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In the bustling city of Ahmedabad, a magnificent house stands on the cusp of both the traditional and modern, reverberating with memories and countless conversations on life, art, and history. This is the home of artist, scholar, and art collector Amit Ambalal. Born in 1943, Ambalal (lovingly known as Amit bhai) hails from an influential Gujarati mercantile family in Ahmedabad, where his mother’s artistic ingenuity; his visionary father; his guru, artist Chhaganlal Jadav, and his friendships with scholars and artists collectively shaped his life and artistic career. With over 30 solo exhibitions, several publications, expertise on the visual culture of Nathdwara, and a rare, keen eye for art—not to forget his inimitable wit and humour—Amit bhai’s persona is as intriguing as his home and art collection.
When French-American architect Bernard Kohn visited Ahmedabad upon the invitation of celebrated architect B.V. Doshi, Amit bhai’s father, Ambalal Sarabhai, commissioned him to make their house, Sumeru, which translates to “wonderful Meru”—named after a sacred mythical mountain. A wave of eclecticism pervades across the house, where old traditional Gujarati architectural features have a constant timeless dialogue with their 20th- and 21st-century counterparts. “My father was fully involved in its construction,” says Amit bhai. “As Kohn was heavily inspired by the architecture of Mandu (in Madhya Pradesh), he constructed those sloping walls, reminiscent of mountains.”
Also read: Ahmedabad: No two rooms are alike in this gorgeous bohemian weekend villa
There is a certain sense of discovery in this house. As one begins at the courtyard and the gardens, you come upon the sensuous 18th-century “apsara” stone sculptures. The main hall of the house is dotted with art, from the mighty 19th-century wooden Garuda from South India, paintings of his guru Jadav to works gifted by Atul Dodiya and Jogen Chowdhury—there is a space for everything and a harmony between each work.
A lovely spot to soak in the beauty of this home is on the hinchko (swing) overlooking the garden courtyard, the 5th-century Vishwaroop sculpture from Shamlaji temple, Gujarat, and a rare 18th-century Gopashtami pichvai from Nathdwara. The light-filled dining area is perfect for conversations accompanied by cups of tea, with a champa tree and sculptures from Shamlaji temple as the backdrop. For Amit bhai, art and life are so harmoniously woven together that they are almost one. In his studio next door, one comes face to face with his magical, often autobiographical visions of satire, parody, and brushstrokes as he laughs and tells stories from his artistic practice spanning over four decades.
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