India became a free nation on the 15th of August, 1947. But the true spirit of Independence came with the officiation of the Constitution of India in 1950. We talk about the Constitution and the power it holds. In fact, we study it in our school. But somewhere along the way, we forget to appreciate the intricate artwork on each page of the Constitution which Nandalal Bose and students painstakingly illustrated.
Nandalal Bose was born on the 3rd of December, 1882, into a middle-class Bengali family, in Bihar. But after failing commerce in college, in Kolkata and fighting for his passion, he finally enrolled himself into Calcutta School of Art. Abanindranath Tagore’s paintings, the murals of Ajanta Caves, The Buddhist Stupa, all deeply influenced his art.
He worked towards reviving Indian art styles which had seemingly died down as European techniques became common. Nandalal Bose got the opportunity to travel to different parts of India and learn the artwork. While he incorporated a few European techniques in his art, he never moved from his Indian subjects. His painting reflected historic traditions and contemporary practices of Indian art.
Nandalal Bose also illustrated Rabindranath Tagore’s poems, designed sets and costumes for his plays. In fact, in the 1930s, his art of Mahatma Gandhi walking with his stick, quickly became an icon for the non-violent movement as it brought a sense of unity in overcoming all hurdles. He also designed the emblems for Bharat Ratna and Padma Shree.
Nandalal Bose was honoured with the Padma Vibhushan along with many other prestigious awards. He passed away in April 1966, but his legacy continues to live through his art.
