Dali, Salvador. Eccentric. Whimsical. Capricious. Quirky. As an artist, he is unrivalled. And he’s a guy with many whims. But what does he have to do with India’s airplane industry?
In the 1960s, flying was a luxury, lifestyle choice of the rich and the famous. Going on an airplane, according to a CNN story, was akin to attending cocktail parties. Passengers smoked Havanas, ate caviar and drank Champagne. The stewardesses wore expensive outfits and received goodies from ‘luxury brands’ such as Hermes and Christian Dior. Women at Air India wore Kanjeevaram sarees. Legend has it that JRD Tata, the Chairman of Air India, who had the elan for women, carefully supervised the grooming of stewardesses.
When it came to luxury, Air India spared no occasion to flaunt their high status with onboard amenities and gifts. At its peak, Air India had no competition vis-a-vis luxury in the sky. It was perhaps the only airline that gave out Salvador Dali-designed limited edition ashtrays.
Dali was one of the world’s most famous artists in the 1960s. Sculptures, graphic arts, design, architecture, film, and photography were all among his works. With a diverse creative repertoire, his paintings often delighted and, at times, outraged audiences across the world with their eccentricity and quirkiness.
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