Nandalal Bose was the first principal of Kala Bhavana and one of the pioneers of modern art in India. Shri. Fondly remembered as Mastermoshai, he had dedicated his entire life to art and artists from all over the world still take inspiration from his life and works.
Artists from all over the world continue to come to Shantiniketan to study his works and those by other artistss who were trained under his tutelage. Artists and sculptors coming to Shantiniketan often prefer booking their stay in Panthashala which is invariably one of the best hotels in Shantiniketan offering the most comfortable stay at the most affordable prices. Students and artists stay at Panthashala to enjoy the serenity of the surrounding while continuing their research work at peace.
Nandalal Bose played an instrumental role in elevating Kala Bhavana to an elite status in the world of fine arts and the place is still managed keeping his ideologies in mind. Inspired by Rabindranath Tagore, Nandalal Bose started painting vivid pictures that present contemporary themes inspired from the surroundings. Students at Kala Bhavana are also encouraged to explore themes that draw from nature.
Some of Bose’s notable artworks that people come to Shantiniketan to study are as follows:
Natir Puja:
This artwork draws inspiration from the dance drama Natir Puja which is an adaptation of Tagore’s poem Pujarini and was first staged in Shantiniketan.
Birth of Chaitanya:
This is a noteworthy mural that you can see in Patha Bhavan. It uses tempera on paper to depict the scene of the ‘Birth of Chaitanya’.
Halakarsana:
This mural depicting the ploughing festival Halakarsana is painted on the wall of the Surul Kuthibari which lies close to Shantiniketan.
The Kalo Bari:
The Kalo Bari or The Black House is perhaps the most intriguing structure in the University campus which attracts tourists and art lovers alike. The Kalo Bari was conceptualized and created by the stalwarts Nandalal Bose, Surendranath Kar and Ramkinkar Baij. This iconic structure was made of mud and coal tar. It has relief figures that comprise symbols like the Harappan bull and other motifs that have their origins in Egypt, Ajanta and the Bengali Folk art.
The studio where Bose worked is also an iconic place that art aficionados from all over the world come to visit. The murals adorning this studio are made from stoneware tiles and the artworks were done by artist KG Subramanyan.
The other notable contributions of Bose are as follow:
The iconic image of the non-violent movement, linocut print of Gandhi walking with a staff is Bose’s contribution.
The Haripura posters are also his contribution
Bose along with his students also decorated the first edition of the Indian constitution
He has also designed the prestigious Bharatratna, Padmabhushan and Padmashri awards.
Influence of Bose’s style on Modern Indian Paintings:
Bose is credited with pioneering the revival of mural painting in India and one of his notable artworks can be seen in the Cheena Bhavana in Shantiniketan. Under his mentorship, Shantiniketan’s art evolved giving more importance to individual expression. This encouraged many artists to experiment with their creative expression, thus adding to the artistic expressions that can be seen today.
Apart from those mentioned above, there are a plethora of other iconic artworks made by Nandalal Bose and his students that artists come to study in Shantiniketan. Such people who come for short study tours and stays can either book a homestay in Shantiniketan or book a comfortable well-appointed room in Panthashala so they can carry out their study and research without any interruptions at all.