NANDALAL BOSE (1882-1966)

A celebrated painter of modern India. A genius who was admired in many countries. His was an attractive personality, which combined boundless learning and a unique genius with unaffected modesty and gentle humor.

Nandalal tried unceasingly to learn to paint. From his cousin Atul Mitra he learnt model-drawings, still-life and sauce painting. He copied the paintings of European masters. One such painting was Raphael's 'Madonna'. At this time Nandalal was also enthusiastic about Raja Ravi Varma's paintings. One of Nandalal's original paintings, 'Mahasveta', shows the influence of Ravi Varma. When he was yet feeling his way, Abanindranath's paintings like 'Buddha' and 'Sujata', and 'Bajra-Mukut' suddenly lit up his path. Nandalal was overjoyed; and he recognized his Guru (the Master) in Abanindranath Tagore. What Swami Vivekananda was to Ramakrishna, Nandalal Bose was to Abanindranath Tagore.

One opinion Abanindranath used to express often: The disciple does not become an artist because of teacher; the disciple has to shape himself into an artist. But the Guru takes care of the disciple just as the gardener takes care of the sapling. Under such a Guru, Bose grew into a fine artist. Abanindranath was not just a teacher, he was a devoted artist. Bose spent five years as a disciple. He was given a monthly scholarship of Rs. 12.

Nandalal Bose was not only a great painter; he played a leading role in the renaissance of art. Bose's genius and his original style were recognized by famous artists and art critics like Gaganendranath Tagore, Anand Coomaraswamy and O.C.Ganguli; these lovers of art felt that objective criticism was necessary for the development of painting and founded the Indian Society of Oriental Art. Nandalal Bose was awarded a prize of RS. 500 at the first art exhibition organized by this Society.

Rabindranath Tagore was very fond of Nandalal Bose. When Nandalal Bose took charge of the Art Department at Santiniketan, Rabindranath Tagore was extremely happy. Tagore honored Nandalal Bose with a welcome song. When Abanindranath saw Nandalal Bose's 'Swayamvara of Damayanthi' he said, "I can smell the sweet scent wafted from the marriage mantapa." (A mantapa is a special structure for an auspicious occasion.) The Japanese artist Okakura commented on Bose's painting 'Agni' (Fire): "It has every thing, but the only thing it lacked was fire."

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