Sankho Chaudhuri

Sankho Chaudhuri (25 February 1916 – 28 August 2006) was an Indian sculptor, a noted figure in the art scene of India. (Although named Naranarain in due family tradition, he was more widely known by his pet-name Sankho) Ram Kinker Baij was his teacher. He began close to cubism and then was influenced by István Beöthy, whom he had met in Paris. His themes have included the female figure and wildlife. He was worked in a wide range of media, and has produced both large-scale reliefs and mobiles. Born in 1916, Santhal Parganas (Bihar), Sankho Chaudhuri completed his Bachelor of Arts and Diploma in Fine Arts from Kala Bhavan, Santiniketan in 1939. He was appointed as Reader at the Head of Department of Sculpture and later served as Dean of Faculty of Fine Arts, M.S. University, Baroda. He taught Fine Arts at the University of Dar-e-Salam Tanzania and also represented the country at the International Conferences in UNESCO, Paris and Venice. He was a recipient of Padma Shri in 1971; National Award and Fellow of the Lalit Kala Akademi, New Delhi, 1956 & 1982; D.Litt. (Honoris Causa) by the Centro Escolar University, Philippines, 1974; Aban-Gohan Award by Visva Bharati University, 1981. He was the Ist Honorary Joint Secretary, Indian Sculptors Association, Mumbai. He was Chairman of Lalit Kala Akademi, New Delhi in the late eighties. A Retrospective was held of his works at the NGMA in 1997. He died in 2006. Sankho Chaudhuri completed his Bachelor of Arts and Diploma in Fine Arts from Kala Bhavan, Santiniketan in 1939. He taught Fine Arts at the University of Dar-e-Salam Tanzania and also represented the country at the International Conferences in UNESCO, Paris and Venice. He was a recipient of Padma Shri in 1971; National Award and Fellow of the Lalit Kala Akademi, New Delhi, 1956 & 1982; D.Litt. (Honoris Causa) by the Centro Escolar University, Philippines, 1974; Aban-Gohan Award by Visva Bharati University, 1981. He was the Ist Honorary Joint Secretary, Indian Sculptors Association, Mumbai. He was Chairman of Lalit Kala Akademi, New Delhi in the late eighties. A Retrospective was held of his works at the NGMA in 1997.