Close X
Sunday, November 24, 2024
ADVT 
India

Historian B N Goswamy passes away

Darpan News Desk IANS, 17 Nov, 2023 02:36 PM
  • Historian B N Goswamy passes away

Chandigarh, Nov 17 (IANS) Known for his path-breaking work on Pahari paintings, internationally-acclaimed art historian and an authority on miniature painting, Chandigarh-based Brijinder Nath Goswamy, passed away on Friday following prolonged ill health.

Recipient of the Padma Shri and Padma Bhushan awards, 90-year-old Goswamy, fondly called BNG in art circles had authored more than 26 books.

A former civil servant who quit the services in 1958 to dedicate himself to academics and research, Goswamy took immense interest in the social background of painters from Kangra and spent a considerable time in far-flung villages of Himachal Pradesh to get a better understanding of the artists who created Pahari paintings.

Learning the Takri Pahari script, he began focusing on family styles, looking in detail for the technique, narratives, and composition.

“All my life I have striven to bring the painter out of obscurity. I want him in the front row. He must be under the spotlight. But how does one do that? Isn't art anonymous?

“Sadly, there is no proper documentation, the artist just appears like a firefly in the dark. We must peep into the mind of the artist, identify his processes, develop respect, and decipher.

“Then, we get to know about the sociological and cultural facts of that era. You see, an art historian needs to be a compound of a camel, hawk, ant, and peacock. He must have the memory of a camel, the eye of a hawk, be industrious as an ant, and learn to enjoy art like a peacock. After all, it's not botany, right?” he had said.

His ‘Wonder of the Age, Master Painters of India, 1100-1900’, an exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York showcased a new dimension of Indian art to the world.

For someone who taught himself the Pahari script in order to get a rounded view of the work he was doing, he always felt that it was paramount for a teacher and researcher to go into the field, read, study, interact with people, learn new languages, and understand one’s roots.

Always stressing on the need for archiving and preserving, His last lecture was held in Chandigarh on October 26 on his latest book, 'The India Cat: Stories, Paintings, Poetry and Proverbs.'

Delving into the stories fables from Panchtantra, Jatakas, Katha Sarita Sagar, he created a picture of how cats were viewed in India and how they found an important place in Indian art.

MORE India ARTICLES

'India has converted challenges into opportunities': Prez Murmu in I-Day eve address

'India has converted challenges into opportunities': Prez Murmu in I-Day eve address
New Delhi, Aug 14 (IANS) President Droupadi Murmu on Monday hailed the country's resilience during turbulent times, saying that India also served as a beacon of hope for others. Addressing the nation on the eve of the 77th Independence Day, the President in her speech said that India has converted challenges into opportunities, and has recorded high GDP growth. 

'India has converted challenges into opportunities': Prez Murmu in I-Day eve address

PM Modi wants to burn Manipur, doesn't want to douse fire: Rahul Gandhi

PM Modi wants to burn Manipur, doesn't want to douse fire: Rahul Gandhi
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday said that the Prime Minister Narendra Modi wants to burn Manipur and he is not trying to douse the fire. He also said that the Indian Army can stop the violence in the northeastern state in two days.

PM Modi wants to burn Manipur, doesn't want to douse fire: Rahul Gandhi

Goru Bacha gang member arrested in Punjab

Goru Bacha gang member arrested in Punjab
Punjab Police’s Anti-Gangster Task Force (AGTF), in a joint operation with Moga Police, have arrested gangster Gurpreet Singh, alias Gopi Dalewalia, who was the key shooter in Santokh Singh murder case, Director General of Police Gaurav Yadav said on Friday. He said the accused is a member of the Goru Bacha gang.  

Goru Bacha gang member arrested in Punjab

Punjab to set up facilitation centre at Delhi airport for NRIs

Punjab to set up facilitation centre at Delhi airport for NRIs
In a landmark initiative aimed at facilitating the NRIs landing at the Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi, the Punjab Cabinet led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Friday gave approval to set up a facilitation centre at the arrival hall of the international terminal.

Punjab to set up facilitation centre at Delhi airport for NRIs

'New UK visa rules deter foreign students from working till studies completed', Govt tells Parl

'New UK visa rules deter foreign students from working till studies completed', Govt tells Parl
The government on Friday told Parliament that as per new visa rules of the UK government, international students will not be able to switch out of the student route into work routes before their studies have been complete.  This became applicable from July 17, 2023 onwards, the government said, adding that the new visa rules will affect students from all nations. 

'New UK visa rules deter foreign students from working till studies completed', Govt tells Parl

Sahney urges PM Modi to reserve two seats for Kashmiri Sikhs

Sahney urges PM Modi to reserve two seats for Kashmiri Sikhs
The bill seeks to amend the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganization Act 2019 and reserve two seats for Kashmiri migrants and one seat for displaced people from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) in the Union territory's legislative assembly.

Sahney urges PM Modi to reserve two seats for Kashmiri Sikhs