra K. S. from the same city.

Rarely must a literary figure have been afforded such a comprehensive retrospective of his body of work in his own lifetime. The exhibition has showcased his personal journey and work in detail, lavishly illustrated with photographs, many of them taken by him. Photography is a lesser known talent of Jussawalla, but an entire wall of his Cuffe Parade apartment filled with such photographs of artists, poets, writers and art critics stands testament to this. The curators noted that his interest in photography was sparked when, at the age of 13, he was gifted a Kodak Baby Brownie camera by his aunt Gool Mehta; and, "as a young person Jussawalla could never be found without a camera slung on his shoulder.”

Among the many exhibits were copies of drafts of Jussawalla’s manuscripts, heavily edited by self. Copies of the magazines he has edited during his stint as a journalist as well as several articles printed in Parsiana on him and members of his family have found a place in the exhibition.