Ranger Kabi Asit Kumar Haldar by Gautam Haldar [Hardcover]

During the historic Partition of Bengal (1905) movement, a quiet revolution in Indian art was taking shape within the corridors of the Government School of Art, Kolkata. Under the visionary guidance of Abanindranath Tagore, a master artist and educator, a handful of exceptionally talented students defied convention. Instead of following the mainstream artistic currents, they swam against the tide, laying the foundation of what would become a renaissance in Indian art.

At the heart of this movement was a rare experience—the meticulous copying of the Ajanta cave paintings—which opened the students’ third eye, unveiling the profound and sturdy roots of ancient Indian art. Over time, the ripples of this artistic revolution spread far and wide, from east to west, north to south of India. Exhibitions showcasing this revivalist art form even resonated beyond the country’s borders, captivating cultural hubs like Paris, London, and Berlin, and reaching as far as America.

This transformation was witnessed and supported by a host of globally renowned poets, artists, and art connoisseurs, including Rabindranath Tagore, Ernest Havell, Sister Nivedita, Kakuzo Okakura, Ananda Coomaraswamy, William Rothenstein, and Dr. Stella Kramrisch.

What is now celebrated as the ‘Bengal School of Art’ was, in fact, pioneered by a group of artists leading the Neo-Indian art movement. Among them, Asit Kumar Haldar stood as a luminous figure. Irish poet James Cousins was the first to honor him with the title ‘Poet of Colors’, while Rabindranath Tagore, in his affectionate gaze, saw a harmonious blend of poetry and painting in his grandson’s art.

This book presents the first-ever biography of Asit Kumar Haldar, a vibrant artist whose life and work played a pivotal role in shaping modern Indian art.