Jaunted

Art

Ideal Indian Boys

March 10, 2006 at 9:58 AM | 0 Comments

The 2001 book An Ideal Boy is a glossy collection of educational charts and posters used in India up to the present. Cheaply and brightly printed, the posters appeared in post offices and on food stalls as well as in classrooms. The info given was usually a little  . . . off. As the publisher says, "A chart of world religion for example features a map of India, a national symbol and Mahatma Gandhi; whilst one on Insect life has a surprising panel on frogs and chickens." We don't care overmuch about insects, frogs, or chickens, and we sometimes don't even brush up the teeth, but we do know these posters are awful pretty.

Poster from Smithsonian shop

Related Stories:
·   An Ideal Boy [Dewi Lewis Publishing]
·   Oh, Behave! [Metropolis]