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Home , Abanindranath Tagore, Achintya Kumar Sengupta, Ajoy Mukherjee, Amrita Lal Basu, Arun Mukherjee, Baroda Group

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Chronological chart 1900 - 1980

(This chronological chart, does not claim to be exhaustive and complete, and is heavily indebted to Ella Dutta's chronology published in the catalogue Visions, supplemented with details and factual references from other books including : Post Independence from the Vadehra Gallery, Neville Tuli's Flaming Mosaic, as well as from publications on individual artists)

Politics Culture Art

1900- 1909

, 1900 Hiralal Sen shoots excerpts from Classic Abanindranath paints Abhisarika - his Theatre performance to develop snippets of new style shown for the first cinema; later shown at the Classic time in an exhibition at the art school; Sashi Kumar Hesh returns to after prolonged stay abroad and receives commissions for portraits from Baroda; Jamini Prakash Ganguly exhibited at the Calcutta Congress session and appreciated by in the magazine "Pradip" edited by

1901 Rabindranath Tagore's educational experiment Brahmacharyashram begins at Santiniketan with the active support of ; journal Prabasi founded by Ramananda Chattopadhyay in which Upendrakishore Roy revolutionized printing by introducing the half-tone process; Rabindranath revives Bankimchandra's Bangadarshan

J.F. Madan and his Elphinstone Bioscope - a tent at the for cinema shows; similarly Shyamalal Seal shows at the Maidan

1902 Okakura Kakuzo arrives in Kolkata with his mission of Pan-Asianism and to publish Ideals of the East for which writes an introduction ; E.B. Havell's article on Abanindranath in "The Studio"

1903 The Ourbar Nationwide exposure for Abanindranath following the exhibition of his paintings The building of the Taj Mahal and The passing of Shah Jahan; Japanese artists and Hishida Shunsho visit the Tagore's at Kolkata; joins the Government School of Art as a student

1904 Raja Varma felicitated with the title "Kaiser-i-Hind" by the ; E.B. Havell's decision as Principal of the Government School of Art in Kolkata to sell the Viceregal collection of European art and copies for funds to buy Indian art examples - resists the merger of Art Gallery and Museum claiming a superior and unique status of the Gallery; Abanindranath's paintings shown in under the aegis of the Bombay Art Society; welcomed by the Times of ; E.B. Havell's book on Mughal Architecture (, Sikandra, Fatehpur Sikri)

7th February: Benodebehari born

1905 Lord Curzon's Partition of ; the Burst of patriotic literature: poetry and August 15th Abanindranath joins the inception of songs by Rabindranath Tagore, songs by Government School of Art, Kolkata, on , Dwijendranath Roy, E.B. Havell's invitation; Mukunda Das Abanindranath's Bharatmata becomes a symbol of inspiration to nationalist Dwijendralal Roy's Rana Pratap Singha and movement - begins the Omar Amrita Lal Bose's Sabhash Bangali among Khayyam series; Bangiya Kala Samsad the notable plays; also Girish Ghosh's founded; E.B. Havell writes a book on Sirajadaula and Mir Kasim; Minerva theatre Benares; joins changes hands and Girish Ghosh spends Government School of Art, Kolkata as his final days here a student

1906 All India Muslim League formed National Council of Education, and Society Abanindranath takes over as acting for Promotion of Technical Education Principal following Havell's premature formed; Amarendranath Dutta, responsible retirement for nineteenth century stage reforms, forced to wind up Classic Theatre

1907 Amritalal Mitra in the role of "Jogesh" in the The Indian Society of Oriental Art play Prafulla at the Star Theatre rivals same founded; Prabasi and Modern Review character by Girish Ghosh at the Minerva begin publishing reproduction of paintings; Nandalal paints Satir Dehatyag

1908 Aurobindo-Barin Ghosh group formed; edits Bharati; E.B. Havell writes Indian Sculpture and Kshudiram Bose sentenced to death Dakshinaranjan Mitra Majumdar writes a series of fairy tales for the journal titled Thakurmar Jhuli

Actor Arehendu Mustafi dies

1909 Morley-Minto reforms: separate Prabhat Kumar Mukhopadhyay extends the Percy Brown appointed Principal of the electorate for locale of short stories to the United Government School of Art in Kolkata, Kingdom in his Deshi 0 Bilati; Abanindranath appointed Vice Rabindranath finishes his novel Gora; Principal; Abanindranath resigns; Dr. Abanindranath writes Rajkahini for children Ananda Kentish Coomaraswamy arrives in Kolkata; A.K. Coomaraswamy writes The Indian Craftsman; Lady from leads a team of art students from Kolkata, including Nandalal Bose, to copy the at Ajanta; Nandalal paints Nauka Vihar 1910 - 1919

1910 Tuntunir Boi, collection of children's Hemendranath Majumdar enrolls at the stories, published by Upendrakishore Roy Government school of art; Chowdhury Abanindranath's Omar Khayyam published; ISOA organizes Japanese art exhibition supported by illustrated slide lecture by O.C. Gangoly; Nandalal paints Jatugriha daha

1911 Shift of capital from Calcutta to Delhi Amarendranath Dutta joins "Star" theatre Hemendranath Majumdar leaves the art school in protest against being asked to decorate the welcome gates for King George vth,s visit in Kolkata; Exhibition of Bengal School paintings at the Festival of the Empire at the Crystal Palace in Britain arranged by the ISOA; no major impact; E.B. Havell writes The Ideals of Indian Art; 's postcards, portraits and figure sketches; Modern Review publishes examples of Japanese art from ISOA exhibition of last year

1912 Rise of terrorist politics Abanindranath paints Journey's End; Rabindranath's reminiscences Jeevan Smriti illustrated by Gaganendranth published; Nandalal paints Parthasarathi

1913 Rabindranath Tagore receives the Nobel Nandalal's famous drawing Jagai- Prize in Literature Madhai

Upendrakishore Roy Chowdhury begins children's magazine Sandesh

1914 World War I; waning of conciliatory edited journal Sabuj Suzanne and Andre Karpeles arranged attitude of the British towards Patra begins with Rabindranath's support a show of 200 works of the Bengal Nationalists School artists in ; sympathetic C.R. Das's Narayan expresses anti- reviews; exhibition tours other Rabindranath tone European cities; critics express guarded praise in London this time; Samarendranath Gupta joined Mayo School of Art, and becomes instrumental in his stylistic influence on Abdul Rehman Chughtai's art; the annual Indian Ink begins and carries cartoons by Abanindranath and Gaganendranath; Rabindranath gives a ceremonial welcome to Nandalal in Santiniketan

1915

1916 Rabindranath expresses his thoughts on the need for a wider vision for Bengal School - on a boat trip on the river Padma accompanied by Nandalal Bose; leaves for USA to study printmaking; A.K. Coomaraswamy writes Rajput Painting - shifts to USA ; Abanindranath's "Phalguni" phase paintings; The Bichitra Club formed at the Tagore Residence in in Kolkata; Japanese artist Kampo Arai invited by Rabindranath to Kolkata- Nandalal- Kampo mutual encounter

1917 National Congress session at Jana-gana-mana composed by K. Venkatappa returns to Mysore; Calcutta; Rejection of Montague Rabindranath publicly performed for the Abanindranath begins his Shahjadpur Chelmsford reforms by C.R. Das and first time at the Congress session under the series of landscapes; Fazlul Haque direction of Amala Das Gaganendranath's cartoons published as lithographs in two volumes, Birup Rabindranath's play Dakghar (Post office) Bajra and Adbhuta Lok with marked difference in set design, performed at the Vichitra Bhavana for Benodebeharisentto , , B.G. Tilak Brahmacharyashram in Santiniketan and others

1918 Dhirendranth Ganguly (popular as "D.G.") makes film Bilat pherot under the banner of lndo-BritishFilm Company

1919 ; massive resistance; Abanindranath writes Banglar Brata, on the established in Jalianwala Bagh ; rituals and the accompanying decorations Santiniketan; Hemen Majumdar with Rabindranath Tagore rejects performed and practiced by women in Bhavani Charan Laha, Jogesh Seal, knighthood Bengal Jamini Roy and Atul Bose establish Bilvamangal, considered the first major the Indian Academy of Art; ISOA gains silent film in Bengal, produced by J.F. government financial assistance for art Madan and shown at the Cornwallis Theatre class Benodebehari joins the newly formed Kala Bhavana as one of the first students

1920- 1929

1920 Sengupta's first novel Rupam published under the editorship Shuva of O.C. Gangoly from ISOA; publication of a short-lived journal under Hemen Majumdar's initiative, the Journal of Indian Academy of Arts

1921 Chandpur assault on plantation labour Emergence of Sisir Bhaduri as a Rabindranath's essay emphasizes the organized by tea planters professional stage actor with lead role in need for global perspective rather than Kshirode Prasad Vidyabinode's Alamgir at idiosyncrasies in the name of tradition; the Cornwallis Theatre produced by J.F. Hemendranath Majumdar appreciated Madam at the Bombay Art Society exhibition; Abanindranath' Bageshwari Lectures Girish Ghosh's Nala Damayanti made into at the Calcutta University (1921-29); cinema by Madan unit stars Miss Patience Gaganendranth's third volume of Cooper lithographed cartoons Naba Hullor published; Jamini Roy begins his paintings following the Bengal pat style; Nandalal paints Grief of Uma 1922 Kazi Nazrullslam's book of poems Urban planner Partrick Geddes arrives Agnibina; Nazrul edits fortnightly Dhumketu in Santiniketan; Nandalal Bose joins earning the wrath of the British Kala Bhavana; artists shown in an exhibition in Kolkata through the Amidst a spate of mythological cinemas, efforts of Rabindranath and ' exception Bankim Chandra Gaganendranath; Viennese art Chattopadhyay's story Bishbriksha historian delivers a series of lectures in Santiniketan .

1923 C.R. Das forms Swarajya party Bleak despair in Jatindra Nath Sengupta's Gaganendranath's dated pictures of first book of poems; the Cubistic phase (1923-25) publishes book of nonsense verse, Abol Tabol; journal Kallol begins through the efforts of Dinesh Ranjan Das and Gokul Nag, attracting writers concerned with social realities, like Achintya Kumar Sengupta, , "Juvanashva" (Manish Ghatak)

1924 Subhas Bose arrested "Parashuram"-'s () Nandalal visits accompanying collection of humorous stories Gaddalika Rabindranath; Atul Bose studies at the Royal College, London (1924-26) Sisir Bhaduri takes over Manamohan Theatre, renames it Natyamandir, launches with Jogesh Chaudhuri's - new style in

1925 C.R. Das dies; increase in Hindu Hemendra Kumar Ray edits theatre journal Gaganendranath's post-cubist pictures Muslim conflict; beginnings of Nachghar (1925-30); Rabindranath Tagore's book of poems Purabi published - the Communist movement manuscript had the most extensive erasures that have serious pictorial relevance

Benodebehari appointed as Teacher in Kala Bhavana with added responsibilities of Librarian and Curator of museum

1926 Communal riots in Bengal, notably in Saratchandra Chattopadhyay's fiction on Kolkata terrorism, Pather Dabi published - proscribed by the British; Suniti Kumar Chaterjee's monumental three-volume work The origin and Development of published

1927 Subhash Bose released; 25,000 Jagadish Chandra Gupta's Binodini Jaipuri artist Narsinghlal teaches railway workers on a 6-month strike at establishes realism in ; traditional painting techniques Upendra Gangopadhyay and Souring at Santiniketan Mukhopadhyay begin journal Bichitra with Rabindranath's support

1928 Railway workers in Liluah join strike; Atul Chandra Gupta's book of essays Abanindranath begins his Arabian police firing and death of several Kavyajijnasa and Prabodh Sanyal's first Nights series; Nandalal's Halakarshana strikers novel Jajabar published; Manik mural in in the Italian Fresco Bandopadhyay's first story Atashi Mami Buono process published in Bichitra

1929 Meerut Trial with Trade Union leaders Bibhutibhusan Badopadhyay's Pather Jamini Roy exhibition at the Muzaffar Ahmed and Radharaman Government School of Art, Kolkata; Mitra charged Panchali published Bhavesh Sanyal teaches at the Mayo School of Art in Lahore

1930 -1939

1930 Gandhi's ; civil Publication of Achintya Kumar Sengupta's May 2"d, Rabindranath's paintings on disobedience in Bengal including first book of poems Amavasya, Ajit Dutta's show at the Gallery Pi galle in Paris; ; revolutionary terrorism in first collection of poems Kusumer Mas, show travels to England, , Chittagong culminates in armoury raid ; Buddhadev Basu's second collection of , Moscow; artist's guild heroic attempt by Benoy-Badai-Dinesh poems Bandir bandana Karu Sangha formed in Santiniketan; to attack Inspector General of Police Rabindranath's Bengali primer Sahaj at the Writer's Building in Kolkata Manmatha Roy's political statement in the Path illustrated by Nandalal with black play Karagar and white lino cut images - also his lino cut of Gandhi Two-reeler silent comedy film Jamaibabu

Impresario Haren Ghosh presents 's troupe for the first time in Kolkata

1 1931 Jan 26 h celebrated Literary journal Parichay begins; Annada Abani Sen and fellow artists for the in Bengal; severe police repression in Shankar Ray establishes as a prose writer Young Artist's Union; Nandalal Chittogong, Kolkata etc.; Gandhi-lrwin with Pathe Prabashe illustrates Rabindranath's Bengali pact; Civil disobedience movement to primer Sahaj Path with simple black be suspended; Hijli jail firing ; Shishir Bhaduri's theatre troupe invited for and white lino-cut prints Rabindranath Tagore expresses a USA tour, the first of an invitation of its shock at public meeting kind

1932 Premendra Mitra's first collection of poems; Exhibition of Rabindranath's paintings 's Urvashi 0 Artemis at the Government Art School, Kolkata B.N. Sircar starts International Film Craft organized by Mukul Dey with two silent films Chashar Meye and Chor Kanta; changes name to with the advent of the "talkies"

1933 Intense repression Literary journal Desh begins Art Rebel Centre formed by Abani Sen and other artists; Maharaja Pradyot Kumar Tagore initiates the Academy of Fine Arts in Kolkata; Nandalal paints the mural in the Patha Bhavan a verandah; [Amrita Sher Gil paints Young girls and Professional Model]

1934 earthquake and suspension of [Am rita Sher Gil paints Study of a civil disobedience movement; model in green]; Nandalal paints On Congress Socialist Party formed; the way to Bolpur Communist Party of India declared illegal, but communist influence on the rise in Bengal

1935 Buddhadev Bose, Ajit Dutta, Premendra Mud architecture experiment at Mitra and begin Kabita a poetry Santiniketan culminates in journal that proves to be an outstanding Rabindranath's residence "Shyamali", platform; Dinesh Sen's Brihat Banga and followed by students' hostel "Kalo Dhurjati Prasad Mukhopadhyay's Antashila, Bari" or Black House- both 's Orchestra, Manik embellished by tar-coated mud relief Bandopadhyay's Putulnacher ltikatha and sculptures with playing Padma Nadir Majhi among the notable an instrumental part in the decoration; prose [Am rita Sher Gil paints Mother India, Hill Men and Hill Women]

Raichand Boral introduces new era in film music; introduces playback music in Bhagyachakra under the banner of New Theatres

1936 's book of poems Dhusar Nandalal arranges an exhibition at the Pandulipi published; Samar Sen's Kaekti session of the Congress; Kabita introduces irony into Bhavesh Sanyal leaves teaching post at the Mayo School of Art in Lahore to establish the Lahore School of Fine Arts; joins Madras Government Art College; Nandalal paints Radha's viraha and Swarnakumbha

Benodebehari travels on a self financed trip to and Japan

1937 Krishak Praja party-Muslim league Rabindranath writes his essay Kalantar Nandalal designs the township for coalition led by Fazlul Haque; political Faizpur Congress session using prisoners in Andaman Jail on hunger bamboo and hay; first solo exhibition strike results in huge students' by Sailoz in Kolkata; movement in Kolkata [Am rita Sher Gil paints Fruit Vendors, Bride's Toilet, Brahmacharis, South Indian Villagers going to the Market]

1938 Amiya Chakrabarti publishes first book of Haripura Congress session a landmark poems Khashra; Humayun Kabir introduces for Nandalal, with 400 paintings the journal Chaturanga decorating the pavilion, popularly acclaimed as the "Haripura posters"; 's film Vidyapati Abanindranath paints the Krisnamangal and Kabikankanchandi series of paintings; [Amrita Sher Gil paints Red clay elephant, Verandah with red pillars]

1939 World War II; Subhas Bose elected 's film Rajat Jayanti Second solo exhibition in Kolkata by President of Tripuri Congress; resigns Sailoz Mukherjee; and forms studies sculpture with Ramkinkar in Santiniketan; [Amrita Sher Gil paints her Hungarian pictures; later (1939-41) paints her remarkable final series including Ancient story teller, Woman resting on charpoy , Bride and Elephant Promenade]

1940 -1949

1940 Subhas Bose escapes dramatically Subhash Mukhopadhyay's first book of Benodebehari's Ceiling mural at the from long detention poems, Padatik published Kala Bhavan Boys' Hostel

1941 New Progressive Coalition ministry Subodh Ghosh's Fossil and Gopal Haldar's Am rita Sher Gil dismissed Bengal under Fazlul Haque Sanskritir Rupantar notable publications school pictures in a radio broadcast calling them "entirely illustrative in quality" - paints her last incomplete painting before an untimely death 1942 Japanese bombing of Chitta gong; Nandalal paints the Natir Puja mural in threat in Kolkata; Quit India call on the - entire Kala August 9; police arrests all leaders Bhavana in a mural painting project at next day; magnificent resistance in the site Midnapore invites brutal repression; terrible cyclone and Benodebehari's Chen Bhavana mural tidal bore crumbles defence on the Campus life at Santiniketan

1943 Man-made famine in Bengal; Little magazine Arani continues on its Calcutta Group formed; 's Muslim league ministry under predecessor Agrani-'s (1939 -1941) famine photographs create a stir; Khwaja Nazimuddin footsteps; O.K. Gupta introduces a new Chittaprosad's Hungry Bengal - an concept of book design with his Signet illustrated account of the famine Press stricken Bengal published but is subsequently confiscated and destroyed by the British; Nandalal's painting Annapurna and Rudra obliquely comment on the famine situation via mythology

1944 Premankur Atarthi's witty autobiographical Dr. mentions the work Mahasthabir Jatak and Pramathanath Calcutta Group in a positive tone in his Bishi's memoir Santiniketan published; essay Prolegomena to Contemporary introduces new concept in Indian Art published in the journal book cover designs and illustrations for Marg; K.G. Subramanyan comes to Signet Books Santiniketan to study under Nandalal; Bishnu Dey and John Irwin publish Indian Peoples Theatre Association their monograph on Jamini Roy from produces 's , the ISOA with the famine as theme, directed by the author with , introducing social commitment in Bengali theatre

Bimal Roy's first directorial effort with the film Udayer Pathe

1945 World War II ends; INA officers' Satinath Bhadhuri's Jagari published First Exhibition by the Calcutta Group trial; unprecedented student and labour upsurge in support of INA Mandar Mallik produces animated cartoon officers films under Mandar Studio banner

1946 Trial of Capt. Rashid Ali provokes Nirode Majumdar leaves for Paris; massive upsurge; joint strike called Jamini Roy exhibited in London by Muslim Students' Federation and All India Students' Federation, Benodebehari's Bhavana mural joined by Congress and CPI trade on the life of medieval Hindi saints unions; Hindu-Muslim unity; cruel repressive measures kills even the teen-aged; provincial elections and H.S. Suhravardy forms new Muslim League ministry; Muslim League calls for ""; severe communal riots rock Bengal; Tebhaga struggle begins

1947 Peasant movement repressed, Bishnu Dey's book of poems Sandiper Char setback; independence with expresses Marxist thought Partition; Congress ministry in Bengal under P.C. Ghosh Utpal Dutta starts the Little Theatre Group; Sombhu Mitra breaks away from IPT A to form Calcutta Film Society formed

1948 New Congress ministry under B.C. Sukanta Bhattacharya's book of poems Zainul Abedin moves to East Roy Chharpatra published posthumously; Syed Mujtaba Ali publishes Deshe Bidheshe

Film Bhuli Nai (directed by Hemen Gupta; story Manoj Basu) dedicated to freedom fighters

1949 Communist party banned; refugee Satinath Bhadhuri's Dhonhrai Charit Manas Benodebehari shifts to as influx continues into fifties. published; Nihar Ranjan Ray publishes his the curator of the Nepal Government Bangalir ltihas Museum

Nemai Ghosh's film addresses the issue of partition indicating changed sensibilities and social awareness; arrives in Kolkata to shoot The River

1950 -1959

1950 Prodosh Das Gupta joins Baroda as Reader

1951 Samaresh Bose's Uttaranga establishes Nandalal Bose retires from service: him as a major voice in Bengali literature made the Emeritus Professor

Pudovkin and Cherkassov praise Sisir Benodebehari shifts to Banashtali Bhaduri performance on their Kolkata visit following political trouble in Nepal Satyajit Ray starts shooting

1952 First General Elections; B.C. Roy Kolkata hosts an international film festival Prodosh Dasgupta teaches at the continues Congress ministry Government School of Art in Kolkata; Nirode Majumdar experiments with Tantric symbols

Benodebehari in Mussorie

1953 O.K. Gupta organizes a two-day poetry Jamini Roy exhibited in New York; reading seminar at the Senate Hall Nandalal Bose retrospective at Mumbai

1954 Jibanananda Das's Shreshta kabita Nandalal Bose retrospective at published Kolkata; Bose awarded Padma Bibhushan Ghatak makes Nagarik though it is unfortunately not released; - Benodebehari in pair emerges into romantic pair popularity with Agnipariksha

1955 Pather Panchali released

1956 Satyajit Ray's is a sequel to Nikhil Biswas graduates from the Pather Panchali Government Art School, Kolkata; Subho Tagore publishes art-journal

Benodebehari's unsuccessful eye operation in Delhi - blindness 1957 Second General Elections; B.C. Roy Prafulla Roy's Purba Parbati addresses the continues as CM issue of Naga unrest, widening the horizon of Bengali literature

Satyajit Ray's Paras pathar shows him a master of comedy as well

1958 edits journal Krittibas; Deviprasad's sculpture of Mahatma Sukumar Sen completes his four-volume Gandhi installed in Kolkata history of Bengali literature Benodebehari rejoins Santiniketan as Satyajit Ray's period-piece film Professor in Art Theory produced

1959 secures the lease of Minerva Theatre and launches Angar as the first production with significant stress on the "other" theatre movement

Ritwik Ghatak's Ajantrik is a film on a different note than those of Satyajit Ray; Ray completes Apu-trilogy with Apur Sansar

1960 -1969

1960 Ajitesh Bandopadhyay begins the theatre Academy of Fine Arts headed by Lady groups with regular shows as the Ranu Mukherjee offers new exhibition Rangana Theatre space to local artists; Ahi Shushan Malik arranges an exhibition of Satyajit Ray makes the film Devi; Ritwik paintings by artist of Calcutta at the Ghatak makes Meghe Tara; Mrinal Banga Samskriti Sammelan; formation Sen makes Baishey Sharavan, his third of the Society of Contemporary Artists; feature film exhibits her work for the first time

1961 makes the film Komal Differences of opinion within the SCA Gandhar; Satyajit Ray makes a causes dissident members to form documentary on Rabindranath Tagore on Calcutta Painters Group (Nikhil the occasion of the birth centenary of the Biswas, Bijon Chowdhury, Prakash poet; 's Punashcha explores the Karmakar, Rabin Mandai, Sarbari Roy impoverished middle class milieu Chowdhury etc.)

1962 Sino Indian war; Death of B.C. Roy; Kamal Kumar Majumdar writes his novel P.C. Sen CM Antarjali

Ritwik Ghatak makes the film Subarnarekha - the third in the trilogy exploring effects of the partition

1963 joins SCA

1964 Split in CPI; formation of CPI(M) Satyajit Ray's classic film made Bikash Bhattacharya joins SCA

1965 War with Pakistan Badal Sircar writes Ebong lndrajit Birla Academy of Art and Culture opened Satyajit Ray makes his film o ; Mrinal Sen makes Akash Kusum 1966 Massive food movement Satyajit Ray's film Nayak based on the phenomenal status of Indian film stars

1967 government formed by Sunil Gangopadhyay publishes his ; peasant Atmaprakash in book form movements in Naxalbari

1968 United front dismissed and Shirshendu Mukhopadhyay writes President's rule imposed Ghunpoka

Satyajit Ray makes a detective film

1969 Assembly elections and second Badshahi Ankti is Satyajit Ray's first in the United Front ministry; Ajoy series of detective story series for Mukherjee CM; CPI(ML) formed; children split in Congress party Satyajit Ray makes the first of his delightful films for children Goopy Gayne Bagha Bayne; Mrinal Sen's Hindi film

1970 -1979

1970 Shakti Chattopadhyay writes Abani Bari Benodebehari made Professor Achho Emeritus at Santiniketan and Fellow of the Lalit Kala Akademy Little Theatre Group breaks up and Utpal Dutta forms People's Little Theatre producing provocative political plays like Barricade and Ebar Rajar Pala; Mohit Chattopadhyay writes Rajrakta

Ritwik Ghatak makes the documentary film Amar Lenin

1971 United Front ministry toppled; Mrinal Sen's radical phase with the film Bikash Bhattacharya's Doll series of Presidents' rule; Interview paintings Liberation struggle; staggering influx of refugees; Severe repression on all left forces; Bangladesh formed

1972 General elections; Siddhartha Badal Sircar forms Satabdi and Benodebehari's tile mural on the walls Shankar Ray forms Congress experiments with intimate theatre in a small of the mural department in Kala ministry top-floor room at the Academy of Fine Arts Bhavana - Gour Kishore Ghosh's Sagina Mahato being one of the first productions; 's Chak bhanga is produced by Theatre Workshop; forms which attracts attention with Marich Sambad

Mrinal Sen's film Calcutta 71

1973 Moti Nandi's Striker deals with the world of Satyajit Ray's film on Benodebehari sport as backdrop for a novel titled Inner Eye; shifts to Dehra Doon

The nucleus of Third Theatre movement: Satabdi passes a resolution rejecting the proscenium stage

Mrinal Sen's film Padatik; Ritwik's Titas ekti nodir nam

1974 Mrinal Sen's film Chorus; Ritwik's Jukti Benodebehari awarded the Padma Takko Gappo on the political debate of the Bibhhusan period

1975 Emergency imposed

1976 writes Hajar Churashir Ma Benodebehari shifts to Delhi on the police excesses in early 70s

Satyajit Ray's documentary on titled Bala

1977 Emergency lifted; Left Front Mrinal Sen's Oriya film Oka oorie katha Benodebehari awarded the ministry in power, as based on a Premchand story Kafan Deshikottama by Visva Bharati CM.

1978 Satyajit Ray's first Hindi film Satranj Ki Khiladi

1979 Mrinal Sen's film Ekdin Pratidin

1980 Benodebehari slips in his bathroom on the 15th of November, fractures hip bone, passes away in his sleep on the \1\ Date Benodebehari Mukherjee Others 1901 Arts Rabindranath Tag ore gathered a few young men and began the Brachmacharya Ashram, a boarding school at Santiniketan based loosely on the tapovanas.

Cinema- First Indian newsreel shot by Sakharam Bhatvadekar echoing the nationalist sentiments of those times with a film called "The Return of Wrangler R. P. Paranjpye to India"

7.2.1904 Born in Behala, Calcutta 'A Girl Holding Hookah in One Hand and Broom in Another' Oil, so X 32.5 Coli: NGMA,

1905 Arts Ascendancy of the new 'national art' of in Swadeshi Bengal surfaced with the painting of''. Dr. Ananda K. Coomaraswamy and E.B. Havell were part of this movement striving to 'resuscitate the neglected Indian cultural heritage'. They became the foremost figures of modern Indian art.

Abanindranath Tagore 'Bharatmata' wI c, 26.67 X 15.24 Coli: Rabindra Bharati Society, Kolkata

Cinema- The first future magnate of Indian cinema, Jamshedjee Framjee Madan, opened Elphinstone Bioscope Company in Calcutta mainly concerned with the distribution of foreign films and organisation of their regular screenings.

1907 Arts The Indian Society of Oriental Art was founded. This society organised an exhibition of works by artists includingAbanindranath Tagore, Gagenendranath Tagore, Nandalal Bose in 1908.

1912 Cinema- First Indian fiction film "Pundalik" directed by Nanabhai Govind Chitre, Ramchandra Go pal Torney and P.R. Tipnis made. This religious film was based on the life of a holy man of Maharashtra.

1913 Arts Rabindranath Tagore wins the Nobel Prize for literature for his book '' and

1 Date Benodebehari Mukherjee Others emerges as the dominant cultural voice, attracting scholars and artists the world over.

Abanindranath Tagore 'Journey's End' & Wash, 15 x 21 Coli: NGMA, New Delhi

K. Venkatappa 'Ravana & J atayu' Tempera & Wash Coli: Private, Kolkata (Ref. Flamed Mosaic)

Cinema - Father of Indian cinema Dhundiraj Govind Phalke makes first Indian feature film "Raja Harishchandra". It is released in line with the cultural renewal movement reflected in the anti-colonial nationalist movement. It ushers in an era of mythological films in India.

1916 Gaganendranath Tagore 'Ball Room ' Wjc & Ink, 27.3 x 19.8 Coli: NGMA, New Delhi

1917 Joined school at Santiniketan Arts Rabindranath Tagore established Visva Bharti, an international university at Santiniketan.

Literature Sarat Chandra Chatterjee (1876-1938) brought modern Bengali literature to the masses. His piercing analysis of human love, faith and frailties is unparalleled. Important works: (1917) Parinita (1914), Biraj Bau (1914) and Palli Samaj (1916), Srikanta (1917- 33), Charitrahin (1917), Grihadaha (1919), Dena-Paona (1923), Pather Dabi (1926), Ses Prasna (1931)

1918 Cinema -Indian Cinematographic Act passed making censorship official. Any mention of the Independence movement especially of Gandhi was suppressed. Also 'depraved' vision of Western society banned.

2 Date Benodebehari~ukhe~ee Others

1919 Joined Kala Bahvan, Visva Bharati, Rabindranath Tagore established Kala Bhavan, the art school at Visva Bharati Santiniketan 1921 Cinema- Nitish C. Lahiri's "Bilet Pherat", one of the first social satires of Indian cinema, made in Bengal.

1922-23 'Laughter' Arts Major exhibition of the avant-garde German Expressionist art of the Bauhaus artists Tempera, 54 x 33 em held in Calcutta. The exhibits were mostly woodcuts and engravings by W. Kandinsky, L. Coli: NGMA, New Delhi Feininger, E. Nolde, P. Klee, Christian Rohlfs and F. Marc among others

Cinema- Hindu-Muslim communal relations touched upon for the first time in Dhiren Ganguly's 'Razia Begum' made in Bombay

Dance Prima ballerina Anna Pavlova and Uday Shankar partner in the dance-drama, RadhaKrishna performed in London

1925 Gaganendranath Tagore 'City in the Night' w I c, 21.3 X 15·5 Coli: Rabindra Bhavan, Santiniketan

1926 Kshitindranath Majumdar 'Ras-lila' W /c, 14.3 x 9·4 Coli: NGMA, New Delhi

1927 Arts Rao Bahadur N.R. Balakrishana Mudaliar is the first Indian Superintendent to be appointed for the Madras School of Arts and Crafts

Jamini Roy 'Santhal Dance' Tempera, 36.5 x 70.5 Coli: NGMA, New Delhi

1929 Rabindranath Tagore 'A Fantastic Bird'

3 Date Benodebehari Mukherjee Others W/c & Ink, 17.8 x 22.8 Coil: Rabindra Bhavan, Santiniketan

Ajit Kumar Haldar 'Jagai Madhai & Nityananda' Fresco Coli: Govt. College of Arts & Crafts, Lucknow

Arts Devi Prasad Roy Chowdhary is appointed the First Indian artist principal of the Madras School of Arts and Crafts.

Arts First batch of students graduate from the Indore School of Art. Students from here such as N.S. Bendre, Manohar Joshi and Rasiklal Parfm would all contribute to the movement.

The young B.C Sanyal joins Mayo College in Lahore as teacher

1930S Arts Influence of Jewish immigrants who came to settle in Bombay like Rudolf von Leyden (art critic) and E.D Schtlesinger (patron) formed the essential link between the artist, critic & patron. They introduced young Indian artists to the expressionist art of Europe.

Cinema- Several "Mughal romances" led to Indo-European co-productions, mainly through a collaboration between the Bengali actor-producer and Bavarian director Frantz Osten

1932 'Bridge' Cinema- Bi-lingual Bengali-Hindi films started being produced in Bengal. Tempera on cloth, 47·5 x 6o em Coli: NGMA, New Delhi

'The Tree Lover' Tempera on paper, 73·7 x 40 em Coli: NGMA, New Delhi Mid 1930s 'Studio' 1934 Tempera on paper, 36.1X 23 em Rabindranath Tagore Coli: Kala Bhavan Museum, 'Two Figures' Santiniketan W/c & Ink on board, 25 x 17.3

4 Date Benodebehari~ukhe~ee Others Coli: NGMA, New Delhi

1935 Literature The 1930s saw the emergence of R.K.Narayan in the Indian literary scene starting from his first novel Swami and Friends (1935) was set in the fictional town of Malgudi,. Realistic, rustic and ironic, Narayan's works explored the tragic-comic aspect of life. Most of his work, which at the same time captured everything Indian while having a unique identity of its own. He has published over 30 novels, five collections of short stories (A Horse and Two Goats, An Astrologer's Day, Lawley Road,Malgudi Days, and The Grandmother's Tale), two travel books (My Dateless Diary and The Emerald Route), four collections of essays (Next Sunday, Reluctant Guru, A Writer's Nightmare, and A Story- Teller's World), a memoir (My Days), and some translations of Indian epics and myths (The , The Mahabharata, and Gods, Demons and Others).

Cinema- Beginning of the Golden Age in Indian cinema with 's "Devdas"

Literature Mulk Raj Anand is among the first writers to render Punjabi and Hindustani idioms into English. In his work, Anand has drawn a realistic and sympathetic portrait of the poor in India. In the early 1930s, he wrote books on art history, but it was not until the appearance of the novels Untouchable (1935) and Coolie (1936)- the story of a fifteen year- old child-labourer who dies of tuberculosis - that Anand gained wide recognition.

Arts - Amrita Sher-Gil declined the award of Simla Fine Arts Society exhibition.

1936 Arts The great Russian artist permanently moves to India and establishes the Urusvati Himalayan Research Institute in the Kulu Manali Valley. Himalayan landscapes dominated his works and reflected the underlying unity between aesthetics and ethics fused amid a creative holistic vision.

Cinema - Prabhat Studios produce 'Sant Tukaram', a magnificent classic of the current humanist trend in Indian cinema, which ushers in the 'devotional' films genre. Frantz Osten's 'Acchut Kanya' released, which had a great impact on the growing condemnation, spearheaded by Gandhi, of the manner in which lower castes were treated.

1937 Visited Japan Arts Amrita Sher-Gil wins Bombay Art Society's Gold medal for her painting 'A Group of Three Girls'. 1937-38 'Picture dealer's shop in Japan'

5 Date Benodebehari Mukhedee Others Water color on silk Amrita Sher-Gil Coll: Kala Bhavan 'Bride's Toilet' Oil, 87·5 X 14·5 Coll: NGMA, New Delhi

Nandalal Bose invited by Mahatma Gandhi to decorate the pavilion of the National Congress meet. 'Drummer - Haripura Posters Series' Tempera, 62.5 x 55·5 Coll: NGMA, New Delhi

1938 Exhibition in . Ramkinkar Vaij 'Santhal Family' 'SarGrass' Sand & pebble cast sculpture, H. 428 Tempera on Paper, 29.5 x 51 em Coll: Kala Bhavan Santiniketan Coll: Kala Bhavan Museum, Santiniketan

'' Scroll in Water color on Nepalese paper, 43 x 373 em Coll: Mrinalini MukheJ.jee, New Delhi 1940 'Village life in Birbhum' Ramkinkar Vaij Mural in egg tempera, 2.53 x 6.06 'Landscape Series' mtrs wfc, 18.5 x 27 Ceiling, Kala Bhavan Hostel, Coll: Private, Mumbai (ref. Flamed Mosaic) Santiniketan

Early1940s 'Lotus' Nicholas Roerich Water color and ink on paper, approx 'Himalayan Deity' 36x52 em W fc on canvas, 91.7 x 152.5 Coll: Mrinalini Mukheijee, New Delhi Coll: Govt. Museum & Art Gallery, Chandigarh

1941 Rabindranath Tagore passes away.

Amrita moves to Lahore where she dies mysteriously on December 27 at the young age of

6 Date Benodebehari Mukherjee Others 28.

The first Bombay Group is formed with encouragement from Charles Gerrard, the then principal of Sir. J.J. School of Art. It includes Mohan Kulkarni, P.T. Reddy, M.T. Bhopale, A.A. Majeed and Clement Baptista.

1942 'Life on the Campus' enters the Sir J.J. School of Art -till1945. Mural in fresco secco, 5·55 mtrs Cheena Bhavan, Santiniketan P.T. Reddy 'Portrait of Mrs Huttee Singh' 'Lotus' Oil, 71 X 61 Ink on paper, 31 x 61.5 em Coli: NGMA, New Delhi Coli: Mrinalini Mukherjee, New Delhi

Sketchbook Water color on paper, 24 x 18 em Coli: Mrinalini Mukheijee, New Delhi 1943 'Banaras Ghat' Arts 'Calcutta Group' formed during Bengal's famine and Gandhi's Quit India call Ink on paper, 43.5 x 53 em determined to produce art taking into account contemporary values. Calcutta Group's first Coli: Dinkar Kaashik, Santiniketan exhibition held at the Services Club, Calcutta. Original members included Paritosh Sen, ow Gopal Ghose, Nirode Mazumdar, critics like Bhishnu Dey, Sudhindra Dutta as well as 19.10.1943 'Banaras Ghat 2' scholars like E.M. Forster, John Irwin. Water color on Nepalese paper Coli: Kshama Ghosh 1944 K.C.S. Panicker initiated the Progressive Painters' Association, Madras

The Calcutta Group hold their first exhibition at the Services Club, Calcutta

Mid 1940s 'Akanda' Tempera on silver board, 31 x 25 em Coli: Mrinalini Mukheijee, New Delhi 1946-47 'Life of Medieval Saints' Arts Nirode Mazumdar becomes one of the first Indians to receive a French Government Mural in fresco buono, 23.07 x 2-44 scholarship to Paris mtrs Hindi Bhavan, Santiniketan

7 Date Benodebehari~ukhe~ee Others 1947 'Sthala Padma' Arts Progressive Artist Group is formed by K.H. Ara, S.K. Bakre, H.A. Gade, M.F. Husain, Tempera on Nepali paper, 35 x 29 em S.H. Raza and F.N. Souza. Souza, one of the leading members of this group was awarded Coli: Mrinalini Mukherjee, New Delhi the first prize in the Bombay Art Society annual exhibition.

Arts Art activities in Delhi received encouragement through the work of the Delhi Silpi Chakra and India's first private gallery, the Dhoomimal Gallery. This exhibiting space gave an initial platform to artists like Ramkumar, K.G. Subraman4am, , Bimal Dasgupta and among many others.

George Keyt 'Reflections' Oil on board, 120 x 72 Coli: Gallery Chemould, Mumbai

'In the Garden' K.K. Hebbar Tempera on silk, 43·5 x 43·5 em 'Pandits' Coli: Mrinalini Mukherjee, New Delhi Oil, 76.2 X 89 Coli: Private, Mumbai (Ref. Flamed Mosaic)

1949 Appointed curator at the Nepal Vajubhai Bhagat Government Museum, Kathmandu 'Fisherwomen' Tempera, 29.2 x 30.5 'Exhibition of Reserve Art Collection Coli: Bhagat Family, Mumbai in the temple precincts of Kathmanu' Water color on paper, 27.7 x 41.7 em Coli: Mrinalini Mukherjee, New Delhi 1950 'Nepalese Festival Procession' Ramkumar two panel mural in Jaipur fresco, each 'Prisoner's Dream' panel 2.36 x 3.29 mtrs oil, 65 x 52.5 Banaspathi Vidyapeeth, Coli: Jehangir Nicholson Museum, NCPA

Arts Calcutta Group held joint show with the Progressive Art Group, Bombay. This initiated a much-needed regional interaction.

Establishment of the M.S. University of Baroda with an art faculty under the leadership of Markhand Bhatt, N.S. Bendre and Sankho Chaudhuri. It introduced aesthetics, psychology,

8 Date Benodebehari Mukherjee Others pmsiC and history of the world of art into its curriculum, while trying to achieve a greater inter-relationship between the various faculties. Hansa Mehta was the first pioneering vice­ chancellor of the university.

1952 Shifted to Musoorie Cinema - The first International Film Festival of India is organized in Bombay, Calcutta and Delhi.

Arts Jehangir Art Gallery established with the patronage of Sir Cowasji Jehangir and the ~arsee community, allowing for the first time any artist to book gallery space for a fixed period.

V.S. Gaitonde 'Untitled' W/c, 37.5x45 Coll: Jehangir Nicholson Museum, NCPA

1953 'Hillscape with Porter' ~c The Sangeet Natak Akadami established Tempera on silk, 30 x 30 em Coll: Mrinalini Mukheijee, New Delhi Arts The Calcutta Group dissolved after a decade of pioneering contribution to Bengali and Indian art.

S.B. Palsikar 'Dancers with Sanke' Gouache, 23.5 x 30 Coll: Private, New Delhi (ref. Flamed Mosaic) 1954 Arts Lalit Kala Akademy.andem, the National Gallery of Modern Art, New Delhi established. 'Jain Monks' Oil, 76X 61 Coll: Chester & Davida Herwitz, USA

1955 Arts M.F. Husain'sZameen wins the firs~NationalAward(~ ~ fl~~ Kumar Gallery, New Delhi established

9 Date Benodebehari Mukherjee Others

Cinema Satyajit Ray's "Pather Panchali" runs for 7 consecutive months in New York.

Avinash Chandra 'Trees' Oil, 87·5 X 103 Coil: NGMA, New Delhi

1956 'Patna' Arts The Second 'Bombay Group' formed after the P .A. G. dissolved. K.H. Ara was Tempera on paper, 23 x 31.4 em instrumental in bringing the artists K.K. Hebber, S Chavda, Mohan Samant among others Coil: Mrinalini Mukherjee, New Delhi with the intention to establish a deeper East-West fusion. Patronage received from Homi Bhabha, the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research and the Times of India Group.

Arts established with G.R. antosh and N.S. Bendre. o experiment with abstraction became one of the main tenets of the Groups' direction.

Arts S.H. Raza awarded the Prix de la Critique.

literature- 's maiden venture Train to Pakistan wins him the Sahitya Academi Award.

1957 Lost his eyesight Arts K.C.S. Panicker is appointed the Principal of the Madras School of Arts and Crafts after D.P. Roy Chowdhary's retirement.

Cinema- Satyajit Ray's "Pather Panchali" wins the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival.

Sailoz Mukheijea 'Shehnaiwalas' Oil, 86.3 X 132.1 Coil: NGMA, New Delhi

1959 Cinema- First Indian film shot in Cinemascope is Guru Dutt's "Kagaz ke Phool".

Arts Biren De awarded the Fullbright Scholarship to America.

10 Date Benodebehari Mukherjee Others Sailoz Mookheljea 'Vision' Oil, 110 X 87·5 Coil: Jehangir Nicholson Museum, NCPA

Early 1960s 'Jatra' Paper collage, 25 x 19 em Coil: NGMA, New Delhi 1960 Arts The Society for Contemporary Artists (SOCA) established in Calcutta founded by Nikhil Biswas, Bijan Chowdhury, Shyamal Dutta Ray, Sanat Kar and Ganesh Haloi making special contribution to the graphic arts.

Institute for Film Technology is established in Madras.

Somnath Hore 'Companions' Oil, 117X86 Coil:

B.C. Sanyal 'In Brooding Mood' Oil, 113 X 82 Coil: Lalit Kala Akademi

1961 Art Trends - A Quarterly art bulletin published by Progressive Painters Association.

1962 'The Group 1890' established and held its first and only exhibition in October 1963 as a <7 reaction against the contemporary assimilation of modern Western art. Artists including Ambadas, , Balkrishna Patel, Eric Bowen, J. Swaminathan and G.M. Sheikh participated in this event.

K.C.S Panicker begins the series 'Words & Symbols'. Coil: NGMA, New Delhi

Shanti Dave 'Untitled' Oil & Wax, 62.5 x 87.5

11 Date Benodebehari Mukherjee Others Coil: Jehangir Nicholson Museum, NCPA

Kunika-Chemould Gallecy, Mumbai established

1964 Arts Cholamandal Artists Village near Mahabalipuram established with the intention of creating an alternative to artistic derivativeness from Western norms. K.C.S Panicker and Dharapal were among the founder members.

Rabindra Bhavan at Lalit Kala Akademi established

Cinema- National Film Archive of India is set up in Pune.

1968 First Triennale organised by Lalit Kala Akademi. won the Award

1969 Arts N .S Bendre was awarded.;e Padams~r!_ ~the President of India. Cinema- The first retrospective olfta~s is held at the Cinematheque Francaise in Paris. )l

The 'Commonwealth Institute' invites Jehangir Sabavala to represent India in London and

/]_/) Edinburgh. Early 197'6s Gulam Sheikh along with Bhupen Khakker publish and edit 'Vrishchik'. {q~~-13 1970 Appointed Professor Emeritus at Paramjit Singh Visva Bharti, Santiniketan 'Stone on the Wall' Oil, 93 X 178 Elected Fellow, Lalit Kala Akademi Coil: Lalit Kala Akademi

1971 Arts N.S Bendre was elected to chair the International Jucy at the Second Indian Triennale in New Delhi in 1971 and was fellow of the Lalit Kala Akademi in 1974.

Bhupen Khakhar 'Factocy Strike' Oil, 91.4 X 91.4 Coil: Mala Marwah, New Delhi

12 Date Benodebehari Mukherjee Others Shyamal Dutta-Ray 'Chair' Wfc, 55X44 Coll: NGMA, New Delhi

Ganesh Pyne 'Mother & Child' Tempera, 55 x 66 Coll: NGMA, New Delhi

Bikash Bhattachaijee 'The Totem' Oil, 157 ·5 X 105 Coll: Lalit Kala Akademi

1972 Ceramic tile mural S.G. Vasudev 1.67 x 18.80 mtrs 'Maithuna Series' Kala Bhavan, Santiniketan Oil, 115 X 232 Coll: NGMA, New Delhi

J. Swaminathan 'Perception Series' Oil, 177·8 X 127 Coll: Jehangir Nicholson Museum, NCPA

1973 Satyajit Ray makes '', a documentary on Benodebehari Mukheijee's work Cinema- Shyam Benagal makes "Ankur".

Prabhakar Kolte 'Space X-Rayed' Oil, 120 X 150 Coll: Lalit Kala Akademi

Krishen Khanna 'Lovers'

13 Date Benodebehari Mukherjee Others Oil, 165 X 122 Coli: Jehangir Nicholson Museum, NCPA

Vivan Sundaram initiates the All India Graphics workshops with an aim to make art affordable for the masses. 1974 Awarded the Padma Vibhushana 1975 A. Ramachandran 'Nuclear Ragini' Oil, 142 X 142 Coli: Kumar Gallery, New Delhi

Laxman Shreshtha 'Untitled' Oil, 150 X 150 Coli: Jehangir Nicholson Museum, NCPA

G. hei 'Speech City' Oil, 1 X 122 Col. Francis Wa · rg, New Delhi

1977 Awarded an Honorary Doctoral Arts Jehangir Sabavala is awarded the Degree of Desikottama by Visva Bharti G.M Sheikh convened the Coomaraswamy Centenary Seminar on behalf of the Lalit Kala Akademi. The seminar gathered Art Historians, Art Critics and artists to discuss the scholar's work and its value in the contemporary context of art.

Vivan Sundaram 'The Indian Emergency II' Shown at Faculty of Fine Arts, M.S. University,

S.Nandagopal is awarded the gold medal at the IVTriennale-India. He is the first Indian sculptor to be awarded the prize.

14 Date Benodebehari Mukherjee Others 1980 Chitrakar , a collection of his writing, R.K Narayan was awarded the A. C. Benson award by the Royal Society of Literature and awarded the Bharatiya Bhasha was made an Honorary Member of the American Academy and Institute of Arts and Parishad and the Rabindra Puraskar Letters.

19.11.1980 Died at the age of 76

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