'The Group 1890 was formed in a meeting of artists from various parts of the country held at Bhavnagar on August 25-26, 1962. It derives its name simply from the number of the house of J. Pandya, who was host to the conferring artists. 

The Bhavnagar meeting was the outcome of prolonged discussions through personal meetings and correspondence over a period of two years between like-minded artists on the situation existing in modern Indian art. Having come to a common understanding regarding the vitiating influences which hinder the unfolding of authentic development in art, it was decided to launch the Group 1890 movement.' (excerpt from Group 1890 Manifesto)

With the manifesto ready, the Group decided to have an exhibition and make the manifesto public. The exhibition presented eight to ten works from each artist. Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru inaugurated the show, and the catalogue essay 'Surrounded by Infinity' was written by Octavio Paz, then Mexican Ambassador to India. This was the first and the last exhibition of the group which disintegrated soon after the exhibition.

With brief biographies of the participating artists and the group's manifesto.