Abanindranath Tagore

Abanindranath Tagore was a prominent artist and writer who played a key role in the development of modern Indian art. He was a nephew of the poet Rabindranath Tagore and a member of the distinguished Tagore family. He learned art from various sources, including European, Japanese, Mughal and Rajput styles. He was the first major exponent of Swadeshi values in Indian art, which aimed to revive the indigenous artistic traditions and counter the influence of Western models. He founded the influential Bengal school of art, which created a nationalistic Indian style that was accepted and promoted by British art institutions. He also wrote several books for children, which are considered landmarks in Bengali literature. Some of his famous works include Bharat Mata, The Passing of Shah Jahan, Buro Angla, Khirer Putul and Shakuntala. He was awarded an honorary doctorate by the University of Calcutta in 1950. He died on December 5, 1951 at the age of 80. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest artists and writers of India.