Prafulla Dahanukar

Prafulla Dahanukar was an Indian painter who was a pioneer and a leader in modern Indian art. She was also a generous and influential benefactor of art who supported many young and emerging artists in India. She was born in Bandora, Goa to a family of musicians. Her mother, Kesarbai Bandodkar, was a renowned actor-singer in the pre-independence era. Prafulla studied fine art at the Sir J.J. School of Art in Mumbai and graduated with a gold medal in 1955. She then joined the Ecole de Beaux Arts and Atelier in Paris with a scholarship from the French government in 1961. She was part of the Progressive Artists' Group and shared a studio with V.S. Gaitonde at the Bulabhai Desai Institute in Mumbai. She participated in many international exhibitions and won several awards for her paintings. She painted abstract landscapes with vivid and dominant colors, creating a sense of eternal space. She also created murals on various public buildings and institutions. Prafulla Dahanukar was not only a prolific painter but also a dedicated patron of art and culture. She served as a committee member of the Lalit Kala Akademi in New Delhi, the president of the Bombay Art Society, the trustee of the Jehangir Art Gallery, the committee member of the Kala Academy in Goa, and the founder president of the India Art Festival. She was also involved with the Sangit Kala Kendra, the Music Forum, the Indian National Theatre, and an orphanage called Bal Anandgram in Lonavala. She helped to secure land and establish an autonomous settlement for artists in Bandra, Mumbai. She also helped artisans such as folk artists, weavers, traditional jewellers, flower garland makers, and others. Prafulla Dahanukar passed away on March 1, 2014 at the age of 80 after a protracted illness. She is survived by her husband Dilip Dahanukar, an industrialist, her two daughters Gauri Mehta and Gopika Dahanukar, and her five grandchildren. She is remembered as an iconic feminist and a visionary artist who contributed immensely to the Indian art scene.