Satish Gujral

Born in Jhelum, Punjab, Satish Gujral (1925 – 2020) was one of the pioneers of Contemporary Indian Art in the post-independence era.

Entombed in silence in his early years as a result of his hearing impairment, he would draw and read Urdu literature, and in 1939 joined the Mayo School of Art in Lahore. In 1944 he joined the JJ School of Art in Bombay where he came into contact with the Progressive Artists Group (PAG).

Gujral has been internationally acclaimed for his multi-talents of painting, graphics, sculpture, murals, architecture and interior design. The only non-Belgian Architect ever to win the “Order of The Crown” for designing the Belgian Embassy. The same building was selected by International Jury among 1000 most outstanding buildings built in the 20th Century around the World. He was also honoured by Visva Bharati University, Santiniketan with its highest honour “Desikottama”. He was honoured by Mexico`s International Award for “Life Time Achievements” (Da Vinci Award).

His experiments covered almost all spheres that fall under the umbrella of Plastic Art, Graphics, Paintings, Sculpture Murals, Object Design and Architecture. The President of India honoured Satish Gujral in the year 1999 with “Padma Vibhushan”, the second highest honour awarded by the State.