E. Kumaril Swamy (24 November 1924 – 9 December 1993)
E. Kumaril Swamy | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | 24 November 1924 Mulkanoor, Karim Nagar district, Hyderabad, then Madras Presidency, British Raj (now in Telangana State), India |
| Died | 9 December 1993 (aged 69) Delhi, India |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Alma mater | Visva-Bharati University, Shanti Niketan, West Bengal |
| Years active | 1924–1993 |
| Known for | Painting, drawing, sculpture, printmaking, ceramics, writing |
| Spouse |
Kala Swamy
(m. 1956; died 2023) |
| Awards | Ex-Principal of College of Arts, Delhi , Shantiniketan and sarada ukil school |
| Patron(s) | Ex Lt. Governor of Delhi - Dharma Vira |
Early life and education
editSwamy was born in a small village Mulkanoor, Karim Nagar district, near Hyderabad on 24 November 1924.
He studied Hindi literature, 1940. He obtained a 1st Diploma in fine arts in the year 1944 from Sharda Ukil School of Art, Delhi, and 2nd Diploma in fine arts in 1949 from Shanti Niketan. He studied under Sarada Ukil and Nandalal Bose, one of the pioneers of modern Indian art and a key figure of Contextual Modernism.
In his early teens, he started doing social work in slums of Hyderabad. Thakkar Bapa (an Indian social worker) saw his ability ,took him to Delhi and introduced to Mahatma Gandhi as a young freedom fighter. After looking at his patriotism and his services towards nation, Mahatama Gandhi decided to adopt him. He worked with Mahatma Gandhi and Thakkar Bapa in National Independent Movement and became one of the youngest freedom fighters of India at the age of 16.
His further education was started at Gandhi Ashram under an eminent Hindi writer and Gandhian Social worker of India - Shri Hariprasad Dvivedi, popularly known as Viyogi Hari. Swamy's ability as writer was kindled by his Sahityakar guru Viyogi Hari, whose teachings and knowledge reformed the life of young artist.
His medium of expression was mainly Tempera colours and wash technique on Nepali paper. His Tempera colours were Organic Earth Colours (earthy pigments excavated from mines) came in dried cake forms. He used to crush them as powder and mixed water to make his medium of expression.
Kumaril Swamy married Kala Swamy on 3 September 1956 at Andhra Pradesh.
He visited several countries for exhibitions and as chief guest mainly Japan, Bulgaria, England, Nepal, Sri-Lanka. He was the only artist of India on whom more than one thousand articles were published and he gave approx. 70 interviews in his career.
Career
editAs an artist working with Tempera and oil paintings, his themes revolved around archetypal human struggles. The number of his works are now part of the collection of National Gallery of Modern Art,[1] New Delhi. He had great love and attraction for Murals and Fresco paintings. He mastered the Mural techniques under the great mural expert and master - Shri Vinayak Masoji. He was very fascinated by the great murals of famous Ajanta and Elora caves of India that dates back to 480 BCE One of his great mural painting is in Shanti Niketan, a huge mural which mesmerized the viewers, is a replica of Ajanta caves mural called Bodhisattva Padmapani. Some of his Murals can be found in Birla house, Salar-Jung Museum, Sangaria Museum, Rashtrapati Bhavan and Hyderabad museum.
He founded and allotted the land for college of art, New Delhi with co founder in 1960 and also allotted the land for Bharti Artist Colony in 1968 by the help of former Lt Governor of Delhi - Dharma Vira. Dharma Vira was the patron of Kumaril Swamy and his wife - Daya Vira was kumaril Swamy's sister.
Kumaril was honorary principal of important art institutes of India namely Shantiniketan , Sharda Ukil School of Art, New Delhi and College of Art, Delhi.
He was the council member of Lalit Kala Akademi, board member of Sahitya Kala Parishad, president of Indian Art Association at New Delhi, member of the National Committee for India of International Association of Art (UNESCO) at Paris and was President of the Society for Promotion of Yoga and Tantra (SOYOTAN), New Delhi.[citation needed]
Awards and recognition.
editHonored by the first president of India - Dr. Rajendra Prasad in 1951.
Stamp printed by the govt of India in 1969 to honour the artist.
Memento by the esteemed Museum of London in 1990's
World Telugu Conference award by the Government of Andhra Pradesh in 1977.
Diploma and medal by the Government of Bulgaria in 1975 for the 1st prize in art competetion held in Bulgaria with 24 countries participation in it.
Chief Guest at esteemed Bulgarian Museum in 1977.
Awarded fellowship by Lalit Kala Acadmy, Andhra Pradesh.
Awarded Parishad Samman of Sahitya Kala Parishad in 1977 and 1978 by Government of Delhi.
Honored by AIFACS society in 1988.
Awarded Fellowship from Indian Council for Historical Research for his book on Desist Veteran Artists of India. –"KALA KE SAADHAK".
Honoured by Ministry Of Culture at International Conference on Buddhism in 1984.
Honoured by the Indian Art Association in 1988
40 minutes documentary made by Doordarshan Channel in 1980's.
His artworks appeared in 8 national exhibitions, 19 international exhibitions, 16 state level exhibitions.
The notable collections of Swamy can be found in National Gallery of Modern Art, New Delhi; Lalit Kala Academy (Delhi), Chandighar Museum, Birla Museum, National Russian Museum, Sahitya Kala Parishad, Ambassador of Korea, Govt. of Sri Lanka, Museum of Bulgaria, Sri Ghansham Das Birla, Hyderabad Museum, Lalit Kala Academy (A.P.), College of Art (Delhi), Salarjung museum (Hyderabad), Sangaria Museum (Jaipur), Shanti Niketan Museum, Shri Dharma Vira, ICS, Govt. of India (Education Ministry), D.C.M. and several personal collections in India and abroad.
References
edit- ^ Kumaril Swamy, E. National Gallery of Modern Art, Delhi, India.
- "Ek mahan aatma aur kala darshnik ka nidhan". Kshetragya (obituary). 17 February 1994.
- "Bhartiya Kala manishi Kumaril Swamy ka nidhan". Hindustan (obituary): 3. 11 December 1993.
- "For whom life was an art". Weekend Newstime (tribute): 15. 26 December 1993.
External links
edit- "Digital Library of India". Archived from the original on 23 March 2016. Retrieved 16 March 2016.
- "National Gallery of Modern Art". www.ngmaindia.gov.in. Retrieved 16 March 2016.